Grampians Walks and Camping: A Long Weekend in Victoria’s Rocky Mountains

Want to find out more about which Grampians walks you should do and what it is like to camp there? Then read on!

I hadn’t heard of the Grampians before moving to Australia.

Like most attractions in Victoria (apart from the Great Ocean Road, Melbourne, and Phillip Island), this National Park is virtually unknown to people outside of its home state.

When friends in Melbourne suggested we join them to go camping and hiking in the Grampians over Easter a few years ago, I was hesitant at first. I had my heart set on driving the Great Ocean Road but they had only just done that and were keen to go somewhere new.

We wanted to do a trip with them so I google imaged the Grampians and saw a picture like this.

I didn’t need any further convincing. Hell yes, we were in!

Grampians National Park, 235 km west of Melbourne, is known for its striking sandstone mountain ranges and indigenous rock art. A great place for hiking and to spot kangaroos in the wild, it is a popular holiday spot for Victorians. 

As I had only seen kangaroos in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries before, I was really excited to see some wild ones.

We flew into Melbourne after work on the Thursday before Easter. After a boozy night out hitting Melbourne’s trendy bars, including one in a converted shipping container (gotta love hipster Melbourne!), we dragged our hungover selves out of bed and hit the road for the three-hour drive to the Grampians.

It definitely felt a lot longer than three hours and the drive was pretty painful in our fragile states.

Camping in Grampians National Park

After a pit stop in Ballarat for lunch, we arrived at our Grampians camping ground for the next three nights, Breeze Holiday Park, located a few kilometers from the township of Halls Gap.

As the sunset, we set up our tents and started cooking dinner over our camping stove. It got cold pretty fast but luckily we were able to get a fire pit and we spent the next three evenings drinking, talking, and stargazing around a toasty fire.

On the last night at the camping ground, we heard kangaroos hopping through the forest only meters away from us. We shone our torches on them which stopped them in their tracks for a second before they carried on their night’s journey.

Exploring the Grampians Tourist Village of Halls Gap

The tiny tourist village of Halls Gap is the main town in the Grampians National Park. There are only a handful of shops, a school, and an Aboriginal Cultural Centre along the main road, as well as a small shopping village, made up of a cluster of wooden buildings fronting a grassy park with a rocky, dry riverbed running through it.

Surrounded by green mountains, there was a definite alpine feel to the village and surroundings.

Brambuk – the Aboriginal Cultural Centre was interesting for a quick look around. We browsed the exhibits about the local aboriginal community and admired the beautiful paintings on display. There was a small café serving ‘bush tucker’ – Kangaroo, Emu, Crocodile, and native berry jam.

We didn’t end up eating there, picking up lunch to take on our hikes from the Halls Gap Bakery instead, but it would have been interesting to try some of the food that made up a big part of the local aboriginal people’s diet.

Each morning we drove into Halls Gap and picked up a coffee from a café by the dried-up river. In the afternoons we sat ‘riverside’, chilling out after our hikes in the autumn sun.

As it was Easter weekend there were a lot of people around but there was still a feeling of peacefulness. Maybe it was the crisp mountain air.

On Sunday morning, the Halls Gap Market was being held on the school grounds. It was the social event of the week and we saw so many happy locals selling their wares and chatting with one another, as well as tourists, while live music played in the background.

It was a gloriously sunny day and I enjoyed wandering aimlessly between the stalls selling local produce, skincare, arts, and crafts. One stall was selling feijoas – my favorite fruit in the world.

This was thoroughly exciting as you rarely find feijoas in Australia although they grow everywhere in New Zealand. The only two times that I have seen them over here have been in Victoria – probably because the climate there is more like New Zealand’s.

There was also a stall selling magic tricks and the stallholder was happily demonstrating with an impromptu magic show which had many onlookers enthralled (including me).

Halls Gap really is such a friendly little community. They must get so many tourists through here but everyone we interacted with was so helpful and accommodating. We felt very welcome.

A couple of evenings we visited the Halls Gap Hotel, a quiet country pub and restaurant a few minutes’ walk from our camping ground. We were hoping to see kangaroos hopping around the open fields surrounding the pub and we did end up seeing a couple, although they were quite far away.

On our last night camping, we ate dinner there, in the pub rather than the restaurant. It was unpretentious and simple – sitting with the locals eating hearty pub food rather than in the overpriced tourist restaurant next door.

So I’ve talked about the food, the town, the hangover, and the camping so now you are probably wondering about the hiking. 

Grampians Walks

Halls Gap to the Pinnacle – 9.5km return

The Grampians walk to the Pinnacle is probably the most popular in the National Park. We chose to do it from Halls Gap rather than from the Wonderland car park which would have shortened it to 4.5km return. What’s the point in shortening something you love? We would have struggled to find a car park at Wonderland anyway.

There were a lot of people on the trail. We encountered a few traffic jams, passing numerous families with young kids as we steadily climbed the track to the top of the ridge.

The views once we reached the top were beautiful, looking out over the forested valley and adjacent mountains, despite the low grey clouds.

Hiking along the ridge, we continued to enjoy the awesome views before heading into more dense forest.

The last stretch to reach the Pinnacle was through a narrow passage between boulders followed by a bit of mild rock climbing before reaching the best views of the day: The Pinnacle.

The Pinnacle is a rocky precipice, jutting out over the valley with views over the blue waters of Lake Bellfield in the distance. It is one of a few perilously steep cliffs in the area, which are made up of what looks like layers of compacted rock. Certainly a striking and unique sight.

After walking out to the edge of the Pinnacle and back (and almost manifesting a fear of heights), we sat and ate our packed lunch before starting back down to Halls Gap to complete our loop hike.

