How do I get to the Grampians
By Car: If you have your own vehicle or are renting one, you can drive to the Grampians.
- From Melbourne, the most common starting point, the journey takes approximately 3 hours. You can take the Western Highway (M8) towards Ballarat and continue on to Ararat before turning onto the Grampians Road (C222) that leads to the national park. Follow the signage for specific destinations within the Grampians.
- From the Great Ocean Road, take C178 to Dunkeld, then take C216 to Halls Gap.
- From Adelaide, follow the Western Highway through Horsham, then you have two options: the scenic route is to take the C222 from Drung, which brings you in via Mt Victory Rd; or continue on the Western Highway to Stawell, then turn onto C216 to Halls Gap.
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By Train and Bus: Another option is to take a train from Melbourne to the nearest railway station, Ararat. V/Line operates train services to Ararat, and from there, you can catch a connecting bus to the Grampians. The bus journey from Ararat to Halls Gap takes approximately 45 minutes. http://www.vline.com.au/Timetables/Train-coach-timetables
http://www.sandlantbus.com.au/timetable.htm
OR
By Train: Overland Train with Journey Beyond: Departing Melbourne every Friday at 8:05am arriving at Stawell by 11:58am or departing Adelaide every Thursday & Sunday (check times) to arrive at Stawell. https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/
From Stawell a a bus service is available or book a private Transfers with us.
OR
By: Private Transfers - with us. We offer pick up/drop off service for surrounding towns - click here to see cost and details.
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I only have the weekend - what should I do?
Start your day seeing the Grampians National Park, visit the highlights. If you need breakfast or a coffee be sure to drop into Livefast Cafe or Flame Brothers and grab a some fresh salad rolls and tasty treats from the bakery to take with you for a picnic in the mountains.
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Saturday
9:30am: Start your drive up Mount Victory Road - see the highlights of the Grampians and start with Mackenzies Falls. Arrive by 10:30am and either make the walk to the bottom of the falls and back up, or walk around to the viewing area across from the falls. (2nd option is for low impact/effort)
11am: Next make your way to Reeds Lookout - this great viewing area is just 10 minutes from Mackenizie Falls. If you have the energy make the walk to The Balconies (it will take you 45 minutes return) or just enjoy the lookout points around Reeds lookout.
12noon: Next stop, check out Boroka Lookout - this is a great location to see "the Gap". The most popular viewing location and very easy, no walking required.
3pm: Jump on a Beer and Wine Blast with us. Visit 4 locations in 3 hours in and around Halls Gap. Learn about the region and enjoy local wines and beers. Finishing at 6pm in Halls Gap. Just $115pp
6pm: Finish the tour in town - free to stay at the last location or visit others to enjoy the night. Halls Gap Hotel is great for dinner, Spirit of Punjab, Kookaburra Hotel or grab takeaway from the Town Fryer.
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Sunday
9am: The Pinnacle - this walk is most popular, did you know you can do this walk from three different starting points. Very hard: start from Halls Gap (5 hours) called the Wonderland loop, or from Wonderland carpark, (3 hours) or Sundial Carpark (2 hours). Depending on which walk you do, will depend on your available remaining time. If you finish in Halls Gap from the Wonderland loop, maybe drop into Paper Scissor Rock and call it a day...... OR By 1pm, drive back down to the valley floor and opportunity to grab lunch. Head to Adventure cafe, Paper Rock Scissors or if you packed your own BBQ, visit the park to cook up a storm.
If you have still half a day remaining - make your way to Silverband Falls (photo)
3pm: time for fun or relax! Visit Halls Gap Electric bikes and hire a bike to cruise along the bike track to visit Lake Bellfield and back. Or take a drive out to Brambuk Information centre. Or take the challenge of Adventure Golf and go a round of 18 holes. Or visit the best regional Zoo with over 160 different animals.
Finish the Sunday on a high - a real high and take a scenic flight over the Grampians with a 20 minute flight at $255pp or take a longer flight with 30, 40 & 60 minute options.
Explore near by towns & areas
Stawell just 20 mins from Halls Gap & is part of the Northern Grampians Shire and is known for its natural beauty, historical significance, and annual international athletic event, the Stawell Gift. Discover the history and heritage of the iconic Stawell Gift foot race at the Stawell Gift Hall of Fame. Learn about past winners, see memorabilia, and explore the exhibits that showcase the event's significance in Australian athletics.
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Moyston about 20 minutes from Halls Gap is a small town with an amazing General Store to enjoy a lunch or a snack. Moyston surroundings offer opportunities for outdoor activities such as bushwalking, birdwatching, and photography. Take a walk along the nearby walking tracks or explore the scenic landscapes surrounding the town.Moyston has historical significance related to the gold rush era. Explore the region and discover remnants of gold mining history, old mining sites, and historic buildings plus discover the connection to the developing AFL.
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Dunkeld about 50 minutes from Halls Gap one of the main attractions in Dunkeld is Mount Sturgeon and Mount Abrupt, which provide excellent opportunities for hiking and bushwalking. There are several scenic trails that lead to the peaks, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The nearby Wannon Falls, located in the Wannon River Valley, is another popular spot for visitors plus the very well known Royal Mail Hotel - 2 hat restaurant with Wickens and the lovely Parker Street Project.
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Horsham about 50 minutes from Halls Gap is a vibrant regional town located in the Wimmera region of Victoria, Australia. Here are some things to do in Horsham, Horsham Regional Art Gallery,Horsham Botanical Gardens,The Wimmera River runs through Horsham, providing a tranquil setting for a leisurely stroll, cycling, or picnicking along its banks, variety of boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. Just 30 minutes from Horsham is the town of Dimboola where you will find Pink Lake near by (photo).
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Ararat is a historic town located just 40 minutes from Halls Gap.Ararat has a rich gold rush heritage, with its origins dating back to the mid-1800s when gold was discovered in the area. The town was named after Mount Ararat in Armenia, and many of its streets are named after biblical figures and places. Ararat's history can be explored through its preserved heritage buildings and landmarks. A great location to visit is Ward Museum Complex, Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, and the Ararat Regional Art Gallery.
Something Special
Do you wish to create a special experience with someone special? We have a few suggestion to help with your planning.
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DULC Package
We teamed up with DULC 8 years ago and everyone has been happy with this perfect nature base accommodation that still has the lux we are looking for. With a few options including our most popular VIP package, these package tick all the boxes with everyone planned for you - check them out here.
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Vineyard stay
We have the perfect couple package with a 2 night stay and an extra experience with us, this peaceful location have views of vineyards & roos plus the wood fire to enjoy at night and early and late check in/out included. Check out the options here.
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Best of both Worlds
If you already have accommodation booked and want to fill the day with ticking the box and making the most of it - then we have the Best of Both Worlds package. This provides you with private transfers to the airport, a scenic flight followed by a winery tour in the vehicle visiting 3-4 vineyards for the remaining of the day. If you only have one day and don't wish to hike to see the Grampians (because you can cover so much more in a flight) this package is perfect - Check out the details here.
The Checklist
How many items on the checklist have you done?
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You really can not do everything on one visit, so don't waste anytime, start planning your trip to include some of these great suggestion, allowing for you to get out there and see some of the lesser known locations and walks.
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If you wish to carry a physical copy of this checklist, grab one off us when you jump on board any of our vehicles or helicopter or visit the Information centre in Halls Gap, we have left some with the great team who can give you your very own copy.
