Grampians Peaks Trail (164km) VIC > Trail Hiking Australia

The Grampians Peaks Trail is a challenging 164km, grade 5 long distance hike located in the Grampians National Park, Victoria. The full end to end experience will take around 13 days to complete.

Length: 164km

Duration: 13 days

Grade: 5

Style: One Way

Start: Mt Zero Picnic Area

End: Dunkeld

Location: Grampians National Park

Closest town: Halls Gap

Victoria

From state capital: 283km

Longitude: 142.37554371356967

Latitude: -36.89123113622619

Warning

This is a very difficult Grade 4-5 trail with steep terrain and is suitable only for experienced long-distance hikers.

The full Grampians Peaks Trail is a challenging 164km hiking experience. If you’re bold and committed to completing this 13-day/12-night hike, you will have an unforgettable adventure and be rewarded with some of the best hiking trails and panoramic views in Australia.

A brief summary of each day has been provided below. More information can be found on the Parks Victoria website.

Day 1:  Mt Zero – Barigar Hike-in Campground

Start: at Mt Zero Picnic Area.  Distance: 12.1km  Grade: 4
Highlights: Ridgeline hiking, Taipan Wall, Mt Stapylton viewpoint and seasonal rockpools and waterfall.

Day 2: Barigar Hike-in Campground – Gar Hike-in Campground

Start: Barigar campground  Distance: 11.3km  Grade:4
Highlights: Seasonal waterfalls (after rain), a heath covered plateau, Mt Difficult (Gar) mountain summits.

Day 3: Gar Hike-in Campground – Werdug Hike-in Campground

Start: Gar hike in campground  Distance: 14.0km  Grade: 4
Highlights: Mt Difficult (Gar) summit, open rock slabs, elevated ridgeline views from the backslopes of the Mt Difficult Range.

Day 4: Werdug Hike-in Campground – Halls Gap (own arrangements)

Start: Werdug Hike-in Campground  Distance: 13.0km  Grade: 4
Highlights: Sweeping views, rocky gardens and a descent through tall wet forest and winter/spring wildflowers.

Day 5: Halls Gap to Bugiga Hike-in Campground

Start: Halls Gap Trailhead (caravan park)  Distance: 8.9km  Grade: 4
Highlights: Stony Creek, Grand Canyon, The Pinnacle.See fascinating sandstone gorges and gnarly, weathered rock formations in the Wonderland Range. Near Venus Baths are views of Elephants Hide and, in the background, Chautauqua Peak.

Day 6: Bugiga Hike-in Campground – Barri-Yalug Hike-in Campground

Start: Bugiga Hike-in Campground  Distance: 14.7km  Grade: 4
Highlights: Wet tall forest with a rocky steep climb through boulders to the Mt Rosea (Bugiga-mirgani) ridgeline. Cross the bridge at the Gate of the East Wind.

Day 7: Barri-Yalug Hike-in Campground – Duwul Hike-in Campground

Start: Barri yalug Hike-in Campground. Distance: 13.2km Grade: 4
Highlights: The biggest elevation change of all the GPT: Barney Creek (320m) to Redman Bluff (1017m).

Day 8: Duwul Hike-in Campground – Durd Durd Hike-in Campground

Start: Duwul Hike-in Campground  Distance: 14.5km Grade: 4
Highlights: Mt William (Duwul) summit; 400m. The park’s highest mountain with views of the Serra Range and Victoria Ranges.

Day 9: Durd Durd Hike-in Campground – Yarram Hike-in Campground

Start: Durd Durd Hike-in Campground  Distance: 11.9km  Grade: 4/5
Highlights: Wildflowers, landscape views to the east and west.

Day 10: Yarram Hike-in Campground – Wannon Hike-in Campground

Start: Yarram Hike-in Campground  Distance: 11.1km  Grade: 4/5
Highlights: Serra Range views, rocky knolls, Mt Nelson (819m) to the west in the Serra Range and wildlife, including night calls of owls, possums and gliders.