We took a short detour to take us through the ‘Grand Canyon’. It was not nearly as exciting as the real thing but it was a nice enough walk, down steep stairs into a narrow canyon and along a stream, surrounded by small trees and bushes.

Close to the end of the hike, the Venus baths were a popular spot, despite it being too cold for swimming in the small pools that are formed by the river slowly cascading over the smooth rock face.

All in all, a pretty good hike, although overcrowded and a tad boring at times (the grey weather didn’t help). The Pinnacle and views made it all worth it though.

Halls Gap to Chautauqua Peak – 6km Return

This Grampians hike was in stark contrast to our crowded Pinnacle hike. We barely saw another soul this time around and the sun was shining brightly.

We started from Halls Gap village again, and after a short and relatively easy hike through the forest, we crested the top of the peak.

We clambered over giant rocks and boulders, edging closer to the end of the rugged cliff.

The views were absolutely incredible and they were so much easier to enjoy and take in with the near silence that comes when there are only four people up there.

We sat there for about an hour. A couple of people came and went during that time but the peace remained.

The market was going on far below us in Halls Gap and it was interesting to see it from a different perspective after being amongst the bustle only an hour earlier. We could even hear the music playing and a low buzz of voices and laughter.

I felt like Frodo sitting outside Bag End, watching the merriment of the party going on in the field below.

On the way back down we ran into a mob of kangaroos lying around in the forest. I walked up fairly close and they didn’t seem bothered by my presence. They just glanced at me lazily before carrying on with their business.

The native animals of Australia truly amaze me and kangaroos are one of my favorites. The way that they use their tails as a third leg is so interesting to watch and the speed at which they hop across the land is really impressive.

Also, they are really cute. Look at that face!

With the combination of the lack of people, perfect weather, kangaroo spotting, and great views, Chautauqua Peak was my favorite of our Grampians walks. It may have been short but it was stunning.

The Grampians may not be as impressive as the Canadian Rockies but they are still beautiful and unique, and truly Australian.

I am looking forward to discovering more of what Victoria has to offer in the future. I have a feeling that this underrated state might just turn out to be amazing.

How To Plan Your Grampians Trip

What To Pack For Your Grampians Walks

For day hikes, the Cotopaxi Luzon is an awesome backpack choice as it is lightweight and will pack down easily when you’re not using it.

I definitely recommend wearing hiking boots rather than trainers for better grip as most of these Golden hikes are rocky with loose gravel.

As it gets hot in summer on these hikes, a CamelBak is an easy and lightweight way to bring lots of water and it’s easier to stay hydrated while you are hiking.

Take some trekking poles to help with the downhill on these Golden hikes – your knees will thank you!

Pack a raincoat in case it rains – a common occurrence on summer afternoons, and if you are hiking when the weather is cooler, wear a lightweight but cozy thermal base layer top.

Where to Stay in the Grampians

I would highly recommend staying in the cute town of Halls Gap as it is a central location, and has a few great restaurants and bars. We camped at Breeze Holiday Park and it was a great spot – they also have a number of cabins available to rent.

There is also a well-equipped hostel, the Grampians Eco YHA, in Halls Gap that is perfect if you are traveling solo or just aren’t a fan of camping.

If motel accommodations are more your style, then book the Gariwerd Motel for comfortable digs at a great price.

For vacation rentals, these are all central to Halls Gap and highly rated:

• Two-Bedroom Grampians Hillside Retreat in Halls Gap
• Luxury Couples Spa Retreat in the Heart of the Grampians
• Peaceful One-Bedroom Chalet in Halls Gap
• Secluded Luxury Chalet Nestled in the Forest

Getting Around in the Grampians

You really need a vehicle if you are planning to see and do a number of things in the area. I recommend flying into Melbourne, hiring a car, and driving. It is just under three hours drive from Melbourne Airport to Halls Gap.

What to Pack for Your Grampians Trip

I highly recommend the Osprey Fairview or Farpoint 40L packs – they are the perfect size for a camping trip, and are comfortable and durable. Use packing cubes for organization.

For day hikes, the Cotopaxi Luzon is an awesome choice and is lightweight and will pack down easily when you aren’t using it.

Consider taking some trekking poles to help with the downhill – your knees will thank you! – and hiking boots rather than regular trainers.

Pack the GRAYL Geopress Water Purifier to filter water from streams and taps at your accommodation, this saves you having to carry lots of water and is better for the environment. Also, pack a CamelBak to make it easier to hydrate while you are hiking and to store more water.

It can get cold at night so make sure to pack thermal base layers, as well as a rain jacket in case it rains.

The Best Insurance for Your Grampians Trip

Make sure you get travel and health insurance before your trip. Safety Wing is my go-to and they are cheap and easy to claim with.

Safety Wing also allows you to sign up when you are already traveling, unlike a lot of other travel insurance providers.

If you liked this post, check out more of my Australia content:

• The Ultimate Itinerary for 5 Days in Sydney
• The Best Sydney Walks
• How to Spend a Weekend in Cairns and on the Great Barrier Reef
• Experiencing Real Autumn in the Blue Mountains of Australia
• Fitzroy Island: A Tropical Escape on the Great Barrier Reef
• Fun Things To Do in Jervis Bay,New South Wales
• The Best Two Day Kangaroo Island Itinerary
• The Great Ocean Road: Is it Overrated?
• Ultimate Bucket List for a Summer in Sydney
• Best Things To Do in Alice Springs in the Australian Outback
• What To Expect on a Three Day Uluru Tour
• How to Spend One Day in Melbourne

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