Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park is a popular getaway for outdoor travelers in Australia. Hardcore hikers and climbers flock to the Grampians and nearby Mt Arapiles to enjoy some of the country’s best rock climbing and overnight trekking. However, you don’t need a backpack or climbing gear to enjoy these mountains. Here are four popular day walks that let you experience the best waterfalls, wildlife, and walking tracks at Grampians National Park.

MacKenzie Falls Gorge Trail (easy)

MacKenzie Falls is the most popular waterfall in the Grampians. It’s easily accessible from a short walking track and viewing platform. However, few visitors venture below the base of the falls, where the MacKenzie Falls Gorge Trail continues downstream.

This relatively easy trail can get you away from the crowds. It follows MacKenzie Creek for a few kilometers as it cascades down a quiet and scenic gorge. Day hikers can complete this pleasant river walk in one of three ways:

• Down-and-back from MacKenzie Falls. Begin the traditional MacKenzie Falls Walk from MacKenzie Falls Car Park. Once you’ve reached the falls, take the steps down to the base of the falls and continue downstream on the walking track for an out-and-back hike to Fish Falls (5 km round trip) or Zumstein’s picnic area (10 km round trip).
• Up-and-back from Zumstein’s Picnic Area. The reverse route is probably better: Start from Zumstein’s Picnic Area and head upstream to MacKenzie Falls and back. This route starts in the quiet canyon, builds up to Fish Falls and MacKenzie Falls, and finishes with the scenic and easy descent back to Zumstein’s car park (8 km round trip).
• Circuit Route. You can also turn the MacKenzie Falls walk into a loop hike to avoid the repeat scenery of out-and-back hiking. Grab a map (or google a bit) for routes that combine the MacKenzie Falls Gorge Trail with neighboring trails that loop back to your starting point (10 km).

The Pinnacle Circuit (moderate)

The Pinnacle Circuit is the most popular day hike in the Grampians. This moderate trail climbs to a rocky outcrop (the “Pinnacle”) that overlooks Halls Gap. The park service recommends shorter and easier circuits that reach the Pinnacle from the Sundial or Wonderland car parks. However, experienced hikers typically start from Halls Gap–a longer circuit that threads its way through the mountains for ~9 kilometers (5.5 miles) with more than 500 meters (1700 ft) of elevation gain.

The longer circuit begins at a (somewhat hidden) trailhead behind Halls Gap Botanical Gardens and Halls Gap Caravan Park. To hike the circuit anti-clockwise (my preference), stay on the main trail (ignore the left turn at Wonderland Loop), which parallels Stoney Creek. Enjoy the sounds of running water, the slick rock pools at Venus Baths, and short detour to Splitters Falls (recommended). Backtrack to the main trail to begin a steady ascent to the Pinnacle. The track skirts around odd rock formations, up a scenic valley, and through rocky draws nicknamed the “Grand Canyon” (scenic but poorly named) and “Silent Street” (scenic and aptly named). Once the track tops out, enjoy commanding views of the Victorian countryside from the Pinnacle and neighboring cliffs. Once you’ve seen enough, continue counter-clockwise (left) along the ridge to join the Wonderland Loop, which takes you back down to Halls Gap.

I’m usually underwhelmed by the “most popular” trails in most parks, but I’m definitely a fan of The Pinnacle.

Mt. Rosea Track (moderate)

That being said, the Mount Rosea track may be my favorite trail in the Grampians. This hike’s stats are similar to The Pinnacle, but it adds some entry-level scrambling and route finding that I find fun (but beginners may find difficult).

Access this track from the Mount Rosea Car Park, which is approximately 15 minutes from Halls Gap. The walk starts in the woods, but the trees gradually thin out as the track ascends towards Mt Rosea summit. As rocks replace the trees, you’ll enjoy expansive views of the Grampians mountains as you meander through a maze of hoodoos and tortured rock formations. The track gets harder to follow in the rocky terrain; look for yellow arrows and occasional cairns to guide you through an obstacle course of boulders, cliffs, rocky crevasses, and natural rock tunnels. You won’t need to use your hands too much, but there’s just enough scrambling and route-finding to keep things interesting. The Summit is a nice spot for a picnic and panoramic views of Halls Gap, reservoirs, and Victoria’s western plains.

