A few hours outside of Melbourne you will find the absolute delight that is The Grampians mountain range. With lookouts galore, it is a spot where you can drive, hike and gasp at the beautiful views for days.
The Grampians had been on my bucket list for Australia for a while, & i'm actually shocked it took me so long since being in Melbourne to actually go!
The Grampians had been on my bucket list for Australia for a while, & i'm actually shocked it took me so long since being in Melbourne to actually go!
BUT I finally made the trip in the last few months .. twice!
The first time I went as a day trip with my bezzies Kat, Jonny & Alan and the great team at The Fun Addicts.
If you've not heard of these guys, they are a Melbourne-based travel company that offer one day trips, & local night events.
The second trip was with my good pal Sydney & her housemates over a weekend. We rented a van, stocked up on wine & and took to the hills.
How to get there?
From Melbourne it takes around 3 hours to get to The Grampians.
Head for Halls Gap and you're laughing.
Theres not a whole bunch to do on the way so make sure you've got yourself a great playlist lined up,
stare out of the windowpretending to be in a music video, or grab your pals and some cards and play a game of Bullsh*t.
As you finally arrive into Halls Gap, just before the turn off to follow the signs for McKenzie Falls, there is a large grass oval. STOP THERE!
Here you will find an abundance of pretty tame and friendly (well, some aren't so much) kangaroos.
Look out for the biggest of the all, but note: he gets extremely aroused when fed bread.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
What to do?
The Pinnacle
Head on over to Wonderland car park and get ready for a sweaty hike to The Pinnacle. It says its easy-medium but there are some steep areas so take plenty of water! I actually "forgot' to take my water bottle on this hike and funnily enough only had a bottle of wine to hydrate off!
Can never start the party too soon.
When doing this hike make sure you follow the directions that go via The Grand Canyon (no, you don't take a detour to the U.S) but for the love of god do not go the long route to the top, we accidentally did on the way down.
After exploring through the Canyon & up Silent Street you make it to the glorious Pinnacle. The views up here are crazy and the perfect spot to crack open a bottle of wine & those great group pics ;)
Reeds Lookout & The Balconies
Saddle up at Reeds car park and take a short walk up to the view point overlooking the Victoria Range. From the car par you can walk a further 2km through the shrubs towards The Balconies which are incredible. Its a really nice easy walk and worthwhile views at the end.
Perch yourself on the edge of The Balconies and take in the beauty of your surroundings , but don't take too long - theres lit a queue of people wanting that perfect Instagram shot behind you.
Boroka Lookout
This is up there with one of my favourite views, but be careful because the views are entirely weather dependant. The first time I went it was the most glorious day and was perfect for photographs. The second, welllll not so much haha. I just had to assure everyone the views under the fog were pretty.
The lookout is directly at the carpark so no crazy hike involved here, just crazy views, And if you're feeling brave, ignore all safety signs and hop the fence for the coolest picture ever. Just don't fall off.
McKenzie Falls
One of the biggest falls in Victoria and a decent walk to get to. If you can't deal with steep stairs and big drops maybe this isn't for you.
Take a walk down the zig zag pathways towards the top of McKenzie Falls then clamber down single file the steep steps towards the base. Here you'll find the iconic hopping-stones and lonely rock.
It actually is alot harder to climb the rock that you'd think - I personally haven't done it, but the effort my friend Alan put in to get up, it didn't look easy. Plus he slipped just walking into the water so wasn't selling it for me.
Take your time at the bottom here because you've only got to drag your ass back up to the top.
FYI, on a hangover it ain't cool.
Where to stay?
Easiest place to stop-over if you want to make a weekend of it is at Halls Gap. There are plenty of hostels & hotels along the main road for you to choose from.
We rocked up to Brambuck's Backpackers Hostel and it was great. We were a pack of 10 so got a whole dorm to ourselves and there was only one other group staying in the hostel.
There is a large kitchen to make you own food and a massive lounge area with fire and comfy sofa where you can stay until the early hours of the morning drinking wine & whiskey and playing all sorts of drinking games finding out ridiculous stuff like who you'd want to eat in the group ... sorry Sydney.
The Grampians was an utter bloody delight and I think you should go now.
Like right now.
If you want to SEE what I got up to with The Fun Addicts you can watch my video below. I sadly don't have an updated version with both trips, because well tbh I can't be arsed.
