bush walks in the Grampians

see also:

Bush walk grading:

easy - a leisurely walk on level or undulating terrain
medium - may need to follow markers; may require some “rock-hopping” or strenuous long uphill or downhill sections
hard - may require navigational skills. expect rough terrain, rock scrambling and strenuous long steep ascents or descents.

NB. the following include walks within the central Grampians area, see Vic Park maps for walks in southern and northern Grampians

Short walks (< 1.5 hrs return):

< 50 metre walk to a view or picnic area:
- Boroka Lookout - no flat ground for astronomy but great views of Hall's Gap
- Reed's Lookout - best spot for astronomy if not windy as good views of the sky
- Sundial Carpark picnic area - sheltered from winds as surrounded by tall trees
- Mackenzie Falls carpark picnic area and kiosk
- Zumstein's picnic area - kangaroos, etc.
easy:
- MacKenzie Falls lookout from Mackenzie Falls carpark
- Broken Falls from Mackenzie Falls carpark
- The Balconies lookout from Reed Lookout carpark
- Lakeview Loop from Sundial carpark
- Venus Baths Loop from Halls Gap carpark
- Fyans Creek Loop from Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre
- Silverband Falls from Silverband Falls carpark
- Clematis Falls from Recreation Oval carpark
medium:
- MacKenzie Falls base from Mackenzie Falls carpark
- Turret Falls from Wonderland carpark
- Splitters Falls from Wonderland carpark
- Tunnel Track from Pomonal
- Grand Canyon Loop from Wonderland carpark
- Bullaces Glen Loop from Halls Gap

Longer walks (1.5-3hrs return):

easy:
- Zumsteins up to MacKenzie Falls via Fish Creek Falls and return (Zumsteins to Fish Falls part is a bit boring but the falls and the walk from Fish to MacKenzie falls is much nicer and far more interesting)
  - see my blog post
medium:
- Boronia Peak from Tandara Rd carpark
- Sundial Peak from Sundial carpark
  - see my blog post
- Chatauqua Peak Loop from Recreation Oval carpark - rated as one of the most interesting walks but last 200m is a rock scramble up
  - 6.5km 2-3hrs return loop, 313m ascent and descent; highest elevation ~400m; lowest elevation 244m;
  - start and finish at Halls Gap recreation park; includes Clematis Falls which are mainly only flowing in winter and which is the steepest section;
  - see https://www.trailhiking.com.au/hikes/chatauqua-peak-circuit/
- The Pinnacle from Sundial carpark
  - see my blog post
- The Pinnacle from Wonderland carpark
- Sundial carpark to Wonderland carpark via the Pinnacle - the best option for first timers but needs a car shuffle - leave one car at Wonderland carpark and drive to Sundial carpark with the 2nd car
  - see my blog post
- Rosea carpark to Mt Rosea and return (~8-9km ~3hrs) - great rock formations, rated as one of the most interesting walks but impacted by bushfires in 2024

Day walks (>3hrs return):

medium:
- Wonderland Loop from Halls Gap (medium-hard)
- Mt Rosea Loop from Rosea campground?? (medium-hard)
- Grampians Garden Loop from Wonderland carpark
hard:
- Boroka Lookout from Halls Gap

Overnight walks:

medium:
- Wonderland overnight walk (2 days, 1 night, 22km)
hard:
- Mt Rosea walk
  - 3 days, 2 nights, 34km
- Grampian Peaks Trail (GPT)
  - completed in 2021
  - epic one way 13 day/164km through hike that spans the entire length of Gariwerd Grampians, from Mt Zero in the north to Dunkeld in the south (need a car shuttle or book transfers with https://grampianspeaks.com.au/) but can be done in shorter sections
  - mostly Grade 4-5 hiking with lots of rock scrambling and average speeds of 1.5-2kph - so those 8-16km day sections may take a whole day!
  - harder than Larapinta Trail near Alice Springs
  - beware of warmer days - 28degC tends to feel like 38degC as the sun bounces off the rocks, 16-21degC is much nicer for hiking up there but the nights will be colder!
    - Oct-early Nov may be best if it is not raining a lot or very windy and you get the wild flowers and more likely to have water in the streams and seasonal waterfalls
    - late Nov-early Dec or March may be great if forecast is not over 25degC as the nights will generally be warmer
    - localised afternoon convective thunderstorms are not uncommon in spring
  - ensure you do some pack training before hand - carrying similar weights up hills
  - great camp sites (fees of ~$47/night) with water tanks, drop toilets and solar powered USB charging points and can accommodate 20-24 hikers
  - Tent pads are either timber platforms with heavy retractable chain-link to anchor your tent, or firm packed granite sand and generally well separated from each other.
  - Hang up your food in shelters with an obstruction on the string such as a cut off top of a bottle ¹⁾ as there will be mice which can run down unprotected strings and eat your food; shelters have solar powered USB chargers for your phone and a non-potable water tank
  - ultra-marathon runners do the 164km hike as a 48hr day and night run/walk - GPT 100 miler ultra-marathon event is usually in November
  - see also:
    - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYqNSKEA86s Mt Zero to Halls Gap
      - night 1: Barigar hike in camp ground, night 2: Gar camp ground with camp sites on cliff with great northern views; night 3: Werdug campsite - views over Lake Wartook; night 4: Halls Gap;
    - https://lotsafreshair.com/grampians-peaks-trail/
      - tips for the whole 13 day trail

¹⁾

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA08OpS4xHU

Table of Contents

bush walks in the Grampians

Bush walk grading:

Short walks (< 1.5 hrs return):

Longer walks (1.5-3hrs return):

Day walks (>3hrs return):

Overnight walks: