Making a plan for the Grampians
Making a plan for the Grampians need not be complicated. The park has its share of short accessible walks that let one take in the sandstone ranges, bushland, lookouts and waterfalls without having to put in a full day of hiking. Most are within easy reach of a car park and will suit those with mobility aids or children, or anyone who would rather preserve their knees for the journey back.
Broken Falls, Venus Baths and a few of the lookout paths around Halls Gap are good places to begin. An easy Broken Falls trail is a good option for a straightforward walk. But do not forget to consult the park information before you head out; rockfalls, bushfire or flooding can alter access and conditions. Parks Victoria’s site for the Grampians is where you will want to verify any closures or facility updates.
Surface Matters
One should not equate “accessible” with a sealed, level path from end to end or something to accommodate all wheelchairs. A walk in the Grampians might be firm enough yet have a slope, some uneven stone or steps up to a viewing platform. And do not be taken in by the headline distance alone. After a rain the granite and packed earth are slippery and a 1-km return is quite another thing. I can attest to it being a minor irritation how a short bush track requires more of your attention than a footpath in the suburbs.
| Walk Or Area | Typical Experience | Who It Suits | What To Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broken Falls | A short way to the waterfall at the MacKenzie Falls precinct | Good for a scenic stop with little walking | See what the surface and railing are like and if there are any closures |
| Venus Baths | Beside the rock pools near Halls Gap is a short piece of bushland | For those at ease with natural, uneven ground | Note the creek levels, wet rocks and slopes |
| Halls Gap Village Area | Services, picnic spots and shorter paths in close proximity | An older visitor or family will appreciate the flexibility | Make sure of the starting point and where the shade and toilets are |
| Selected Lookouts | A brief drive and approach to the view for the traveller inclined to make several small outings | Travellers who prefer several small outings | Be mindful of wind, parking bays and any gradients |
These are guides to help with planning, not an assurance that the terrain will be to everyone’s liking, especially when Parks Victoria has seen fit to repair or re-route a track.
A Practical Start at Broken Falls
For a waterfall and no long bushwalk, Broken Falls is hard to beat. The trail is best regarded as a viewing walk from the parking area; the approach and what is underfoot will be the main exertion. Then there is the matter of expectation. In dry times the falls are unimpressive, after rain they are but the weather also makes things slick. Take your time getting to a vantage point and do not think the car park is the whole of it.
Allow Time For Conditions
Give yourself 30 to 60 minutes, more than what an internet figure might suggest. To park, put in a careful walk, get some photos and back again without the rush. A person with a walking frame or in charge of young ones will require more of an allowance.
And for heaven’s sake do not go over a barrier to improve your photo. Wet rock is no laughing matter and the waterfall does not care for your confidence. Hold the children close if the ground is damp or the area crowded.
Combine It With MacKenzie Falls
You will often see people pair off to the MacKenzie Falls precinct with Broken Falls, but not every route in the vicinity is as accommodating. Some of the approaches at MacKenzie have stairs and are steeper, so check before you leave the car. If it is a one-day affair, make of it a sensible itinerary: a morning at a lookout, a quick visit to the falls, lunch in Halls Gap and an easy afternoon walk. That way you have leeway for the weather or to wonder where the car is.
Try Venus Baths Carefully
Then there is Venus Baths, not far from Halls Gap for an experience of a different order to the formal lookouts. With its bushland and the rocky character of the creek, the route is something of a reward for those in search of an unspoilt natural environment without having to put in the miles.
Then there is the matter of “accessibility” and one has to be candid about it. Venus Baths will do for anyone with steady mobility and good balance, but the wet surfaces, uneven rocks and the like at the creek’s edge mean it is not for every wheelchair or walker, nor for visitors requiring a path that is smooth all the way.
What Catches People Out
It is the surface, not the distance, that is the undoing of most. A figure on a sign may suggest an easy walk but in truth you are spending time making your way round puddles and picking your footing beside the water so the outing takes longer than anticipated.
Put on some shoes with a sure grip, even for a half hour stroll; sandals or a pair of smooth trainers are no use on rock when it is wet. And in the warmer months make sure you have sunscreen, insect repellent and water to hand. A mozzie is not going to be put off by a technically simple walk.
Weather Considerations
A good spell of rain can add to the appeal of Venus Baths as much as it makes things awkward. The scenery is better for the water levels but the mud and slick rocks are more of a physical test. When it is hot, get an early start and make use of any shade, do not think a short route insulates you from heat stress.
The ranges can turn on you in autumn or spring despite being generally comfortable walking weather. You might encounter cold and less daylight in winter, or smoke and closures in summer if the bushfire risk is up. Do not go by what looks nice on a calendar, choose the season that is right for the conditions and your own ability.
