Halls Gap and Grampian Ranges, Northwestern Victoria, Australia, Travel Information

SO TRANQUIL IS THE TOWN OF HALLS GAP IN NORTH-WESTERN VICTORIA THAT KOALAS CAN SOMETIMES BE FOUND SNOOZING IN THE TREES AND KANGAROOS GRAZE ON THE MARGINS OF THE TOWN IN THE EVENING. WHEN YOU CONSIDER ITS SURROUNDINGS HOWEVER, IT’S NO WONDER THAT THE TOWN PREFERS TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE.

Link to accommodation, cottages & bed and breakfasts around Halls Gap and the Grampians

Story by Mike Gebicki

Magnificently sited on the floor of the Fyans Valley, where the Mt Difficult Range meets the Mt William Range, Halls Gap is the accommodation and services base as well as the northern gateway to the Grampians National Park. This is one of the most spectacular national parks in the country, the bed of an ancient sea that has been sculpted by eons of wind and rain into a five star wilderness of cliffs, waterfalls and forests and carpeted with a fantastic array of wildflowers. There are more than 900 species of wildflowers in the park - and 200 species of birds and 40 species of native mammals. Its combination of flora, fauna and outstanding beauty makes this a natural paradise for anyone who revels in the sights and sounds of wild Australia.

The list of local activities includes rock climbing, abseiling, rafting, mountain biking, photography, fishing, horse riding, wildlife tours and four-wheel drive tours – a menu that appeals to everyone from the connoisseurs of the rock climbing world to those who prefer their natural wonders through the tinted window of a tour bus.

Anyone with limited time can taste the area's incredible scenery on a drive-through tour of the park. The circuit of the Wonderland Range from Halls Gap should not be missed, and Halls Gap to Zumstein via the Mount Victory Road is highly recommended. The drive between Halls Gap and Dunkeld, at the southern entrance to the park, is similarly spectacular.

While the circuit drive of the Wonderland Range is an essential prelude, to experience the very best of the Grampians you'll need to put on your hiking boots and explore some of the park's network of 50 walking trails. The park has more than 160 kilometres of walking trails, from short, easy trails to challenging overnight expeditions through rugged terrain. For anything more than a short stroll, water and warm, waterproof clothing are a must. Some of the best short walks are the 2½ hour trip to the summit of Mount William, the 2½ hour hike to the Pinnacle from the Wonderland Turntable, and the short walk to MacKenzie Falls from Cranages picnic area. The MacKenzie Falls is at its spectacular best after rainfall, when enormous torrents of water cascade over 40 metre cliffs into a deep pool, sending fine sprays of rainbow mist high into the air above a stunning gorge. The trail also passes lookouts to Broken Falls. Just a few kilometres drive away lies Zumstein, a popular picnic spot known for its inquisitive kangaroos.

Another captivating walk is the hike to Beehive Falls. A gently undulating track follows meandering Mud Hut Creek upstream through forest to a series of rock steps and on to the falls, surrounded by multicoloured cliffs. Delicate ferns and mosses cling to the sheer rock walls as the cascade tumbles over huge boulders in its 25 metre drop. Large stones beside the pretty rock pool at the base of the falls make a peaceful picnic spot. The walk is especially rewarding in spring, when water levels are high and the pink and white wildflowers are at their spectacular best.

Many of these walking trails will also take you past caves that were once used by the Aboriginal inhabitants of the region, who know the Grampians as "Gariwerd". The abundant food supply made these ranges a natural refuge for Aboriginal people, and more than a hundred caves have been found daubed with their rock art. For an insight into the region's earliest inhabitants, visit the fascinating Brambuk Cultural Centre at Halls Gap, which focuses on the area's Aboriginal inheritance through displays, talks and performances of song and dance. The centre also conducts tours to historic Aboriginal cave and rock art sites in the park.

While it prides itself on its rugged outdoor credentials, Halls Gap is no stranger to the good life. Held every year in early May, the Grampians Gourmet Festival is a showcase for the fine foods and wines of the region, as well as an entree to a broad spectrum of gastronomic pleasures. Events include a wine auction of Grampians Shiraz, wine appreciation seminars, live music and entertainment, cooking demonstrations, lectures, food and wine market stalls, cultural performances, a wine makers dinner and the Wine Tunnel. Guided only by their nose, amateur wine buffs test themselves against some of the leading winemakers from the Grampians Region in a blind wine tasting.

Halls Gap is also the centre of the Grampians winegrowing district, and wine touring is yet another of the town's options. This was the first region in Australia to make sparkling wines, and the tradition continues with Seppelts Great Western, probably the best-known Australian sparkling wine. The Grampians was also one of the few regions that was spared the phylloxera that devastated Australia's vines in the late 1800s, after most of the vineyards of France had been wiped out, and some of these varieties such as troyen, from Burgundy, have survived nowhere else. The region's white wines are typically long-lived, gaining in complexity and stature with age, while the reds show a balance in the best vintages that comes from perfect ripening. One of the regional strengths is Shiraz, which produces finely structured wines with intense spice.

The best time to visit Halls Gap is during October, when the park's heathlands come to life with colourful displays of Grampians boronia, Grampians pin-cushion lily, Grampians parrot-pea, Grampians thryptomene and a multitude of other herbs and shrubs. However this is also when the park receives most of its visitors. If it’s solitude you’re after, plan your visit for another time, when accommodation in Halls Gap is plentiful and when you can have the koalas, the kangaroos and the spectacular lookout at The Balconies all to yourself.