Lauren Adcock has just returned from a weekend escape where she immersed herself in the picturesque Grampians. Only four hours from Mildura, she says it was hard to turn down an opportunity to get close to wildlife and enjoy a change of scenery in the great outdoors.
THERE’S a saying that goes something along the lines of “the mountains were calling, so off we went”.
When I envisage a mountain getaway, my mind immediately takes me to locations that would perhaps be geographically impossible to reach from Mildura just for a weekend.
But after refreshing my memory with a map of Victoria, I was reminded the Grampians were only four hours south of Mildura.
Four hours to enjoy a mountain escape for the weekend suddenly seemed realistic. So, off I went.
Halls Gap is a little town surrounded by the Grampians National Park.
It’s the perfect base to stay, shop and dine in between exploring the various peaks and lookouts within the Grampians.
Spring is an ideal time of year to visit the Grampians, particularly for visitors seeking a little bit of a challenge and adventure without battling with hot weather.
With this in mind, I met many return visitors who say winter is just as equally a great time to visit the Grampians as rainfall brings out the radiant colours and sounds of nature, whether it be the greenery on the mountain facades, flowing of the waterfalls or singing of the birds.
There are plenty of accommodation options in Halls Gap, which cater to the desires of all visitors.
I stayed at the Boronia Peak Villas – a middle-range choice – and particularly liked the proximity to the main stretch of cafes and amenities in Halls Gap.
The villas are also equipped with a kitchen, in-ground spa and fireplace, which was undeniably appreciated after a day of hiking.
Over two days, I managed to cram in a good balance of adventure and relaxation between hiking, exploring lookouts and scouting the town’s best coffee.
Highlights not to miss:
MacKenzie Falls
The first stop I made after arriving in Halls Gap was visiting the local information centre.
I wanted to create an itinerary for my weekend based on recommendations from the Grampians experts.
One of the first attractions I was told not to miss was MacKenzie Falls. I’m glad I listened.
MacKenzie Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria.
Flowing all year round, the falls cascade over beautiful cliffs into a deep pool, sending sprays of rainbow mist into the air above the stunning gorge.
Getting to the falls is relatively easy. It’s a 40 minute drive from Halls Gap on Mount Victory Road.
Once arriving at the carpark, there are two paths visitors can take.
Both paths are an easy, one-kilometre walk which will take visitors to different viewing platforms.
But, if you want to get below the falls, there is a steep trail which takes about 25 minutes one way.
Boroka Lookout
I knew over my two days I wanted to experience a challenge which lead me to selecting the Boroka Lookout hike.
The hike starts from the Wonderland Carpark on Mount Victory Road, and takes about four to five hours round-trip to complete (7.5km in total).
It is relatively hard on the way up as the path and terrain is rugged.
But – like most things – the hard work pays off.
Boroka Lookout provides spectacular views of the Wonderland Range, Mt William Range, Fyans Valley, Lake Bellfield and the plains to the east of the Grampians.
There was plenty of wildlife to spot on the way back down the mountain; from mountain goats to cockatoos.
The Pinnacle
The Pinnacle hike is one of those “pinch me” moments once reaching the top.
Visitors can access the 2.1km path (one way) from the Wonderland Carpark, where the track then continues via the Grand Canyon.
While it is one of the shorter hikes, it is challenging and I would recommend checking the wind conditions before committing to do the hike.
Once at the top, the views sprawl over Halls Gap and the many peaks of the Grampians.
