Rugged. Romantic. Breathtaking.

A favourite of hikers, rock climbers and those seeking spectacular views, The Grampians are a ragged outcrop of mountains that formed hundreds of millions of years ago.

Known to the local indigenous people as ‘Gariwerd’, which means “pointed mountains”, the European name of The Grampians was given to them by Major Thomas Mitchell in 1836. He named them after the original Grampians in his homeland Scotland.

The Grampians National Park is the 4th largest in Victoria, covering some 1,672 sq km. The highest peak rises some 1167metres above the surrounding countryside.

Gariwerd – a sacred place

Gariwerd is a very sacred place to the local Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people and is connected to their Dreamtime stories. It contains some 90% of all extant indigenous rock art in Victoria.

At the heart of the Grampians are stunning rock formations that rise up from the nearby plains, literally calling you to wander and climb upon them.

If you crave spectacular views and stunning vistas, then The Grampians are for you.

If you enjoy challenging hikes or easy walks, The Grampians are for you.

And if magnificent waterfalls appeal to you then you should visit.

Walks, hikes, climbs and endless views

Every year hundreds of thousands of people, tourists from all over the world, come to the Grampians to spend a day or two in an ancient timeless place that speaks of mystery and history stretching back an eternity.

You could spend an entire day down in the valley just gazing up at the spectacular craggy cliffs in wonder or a day on top of them looking down into the valley in sheer amazement.

One of the best things about The Grampians is the variety of walks and hikes available for people of all ages and all abilities.

There are simple, fairly low gradient walks or hikes to very serious rock climbs that only fully equipped professionals should attempt. And in between there are many others.

The Pinnacle Walk

The Pinnacle Walk is probably the most popular. This walk takes about 1.5 - 2.0 hours in total and is moderately easy for those who consider themselves reasonably fit and capable. It is popular and very scenic starting from the Wonderland carpark with options for various different routes, taking in impressive sights along the way, like the Grand Canyon and mysterious Silent Street. It ends on a platform lookout at the highest point of the mountains with sweeping views across the entire area. Everyone who takes finds it very rewarding.

For those wanting a walk of a shorter duration you can simply reach the Grand Canyon and turn around. You will still find it very rewarding.

Reed Lookout or The Balconies

Or you may want to take either the Reed Lookout or The Balconies walk, both of which are short and fairly easy and start from the same carpark. The path to Reed Lookout is well maintained and so easy to walk that it can actually be accessed via wheelchair. From the viewing platform you will enjoy a sweeping vista that takes in the entire Victoria Valley, Serra Range, Lake Wartook and even Mt Difficult Range. Many choose to take this walk to watch the sunset and catch the pink and purple hues as the sun bids farewell to another magical Grampians day.

If you’d like to do short walks in one day, then The Balconies if your other alternative as you can start this walk from the same places as Reed Lookout. It’s a relatively easy 2 kilometre walk to the Balconies where you will again be rewarded with spectacular views of Victoria Valley and the surrounding ranges. Many unusual and striking rock formations can be found on this walk and it is popular for early risers to get a view of a fresh, misty morning.

The Chataququa Peak Loop

Another relatively easy walk that starts in the nearby town of Halls Gap is the Chataququa Peak Loop. It’s about 1.5 hours in duration on a medium grade walking track that totals 5.6km for the full circuit. It takes you through the lush surroundings and open forest at the foot of the Grampians, all the way through to the Clematis Falls. On any given day you are likely to see large mobs of Eastern Grey Kangaroos grazing on the green grass of the Halls Gap Recreation Reserve - the local ‘footy ground’.

The more challenging Mount Rosea Walk

If you enjoy something a bit more challenging, then the Mount Rosea Walk could be for you. However, it should only be tackled by competent hikers who are used to steep terrains and who have accomplished some actual rock climbing. It’s a Grade 4 hike that typically takes about 5.5 - 6.0 hours to finish. It will take you on a 17.5km circuit that includes some steep ascents and scrambles over rocky terrain. You will be walking around, over and under boulders during this ‘walk’ that includes a significant amount of elevation gain (code for it’s ‘steep’!). But you will be rewarded along the way with some magnificent rock formation and the summit itself presents you with simply stunning 360° views.

