VIP DESTINATION: THE GRAMPIANS, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

World famous for stunning wildflower displays, rock climbing, ancient Aboriginal rock art sites, hiking, bike riding and fishing; the Grampians National Park in Victoria is one of the state's best holiday destinations. The 168,000 hectares of National Park is also home to endemic plants and animals. With VIP Backpacker hostels and tour providers, getting there and enjoying the Park's many sights and activities is that much easier. Here's a closer look so you can start planning your own nature escape from Melbourne or Adelaide.

Things to do

The Grampians is renowned for its rocky, rugged formations which makes activities like hiking, biking, rock climbing, four wheel driving and prospecting so enjoyable and leaves visitors awestruck. There are numerous hikes to choose from but some of the most popular include walks in Wartook Valley associated with the MacKenzie River and MacKenzie Falls, accessible rock formations in beautiful Wonderland where there is the popular Pinnacle Walk, and the dramatic and strenuous walks in the Southern Grampians including the Alpine hike Major Mitchell Plateau. Other activities you can do in the Grampians include boating, canoeing, cycling, fishing, four wheel driving, golf, horse riding, hunting, prospecting/fossicking, rock climbing, snow sports and water skiing.

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Heritage

The Grampians is rich in the history and culture of the Gariwerd Aboriginal people. To learn more about their role in the area visit the Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Here there are interpretative displays, traditional boomerang painting, rock art tours and a Bushfoods Cafe where you can taste kangaroo, emu or crocodile. Make sure you also pop into the Gariwerd Dreaming Theatre for its two award winning presentations. There are a number of rock art sites in the Grampians, one of the most popular and accessible is Ngamadjidj Rock Art Shelter near Stapylton Campground from where it's a 500m loop walk to the art site.

As European settlement spread in Victoria, the Grampians also became a water source. Over the years the Grampians have also been used for timber, gold mining, stone quarrying and tourism. You can see evidence of gold mining on the Mafeking heritage walk. The track through Heatherlie Quarry likewise reveals relics of the era including abandoned stone huts and old machinery.

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Flora and Fauna

The Grampians is home to a number of bird species. Look out for emus in lowland areas, nectar-feeding birds in the shrubby woodlands and the Powerful Own in the tall open forests. There are 40 mammal species here including kangaroos, possums, gliders, echidnas and koalas. In particular watch for red-necked wallabies, grey kangaroos and black wallabies. A good place to see wildlife is Zumstein picnic ground - although you may need to watch they haven't come to steal your food!

The Grampians are famous for wildflowers and these are at their most rich and colouful in October during spring when the annual Halls Gap Wildflower & Art Show event is held. If you can't make it this time of year do note there are 800 indigenous plant species in the Grampians and 40 are only found here in the world. So you should still see something!

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Getting there and around

The Grampians are 260km (3.5 hours) from Melbourne on the Western or Glenelg Highways. You can reach Halls Gap via Stawell, Ararat, Horsham or Dunkeld. An extensive network of roads inside the Park makes it easy to get around by car to surrounding villages. However if you're without wheels, VIP Backpackers has two tour providers to The Grampians. The first is a three day tour including The Grampians, the Great Ocean Road and Ballarat. The second is a 10 day tour incorporating the same things with an extension to Alice Springs also visiting Adelaide, Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound, Coober Pedy, Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon.

Where to stay

VIP Backpackers has several accommodation options in The Grampians. Halls Gap is a delightful town located in the heart of the area and a good place to start exploration. The Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre is here and it's where the annual wildflower show is held. There are a number of good walking tracks nearby also.

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