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Popular Things To Do | Other Things To Do Tips | All Tips (39) A picturesque village, Pomonal is within a ten minute drive from Halls Gap. It is located below Mount Cassell and was once the centre of a thriving tobacco and fruit farming area.
We stayed very near to Pomonal and stopped in to visit its native plant nursery. It also had some antique and art and craft shops. The orchards around the area were open to the public and you could buy products from on-farm shops that used locally grown berries, stone fruits, apples, lavender and olives.
I think Pomonal had a nicer, more removed feel than Halls Gap and was still close enough to the Grampians etc. It also is in close proximity to Lake Fyans.
Although we didn't stay in Pomonal itself, we would definitely consider staying there the next time we returned to The Grampians Leave a Comment Address: Pomonal, The Grampians, Victoria
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Coming from Warrnambool or Port Fairy your introduction to the ranges is reasonably dramatic and certainly enticing. Cruising through Dunkeld, a tidy village with civic pride but, realistically, not a lot else other than the grand views, you get a feeling of anticipation but there are few places in the Grampians that are more outstanding than here.
Mt. Sturgeon and Mt. Abrupt (shown here) are the two main features that lure you onwards into the central and northern regions of this vast park. Leave a Comment
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The Grampians aren't just outstanding cliffs, in fact, they're more about bushwalking which is why most people spend at least a few days there. There are heaps of trails; some leading to waterfalls, some leading to lookouts, some just going through the bush.
Around October the wildflowers come out and, next to the Tourist Information Centre at Halls Gap, there is a Wildflower Society and they will take you on free tours of the region. More power to them I say! We took advantage of their generous offer and our host, Margot Sietsma, took us to the Wonderland Carpark and proceeded to enlighten us as to some of the flora that blooms in the area. It took about two hours and we would both recommend it if you are interested in that sort of thing.
{More in travelogue} Leave a Comment Directions: Right in the middle of Halls Gap opposite the caravan park
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The highest point in the Grampians (alternative name Mt. Duwil) is not a standout peak like you might expect of an alp. It's just part of the rugged escarpment that is higher than its surrounds, though it's fair to suggest that it shows a towering presence just before you get to the carpark from whence most people would be walking. The road to the summit goes all the way but keyholders only can get through the boom gate. Then again, when we were there, not even 2 dozen were sufficient. As we arrived there was a minibus and the driver had a swag of keys and, surrounded by about four of his patrons, all noticeably overweight, they were trying to unlock one of the locks on the gate. It seemed that anyone of the two dozen would do, as they tried all of them, but they couldn't match a key with a lock by the time we commenced our walk.
Though it's only 1.8kms to the summit it is steep, especially the first 400 metres or so. Anyway, Rosemarie and I made it to the top, had a look at the vast view and chatted to a Czech Republic youth who had walked all the way with a large backpack from Halls Gap. Awesome! I was more impressed with his feat than the panorama. When we returned it was apparent the luckless coach driver had called it quits and had returned from whence he came with his crew.
Allow yourself about 1 1/2 hours to make the ascent to the 1,167metre high cliff top and return.
Warning - it can be very cold at the top. Leave a Comment
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We were so grateful to be able to see some examples of Aboriginal Rock Art whilst in The Grampians. Gulgurn Manja Shelter was my personal favourite. The walk to the rock art site was wonderful and although I am by no means an expert on Rock Art, I was impressed with what I saw there. It's an easy walk of about 20 minutes from the Hollow Mountain car park.
Gulgurn Manja Shelter means "Hands of Young People". The rock art has some signage to explain the significance and stories and legends of the Jardwadjali people.
If you're in the area, or off to scramble Mount Wudjub-guyan (Hollow Mountain) then I sincerely suggest you also take a leisurely stroll to the Gulgurn Manja Shelter. Leave a Comment Address: Northern Grampians - From Hollow Mountain Car ParkPhone: 13 1963 (info centre)Directions: More information about local Aboriginal heritage etc is available at Brambuk the national Park & Culture Centre in Halls Gap.Website: http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
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It's an easy walk from the Stapylton Campground carpark to Ngamadjidj Shelter. The walk is suitable for all ages, including people with limited mobility.
This is an important Aboriginal rock art site, so please treat it with respect. Leave a Comment Address: Northern Grampians near Stapylton CampgroundPhone: 13 1963Directions: More info can be gained at Brambuk the national Park & Culture Centre at Halls GapWebsite: http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
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Can't think why they'd name this rock "Mushroom"! On the left is our guide, Margot Sietsma, explaining some flora that I missed out on because, frankly, I was more interested in the geology. I'm sure you viewers will understand why! Leave a Comment Directions: It's not far down the trail from the Wonderland Carpark.
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Some 11kms north west of Hall's Gap is the first of the main stopping off points in the Park. Leave the town and drive up over the Wonderland Ranges, following the beautiful gum-tree fringed road to the Look Out. Two platforms have been built, with one looking due east (so the perfect sunrise point) over the flatlands towards the town of Stawell. The 2nd platform (see picture), only a few metres away, looks south and back down the valley overlooking Hall's Gap and the distant (man-made) Lake Bellfield, Mount William (left of pic) and the Wonderland Ranges. Leave a Comment
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Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre was built to represent the form of a Cockatoo bird with its wings outstretched, the totem of the Aboriginal tribe of this region.
Brambuk has many artefacts and great Aboriginal dot paintings on display (and some for sale), a great souvenir shop (selling all kinds of quality souvenirs including digeridoos) and an upper level restaurant where you can try unusual menu items, such as Crocodile Burgers or Kangaroo steak.
On the ground floor there is also a sound and light show telling a story of of the Aboriginal dreamtime about how the Grampians and their features were created by Bunjil.
It's great and entertaining for kids, and also good for adults if you want a basic introduction to Aboriginal mythology of the region.
The second photo shows the curved side roof. Leave a Comment Address: Main Rd, Halls GapDirections: On the main road about 800 mts from the shopping strip, heading out of the town of Halls Gap (next to National Park Visitor Centre)
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The area surrounding the Park is famed for its vineyards, with many large scale established properties (eg Seppelt) as well as smaller boutique vineyards (The Gap - closest to Hall's Gap and a fairly good wine producer). The area surrounding the town of Great Western has a high concentration of vineyards open to the public (on the Western Freeway between Stawell and Ararat) including Seppelt and, our favourite, Best's (renowned for its Shiraz).
Best's,open daily from 9-5, is a beautiful historic property, the public area dotted with old farming and horticultural equipment, emphasising the age of the establishment. The original farmstead is still standing (now converted into public toilets!). Leave a Comment Address: Great Western, between Stawell and Ararat
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