This is certainly what you imagine of when you think of the Outback, pure and unspoiled. I love this park, and the hiking is fantastic. The views are so spectacular with sweeping vistas that will serve as the jewel of your Australian dreams. I only spent one afternoon here, but I could have easily turned that into a day or two with little effort. Awesome experience. read more

Before I begin this review, let me make an announcement for first-time overseas visitors (I probably should have read reviews ahead of time): During the summer, there will be a swarm of Australian flies and they are F-ing annoying. So be prepared! I saw one guy with a hat that has a head mesh net to block out all insects. I soooo wish I had one. I hate flies and their buzzing sound. We went to the Visitor Center and was given a map (same map on the website). The guide gave some suggestions but it was not too detailed. The map was not the greatest. We got confused while driving around the park. Spent 2 nights at Halls Gap so the following is all that was covered: Checked out some lookouts (Reeds, Boroka), lakes (Lake Wartook, Lake Bellfield). Saw the sunset at Balconies. Did only easy hikes - MacKenzie falls (nice waterfalls), the pinnacle (great views and felt like easy rock climbing). I was hoping to see wildlife and saw none. Smelled eucalyptus everywhere at MacKenzie Falls. There were a number of people at the Pinnacle than anywhere else we went. It was faster going back to the car than getting to the Pinnacle. The Pinnacle was my favorite spot. As for restrooms, you should have tissues just in case you run into a pit toilet. Also, I highly recommend Grampians Eco YHA as your choice for lodging. Clean, affordable, safe, and quiet. Even though we did not see all of the Grampians, my friend prefers Wilson's Promontory Park over Grampians. read more

See all

I spent 5 days here and I just love it. Amazing national park, lots and lots of great hikes from easy ones to pretty steep and long loops. Nice town of Halls Gap with a lot of places to sleep, from hotels to chalets and even hostels. Falls, nature, wild life, hikes, bike, amazing landscapes, and.... WINERIES. Perfect for a getaway weekend or more. read more

Grampians National Park - A tree in jail - Halls Gap, VIC

See all

The perfect weekend getaway from Melbourne. Only 3 hours, give or take how you drive. Waiting for you is more than 1600 sq km of breath taking scenery. Spend a weekend or a week, this place does get busy, maybe avoid the major holidays (Easter/Summertime) as it'll be swarming with children. Heck, a normal weekend is busy enough. Stay in Halls Gap, there's plenty of choices from basic to grand. Oh, and do yourself a solid by buying a map from the visitors center or town shops. It'll give you all the info you need as you can't just drive around looking for signs of walks, you won't know how long you'll be out there or where you'll end up. Main points of interest: Boroka Lookout: Easy, straight drive up to, minimal walking required. Reed Lookout and the Balconies: Is a half hour round trip easy walk from the car park, allow extra time for taking in the views and to capture it with pictures. Mackenzie Falls: You have a few options here depending on where you want to go. Follow the sign to go to the base of the waterfall, trust me, that's where you'll want to be. Sure, it'll take you 1.5 hours, it's a 2km walk and downhill going, so your return journey can be difficult as it's all uphill. Pinnacle Walks: This one you cannot miss as it gives you a spectacular view of all of Halls Gap. There's 4 options here, the shortest is parking at the Sundial parking lot and going 4.2km return. It can be steep and medium grade, for a big portion you are climbing up rocks. Best to bring plenty of water, and snacks or a picnic. So when you make it to the Pinnacle, you can sit and enjoy a picnic after all of your effort getting there and before making the long trek back. This bad boy took up 2 hours, and more depending how long you spend up top. There's plenty of other walks to see, but for a weekend, this was plenty enough. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, you can't miss the kangaroos, but there are also emus and koalas. Just a note: most of the park has no phone signal. With the except of being in Halls Gap. Keep this in mind as you go on your adventure. You can find a lot of people doing stupid things like going too close to an edge or standing on a peak or the slippery underside of a waterfall. I'd hate to think about the what ifs. read more

It's almost like the Yosemite of Australia. Lots of hiking, lots of sights, and quite a few restaurants inside the park. The 4WD tracks, however, leave a lot to be desired. read more

Just magic! Awesome landscapes, great bushwalking, chilled lifestyle... One of the best spots for a healthy holiday! read more