You can either return the way you came (8 km/5 mile round trip) or circle back via the Mount Rosea Circuit (10.5 km/6.5 miles). (The circuit route is less scenic and not maintained.) To complete the Circuit from the summit, (1) continue south on Mt Rosea Track, (2) turn left onto Burma Track (unmaintained service road) until it joins Silverband Road, and (3) continue on Silverband Road to Mt Rosea Car Park. Whichever route you choose, this hiking trail is one of the highlights of Grampians National Park.

Mt Stapylton Circuit (difficult)

“If push came to shove and I was forced to decide which was the most exciting short daywalk in Victoria, I’d have to award that crown to the Hollow Mountain/Mount Stapylton Circuit in the Grampians National Park.”  

Glenn Tempest

Author of many Australian hiking and climbing guides, Glenn Tempest has named Mount Stapylton one of Australia’s best day walks. The Hollow Mountain-Mount Stapylton Circuit (6.6 km) is short hike, but it’s not for beginners. It’s a difficult and potentially dangerous route with plenty of exposure–even a short cliff to cliff jump! If you’re afraid of heights and exposed scrambling, you should sit this one out. Likewise, if you’re not experienced with off track route-finding, you should stick to other tracks. But if you know what you’re doing, Mt Stapylton is a badass day hike that makes many Australians’ bucket lists.

Grampians: When to go? Where to stay?

The Grampians are a year-round travel destination. Most Australians visit between late September (spring wildflowers) and Easter (autumn) for warmer weather. Summer (December-February) is peak season; however, the trails can get crowded, and some waterfalls may be reduced to trickles. Summer walks may be dangerous during a heat wave, and warm weather increases the risk of snake encounters and bushfires (which are common in the Grampians). We enjoyed comfortable hiking and much smaller crowds in winter (July-August).

Halls Gap is the tourist hub of the Grampians. Kangaroos seem to outnumber people in this small village. During peak season, however, Halls Gap can get overrun with rock climbers, weekend warriors, and outdoor travelers.

Halls Gap offers a range of accommodations. You can choose between campgrounds, caravan parks, cabins, and small resorts. We enjoyed multiple stays at D’Altons Resort, booking a simple cabin with a two-person jacuzzi tub (to massage those aching hiking muscles). Wherever you stay in Halls Gap, there’s a good chance there’s a mob of kangaroos near your campsite, caravan, or cabin.

Grampians Kangaroos

The kangaroos are a big draw for wildlife lovers and international travelers. You are guaranteed to see kangaroos–and probably hundreds of kangaroos–on an overnight trip to the Grampians. Look for large mobs of kangaroos in the grasslands outside Halls Gap. Resident kangaroos also roam Halls Gap during the day, grazing in the village’s green spaces. Most marsupials will hide in the bush during the day, but you’ll spot the occasional kangaroo or wallaby from the walking tracks above. Look for grazing kangaroos from the Pinnacle and other overlooks: the dark U-shapes below are kangaroos (which loop their tails for balance). An hour or two before sunset, large mobs of kangaroos descend from the mountains to graze the parks and hillsides along the edge of town. If you’ve got a thing for marsupials, Halls Gap is your place.

Grampians National Park Emus

It’s also your place if you’ve got a thing for emus. I had seen a few emus at Wilsons Prom. However, we saw dozens of emus in and around Halls Gap. In many cases, you’ll see emus and kangaroos mixed together in large grassy areas. In other cases, you may encounter small groups of these big birds scattered across different pockets of bushland within Grampians National Park. They’re stunning birds. And they’re a bit intimidating at close range. They’re usually not aggressive, but we had a couple curious emus get too close for comfort on our Grampians getaway!

Grampians Getaways

When we lived in Melbourne, Grampians National Park was our go-to hiking getaway. It’s an easy weekend trip from Melbourne (and borderline day trip). It’s also a nice detour off the Great Ocean Road and a nice diversion from the Western Highway between Melbourne and Adelaide. If you’re a fan of waterfalls, rocky summits, kangaroos, and emus, grab your day packs and your hiking boots. The Grampians offer some of Victoria’s best day walks and wildlife spotting.

Happy Hiking!