Grampians Peaks End to End Trek

Meet your guide and the expedition team at the Grampians Peaks Walking Co Hiker Hub in Halls Gap. After a briefing and gear check, a bus transfer will take us to the beginning of the Grampian Peaks Trail at the Mount Zero picnic area. The heart rate will rise quickly as we ascend ‘Flat Rock’ and then again when we get to the top and get our first world-class viewpoint – just 10 minutes in! We’ll descend and navigate our way through the Stapylton Amphitheatre before skirting our way around and up Mount Stapylton itself. For the footsure and brave, there is a short scramble to the summit to gain 360-degree views and a sneak peek of the next day’s walk in the distance. After a fresh trail lunch, we’ll head southwards along the mostly high ground before descending into a valley and reaching Barigar Hiker Camp. After settling in we can take a short side trip to visit the camp’s namesake Barigar Falls. Walking Distance 12.9km | Ascent 440m | Descent 460m

Meals:  L,D

We’ll begin our day with a hearty breakfast and then depart camp. Our first steps take us along the base of the Rock Wall, an impressive several-kilometre-long escarpment hidden away in a valley. As the cliff line reduces, we begin to ascend its ridge to cross over into Roses Gap. Ascending the lower slopes of Gar (Mount Difficult) we will find and begin to follow a small, seasonal and rainfall dependent watercourse. Over the next few km, we will witness this watercourse cascading over a series of falls, each one more spectacular than the last. After we reach the top of the last waterfall, we’ll head towards the ‘Pacific Ocean Wall’ – a cliff ‘as big as the pacific ocean’ and ascend its flank via a superbly built stone stairway and continue climbing up to Briggs Bluff. With most of the ascent completed, from here we traverse our way along the high ground before arriving at Gar Hiker Camp and its breathtaking views. Walking Distance 12.9km | Ascent 615m | Descent 113m

Meals:  B,L,D

An early start this morning as we head up to the summit of Gar for a sunrise like no other. We’ll then return to camp for breakfast and then depart on the day’s journey. We will sharply descend the eastern slopes of Gar, cross the northern end of the Werdug (Wartook) Basin and ascend the ridge of the eastern flank of the Mount Difficult Massif. Continuing south along this high ground we will eventually reach Werdug Hiker Camp with stunning views overlooking Lake Wartook and a clear line of sight all the way back to the top of Gar where we stood that morning. Walking Distance 15km | Ascent 521m | Descent 462m

Meals:  B,L,D

We will continue along the eastern flank of Mount Difficult and slowly tip over and descend towards the town of Halls Gap. On the way to town, we’ll head out to the end of Chautauqua Peak for an incredible view down the valley before finishing our descent all the way into Halls Gap. We will walk all the way to our night’s accommodation where we can shower and freshen up before enjoying a nice dinner out on the town. Tonight is a free night to unwind by heading out to a local restaurant at your own expense, either on your own or with the rest of the group should you choose. Walking Distance 10km | Ascent 33m | Descent 587m

Meals:  B,L

We will provide time this morning for you to source your own breakfast in Halls Gap before we depart town and farewell the comforts of civilization. This is the last time we’ll see a town until we reach Dunkeld in 8 days’ time. Winding our way up the Wonderland Range we will pass iconic sites such as Venus Baths, Grand Canyon, Silent Street, and the Pinnacle. After a bit of traversing some high ground, we’ll pop over and descend to the saddle between the Wonderland Range and Mount Rosea. It is then a gentle climb up Mount Rosea’s northern shoulder to the stunning Stoney Creek Hiker Camp. Walking Distance 12.2km | Ascent 693m | Descent 229m

Meals:  L,D

This morning starts with an exciting climb over some really interesting terrain. Passing the Gate of the East Wind we will reach the summit of Mount Rosea at 1009 m above sea level. After a long descent into the valley, we leave the Serra Range by crossing Grampians Tourist Road and begin our ascent towards Mount William. Luckily, most of that is saved for tomorrow as it’s only another 1.2km to Barri Yalug, our first ‘backcountry hiker camp’ – more remote hiker camps with limited shelter. The next 5 nights of our expedition are in backcountry camps and will be a little more exposed to the elements. It’s the necessary cost to pay to experience some of the most remote and wild parts of the Gariwerd landscape. Walking Distance 13km | Ascent 422m | Descent 710m

Meals:  B,L,D

The day starts with a short, steep descent out of camp to the Barney Creek crossing at 320 m above sea level. A short flat stretch will give us time to get our minds ready for the longest continual climb anywhere along the GPT. From Barney Creek, we ascend more or less continuously until Redman Bluff at 1017 m above sea level. This long gradual climb takes us from bushland to large open rock areas. Along the way, we’ll see parts of an old aqueduct system that used to feed water to nearby towns before the construction of Lake Bellfield. Passing some of the ‘Seven Dials’ we’ll continue on to finally reach Redman Bluff and take a well-earned rest before descending to a saddle and then a final gentle climb to Duwul Hiker Camp. Walking Distance 13.2km | Ascent 806m | Descent 316m

