Grampians

The hugely popular Grampians National Park sits in the centre of the western half of Victoria. The Grampians are a series of stark and spectacular sandstone ridges, eroded into bizarre shapes, and famous for brilliant wildflowers in spring.

The most direct route to Halls Gap from Melbourne is via the Great Western Highway west to Ararat or Stawell, then follow the signs (left). Ararat was once a boom gold-mining town and is a pleasant spot with some delightful old bluestone buildings. J-Ward, the Old Ararat gaol and institution for the criminally insane, is worth a guided tour. Though only one peak exceeds 1000 metres, the Grampians provides challenges for climbers and abseilers, hikers and bushwalkers. Horse riding, guided tours on horseback and hot air balloon flights are also available.

Halls Gap, gateway to the central Grampians, is home to the Brambuk Aboriginal Culture Centre, which has won awards for cultural tourism and its design. The centre provides an insight into Aboriginal culture through displays, talks and performances of song and dance. It also conducts tours to historic Aboriginal cave and rock-art sites in the park. Around 5km south of Halls Gap, Lake Bellfield offers fishing, sailing, canoeing and kayaking.

More Information

For more information about Victoria:

• Events And Festivals
• Accommodation
• To See And Do
• Melbourne
• Yarra Valley, Dandenongs & Mornington
• Great Ocean Road
• Goldfields
• High Country
• The Murray
• Gippsland

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