Summer in the Grampians is hot. Not unbearably so, but the kind of dry, eucalyptus-scented heat that makes you think about water a lot. The good news: Gariwerd has swimming holes, lakes, waterfalls, and creeks that are genuinely worth the walk or the drive. Here are seven of our favourites. 1. Venus Baths Natural sandstone […]

Two stops. One short drive from Halls Gap. Both worth it. Reed Lookout and The Balconies sit together on the western edge of the Grampians — you park once and walk to both. The views are completely different from anything you’ll see on the eastern side of the ranges. Reed Lookout The lookout itself is […]

Mackenzie Falls is the kind of place that earns the drive. At about 45 minutes from the Nook, it’s the furthest north we regularly send guests — but nobody has ever come back saying it wasn’t worth it. It’s the largest waterfall in Victoria, and when it’s running well, the sound reaches you before you […]

The Pinnacle is the walk guests do on their first morning. Short, close to town, and completely unforgettable — it sets the tone for everything that follows. At just 3 kilometres return, it climbs from the Grand Canyon trailhead through a narrow gorge before emerging on open sandstone with views over Halls Gap and the […]

Lake Fyans is where locals go when they want the Grampians without the crowds. The reservoir sits on the northern edge of the national park, surrounded by open farmland and the blue haze of the ranges. It’s a different feel from Halls Gap — wider, quieter, more breathing room. Out on the Water This is […]

Boronia Peak is not the most visited hike in Gariwerd. It’s the most rewarding. At 1,050 metres, the views from the summit take in almost the entire Grampians range — north to the Serra Range, south over Lake Bellfield, west across the Wartook Valley. On a clear day you can pick out landmarks you’ve visited […]

Venus Baths is one of those places that earns its name. A series of natural rock pools cut into the sandstone, tucked into a creek valley just outside Halls Gap. It’s a short walk — around 1.5 kilometres from the car park. The trail is mostly flat and shaded, which makes it a good choice […]

Most people drive past Lake Bellfield on the way to somewhere else. That’s their loss. The lake sits in the valley below Boroka Lookout — you can see it from up there, catching the light. But it’s worth stopping at, not just looking down at. What’s There There’s a picnic area on the northern shore […]

There are lookouts in Gariwerd that impress you. And then there’s Boroka. It’s the one guests describe when they get home. The one that ends up as a phone wallpaper. The view over Lake Bellfield and the Wartook Valley that keeps going long after you expect it to stop. Getting There Boroka Lookout is about […]

Not every walk in Gariwerd needs to be an expedition. Clematis Falls proves that. It’s a one-kilometre out-and-back from the Halls Gap Recreation Reserve — flat, shaded, and quiet. Twenty minutes each way. You could do it before breakfast and still make it back for eggs. The Walk The trail follows a creek through a […]