Trip Overview

One of Victoria’s most iconic Parks is the Grampians National Park. It rises from the surrounding plains like a skyscraper in the desert. Once you enter the mountains, a timeless sense of wonder envelopes you, as the mountains seemingly stretch as far as the eye can see.

Our base is Halls Gap, which has restaurants, shops, cafes and loads of friendly kangaroos waiting to meet you.

The Grampians also has some of Victoria’s most famous 4WD tracks and hiking trails. So why not join us for the weekend, make new friends and experience this wonderful part of Victoria. If you have never been here before, I guarantee you will want to come back.

Please note, this is a rescheduled event; it was initially planned for the Melbourne Cup Weekend. The event is now a regular weekend event, but an optional Monday event will take place for those wanting to extend their stay by another day!

Your trip leader and hike leader is Craig. Trip organiser is Doug. For a copy of the trip flyer, contact the trip organiser using the “Enquiry” button, below.

 

Accommodation

It appears you will need to book PRIVATE ROOMS for this trip. If you would like to book a twin room to share with another in the group, please let us know so that we can put you in touch with anyone else in our group who wishes to share a twin room.

You are also welcome to arrange your own accommodation at another venue if you prefer. If you prefer to camp at a nearby campground to cut costs, then please do so. Just make sure you meet us at the YHA Hostel at 8.30am each day to depart for the hikes.

Any cancellations will be between you and the accommodation provider. YHA venues have very reasonable cancellation policies.  You can check their website at the time of booking, but at the time of writing, their policy is:

• Free Cancellations up to 7 days prior to your arrival date
• a 5% fee will be applied to cancellations between 1 – 7 days before the arrival date
• One nights stay per person will be charged if you cancel with less than 24 hrs notice or do not arrive.

 

Itinerary and Walk Descriptions

This trip is graded as Medium-Hard. Please be honest with yourself about your ability. We intend to move at a pretty decent clip. Note that we don’t run guided tours – it’s a hiking trip. Trip leaders may decline a booking if they are not confident that you have the requisite fitness.

You can have a rest day any day you like, except for the poor leader who will trudge on every day!

We leave for each day’s hikes at 8.30 am. If you aren’t ready to leave for the day’s walk at the specified departure time and place for that day, we will assume you are having a rest day and will simply move on without you.

We will organise a group dinner on the Saturday night at a local pub. Our experience is that people like to visit bars and restaurants fairly often on these trips! However, the YHA hostel has two self-catering kitchens and two guest lounges for those wishing to relax at the hostel.

 

Friday:

Travel to Halls Gap and arrive at your accommodation.

Saturday:

Briggs Bluff, (13 km, M-H, about 6 hours)

This track involves slippery surfaces, creek crossings and steep climbs. The track rises steeply at first, before following an undulating route below a cliff line. It then crosses a rocky slap and over rocky outcrops and onto the plateau above before reaching the summit of Briggs Bluff.

Heatherlie Quarry Heritage Walk (3 km, E, 1 hour)

The Heatherlie sandstone quarry was established in the 1860s or the 1870s. The sandstone was highly prized, and was used to construct a number of buildings in Melbourne, such as Parliament House, Melbourne Town Hall, the State Library of Victoria, the Melbourne Port Authority Building and the Regent Theatre. It even had its own railway line from the Grampians.

The quarry closed in the 1940s. We’re just gonna take a look. There is apparently a small ghosttown still there.

Sunday:

The Pinnacle (10 km, M-H, about 5 hours) and Mount Boronia. (6 km, M, about 2.5 hours)

Starting and finishing at Halls Gap, this extended walk is essentially two walks combined as one. The first walk takes you all through the Botanic Gardens and the Venus Baths, before commencing the 400 metre climb to The Pinnacle via the Elephants Hide. There is a little used track that descends down the face of the mountain back into Halls Gap, making this a circuit walk.

