This map illustrates the bulk of the park and the route which
we took on our journey. It is published by Parks Victoria and a full
copy can be obtained
here. I usually start from the top of the park on C222 (Mount Victory
Road) and head south on C218 (Silverband Road) and C216 (Grampians Tourist
Road). If I deviate from this route, it is usually near the point of
MacKenzie Falls towards west on roads such as Glenelg River Road, Syphon
Road and Serra Road.
The journey to Grampians NP from Melbourne along the A8
provides splendid views of Victorian countryside. It's a mix of vast plains,
camouflaged hills and scattered trees as far as the eye sees. Little country
towns peppered along the way serve well for short breaks, a little
sightseeing and conversing with country folks.
One of my favourite countryside towns is Arrarat, barely seen
here through the veil of a morning fog.
On the other side of this lookout is the rural Arrarat and
the way to the Grampians (and South Australia). To the right (not pictured)
is a scarcely populated forest providing an ample opportunity for a little
downhill mountain biking.
Visitors to the Grampians NP, and Halls Gap especially,
immediately come face to face with somewhat domesticated kangaroos which
inhabit as much of this area as people. Most common species is the Grey
kangaroo pictured above.
Drive down the Grampians Tourist Road and you'll come across
various camp sites managed by Parks Victoria. Most (if not all) have toilet
facilities and fire places. They are quite popular in peak season so keep in
mind that it's first come, first serve.
Even in summer sometimes it gets quite chilly at night so
fire places come in very handy. A short scavenger hunt around any camp site will yield
enough fire wood for the whole night. However fire restrictions in hot periods
may prevent you from starting a camp fire – always check with local
authorities first.
It just so happened that on this occasion the Moon was full
and set a fitting scene for a horror movie.
This Huntsman spider invited himself to our tent over night
and welcomed us personally in the morning.
Jimmy Creek camp site.
Halls Gap where park information and replenishments can be
obtained from the local facilities.
The following day we prepared for a new adventure to the top
of Grand Canyon, seen here off the side of Grampians Road.
Climbing up the steep path to the summit along rock cliffs
and narrow passages in hot weather can be challenging for some. Breaks and
sufficient water and food supplies are therefore highly recommended.
However the rewards you'll reap from doing the walk to the
summit are well worth the effort. This lizard was one of many we came
across, basking in the sun and enjoying the splendour of the scenery.
Silent Street is the last set of stairs you will need to
conquer before reaching the pinnacle.
And this is what it's all for! The views off the pinnacle are
breathtaking (literally) and awe inspiring. Albeit a picture tells a
thousand words, this particular event must be experienced in reality to
fully appreciate the magnificence of the view. The dense vegetation and
intermittent water bodies sustain an abundance of various forms of life in
this region, and being able to stand above it all and gaze into the deep
horizon is a humbling experience to say the least.
We turned off Grampians Road onto Plantation Road and headed
east towards Stapylton campground in the aim to view Aboriginal rock art. We
were kindly greeted by this wallaby upon our arrival there.
Ngamadjidj shelter at the site. "Some eyes are blind to what
they see. Open yourself so that we can communicate" (local community elder).
Charcoal deposits and many quartz chips indicate that this was a place where
people camped and repaired tools. From here they made seasonal visits to
other art shelters in the area. The local Aboriginal communities are happy
for visitors to come here and learn about their culture and heritage so
please respect their bounteousness and important heritage sites.
Ngamadjidj means white person, and refers to the white
figures featured in the art at this site. This is the only art site in
Gariwerd that solely features white figures. Some knowledge of the symbols
and drawings in Gariwerd remains with the Aboriginal community, but much has
been lost due to the impact of European settlement.
There are more than 100 Aboriginal rock art sites in Gariwerd
– the richest Aboriginal rock art area in Victoria. Five of these sites are
promoted to visitors. (Information source: display boards on site)
Back onto Grampians Road which eventually turned into Mount
Victory Road, and the next stop was the site of MacKenzie Falls (left) and
the adjacent Broken Falls (right).
MacKenzie Falls is a well known and frequented spot by the
visitors so if you're after a bit of one-on-one with the nature, I recommend
arriving at the first ray of sunlight. The water is clear and cold so if you
happen to have a water purifier, you can even drink it (check with the local
authorities first of course). We thought this would be a great spot to have
our outdoor breakfast and we were lucky enough to spend a full half hour
undisturbed by flies and visitors.
From the display board: The NSW Surveyor-General Major Mitchell, on his
journey through the Grampians in 1836 tried to record the natural features
he encountered using the names of the Jardwadjali, the local Aboriginal
people. Unable to establish the local name for the falls, he called it
MacKenzie Falls, after his friend Captain MacKenzie. We now know that the
Jardwadjali call it Migunang wirab which translates to black fish
floating on top of water. There are Jardwadjali names for most of the
natural features in the Grampians, including the mountain itself – Gariwerd.
View off Reed lookout, further down along Mount Victory Road.
The pinkness of the photo is due to camera settings.
Mount Victory Road (left) and Silverband Road (right) led us
all the way to Silverband Falls.
Silverband Falls was our final destination. The water comes
off the cliff edge and falls into a hole in the ground, thus there is no
stream at the bottom of the falls. It's a remarkable site to see water veer
like a serpent down the cliff and disappear back into the ground along its
mysterious journey. It's an even more gratifying experience to sit beside it
and enjoy a light lunch with a cup of burgundy tea in an aestival balmy
afternoon.
