Adventure lovers paradise

A popular destination with adventure-seekers, The Grampians National Park is renowned for its cathedrals of dramatic rock formations and sheer cliffs, challenging crags and spectacular pinnacles.

There are a multitude of crags and climbing routes in the Grampians, ranging in grades from beginner to a very high degree of difficulty.

Nearby Mt Arapiles, with its outcrop of dramatic quartzose sandstone, is regarded as one of the best climbing spots in Australia.

Also in the neighbourhood, Mount Stapylton features the popular Summer Day Valley, Amphitheatre and Taipan Wall. Mount Rosea has loads of quality multi-pitch routes. Bundaleer is known for its intimidating summer crag and Hollow Mountain where the route to the top is via caves and chambers within the wind eroded cliff.

The Grampians are home to world-famous climbing schools and highly skilled and accredited climbing instructors who have an intimate knowledge of the area and the sport.

If you prefer aquatics to heights, choose from the many local lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Hire a canoe and paddle the serene Lake Belfield or take a dip in the pristine waters of Lake Wartook. The region also offers some of the best inland fishing in the country. Why not try your luck catching cod, yellow belly, redfin and trout?

Grampians National Park

Discover rugged mountain ranges, spectacular wildflowers, outdoor adventures, and Aboriginal rock art at the 167,000-hectare Grampians National Park.

'The Grampians' are a series of four spectacular sandstone ridges running north to south with steep and craggy slopes on the eastern side and gentler slopes to the west. Take in panoramic views of peaks and valleys from one of the many lookouts, or discover the many picturesque waterfalls.

Wildflowers bloom in spring, from August to October, and the park is also home to abundant native animals and birds. Look out for kangaroos, koalas, emus, wedge-tailed eagles and more.

A major attraction of the park is its collection of native Aboriginal art sites. Aboriginal people have a long association with the Grampians and there are many shelters in the park where you can see ancient art work including Billimina Shelter, Gulgurri Manja Shelter, Manja Shelter and Ngamadjidi Shelter.

Get outdoors and active in the park - go bushwalking and rock climbing, fishing or canoeing. There are over 50 walking tracks catering for everything from the casual stroll to the overnight trek. Lake Bellfield and Lake Wartook are popular for for fishing and canoeing, while the rocky crags are ideal for rock climbing and abseiling.

Nestled beside the Wonderland Range is the town of Halls Gap, a great base for exploring the park, and you home to Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre where you can discover more about the parks natural and cultural features.

Wildflowers

Grampians National Park is home to a great diversity of habitats, unique wildlife, and more than one third of all plant species found in Victoria. Lofty summits and ridgelines overlook 167,000 hectares of woodlands, heath lands, swamps, forests and subalpine zones.

Lookout for abundant wildlife in the lowlands including emus, kangaroos, possums, echidnas, koalas, wallabies and over 200 species of bird. Explore natural attractions including Australia's own Grand Canyon, the Grand Stairway and Pinnacle rock formations, refreshing waterfalls at the end of bushwalking tracks, and Victoria's largest Koori rock art collection.

Spring is the best time to see wildflowers throughout the region, but there are many plants in flower throughout the year. Discover 1,000 species of flowers, 24 of which are found only in the Grampians and 12 of which are found only in the Little Desert National Park.

A number of local spring festivals and events celebrate the native flora, and include open gardens, shows, and tours. For up-to-date information on the best place to see wildflowers in bloom call into Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre and the Little Desert National Park Office. There are also a number of local wildflower farms that are open to the public.