Grampians Day Walks

Getting there

Grampians is located in western Victoria, 260 km west of Melbourne CBD. If you travel via Westgate Bridge, make sure you plan extra time for the drive because of traffic congestion. If possible, avoid travelling through the CBD during peak hours.

It took about three and a half hour drive to the Plantation Campground (no fee), 9 km north of Halls Gap and 6 km unsealed road off Halls Gap - Mt Zero Rd. No booking required - just turn up, park your car and pitch tent up. 

Check out this Grampians NP Visitor Guide for Campgrounds that requires fees and booking online prior to arrival.

For those who want a hot shower or two, there are few private caravan parks in Halls Gap.  Also, in Halls Gap you can refill fuel, purchase outdoor gear, top up supply, etc.

My hiking plan started from here 

I find this Grampians Day Walks Map Pack was very useful not only for walking but also for driving. After leaving the Plantation CG, I continued on Mt Zero Rd (dirt road), heading north for the Beehive Falls easy short walk.

Beehive Falls

An easy 2.8 km return walk with the start and end at Beehive Falls carpark, which is located on Roses Gap Rd, off Mt Zero Rd.

Beehive Falls Track

Gar / Mt Difficult Waterfalls

Easy - Medium 4.2 km return walk. 

Took about 2.5 hours including stops for photographs

Start from Troopers Creek Campground, about 3 km south down Roses Gap Road

There are a few signs along the well-maintained track.

A local resident (wallaby) was happy for a pose. I made a short video clip and will have it up on this blog when time permits.

At the third waterfall, there is a sign indicating a return via the same route. 

Walkers heading to Briggs Bluff and Mt Difficult can continue on the track. I have done this walk before with an overnight pack. These tracks are now upgraded as parts of the Grampians Peak Trail (GPT) that I have always wanted to try again.

Goltons Gorge

An easy-medium walk of 800 m leads to the high cliffs of Goltons Gorge.

The start is from Goltons Gorge Picnic Area, off Mt Zero Rd.

Return via the same route.

Views from carpark and the walking track.

Goltons Gorge cliffs

Hollow Mt

Only a short hike but steep areas with exposed cliffs.

Start from Hollow Mountain Carpark off Mt Zero Road. Return via the same route.

View from a sandy walking track.

Views from timber steps

This guy gave me a hand where there was a rope to assist with the climb. Those with short legs and with no rock climbing experience would have a bit of a problem with the climb without footholds and handholds.

The open rocky slabs

I was almost there, less than 100 m to the summit but threatening rain put me off. I went back with some regret.

Mt Zero

A medium difficulty 2.8 km return walk. 

The start is at Mt Zero Picnic Area, about 1.5 km southwest of Hollow Mt Carpark. Both the Hollow Mt and Mt Zero walks can be tackled in a day.

It was very busy at the Mt Zero Picnic Area on a fine day during school holiday. It is not only the start for Mt Zero and Mt Stapylton walks, but also the trailhead for the GPT. There was a tour bus in the car park and people were in the queue waiting for their toilet break. There was only one loo. 

Views from the summit indication cairn, elevation 390m

Mt Stapylton, 518m from Mt Zero 

Mt Stapylton

4.6 km return. Grade: Hard (technically challenged)

Start from Mt Zero Picnic Area

Mt Zero from Flat Rock

The cliff of Taipan Wall 

the Stapylton Amphitheatre

Bird Rock on the Mt Stapylton walking track

Mt Zero in the distance

Rock climbing Area

You looked great, mate and please take care.

Mt Zero from the Mt Stapylton return walking track.

After I left Mt Zero Rd in the northern Grampians, I took the Northern Grampians Rd.,  driving south past Wartook and the Zumsteins Picnic Area, which is the trailhead for Mackenzie River Walk (7 km return, 2- 3 hours, easy-medium grade) on Mt.Victoria Rd. I was rather late for this walk and so I drove on and did the walk starting from Mackenzie Falls Carpark the next day.

Mackenzie Falls

A steep walk from the car park with 260 steps. 