Make Halls Gap Your Base
There is an advantage to using Halls Gap for your day’s plans. You have your accommodation, food and services and a number of short excursions all in one place. It is a sensible way to divide the day into sections instead of hours in the car from one stop to the next. For someone with limited stamina this is preferable to after the fact regret over sore legs and a face like a dropped pie from an overly ambitious route; a brief outing before breakfast and another later on is far more enjoyable.
Getting There
Most of the Grampians National Park’s shorter walks are best done by car. While parking is to be found at the major sites, it is not hard to find them full on a holiday weekend. Be there early and in marked areas, do not impede turning space for accessible vehicles. Public transport will see you to regional Victoria but local access in the park is another matter. If you are not driving, check on taxis and tour transport and make no assumptions that you can alight from a coach and be at the trailhead without trouble.
Daytime Costs
You will not be charged a per person fee to enter many of the parks in Victoria but the rest of the travel costs mount up. Factor in fuel, where you are staying and eating. As a guide, expect to pay $20 to $40 for a lunch at the café and your accommodation could be anything from a camping ground to a pricey cabin at a holiday park come high season. These are only estimates though, so verify the cost of bookings and transport before you commit. Have food and water with you if you are to be at several places, the park does not have services dotted about evenly.
Safety And Comfort
Even a short walk calls for preparation in the Grampians. It is a big bush country with its share of wildlife and changeable weather and in parts no mobile reception. Any access plan should take account of the return trip and the person providing assistance; what was no trouble at the outset can be wearing after a slope or an afternoon in the sun.
- Before you set off, look up fire info and any warnings.
- Have a phone, first-aid kit, sun protection and water.
- Make sure your footwear and any equipment can handle damp or uneven ground.
- Let someone know where you are headed and when you will be back.
- Stay well away from unstable rocks and the edges of waterfalls.
- Do not feed the wildlife and see to it that you take your rubbish with you.
Warmer weather and you are likely to come across snakes in the bushland. Be sure to give them room, remain on the paths that have been made for it and put your hands and feet with some care. Should there be a closure notice or the wind picks up, or if it is smoky or raining hard, then alter your plans. An avoidable rescue is not worth the price of a walk you do not make.
Build A One-Day Itinerary
For a one-day trip I would suggest two or three short stops and making time to rest. Do not go about amassing lookouts as though they were fridge magnets; the idea is to leave the park having enjoyed it, not feeling as if a very strict boot has been put to you.
The following plan is for those who like their outings brief and flexible, with a base at Halls Gap. Make any adjustments the weather, road or mobility demands, or as per park advice.
- An early start for breakfast and a nearby path or lookout before the heat and the crowds set in is a good way to begin.
- Put aside 30 to 60 minutes at Broken Falls to see what there is to see, take some photos and have a proper rest.
- Head back to Halls Gap for lunch and the use of the toilets; there is no need to stand by the car to eat.
- Venus Baths are an option provided the group has no trouble with the natural unevenness of the place.
- To end the day, an uneventful stop in the village or a return to your accommodation while there is still light.
Those with less energy should make Broken Falls and the more accessible picnic area or lookout their priority. Families will want short routes where an easy retreat is possible. As for anyone new to bushwalking, or without the right support, or who is not steady on their feet, rock-hopping, steep stairs and exposed edges are best left alone.
Answer Common Access Questions
What is accessible walking is open to interpretation from one traveller to another. The questions below are ones I get asked a lot, and can save you from the kind of errors that make a nice outing a logistical blue.
Are These Walks Wheelchair Friendly?
A few of the shorter ones may be all right for some wheelchairs, in particular on firm or sealed surfaces, but you cannot put a label on every route. See for yourself what the gradients and kerbs are like, and the parking and platforms, before you go. A manual wheelchair user is going to require some help on a slope or where the ground is rough.
Is Broken Falls Suitable For Children?
Families can manage it being as the walk is short, yet children are to be kept under an eye near the water and rocks and not let over the barriers. A short distance does not preclude risk.
Can I Visit Without A Car?
Regional transport will get you into Halls Gap proper but you will find your options limited for the individual sites unless you have a car or have put in a transfer. Do not assume local transport is a given and verify the journey to the trailhead in full before you book.
When Is Waterfall Flow Best?
After a rain the flow is better but so is the likelihood of mud, slippery ground and closures. In drier times the waterfall is more subdued but the going is easier. Go by the weather and what the park says, not a photograph.
Do I Need Bushwalking Experience?
Not for the shortest of the routes, but sensible shoes, water and an awareness of the weather are called for, as is the willingness to turn around. There is nothing to be gained from putting in the strength and balance to complete a walk that was never suited to you in the first place.
Choose The Walk That Fits
You will not always find the most renowned or lengthy of the Grampians National Park’s short accessible walks to be the best. They are the ones that accord with your footwear, transport and energy for the day.
Make Halls Gap your base and do not be surprised if conditions force a change. In this way you have the fresh air and the sandstone and the bush without it becoming an exercise in endurance. I for one, Rhys Parker, would have my coffee and a comfortable return to the car rather than put on a heroic limp.