The Grampians National Park seems to be a popular place for Victorians to visit, vacation, camp and hike. We decided to see for ourselves what the Grampians are all about. We had spent some time in a town called Hamilton because we had tagged along with Shane for work. From Hamilton, we drove to a small tourist village called Halls Gap, situated in the heart of The Grampians National Park. As we were driving towards our destination, it was impossible to miss this majestic island of mountain and forest rising out of the flat farmland all around it. The Grampians are home to a vast array of native animals and plants as well as a rich Aboriginal history. It is said that the Aboriginal people have been connected to this place for over 22,000 years.

With limited time, we decided to head for Halls Gap as a base to explore and admire the awe-inspiring landscapes. While in the Grampians, Victorians, first of all, camp and from there, there are endless treks to tackle, treks along rugged cliffs and cascading waterfalls. There is plenty of fishing and canoeing on the lakes amongst the mountains as well as getting up close to the inquisitive native animals such as koalas, kangaroos and emus.

The first trek we decided to tackle was a fairly short and easy one, Mackenzie Falls. Mackenzie Falls is one of Victoria’s largest waterfalls and flows year round. The trek was more of an easy stroll through the bush where we saw the effects of a major forest fire from several years ago. It was amazing to see how life has been rebuilt in the forest and how green it is amongst the blackened tree trunks. The waterfall was beautiful and because of the rain in the past few days, it was full and fast flowing.

The second trek we attempted was one that reached The Pinnacle. The Pinnacle is one of the best vantage points in the Grampians for fantastic scenic views that stretch over a vast expanse of the park and surrounding country. This trek was considered to be more strenuous than the previous one. It was a 4.2km return walk that included some small water crossings and rock-hopping as well as some slippery boulders to climb over. We left the carpark feeling very optimistic and excited to enjoy the view of The Grampians from the spectacular vantage point of The Pinnacle. However, part way through the trek, it began to get slippery because of the rainy mist we had been having throughout the day. The rock-hopping proved challenging not only for the kids, but for Shane and I as well. Alexis and Reid were troopers and made it all the way to The Pinnacle. When we reached the top, it was so windy and rainy that it was difficult to even look out to admire the view. Bound and determined to make it, we only took a few photos at the top as we feared that we may blow off the cliff top! To our surprise and absolute delight, a rainbow appeared as we were standing there. It made the trek worth every bit of effort it took. The way back down to the car was more challenging as the kids knew the obstacles that lay ahead. The backup pack of M&Ms in my pocket was the motivation we needed to get back to the carpark.