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we walk across one of the most exposed sections of the GPT and experience its highest elevations. Starting by climbing Mt William – the highest peak in all of Gariwerd at 1167m – we will then head south and down to Boundary Gap at 878m which separates Mt William from the Major Mitchell Plateau. This descent and ascent contain some of the most challenging terrains on the whole GPT. Once the trail reaches the plateau, it undulates across rocks and steel mesh walkways. Passing First Wannon Creek we will reach Durd Durd, the highest point on the plateau. Marked by a rock cairn, this point is at a height equal to Mt William, 1167m. We will continue south to Banksia Hill at 1103m, across the Banksia Ridgeline and follow the trail as it hops across large boulders before descending to open grassy woodland, reminiscent of an alpine meadow. While Durd Durd Hiker Camp is much more sheltered than most of the day’s walk, it still sits at 855 m above sea level and is one of the highest camps on the GPT. Durd Durd and Duwul Hiker Camp are the most likely to receive snow in winter and even spring. Walking Distance 14.5km | Ascent 679m | Descent 720m

Meals:  B,L,D

A new landscape unfolds as we descend from the highest parts of the Mount William Range and continue to traverse southward, down into sheltered woodland valleys. Passing through previously untracked areas of the lower Mt William range, it offers up some of the most rugged ridgeline rock walking and views of the incredible Serra Range to the west. This section is fantastic for late winter and spring wildflowers. Watch for the red “spider flowers” of Flame Grevillia which typically bloom between April and November. To the east is farmland, scattered lakes and wetlands – important habitat to wildlife, including threatened species such as Australia’s largest flying bird, the Brolga. This ridge walking leads us over the day to Yarram Hiker Camp to rest up for the night. Walking Distance 12km | Ascent 465m | Descent 685m

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we traverse the last ups and downs of the Mount William Range, and then enjoy a long flat(ish) walk passing through ancient old-growth forests and lower swampland plains with stands of native Oyster Bay Pines (Callitris rhomboidea) along the way. We will take in views of farmland, countless swamps, lakes and wetlands to the east and south-east and the dramatic Serra Range to the west. We will climb the last little blips of the Mount William Range and settle into Wannon Hiker Camp for the night in a reclaimed farmland gully. Walking Distance 11km | Ascent 313m | Descent 588m

Meals:  B,L,D

We will begin walking through incredible open grassland on a combination of gentle trails and steel boardwalks. The trail winds through large areas of Xanthorrhoea australis, swampy river flats, and open heathy forest. Much of the landscape here feels very old worldly – almost Jurassic. The thick understory provides important habitat for threatened small mammals such as the Long-nosed Potoroo, Southern Brown Bandicoot, and Heath Mouse. Shortly after passing the Griffin Fireline we will cross back over the Grampians Tourist Road and climb through the incredible forest back onto the Serra Range. Saddles of old-growth forest, sheer eastern faces, and expansive views to the western Victoria Range will bring us to Djardji-djawara, our second last hiker camp on a small rocky knoll. Walking Distance 16km | Ascent 550m | Descent 427m

Meals:  B,L,D

From Djardji-djawara we cross Cassidy Gap and begin up a short but spicy trail to Signal Peak. With varied terrain from steps to boulders, this climb should not be underestimated. Signal Peak is one of the great peaks of the Serra Range that prior to the construction of the GPT never had a trail leading to the summit/ Yet from the summit we will get one of the most spectacular vantage points to view Mount Abrupt in the early morning light. Our journey continues south, dropping down from Signal Peak to a beautifully forested long saddle before a gradual and eventually abrupt climb up the slopes of the aptly named peak. Walking through the forested areas and exposed ridgelines of the southern Serra Range and reflecting on the vast difference in vegetation that we have experienced on this walk really attests to the distance we have travelled. After summiting Mount Abrupt we will descend to Mad-dadjug Hiker Camp on its southern shoulder. Walking Distance 8km | Ascent 583m | Descent 481m

Meals:  B,L,D

For our last morning on the trail, we will enjoy a quick bite and a pot of coffee before taking off pre-dawn to descend carefully and steeply, from Mt Abrupt, passing a reservoir and then climbing over Bainnggug (the Piccaninny) to catch the sunrise and breakfast. When we’re ready to continue, we will cross Victoria Valley Road and begin the final climb of the GPT over Mt Sturgeon (Wurgarri). Mt Sturgeon towers over our destination – Dunkeld – as well as offering stunning views in all directions. The landscape reveals stories of country. Looking northward we can see the sedimentary sandstone of Gariwerd and draw a line with our finger along our path going back in time over the last 5 days that are visible. To the south, basalt lava flows over volcanic plains. Volcanoes nearby at Budj Bim National Park and Mt Gambier are only 5000 years old, while the oldest dated Aboriginal rock shelter in Gariwerd is 22,000 years old. We will complete our journey by steeply descending into farmland below and wandering through open old-growth Red Gum woodland to arrive at Dunkeld. After a celebratory lunch, we will load onto our private transport and transfer back to Halls Gap. We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant at your own expense, with the rest of the group. Walking Distance 14.7km | Ascent 501m | Descent 770m

Meals:  B