Things to Do in the Grampians: A Weekend Guide to Halls Gap

The Grampians is one of those places that I can happily return to over and over again. There are mountains to climb, waterfalls to find, wildlife everywhere and some of the most beautiful lookouts in Victoria, but I think what I love most is how easy it is to slow down here.

Also known as Gariwerd, the Grampians is around three hours from Melbourne and makes for a beautiful weekend away. Halls Gap is a great place to base yourself, sitting right amongst the mountains with plenty of walks, lookouts and waterfalls nearby.

I've visited a few times now, and some of my favourite memories aren't necessarily the big-ticket attractions. They've been waking up to kangaroos outside our tiny house, making coffee at the top of The Pinnacle as the sun came up, riding e-bikes through Halls Gap and coming back to an outdoor bath and a fire at the end of the day.

So rather than trying to list every possible thing you can do in the Grampians, this guide covers some of the places and experiences I've genuinely loved, along with a few tips for planning your own Grampians weekend.

Where to Stay in the Grampians

Where we stayed was a really big part of both of our trips to the Grampians.

There are plenty of accommodation options around Halls Gap, but if you're heading to the Grampians to spend a few days surrounded by nature, I think it's worth finding somewhere that feels like part of the experience rather than simply somewhere to sleep.

We've stayed in two very different little places around Halls Gap, and I'd happily return to either.

Tiny Elliott - off grid tiny home

On one trip we stayed at Tiny Elliott, one of Into the Wild Escapes' tiny homes.

This is the kind of accommodation I love when visiting somewhere like the Grampians. Small, cosy and surrounded by nature, with everything you need inside but enough of a connection to the outdoors that you actually want to spend time at the property.

Mornings were particularly beautiful. We'd wake up surrounded by mountains and farmland. Make coffee and watch kangaroos moving through the landscape, its one of my most favourite things to wake up to wildlife, much better than turning on the news!

It was such a nice little base for a few days in the Grampians. Mornings were quiet, kangaroos were often nearby, and after a full day out exploring it was lovely to come back, put the fire on and settle in for the night.

The Handcrafted Shack at Halls Gap

Our accommodation, only minutes from town but felt far away.

On another trip, we stayed at a completely different little shack on a regenerative farm near Halls Gap. Linked here.

This one has so much character!

The handcrafted timber shack has been built using recycled materials and sits amongst the trees overlooking farmland, wetlands and the mountains beyond. Inside there's a wood heater, while outside there's a beautiful red gum deck, outdoor shower and built-in bath.

The outdoor bath was probably one of my favourite parts.

After a day of hiking and exploring, there's something pretty special about coming back, lighting the fire and having a bath outside while looking across the surrounding landscape. It will always be one of my most favourite memories.

The shack is also close enough to Halls Gap that you don't feel isolated from everything you want to explore, but once you're back at the property it feels incredibly peaceful.

I think both stays reinforced something I've come to appreciate more when travelling: where you stay can be just as memorable as what you do while you're there.

I'll put together a separate guide to where to stay in the Grampians, with more photographs and details from both stays, because they deserve a little more space than I can give them here.

Go Waterfall Hopping in the Grampians

You can't really visit the Grampians without chasing at least one waterfall.

The landscape is full of rocky gorges, creeks and falls, and waterfall hopping is an easy way to fill a morning or afternoon while seeing completely different parts of the national park.

MacKenzie Falls

If you're only going to visit one, MacKenzie Falls is the obvious choice.

It's one of the largest waterfalls in Victoria and the only waterfall in the Grampians that flows throughout the year. You can view the falls from above or make your way down towards the base for a much closer look.

The walk down is the easy part. It's coming back up that you'll remember.

There are around 260 steps on the walk to the base, and the climb back out is steep, but standing at the bottom and seeing the water dropping into the gorge makes the effort worthwhile.

I'd allow yourself plenty of time rather than trying to squeeze MacKenzie Falls between a heap of other stops. Wear decent shoes, take water and remember that swimming at the falls isn't permitted.

There are also several other waterfalls scattered throughout the Grampians, so if you've got a little more time, make a morning of it and go waterfall hopping rather than simply ticking off MacKenzie Falls and leaving.

Walk to Venus Baths

For something much gentler, Venus Baths is a beautiful little walk that you can do directly from Halls Gap and the kids can happily tag along too.

The track follows Stony Creek through the bush to a series of naturally formed rock pools surrounded by smooth sandstone.

It's not a big hike, which is part of the appeal. If you've spent the previous day climbing something considerably larger, Venus Baths is a nice way to still get outside without committing to another huge walk.

