Grampians National Park
From World travel guide
Grampians National Park is in western Victoria, Australia. The Grampians ranges are renown for their hiking trails, wildlife and wildflowers. Their aboriginal name is Gariwerd.
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Understand
The Grampians are a series of uplifted, tilted and eroded ranges. They form the western extremity of the Great Dividing Range. Even from a distance they look spectacular as they rise out of the surrounding plains. The only town and the main access point to the Grampians is Hall’s Gap.
- Grampians National Park Visitor Centre, Grampians Tourist Rd, (southern end of Halls Gap), 61 3 5356 4381. Every day except Christmas Day 9am-5pm. Has very good displays. Free entry.
- Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre, Grampians Tourist Rd, (behind the National Park Visitor Centre), 61 3 5356 4452. Every day except Christmas Day 9am-5pm. Aboriginal heritage displays and souvenirs. Free entry to displays and souvenir shop. http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1process_details.cfm?place=174
Get in
By car
There are a number of routes into and through the Grampians. If travelling on the Western Highway from the Ballarat/Melbourne direction to Halls Gap, turn off at Stawell. Halls Gap is 260 km from Melbourne. The paved Grampians Tourist Road from Halls Gap to Dunkeld at the southern end of the ranges is a scenic drive through the ranges.
By bus
A bus runs from Ballarat to Stawell and connects with another bus to Halls Gap.
See
- Kangaroos come to feed in the park right across the road from the Halls Gap supermarket in the late afternoon.
- When you're visiting Halls Gap, look up, there are usually a few koalas in the trees for the keen sighted - and if you're lucky they'll be in a low branch for easy viewing!
Hear
In the evening, hundreds of corellas, a type of white and pink cockatoo, fly around Halls Gap in large flocks and roost in the trees. The noise is quite remarkable.
Do
- Hiking. There are more than 160 km of trails offering everything from short easy strolls to challenging overnight hikes.
Buy
There is a supermarket at Halls Gap.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Budget
- Campgrounds. There are 13 campgrounds throughout the park. All have toilets, fire places and picnic tables and most have water. Pay fees through a self-service permit system at the campgrounds.
- Bush camping is permitted in many, but not all, areas of the park away from the designated campgrounds.
- Brambuk Backpackers, Grampians Tourist Rd, Halls Gap. (southern end of Halls Gap, opposite the visitor center), 61 3 5350 4544 (fax 5356 4609).
- Grampians YHA Eco-hostel, cnr Buckler St and Grampians Rd, Halls Gap. (on the way into Halls Gap from Stawell), 61 3 5356 4544 (grampians@yhavic.org.au, fax 61 3 5356 4543). A very well-designed, purpose-build hostel. Designed with ecological sustainability in mind, it has features such as solar heating and recycling of shower water to flush toilets. The careful design has extended even to the vegetation plantings. The kitchen is well-equipped with utensils such as knife sharpeners, rice cookers and bread makers (bread-making ingredients are available for purchase). Fresh eggs are available for free from the hen-house. Has 4-bed dorms with lockers. Prices may be a bit higher than most hostels but you won’t find many hostels as good as this. Dorm bed adult members $22, under 18 years $18, adult non-members $27 (off-season $25.50), double/twin $27.50 per person, single $50, family room $75. http://www.yha.com.au/hostels/details.cfm?hostelid=93
- Tim’s Place, 44 Grampians Rd, Halls Gap. (on the way into Halls Gap from Stawell), ph/fax 61 3 5356 4288. Small hostel. http://www.timsplace.net/
External links
- Grampians National Park from Parks Victoria.
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