Rising from the pastoral land of Victoria’s west are the Grampians – a playground for adventurers and haven for food and wine lovers, with a fascinating Aboriginal story to tell. The Grampians National Park is home to an incredible mountain landscape dotted with small towns such as Dunkeld, Stawell, Halls Gap, Wartook Valley and Beaufort. With so much to do, it’s no wonder this nature lover’s paradise is a popular escape among Melbournians. 

First stop: Lake Bellfield. Lake Bellfield is located five kilometres from the main shops in Halls Gap. It is known to be a popular tourist spot with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and reflective waters.

The lake is used for recreational activities such as swimming, boating, fishing and picnicking. The lake serves as the local water supply, therefore only electric motors are permitted. It started to pour after taking this shot and we quickly went back to our car. In the mountains, the weather can really be unpredictable.

The next day, we set off after breakfast to Reed Lookout.

Reed Lookout – From the summit of Reed Lookout you will enjoy stunning views over the entire Victoria Valley, Victoria Range, Serra Range, Lake Wartook and the Mt Difficult Range. The viewing platform is a popular spot to watch the sun set over the mountains and snap the perfect pink and purple hues of a sunset sky. The path to the lookout is well maintained and fully accessible by wheelchair.

The Balconies – From the same car park as Reed Lookout you can walk the relatively easy two kilometres on to the Balconies for panoramic views of Victoria Valley and the surrounding ranges. The unusual rock formations that stick out of the mountain make this spot particularly unique. The Balconies are a great spot for fresh misty mornings and sunset views.

Despite the promised views, the morning that we went there, it was mainly covered with fog, so we could not see much of the landscape. Furthermore, the strong winds blowing made us shiver and we quickly finished the hike and went back to the comfort of our car.

Not satisfied with the views, we decided to drive further along the road to MacKenzie Falls.

MacKenzie Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria. Flowing year round, the falls sees water cascade over huge cliffs into a deep pool, sending fine sprays of rainbow mist high into the air above a stunning gorge.

To see the falls, take the easy, one-kilometre path to the viewing platform at the Bluff (wheelchair accessible), or the steep trail to the base of the falls (30 minutes one way). MacKenzie Falls car park is a forty-minute drive from Halls Gap on the Mount Victory Road. Despite the warning that it was a steep trail and could be slippery, we were hesitant at first to choose this trail. However, seeing a few families with kids coming back from the trail, we thought it was manageable and went down to the falls, which did not disappoint. Hearing the deafening roar of the falls and being up close to the waterfalls just made our worries vanish.

On the way out, we saw an emu roaming freely around the lawn. It was getting close to noon and I had to drive back to Melbourne, so we headed back to our hotel for checkout.

If you do visit Melbourne and are in search for some nature or hiking, do visit the Grampians. Even in winter, some parts of the trail are shining brightly while others are misty. Pack light, come prepared with good walking shoes and water. There are varying levels of difficulty of the trails to cater to different groups of people.