Walk to McKenzie Falls

A much easier walk, and one that almost every visitor to The Grampians takes in, is the scenic walk down to McKenzie Falls. This spectacular waterfall is some 40 metres high, making it one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria. It is also the only waterfall in the area that flows all year round. You can either choose to go down to the bottom near the rock pool and look up at the falls or stay at the top and gaze down as you watch the waters cascade into the valley below.

Mount Abrupt and Hollow Mountain walks are other popular, more moderate walks that can be tackled by almost anyone who is reasonably fit and active and doesn’t have any major health problems.

The real beauty of the Grampians is not just the walks themselves but the many stunning stops along the way. You will be tempted so often to just stop for a moment to take in the vista. Or pause to look at some curious rock formation or other unusual feature. You may find yourself transfixed by them for ages and lose all track of time.

The story of The Grampians

The story of the Grampians began millions of years ago when layers of sand deposited on the bottom of a giant inland sea. Over millennia the sea floor compacted and rose through tectonic uplifting and folding, forming the craggy ridges and escarpments we see today. Adding to the unique beauty of the area are magma formations that intruded into the landscape over 400 million years ago. These are more resistant to the elements, creating an even more irregular landscape.

Over thousands of years, the wind, the rain and the rivers have all combined to weather the landscape and shape it into the dramatic, jagged formations we see today.

All these elements are still at work and the Grampians of this year will be unlike the Grampians 10,000 years from now. The forces of nature will remove many features we know now and create new ones yet to be seen.

It’s an evolving, ever-changing landscape, and that is part of its mystery and allure.

Wildlife aplenty

Nature is all around you in The Grampians. It is home to over 950 native plant species and around 200 varieties of birds. Plus kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and echindas. For those who stay overnight in the caravan parks down in the valley, they will often be greeted in the morning by large mobs of kangaroos having their morning meal of fresh, green grass. Usually the Eastern Greys, but sometimes the Western Greys as well. Joeys poking their heads out of their mother’s pouches, males standing up on their hind legs, ever alert to danger.

Rock climbing, hiking, gliding and many more activities abound in The Grampians. For the outdoors type it is the perfect place.

The mountains are subject to fire and the valleys to flooding so it is typical of the harsh Australian climate.

But if your heart yearns for hikes towards spectacular lookouts that will literally take your breath away, the Grampians cannot be beaten.

Note: As is happening in many places across Australia there has been some friction between rock climbing groups who want access to all areas and the local indigenous elders who see many parts of the Grampians as precious and sacred to them and they don’t want a whole lot of people climbing all over them. So access to some areas may change with time.

Where is The Grampians?

The Grampians (also known by its Indigenous name, Gariwerd) is located in the western part of Victoria, Australia.

It is a region defined by a spectacular range of sandstone mountains, serving as the western extremity of the Great Dividing Range.

Key Location Details

• It is approximately 260 km (160 miles) west of Melbourne. It typically takes about 3 hours to drive there from Melbourne via the Western Highway. Gateway Towns include Halls Gap, Stawell, Horsham, Dunkeld and Ararat.

Getting There

The most common route is driving west from Melbourne on the Western Highway (M8) towards Ararat and Stawell, then turning off toward Halls Gap. Alternatively, you can take the Glenelg Highway if approaching from the south (near Hamilton/Dunkeld).

Note on the Name

While the Australian region is the most common reference for "The Grampians" in travel contexts, the mountains were named after the Grampian Mountains in Scotland. If you are asking about the Scottish range, they are located in the central Highlands of Scotland.

Need an expert guide?

Check out Grampians Private Tours by Melbourne Touring Company.