The impressive Fish Falls, 2.1 km walk from Mackenzie Falls Carpark, and also 2.1 km from the Zumstein Picnic Area.

Mackenzie River. I returned via the same route.

Cranages Lookout from the viewing platform

Broken Falls

Wattles

Spotted a local resident wallaby at Mackenzie Falls Parking Area.

Reed Lookout and The Balconie Lookout

Reed Lookout

The Balconies Lookout Walk is an easy 2 km return. Start at Reed Lookout Carpark.

Wattles

The Balconies Lookout

Boroka Lookout

Located on Mt Difficult Rd, NNW of Halls Gap.

The lookout is just a short walk from the carpark and it is 6 km hike from Halls Gap.

Boroka Lookout

Spectacular views of Victoria Valley, Lake Wartook and Mt Difficult Range

Wonderland Carpark to The Pinnacle

A 4.2 km return walk graded medium.

Rocky slabs

Lake Bellfield and Mt Willam from the Pinnacle Lookout 

Looking north from the Pinnacle Lookout - Views of Wonderland and Victoria Valley 

Serra Range from Grampians Rd 

Signal Peak

Mt Abrupt

A 6.5 km return walk graded Medium.

Start from Mt Abrupt Carpark, Grampians Road.

Bossiaea (L), Grevillea (R) 

Common Heath

Wattles (L) and Eucalyptus buds (R) on Mt Abrupt walking track

Mt Abrupt Summit, 827 m in elevation, the highest of the most southern peaks.

Showers were on and off and I had late lunch under those trees with my rain jacket on.

Serra Range from Mt Abrupt 

Return via the same route. Enjoyed it and recommend it. Mind your steps and take your time to take it all.

I was lucky that it rained rather heavily while I was on the road.

Lerderder Gorges 2025

A revisit pack-carrying walk in the Lerderder Gorges.

Getting There

Follow the Western Freeway M8.

9 km past Bacchus Marsh, take the Myrniong exit. 

Continue along the Myrniong-Greendale Road about 1km, turn right on the Mt Blackwood Rd.

Continue on the sealed road for 8 km to Lohs Lane turn off on the right.

A further 0.5 km to the start.

Grade  Hard (not many kms, off track, many river crossings, very steep spurs). 

Hiking boots and trekking pole/s recommended. Do it when weather permitting.

Map: Lerderder State Park Visitor Guide. Preloaded map on phone for offline use.

Phone use only if need be. Pack a spare light-weight & compact power bank for a demanding walk.

Lohs Lane car parking and signpost to Lower Chadwick Track

The Start

Day One:  Lohs Lane – Lower Chadwick McKenzie Tracks 5 km, 2.5 hrs

the walk in 2011.

I am now 14 years older than I was in 2011 and carried a 3-night pack, which was loaded with warm clothes for winter conditions, gear for cooking & sleeping, and equipment for navigation & safety.

Go through a gate and shut it. Follow Lohs Lane past a few houses on your right and after about 700 m, you will reach an entry gate into the park. Go through the gate and please shut it. There is a signpost indicating the start of Lower Chadwick Track, that used to be a vehicle track. 

 

After about 1.2 km of a gentle downhill and a gentle uphill, I reached the junction of Lower Chadwick and McKenzie Tracks. I turned right into McKenzie Track and followed it east for about 300 m down to a saddle, then a walk up about 100 m took me to the knoll at an elevation of 480 m.

The saddle, the easy part on the walk.

GPS full route & the graph of Lohs Lane to the Lerderder River via Lower Chadwick McKenzie Track.

The final section down to the Lerderder River was very steep and care should be taken. My trekking pole was very useful for the descent. Carrying less water on the day was a bonus because the campsite was near the river. 

Finally, I reached the Lerderder River. Water was perfect and it was so crystal clear.

McKenzie Camp on a nice river flat surrounded with tall eucalypts.

I was 14 years older - the same route-in, the same river & campsite, the same jacket.

Lerderder 2011 Walk The old light-weight hiking tent has been used for car camping.

