Waterfalls and wildlife, our days in the Grampians region were filled with natural beauty. Inland from Victoria’s southern Australian coast, Grampian National Park is a perfect base for exploration. Best shared in photos:
I have no idea how hubby spotted this Bobtail skink just off the side of the road.
Boroka Lookout in the Grampians offers 180-degree views of Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield in Western Victoria. To get there, we drove up the aptly named Mt. Difficult Road.
Another view from Boroka Lookout.
A Sulphur Crested Cockatoo in Brambuk Cultural Center in Halls Gap.
This is Broken Falls. One can take a long and impressive hike to get here, or drive to the nearby carpark.
Kangaroos lounging in the sun, seen in the field from the back deck of our hotel room.
As we drove through Ararat, we stopped for a tour of J-Ward, a former lunatic asylum for the criminally insane.
Also located in Ararat, and worth a visit is the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre highlighting the incredible history and difficulty of the Chinese immigrants who came to work in the gold fields.
Aww. We had to stop to enjoy these ducks and ducklings.
The provincial town of Ballarat was our final stop on the way back to Melbourne.
Read Next: Kangaroo, Koala, Platypus and Other Australian Animals
Practical Information:
- The Grampians National Park is located in Victoria and is comprised of rugged sandstone mountain ranges and forests.
- We barely touched on all the things to do in the Grampians. It is a popular holiday destination for camping, climbing, scenic drives, and bush walks.
- We stayed at the Kookaburra Motor Lodge in Hall’s Gap. Clean and tidy, it is centrally located, but the highlight for me was the kangaroos that were sunning themselves in the field just behind the hotel. Apparently, this is a normal activity for them.
- For more information on the Grampians visit the official national parks site.
- We used Lonely Planet – Australia to help guide our travels.
This is the fifth article in a series as we drove a loop from Melbourne along the Great Ocean Road to Port Fairy, then up to Halls Gap and the Grampians before heading back to Melbourne.
- Melbourne Street Art: Explore Australia
- Highlights of our Great Ocean Road Self Drive in Australia
- A Convent Turned Luxury Hotel Along the Great Ocean Road
- J-Ward: Inside a Lunatic Asylum for the Criminally Insane
Map showing the route we drove over five days. The marker is in Hall’s Gap in the Grampians. The bottom map shows what a small portion of Australia this covered.
Kangaroos, skinks, birds, waterfalls or hiking, which part of the Grampians is your favourite?
If you enjoyed this photo tour of the Grampians, please share it on social media including Pinterest:
Disclaimer: We are frequently provided with a complimentary entry or other benefits. However, the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
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MARIANNE FERNANDEZ says
I really like your article, it is really great 🙂 Thank you for the pictures too.
I also visited the Grampians and it was amazing !
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks. The Grampians are really special. Next time I will allocate more time.
bettyl - NZ says
These are fantastic shots. You certainly found a lot to see!
Rhonda Albom says
We just picked well on our destinations. Nature did most of the rest.
Jeanna says
How do you chose from all your wonderful photos? I think “Lounging Kangaroos” would make a great name for a band.
Rhonda Albom says
I think it takes me longer to pair down the photos than to write the words.
Stefanie says
Skink? Cool, but a little creepy! I actually said “Aww” before my scroll got down to where you wrote it for the ducklings! Beautiful photos as always!
Rhonda Albom says
The ducks were cuties, but the skink was pretty cool tot.
kim Marie Ostrowski says
aww the little duckies look so cute.. but the adult ones look weird, like sort of part duck part goose (at least our sort here)
and I heard of Skinks before.. saw them on the Aussie Outback show with Tim Faulkner! Those were Wild ‘roos? or part of something at the hotel?
Rhonda Albom says
Yep, those were wild kangaroos. They just hang out in the field but are free to come and go as they please. The fence in the back keeps them out of a different property, not into the one they are on.
Bill Kasman says
Lovely! What a pity it’s on the other side of the world from me 🙁
Rhonda Albom says
That’s what airplanes are for 🙂
stephanie jefferson says
What a great trip you are having. I’ve not done the Grampians road trip, another one for one day! Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Rhonda Albom says
Be sure to include the Great Ocean Road.
Mimi says
Absolutely beautiful! What great scenery. I could do without the skink though. hahahaha I love the name of the road you had to take to get the view.
Rhonda Albom says
I loved the name of the road too. Once we saw it wasn’t that bad, we had a good laugh over it.
Travelera says
Wow Such a beautiful post, your photos are always awesome, my favourite this time are the ducks and ducklings, super cute! 🙂
Have a wonderful Christmas Rhonda!
xxx
http://www.travelera.es
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Nulai. The ducklings were super cute.
Deb Nance at REaderbuzz says
What great wildlife you saw!
I have a blue-tongued skink in my school library and she is the most gentle scary-looking animal you ever saw.
Rhonda Albom says
Australia is an amazing place to look for wildlife as so much of it is indigenous to the country and fascinating to the rest of us.
Kathy Marris says
Being a former Victorian (I grew up in Bendigo), your photos brought back wonderful memories of travelling around Victoria when I was little. It was nice seeing a bit of greenery in your photos as Victoria can be very brown and dry. 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
What a fabulous place to grow up. I would love to be a kid with all of this in my backyard.
Patrick Weseman says
What great pics and what a wonderful place to visit. Very nice. I do want to go there.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas.
Rhonda Albom says
I hope you do get a chance to do this loop. Remember to go slow and enjoy.
Joyce Lansky says
Truth be told, that critter is kinda creepy looking.
Rhonda Albom says
Hubby is a reptile fan. So much so he had two huge (4-foot) iguana’s when I met him, so I would never publically agree with you.
Alissa Apel says
The Bobtail skink looks both cool and scary! What a great find.
Rhonda Albom says
He moved so slowly, he really wasn’t scary at all.
Carol says
Lovely shots – Merry Christmas!
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Carol.
Teresa Kindred says
Every photo is stunning! Merry Christmas to you!
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Teresa.
Comedy Plus says
What a fun adventure. I love anything with a view. Boroka Lookout jumped right out at me, so that’s my favorite.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom says
That lookout was really breathtaking. I hope you get to see it for yourself someday.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
What a view! That’s a lot to see in one area. Was the former lunatic asylum creepy?
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Alex. We did it over several days. J-Ward was quite creepy. I wrote a separate post about it here.
stevebethere says
Always enjoy your photos Rhonda completely different world to London heheh!
Have a tanfabulous day 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
This part of Australia would be completely opposite London. The cities would be more similar. It was settled by the Brits.
image-in-ing: weekly photo linky says
Wonderful photos, each and every one. And you have a great eye to have seen that skink – they’re rather shy, at least here in the States.
Merry Christmas!
Rhonda Albom says
It was hubby’s good eye that spotted this one. I actually asked him why he has stopped the car 🙂
Liz Needle says
Stunning views and great photos. Love the Wood duck and babies.
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks, and I am glad to know what type of ducks they are.
claire says
Such lovely and breath taking pictures Rhonda, I would love to travel more 🙂
Rhonda Albom says
What’s stopping you?
Brenda Fluharty says
I love the photos
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Brenda
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Rhonda – I’d love to take that route .. and isn’t that skink amazing. Incredible landscape too … my father made contact with a war colleague who lived in Ballarat … and I should have visited him – but never got down under … I think I’ve got his details, so if I ever do … I could perhaps catch up with the family … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom says
That skink was such a cool find. As for family friends, I do hope you make it down under to meet them. And when you do, you have a map all routed out for you.
Lady Fi says
Beautiful scenery and shots.
Rhonda Albom says
Thanks Fi