The Grampians National Park may not be the first thing you think of on a road trip through Australia. Yet it is a beautiful piece of nature that should not be missed! Just a 3-hour drive from Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, a multi-day trip to the Grampians is a worthwhile addition to your tour Down Under. You’ll find beautiful hiking trails, green mountain scenery and an awful lot of native animals like kangaroos and emus. Here you can read about the best things to do in Australia’s Grampians National Park and more tips!
Where is Grampians National Park located?
The Grampians is a green oasis located less than a 3-hour drive from Melbourne in the state of Victoria. Considering how vast the distances are in Australia, this is actually quite reasonable—especially if you combine it with a drive along one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines: the Great Ocean Road. You can easily reach the Grampians with a rental car or RV, or on a day trip from Melbourne! The central hub is the village of Halls Gap, from which you can easily visit the park’s most beautiful highlights.
7 best things to do in Grampians National Park
The best thing to do in the Grampians is to be outside in nature! Go hiking, admire waterfalls or enjoy the view from one of the many viewing platforms. Find out here what are the best things to do in Grampians National Park in Australia!
1) Pinnacles Walk
You have an awful lot of hiking trails in the Grampians, making it the ideal destination for any hiking enthusiast. One of the most beautiful walks in the Grampians is undoubtedly the Pinnacles Walk. This out-and-back 6 km walk takes you to a high vantage point over the valley. From here you have a fantastic view of the area. Despite the short distance, count on 2 to 3 hours of hiking since it is always uphill with sometimes very steep sections. During summer days, try to go early as it can get incredibly hot during the day. The hike is also over rocky terrain, so hiking poles and good hiking shoes are definitely recommended. This hike starts at the Wonderland Car Park.
TRAVEL TIP: From Halls Gap you can also do a day hike of 9.6 km that takes you past Spitter Falls to the Pinnacles called the Wonderland Grand Canyon Loop.
2) MacKenzie Falls
MackKenzie Falls are one of the largest waterfalls in the state of Victoria and are a 20-minute drive from Halls Gap. From the parking lot, you can walk to the base of this spectacular waterfall in 20 minutes. You used to be allowed to cross the river to better admire the waterfall, but this has not been allowed since 2024. However, you still have a beautiful view of this waterfall! From MacKenzie Falls, you can hike even further to Fish Falls, following the river that flows through the gorge for 2 km, showing you the best of the Grampians.
3) Reeds Lookout & the Balconies
Reeds Lookout is an accessible viewpoint as it is only a 5-minute walk from the parking lot. Here you can look far across the mountains and valleys of the Grampians. If you can, definitely try to come during sunset for an even better experience! From Reeds Lookout, you can hike 2 km further to the Balconies, a unique rock formation that overlooks the valley like a balcony. If you hike up to the Balconies during sunset, it will also be less crowded.
4) Boroka Lookout
Another viewpoint you absolutely cannot miss is the Boroka Lookout. Again, the lookout platform is right by the parking lot. And here again, you have stunning panoramic views of the Grampians that will blow you away! The Boroka Lookout is a 20-minute drive from Halls Gap and is best combined with the Reeds Lookout because the two are close together.
5) Kangaroo spotting
Anyone traveling to Australia naturally wants to see the country’s mascot: kangaroos! Around Halls Gap and the Grampians you are bound to see some. At one point we saw as many as forty grazing in an open field at Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park! Besides kangaroos, you will also find other unusual animals such as emus, wallabies, echidnas (a type of hedgehog) and white cockatoos. If you go hiking in the Grampians, be sure to keep your eyes and ears open! The best time to see animals is early in the morning or by the time the sun goes down.
6) Brambuk Cultural Centre
Long ago, the area the Grampians was inhabited by the Brambuk aborigines. At the Brambuk Cultural Centre, you can learn more about the history and culture of these traditional inhabitants. In the Grampians you can also find rock drawings of these aborigines, some of which date back as far as 22,000 years. Furthermore, at the Brambuk Centre you will also find information about the park, the walks and the native animals. So it can be useful to visit this cultural and information center first before exploring the Grampians.
Opening hours Brambuk Cultural Centre: daily from 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
7) Great Ocean Road
The Grampians National Park is just a 3-hour drive from what is one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world: the Great Ocean Road. This scenic driving route takes you past dramatic cliffs such as the world-famous Twelve Apostles and Gibson Steps. So if you’re traveling from Melbourne to the Grampians, be sure to include the Great Ocean Road in your itinerary!
Where to stay in the Grampians
The town Halls Gap is the perfect base for exploring Australia’s Grampians National Park, located at the foot of the mountain range. Here you will find numerous accommodations, stores and eateries. Most of the walking and driving routes around the Grampians start from Halls Gap, so you are literally in the middle of the action. We ourselves stayed at the campground Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park, perhaps one of the most beautiful campgrounds in the country! It has great facilities and in the afternoon the nearby open field fills visibility with kangaroos and emus. In addition to room for your RV, you also have beautiful glamping tents and bungalows here. A fun, free camping spot is the Plantation Campground, in the middle of the forest!
Best travel time Grampians, Australia
Grampians National Park in Australia you can visit year-round, but the best time to travel is spring (October and November) or autumn (February and March). Then the temperatures are pleasant and you have less chance of heat waves or heavy rain. Also, try to avoid the vacation days, as hotels and campsites fill up quickly then.
Still have questions about traveling to Australia? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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