Upon our return to Halls Gap, we will enjoy a light lunch, before heading up to Mount Boronia, a hike your intrepid leader has never done before. It climbs to the crest of the Mount William Range and a steep climb to the summit. Enjoy panoramic views west across the Fyans Valley to the cliffs of the Wonderland Range, where you were barely a few hours ago.

You can choose to do either or both of these hikes.

Monday (Optional, of course!):

Chatauqua Peak Loop (5-6 km, Easy, 2.5 hours)

Leaving from Halls Gap, this track takes you to Clematis Falls and then up a steep and rocky spine to the Chatauqua Peak summit. Follow the track back down the ridge and through the beautiful Bullaces Glen

The Balconies (2 km, Easy, 30 minutes)

Subject to interest and energy levels, the easy Balconies walk actually takes you to a pretty special place for views over the Victoria Valley.

You can choose to only do some or all of these hikes if you prefer – but all will be offered. I figure if you’ve come this far, you may as well as seize the day . . .

The homeward trip then commences . . . or we can add something else if demand exists.

 

Should you Participate?

We need to follow all state government requirements regarding COVID-19, therefore:

• You should not be attending this walk if you are required to be in quarantine or isolation, live in an area under lockdown or are experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms as explained in this government webpage:        COVID-19 symptoms
• To attend this walk, you should be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have a medical exemption certificate at the date of the walk. This is a state government requirement that we need to comply with.

If you or anyone in your household feels sick in any way, please cancel. If you become unwell during the walk please notify your Leader immediately.

If you are in a high risk category, including being elderly or having a pre-existing medical condition, you should consider carefully whether you participate as the Club will accept no liability if you choose to participate.

Refer also to the Victoria state government Coronavirus page

 

Social Distancing and Good Hygiene

Before, during and after the walk, please practice social distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risk of infection, as explained here:

Hygiene and physical distancing

Carry a mask and wear it when required by the state government. Refer to:

Face masks in Victoria

 

Transport

Transport to and from the walk location is by car. Please indicate your transport requirements and preferences on the booking request form when you book in.

If you don’t have a car, we can’t guarantee to provide you with a lift – this will depend on available drivers and their locations.

Drivers can choose whether they wish to take passengers or not.

For drivers who agree to accept a passenger, refer to this link for Victorian State Government guidelines for travelling with others:

CovidSafe Travel in Victoria – Travelling with others

Passengers must pay the driver their share of car-pooling costs as described on the Car-pooling page. Please discuss the preferred method of payment with your driver.

 

Booking

Booking is  required for this walk.

For harder-graded walks, the leader has the right not to accept bookings from anyone they consider is not sufficiently fit or experienced to undertake it, so please provide as much relevant information as you can when booking. Unless the leader knows you well, please indicate what similar walks you have done recently (i.e. in the past few months) to give the leader confidence that you are capable of doing this walk.

This event is aimed at adults, both in terms of the hikes selected and the dinner and drinks venues. Over 18s only please.

The Leader will confirm your acceptance on the walk, or not, via email.  The leader will provide details of where and when to meet.

Booking Fee:
Members: free.     Non-members: $10.

Payment:
To avoid handling cash, non-members are required to pre-pay their booking fee. Payment by Paypal or card is the quickest method, but if you choose to pay by EFT please follow the instruction to email the Treasurer with your payment details.

Cancellation:
If you need to cancel, please advise the leader as soon as possible, so that someone else has the opportunity. Unless there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. you need to cancel because you are experiencing Covid-19 symptoms), there will be no refunds.
So please do not book unless you are fully committed to walking.

 

What to Bring

• Hand Sanitiser
• Face Mask

• All the equipment, clothing, food and water you will need for the walks and overnight stays (refer Trip details above).

Refer to our Gear Checklist page for more details, or discuss with the leader.  If you are not properly equipped, the walk leader can decide not to let you participate on this walk.

 

Still have questions?

Check out Joining a walk and your safety

Check out What happens on a walk.

Check out Weekend and extended walks.

Check out our Covid-19 status.

Contact the leader using the “Enquiry” button.

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