The Glorious Grampians- Back on Victorian soil.

The Grampians, VIC

Monday 6th - Sunday 12th March

After a big day driving we crossed the border back over to Victorian soil, nearly 1 year since we left! We spent the first night in the Little Desert National Park (it was so great having a fire!), then a night in Horsham restocking before heading to the Grampians – the final holiday destination for this part of the trip.

We had an incredible 3 nights in the Grampians National Park, it was the perfect end to the first 12 months of our trip. During our time staying at Stapylton campground:

• We climbed Mt Zero and, after enjoying the 360deg views, watched 3 wedge tailed eagles as they soared back and forth over the top of the mountain. One of them came within 5 metres of us, straight overhead, and we could clearly see the shape and colour of its feathers. It was quite an incredible experience.
• I did the short walk to see the Indigenous art at Ngamadjiji Shelter. There are heaps of white painted figures that likely represent the initial contact with Europeans.
• We went through Halls Gap to do The Pinnacle walk (the bit of jutting out rock that is the most photographed place in the Grampians). It was very cold and drizzly the whole climb up and once we finally reached the top (2 hours later) it started raining more heavily and the clouds seemed to descend, so the views were nothing like they could be on a clear day. It was still amazing, but it definitely was not the weather to stand up there and take in the scenery. We took a few photos then found some shelter under a ledge. It was a slow walk down the first section as we tried not to slip on the wet rocks (well it was slow for me anyway, the others seemed fine!). About halfway down the clouds began to break open and sunlight came streaming through. By the time we reached the bottom the skies were blue - I was very tempted to walk back up but I was met with a loud, resounding NO from the others!
• We wandered through a narrow rocky gorge, and over a small creek, within the 'Grand Canyon'.
• We stopped in at Halls Gap for lunch - I nearly lost my salad when an over friendly kookaburra decided he wanted to share. The kookaburras and cockatoos were extremely bold, they took their positions in neighbouring trees as unsuspecting tourists sat down on picnic tables to eat their lunch. After eyeballing you for a while, they swooped in and tried their luck. Daniel even saw some cockies sitting outside the bakery waiting for people to walk out with their pies!
• We visited Reed Lookout then did a quick walk to the Balconies - another incredible lookout. A kind tourist offered to take a family photo for us- turns out he was a budding photographer. Ten minutes later we were still smiling up at him as he took photos from all different vantage points!!
• We popped in to MacKenzie Falls on our way back to camp. I could only convince everyone to do the short walk to the first lookout- apparently I'd pushed everyone enough already.
• Daniel and I did a sunset walk near camp. We climbed a big boulder and enjoyed the spectacular sunset.
• After breakfast on the second morning, we left to do the 10km+ Mt Staplyton Loop walk where we walked through diverse bushland and past towering rock faces, up to the summit of Mt Stapylton. To reach the actual peak you needed to walk along a narrow rocky ledge on the edge of a rather sheer cliff before manoeuvring yourself up, over or through large boulders. I was terrified that one of us was going to slip, but thankfully we all made it to the top (me with a few extra grey hairs!). The view was amazing, and it was made even more wonderful as there were butterflies fluttering everywhere. It was a really spectacular walk. We didn't get back to camp until well after lunchtime so we just spent the afternoon relaxing (and giving our feet a break from hiking boots).
• Jackson, Daniel and I braved a cold shower in the bush bucket showers at camp. It was quite a novelty and rather refreshing once you got over the initial shock.
• We all enjoyed having campfires each evening, with the kids making their way through a whole bag of marshmallows.

After a relaxing morning we left the Grampians on Saturday and made our way further into Victoria. We stayed the night about an hour out of Ballarat, so we were close to get to Logan's birthday party the next morning. We were all very excited at the prospect of seeing some of our family after a year on the road.

Our breakfast stop after leaving Burra, SA. Eudunda is the birth place of Australian author Colin Theile

Back in Vic- we all enjoyed sausages on the fire at the Little Desert NP, it was the first fire we'd had for ages.

We did a walk along the sandy tracks in the Little Desert to this old mine, Jackson brought his footy along. He marked this one, then missed the next and it went into the nearby dam!

The next photos are from our first walk in The Grampians - Mt Zero

Daniel couldn't resist showing off!

On top of Mt Zero.

One of the three wedged tailed eagles that put on an aerial show for us.

On the way back down from Mt Zero - we thought this rock looked like an old turtle.

Walking up Flat Rock- our calves got a workout!

Enjoying the view over the northern section of The Grampians.

On our way to one of the Indigenous rock art sites we found this cluster of caterpillars- they looked so interesting but when we leaned in closer they started to spit!

We scored an incredible campsite - and we were allowed to have a fire! Lots of marshmallows were eaten over the next few days!!

We didn't need to worry about surviving the heat....it was freezing the morning we did the Pinnacle walk!

The next group of photos are from our walk to The Pinnacle - one of the most popular and picturesque walks in The Grampians (better on a clear day but still nice even when it's cloudy and misty!).

There are so many unique and interesting rock formations.

We were basically walking in a cloud!

The Pinnacle viewing point- the rain decided to get heavier just at this point!! The rocks were super slippery, I was very nervous walking up.

A little bit of a view through the drizzle.

Our morning tea spot!

Making lunch at Halls Gap. The birds in the tree were watching me intently, then the kookaburra tried to get my salad!

I moved away from the first bird that swooped me, only to have another 2 fly in and land nearby! I had to eat my salad hunched over to protect it!

The Balconies lookout.

Looking down at MacKenzie falls.

Macrame by the fire (resting her legs after a big day walking).

The following photos are from the Mt Stapyton Loop Walk - our favourite walk at The Grampians.

Enjoying the view from Bird Rock - we'd could just see some rock climbers making their way up the sheer cliff face.

Bird Rock

Enjoying some cake before we did the last hard section to the summit of Mt Staplyton.

At the top of Mt Staplyton - we were very high up so the view was incredible.

In these 2 photos you can see some of the many butterflies that were flitting around us at the summit.

Now to get back down........

...I nearly got stuck in this bit!

A swamp wallaby we passed on the way down the mountain.

Jackson, Daniel and I braved a cold water bucket shower at camp- we couldn't resist the novelty of it (and we stunk after 3 days of hiking!).

The next group of photos are from an early morning (before sunrise) walk up Hollow Mountain.

What a vantage point to watch the sunrise from- it was incredible.

On our way back down we climbed through one of the hollowed out sections in the rock that the mountain is named after.

At Langi Ghiran State Park - a big breakfast before we head in to Ballarat to for Logan's 8th birthday. We were all so excited be seeing family and friends soon (though Daniel is not so excited to be going back to work in a few days!)