It's also an easy one to fit into your day if you're staying in Halls Gap. Grab a coffee, wander through the bush and take your time exploring the rocks and pools before heading back into town.

Hike The Pinnacle for Sunrise

If you're happy to sacrifice a little sleep, hiking The Pinnacle for sunrise was easily one of my favourite experiences in the Grampians.

We started in complete darkness with head torches on and, that morning at least, had the trail entirely to ourselves. It was freezing when we set off, but the uphill climb warmed us up very quickly as we made our way through the rocks towards the summit.

Making our way to the Pinnacle. A quick stop to look at the view.

Reaching the top while it was still quiet was incredibly rewarding. We found a spot amongst the rocks and watched as the first light appeared, slowly catching the surrounding rock formations before the sun finally peeked over the horizon.

We'd carried a Jetboil and coffee with us, so once we reached the top we made ourselves a coffee and sat there taking it all in.

It's such a simple memory, but still one of my favourites from the trip — sitting on top of The Pinnacle with a hot coffee, watching the Grampians wake up below us.

There's something pretty special about seeing a place this way. If you're lucky, you'll have the lookout almost entirely to yourself, and by the time everyone else is starting their day you've already watched the sunrise from one of the best viewpoints in the region.

And you still have the whole day ahead of you to explore.

There are several routes to The Pinnacle, so check which one suits your fitness and experience before setting out. If you're planning to hike in darkness, make sure you're comfortable navigating the trail, carry a good head torch, wear proper walking shoes and give yourself plenty of time to reach the top before first light.

Visit Boroka Lookout

If you want the big Grampians views without another big hike, head to Boroka Lookout.

It's around 15km from Halls Gap and one of the easier major viewpoints to access. From the lookout you can see across Halls Gap, Lake Bellfield, Fyans Valley and the surrounding ranges and plains.

This is a great one to add to a day when you've already done a bigger walk, or if you're travelling with someone who isn't interested in hiking but still wants to experience those huge Grampians views.

Like most places here, I'd choose early morning or later afternoon if you can. The softer light changes the whole landscape, particularly when it starts catching the layers of mountains in the distance.

Look for Wildlife Around Halls Gap

You don't have to look very hard for wildlife in the Grampians. Kangaroos are everywhere!

We've seen them around Halls Gap, beside roads and wandering around our accommodation, and some of my favourite photographs from our trips have simply been taken in the early morning when they've been grazing nearby.

The Grampians is also full of birdlife, so even when you aren't actively looking for wildlife, you tend to hear it. Kookaburras, cockatoos and smaller native birds are part of the background soundtrack when you're staying amongst the bush.

Early morning and late afternoon are my favourite times to wander around with the camera. Apart from being when wildlife tends to be more active, the light is softer and warmer and everything just looks that little bit more beautiful.

Give wildlife plenty of space, don't feed them and be particularly careful driving around dawn and dusk.

Hire an E-Bike and Explore Halls Gap

One of the more relaxed things we did was hire e-bikes and explore Halls Gap, this was SO fun! ( and I don’t think I took my camera)

After spending so much time driving between walks, waterfalls and lookouts, it was nice to leave the car behind for a while and see the area at a slower pace.

You can hire bikes from Halls Gap E-Bike Hire and ride along the shared bike path through Fyans Valley. It's a really nice way to explore the scenery around town without having to turn everything into another hike.

The e-bike also means you can cover a decent amount of ground without completely exhausting yourself, which is particularly welcome if your legs are already reminding you about yesterday's walk.

I'd allow a few hours, rather than treating it as simply a way to get from one place to another. Stop when something catches your eye, grab some food or coffee in town and enjoy having nowhere particularly urgent to be.

Spend Some Time at Halls Gap Zoo

If you're travelling with kids, or just want a break from hiking, Halls Gap Zoo is worth adding to the itinerary.

It's Victoria's largest regional zoo and is home to more than 120 native and exotic species, including giraffes, cheetahs, red pandas, meerkats, wombats, dingoes and plenty more.

I'd allow at least a few hours rather than trying to rush through it. The walking path around the zoo is around 2.5km, so it's a decent activity in itself and gives you something completely different from the national park.

It's also a good option to keep in mind if the weather isn't ideal for spending an entire day on the trails.

Make Time to Enjoy Where You're Staying

I think this is one of the things we sometimes forget when planning a weekend away.

You don't need to fill every hour.

Some of my favourite parts of our Grampians trips have happened when we weren't technically doing anything.

