Grampians

The Grampians Scenic Drive, Victoria

Australia has no shortage of great scenic drives, and if you choose the Grampians National Park in Victoria for your next holiday you will have not one but several scenic routes to explore through this region of outstanding natural beauty.  The Grampians is a veritable paradise for nature lovers, walkers, hikers, cyclists and climbers, and taking a leisurely drive from Melbourne along some of the scenic routes in the Park will give you plenty of opportunities to enjoy some of these activities.  The Grampians scenic drive is a perfect place to take a motorhome rental or campervan hire; there are many wonderful spots to stop and spend a night in the heart of nature, and you will come across many outstandingly beautiful spots to stop for a picnic or a swim.  You could see most of the major sights in a couple of days, but why not spend longer enjoying the many activities or just relaxing in one of the most beautiful parts of the country?

The most scenic part of the Grampians is the stretch of the C217 (Grampians Tourist Road) from Dunkeld, through to the Mirranatwa Gap lookout in the southern part of the Park.  Dunkeld, at the southern end of the Grampian Mountain ranges is a great little town to spend some time in – enjoy the many galleries, gardens and wineries or do some bushwalking before your continue into the Park.  Mirranatwa Gap offers the most brilliant views over the whole area, before you continue to Cavendish to walk the Settlers Walk along the banks of the Wannon River.

From Cavendish, you can continue north to Halls Gap.  There are many lookout points along the way and Halls Gap is ideally situated just 5km from Lake Bellfield, where you can enjoy fishing, kayaking, sailing and swimming.  Also in Halls Gap you can spend some time getting to know native Australian wildlife in the Halls Gap Zoo, where you can even arrange to be Zoo-keeper for a day!  The zoo is home to many endangered species and also pandas, kangaroos, bison, wombats and possums.  After seeing the wildlife, try some gold panning, for a complete change of pace.

From Halls Gap make your way to MacKenzie Falls, the highest and only year-round waterfall in the Park, and Lake Wartook.  From Wartook Gardens there is another loop around the Northern Grampians to complete your tour.  On this section you can visit several more look-outs, admire the wildflowers in spring and go on several walks and hikes.  Also in the north you can visit an olive plantation, explore Mount Zero, Hollow Mountain and the Aboriginal shelters.

There are 13 campsites dotted around the Grampians – most of them in stunningly beautiful locations, making this the ideal destination for a motorhome rental holiday.