Day Two:  Along Lerderder River and up Hogan Track  6.4 km

At the start of the day, the first thing to do was to cross the river, which was thigh depth. The river water height depends on the recent rainfall. There was also a log that could provide some form of assistance for the crossing. From here, if you don't like walking with wet feet, I suggest you return the way you came because the rest of the walk involves a lot of river crossings.

Views on the other side of the river.

After this river crossing, walk downstream. Stick to the bank and follow the foot pads, instead of walking on stones or rocks in the riverbed. Keep an eye out for the easy side of the river for crossings. There were about 8 crossings along the 4.5 km river walk to the Ah Kow Track, where there was a marker showing direction to the Ah Kow camping area. While I was having a break looking at the paper map and the map on the phone, I saw 2 walkers with day packs and 1 day walker with 2 walking poles but without a pack, descending from Hogan-Ak Kow Spur. They were on their way out via Ah Kow Track on the other side of the river. 

The walk up Ak Kow Spur - Hogan Track was a tiring climb (with an overnight pack). Like when descending the McKenzie route, extreme care should be taken. I was so tired when I reached the top of the spur. A check on the phone message from my contact gave me a warning of a short rain burst in the area in the late afternoon. Therefore, I called it a day, looked for a suitable spot, and quickly pitched the tent up before the rain hit. Glad that I missed the rain? 

The green graph is of the walk along the Lerderder River and the steep & tiring climb. 

Day Three:  Hogan Track - Lerderder River - McKenzie Camp/Route - Back out.

I started early this morning to avoid possible rain. I followed Hogan Track for about 100-120 m trying to find a starting point and/or a foot trail descending to the Lerderder River, but I had no luck. While I was checking out options, there was a light shower. Fortunately, it was short, however, having to keep changing the rain gear, the rain jacket and the pack cover, cost me my beloved beanie that had been with me for a few decades and had travelled with me all over the place in the state of Victoria, other states around Australia as well as some other parts of the world. I will miss it. What a beanie!

Finally, a decision was made. The aim was to descend 450 m NNW to the closest river bend. I started moving with the compass in hand, looking for a walkable pad. After a zig zag descent of about 70 m, I saw a reasonable-sized rock, possibly intended as a location marker for the way ahead which was about 80 m down a water race, a channel, or a gully. 

There were options when I reached there. After a check on the map, with the phone and the compass, I stuck to the plan by following the rocky water race. The river was not far away, but it was a demanding descent through scrub - one step at a time - and I lost one of my crocs, which was hanging on the back of my pack. Then, it was a relief to hear the sounds from the river flowing below and it came into view. The river bank was an ideal spot for morning tea.

Descending from the water race (L) and retracing steps by walking upstream for about 500 m north 

back to McKenzie camp (R).

From McKenzie camp, I avoided the direct climb to the top of the hill by skirting the base to reach its highest point at 480 m elevation, where I kept an eye out for a foot trail to follow. After an easy 200 m walk down to a saddle, the trail turned into a narrow goat track, which required a test walk without the heavy pack and with the trekking pole to check its safety. Glad that it was only a short distance.

After this tricky bit, the 2 km track back to the starting point at Lohs Lane was easy to follow. However, there were quite a few ups and downs. Near the end of Lower Chadwick Tk, I met a few visitors who just started their short day hike.

All in all, it was a challenging walk. I enjoyed it, apart from the loss of the beanie. To my beloved friend who kept me up-to-date with the forecast, a lot of thanks.

Black Hill Ridge Track

Ridge Track at Black Hill Reserve is located in the town of Kyneton's NNE and is about 5 km north of Bald Hill. From the town, follow C326 north for about 6 km to reach an intersection. Turn right here on to Ennis Road and a further 1 km will take you to the car park.

Other tracks at Black Hill include: 4 km Circuit Track and 1.7 km Revegetated area Track.

Ridge Track is also an enjoyable walk like the Granite Peak Loop at Bald Hill. The walk offers views, large rock formations, cave rocks and lookouts.

 

GPS file of Ridge Track (3.7 km, Easy-Medium, Loop) and the start of the walk after going through the gate.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bald Hill Granite Peak Loop