Coming back to the hut after a long day. Lighting the fire. Sitting outside. Having a bath under the open sky. Making coffee in the morning and watching kangaroos wander through the landscape.

The Grampians is such a beautiful place to explore, but it's also a beautiful place to simply be.

If you've chosen accommodation that you love, leave a few hours in the itinerary to actually enjoy it.

How Many Days Do You Need in the Grampians?

I'd recommend at least two nights, but three nights gives you a much nicer pace.

You can technically see several of the major attractions over a weekend, but trying to squeeze sunrise hikes, waterfalls, lookouts, the zoo and Halls Gap into one or two days can quickly turn a relaxing trip into a checklist.

With three nights, you can have an early morning adventure and still spend the afternoon doing very little. If the weather isn't ideal one day, you've also got some flexibility to move your plans around.

If you're travelling from Melbourne, I'd personally choose three nights whenever possible.

A 3-Day Grampians Itinerary

If you're trying to work out how to fit everything together, this is roughly how I'd structure a relaxed three-day trip around Halls Gap.

Day One — Arrive and Explore Halls Gap

Drive from Melbourne and check into your accommodation before spending the afternoon around Halls Gap. Hire an e-bike and explore Fyans Valley, wander through town and keep an eye out for kangaroos as the afternoon light starts to soften.

Then head back to your accommodation, light the fire and actually enjoy where you're staying.

Mountain views as your enter Halls Gap

Day Two — Sunrise Hike, Waterfalls and a Lookout

Set the alarm painfully early and hike The Pinnacle for sunrise. Pack coffee and breakfast, give yourself plenty of time and enjoy the fact that you've already done something pretty incredible before most people have finished their first coffee.

Afterwards, head back to Halls Gap for breakfast and take things slowly for a while.

Spend the afternoon at MacKenzie Falls before heading to Boroka Lookout later in the day for another big view across the Grampians.

Then back to the hut.

Outdoor bath highly recommended.

Day Three — Venus Baths, Wildlife and Halls Gap Zoo

Keep the final morning slower with a walk to Venus Baths from Halls Gap, followed by breakfast or coffee in town.

Spend a few hours exploring Halls Gap Zoo before heading home, or stay another night and use the afternoon to revisit somewhere you loved.

When is the Best Time to Visit the Grampians?

Every season gives you something different.

I love the cooler months because I enjoy those crisp mornings, particularly if we're hiking or photographing sunrise. Once you're walking, you warm up quickly, and I'd much rather add or remove layers than tackle some of these climbs in the middle of a hot summer day.

Spring brings greener landscapes and wildflowers, while autumn is beautiful for cooler walking conditions and softer light. Summer gives you longer days, but heat and fire conditions need to be taken seriously.

Whatever time of year you visit, check the weather and current park conditions before setting out. The temperature on the higher peaks can also feel very different from Halls Gap below, so layers are always useful.

What to Pack for a Grampians Weekend

You don't need anything particularly complicated, but if you're planning a mixture of hiking and slower exploring, I'd pack good walking shoes, plenty of water, sun protection, warm layers and a small daypack.

If you're planning a sunrise hike, add a reliable head torch, spare batteries and something warm for when you stop moving at the summit.

And I'd personally add a Jetboil and coffee. Coffee tastes considerably better when you've carried it to the top of a mountain before sunrise.

Turn Your Grampians Trip Into a Longer Victorian Road Trip

The Grampians also work really well as part of a longer road trip through western Victoria.

On one of our trips, we used the Grampians as the first stop on our way north towards Lake Tyrrell, Victoria's largest salt lake near Sea Lake.

It's a beautiful contrast. One day you're surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, forest and kangaroos, and the next you're driving through the wide-open landscapes of the Wimmera Mallee towards an enormous salt lake.

If you're thinking about continuing north, I've put together a full Lake Tyrrell, Victoria: Pink Lake Travel Guide, covering when to visit, where to stay, sunrise, stargazing, photography and places worth stopping along the way.

Is the Grampians Worth Visiting?

Absolutely.

There are enough walks, waterfalls and lookouts to keep you busy for days, but I don't think that's the only reason to come here.

Some of my favourite memories from the Grampians are the quieter ones: kangaroos outside the window, cold early mornings, riding through Halls Gap, sitting beside the fire and that coffee at the top of The Pinnacle as the sun came up.

Give yourself enough time that you don't need to rush from one attraction to the next.

Choose a beautiful place to stay. Pick a couple of walks. Chase a waterfall. Get up early at least once.

And leave a little room in the itinerary for doing absolutely nothing.