 Visit the Grampians
Situated in the south-west of Victoria, it is a region of magnificent views and rugged landscapes. The Grampians are easily accessible by road from Melbourne along the Hamilton Highway or the Western Highway. In this region you will find cascading waterfalls, striking rock formations and tranquil settings like that found at Lake Bellfield.
While in the Grampians region you can visit towns like Halls Gap situated in the Grampians National Park. Or stop at the Brambuk Cultural Centre and experience Aboriginal culture.
 When you think of the Grampians region you immediately are drawn to the Grampians National Park. This national park features over 160 kilometres of walking trails, waterfalls, scenic lookouts, wildlife and seasonal wildflowers.
While in the Grampians region you will discover some of Victoria’s largest and most spectacular waterfalls. The MacKenzie Falls, which is one of four falls in the MacKenzie River Gorge, flows all year round, but is best viewed between June and October.
 Beehive Falls, with its 25 metre drop, is an easy walk from Roses Gap in the north of the Grampians. Other stunning falls include the Silverband Falls near Halls Gap, and the Nigretta and Wannon Falls, which are linked by a scenic road and best viewed between June and October.
For bushwalking you can choose from an extensive network of tracks and trails of varying levels of difficulty. There's the challenging Mt Rosea Trail that passes through forest and sandstone outcrops or the gentle one-hour return MacKenzie Falls Trail to name just two.
The Grampians region is one of Victoria's main centres for rock climbing and abseiling, offering both challenging and easier climbs on various rock faces, including the internationally-renowned Mt Arapiles. You don’t have to be an expert to join the action – climbing schools and outdoor specialists at Halls Gap and Natimuk will set you up with the right equipment and provide all the necessary training.
Caving is another popular activity in the region. Byaduk Caves, near Hamilton, and Mount Eccles Lava Tube to the south west of Hamilton both offer fascinating underground experiences.
You can explore the Grampians by horse back and join a trail ride through the bush enjoying the abundant native wildlife. Tour operators cater for riders of all levels of experience give the more experienced riders a free rein to explore while keeping a close eye on the novice rider.
 National parks in the region are a haven for birds, with nearly 45 per cent of all bird species found in Victoria being identified here.
The Grampians National Park is the fourth largest national park in Victoria and is renowned for its flora and fauna. Nearby parks include the Little Desert National Park, 1,320 square kilometres of wilderness noted for its spectacular spring wildflowers and the elusive Mallee Fowl. Mt Arapiles-Tooan State Park renowned for its dramatic rock formations providing some of the best rock climbing in the world.
 The Little Desert and Wyperfeld national parks are home to the extraordinary Mallee Fowl, one of the few birds in the world to build a mound for its eggs. Reptiles and mammals, including kangaroos, bandicoots and emus are also plentiful. Camping grounds are available in the Grampians National Park, Little Desert National Park and the Mt Arapiles-Tooan State Park. All offer toilets, fireplaces and picnic tables. There is no booking system – it’s first in, best situated. Obtain your camping permit along with maps and directions on how to get to the camping grounds at Brambuk, the National Park and Cultural Centre.
 With the Grampians region being home to a third of all lakes and rivers in Victoria, other popular outdoor activities naturally include fishing and boating. There is a large variety of fresh water fish species making the Grampians region a freshwater fishing enthusiast’s paradise. Some of the most popular lakes are Rocklands, Toolondo, Lake Wartook and Lake Fyans. Fish species include the Brown trout, rainbow trout, the Murray cod, silver perch, golden perch, freshwater catfish, river blackfish, redfin and carp. The Wimmera River has a healthy population of golden perch, redfin, freshwater catfish, silver perch, Murray cod and carp.
Being located so close to the mountain ranges you are never short of a great view when staying in this region. There is an abundance of self-contained cottages where you can choose the level of luxury from exclusive villas with every comfort needed to simple cabins with cosy log fires.
Try a local guesthouse or B&B for some country hospitality, spend a weekend in restored shearers quarters on one of the working sheep farms in the region or stay in one of the regions’ caravan and camping parks where its a case of getting up close to the local wildlife.
For more information regarding your next visit to Victoria, go to Visit Victoria.
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