G Goes Global - Australia #15 The Grampians - GoPro Hero 3+ Silver from G Goes Global on Vimeo.
If you liked The Grampians, maybe The Blue Mountains are for you:
- Read my Blue Mountains guide HERE
Thanks for reading & happy travels
The first time I went as a day trip with my bezzies Kat, Jonny & Alan and the great team at The Fun Addicts.
If you've not heard of these guys, they are a Melbourne-based travel company that offer one day trips, & local night events.
The second trip was with my good pal Sydney & her housemates over a weekend. We rented a van, stocked up on wine & and took to the hills.
How to get there?
From Melbourne it takes around 3 hours to get to The Grampians.
Head for Halls Gap and you're laughing.
Theres not a whole bunch to do on the way so make sure you've got yourself a great playlist lined up,
stare out of the window
As you finally arrive into Halls Gap, just before the turn off to follow the signs for McKenzie Falls, there is a large grass oval. STOP THERE!
Here you will find an abundance of pretty tame and friendly (well, some aren't so much) kangaroos.
Look out for the biggest of the all, but note: he gets extremely aroused when fed bread.
Don't say I didn't warn you!
The Pinnacle
Head on over to Wonderland car park and get ready for a sweaty hike to The Pinnacle. It says its easy-medium but there are some steep areas so take plenty of water! I actually "forgot' to take my water bottle on this hike and funnily enough only had a bottle of wine to hydrate off!
Can never start the party too soon.
When doing this hike make sure you follow the directions that go via The Grand Canyon (no, you don't take a detour to the U.S) but for the love of god do not go the long route to the top, we accidentally did on the way down.
After exploring through the Canyon & up Silent Street you make it to the glorious Pinnacle. The views up here are crazy and the perfect spot to crack open a bottle of wine & those great group pics ;)
Reeds Lookout & The Balconies
Saddle up at Reeds car park and take a short walk up to the view point overlooking the Victoria Range. From the car par you can walk a further 2km through the shrubs towards The Balconies which are incredible. Its a really nice easy walk and worthwhile views at the end.
Perch yourself on the edge of The Balconies and take in the beauty of your surroundings , but don't take too long - theres lit a queue of people wanting that perfect Instagram shot behind you.
Boroka Lookout
This is up there with one of my favourite views, but be careful because the views are entirely weather dependant. The first time I went it was the most glorious day and was perfect for photographs. The second, welllll not so much haha. I just had to assure everyone the views under the fog were pretty.
The lookout is directly at the carpark so no crazy hike involved here, just crazy views, And if you're feeling brave, ignore all safety signs and hop the fence for the coolest picture ever. Just don't fall off.
McKenzie Falls
One of the biggest falls in Victoria and a decent walk to get to. If you can't deal with steep stairs and big drops maybe this isn't for you.
Take a walk down the zig zag pathways towards the top of McKenzie Falls then clamber down single file the steep steps towards the base. Here you'll find the iconic hopping-stones and lonely rock.
It actually is alot harder to climb the rock that you'd think - I personally haven't done it, but the effort my friend Alan put in to get up, it didn't look easy. Plus he slipped just walking into the water so wasn't selling it for me.
Take your time at the bottom here because you've only got to drag your ass back up to the top.
FYI, on a hangover it ain't cool.
Where to stay?
Easiest place to stop-over if you want to make a weekend of it is at Halls Gap. There are plenty of hostels & hotels along the main road for you to choose from.
We rocked up to Brambuck's Backpackers Hostel and it was great. We were a pack of 10 so got a whole dorm to ourselves and there was only one other group staying in the hostel.
There is a large kitchen to make you own food and a massive lounge area with fire and comfy sofa where you can stay until the early hours of the morning drinking wine & whiskey and playing all sorts of drinking games finding out ridiculous stuff like who you'd want to eat in the group ... sorry Sydney.
The Grampians was an utter bloody delight and I think you should go now.
Like right now.
If you want to SEE what I got up to with The Fun Addicts you can watch my video below. I sadly don't have an updated version with both trips, because well tbh I can't be arsed.
G Goes Global - Australia #15 The Grampians - GoPro Hero 3+ Silver from G Goes Global on Vimeo.
If you liked The Grampians, maybe The Blue Mountains are for you:
- Read my Blue Mountains guide HERE
Thanks for reading & happy travels
♡ G
Join me on Instagram @gemwills
& follow me on my current Australian Adventure! ☀