Day 11: Wannon Hike-in Campground – Djardji-djawara Hike-in Campground

Start: Wannon Hike-in Campground Distance: 16.3km, 5 to 6 hours Grade: 4
Highlights: Some of Gariwerd’s most important heathy habitat for threatened native mammals in the valley-heathland between Mt William and Serra Ranges.

Day 12: Djardji-djawara Hike-in Campground – Mud-Dadjug Hike-in Campground

Start: Djardji-djawara Hike-in Campground  Distance: 8.1km  Grade: 4
Highlights: New sections of trail passing through stunted eucalypt forest, the rocky mountain summits of Signal Peak and Mt Abrupt (Mud-Dadjug).

Day 13: Mud-Dadjug Hike-in Campground – Dunkeld Township

Start: Mud-dadjug Hike-in Campground   Distance: 14.8km  Grade: 4
Highlights: Bainggug (The Piccaninny) and Mt Sturgeon (Wurgarri) (582m). Bainggug is renowned for its winter and spring native wildflowers including spider, tiger, wax-lip and greenhood orchids.

Water

For your safety, having enough water along the Grampians Peaks Trail for hydration and cooking is so important. Parks Victoria's water information and availability page includes the locations (with latitude and longitude references) of serviced water tanks. All water tanks along the trail are untreated. So you need a safe way to treat water for drinking.

Camping fees

The Grampians Peaks Trail is free for anyone to walk on it, no charge. And there are some sections that can be done as day walks.

The 11 hike-in campgrounds have a charge, and need to be pre-booked. These hike-in campgrounds are in very remote locations, you're not near a busy road or carpark, so you feel the reward of being deep inside the national park. They have been built with a good level of amenity that is well designed, sympathetic to the landscape and sustainable. As such, they are priced higher for the value they provide. The price for a standard tent pad for the full trail (13-days/12-nights) is $524.70 ($262.35 p/person for two people sharing) plus one night off-trail accommodation in Halls Gap. That's roughly $47 per night ($24 p/person if sharing) in fees for the 11 unique, well-equipped hike-in campgrounds.

Whilst the hike-in campgrounds along the Grampians Peaks Trail offer a unique, remote and convenient hiking experience along the trail there are many other campgrounds that hikers can use. Parks Victoria recommend this only for experienced hikers and ensure you have the latest Grampians Peaks Trail topographic map in order to plan your hiking adventure.

Route and GPX file

Total distance: 164172 m
Max elevation: 1171 m
Min elevation: 220 m
Total climbing: 8688 m
Total descent: -8680 m

Download file: Grampians-Peaks-Trail.gpx

Tips

More information can be found on the Parks Victoria website.

Gear you might need

As well as including the Ten Essentials, my planning, food and packing checklists provide an summary of things to consider on your day, overnight and multi-day hikes. Every person and every hike is different, so customise your kit according to your needs. Download your free checklists here >>

Location

Getting there

The Grampians Peaks Trail runs from the northern point of the Grampians National Park (near Dadswells Bridge) to the southern point of the park (at Dunkeld). It is located in Western Victoria, a three-hour (260km) drive from Melbourne and a five-hour (460km) drive from Adelaide. The central Grampians is easily accessed from the villages of Halls Gap and Wartook and is a scenic day trip from the regional towns of Hamilton, Horsham, Stawell and Ararat. It is also a key destination on the internationally renowned Great Southern Touring Route.

Get directions

Weather

About the region

Grampians National Park is part of the Gariwerd Aboriginal cultural landscape. Explore the natural beauty of the Grampians from its world-famous hiking trails. Discover majestic waterfalls, dazzling spring wildflower displays and awe-inspiring mountain panoramas. Cross paths with kangaroos, wallabies, emus and native birds. Heritage-listed for its Aboriginal heritage, animal and plant life, and stunning natural beauty, the Grampians National Park is one of Australia's most recognisable places. The best way to appreciate it is on one of its many world-class walks or hikes or by taking a scenic drive.

Traditionally known as Gariwerd, this region is home to the largest number of significant and ancient Aboriginal rock art paintings and shelters in southern Australia. A visit to Brambuk – The National Park & Cultural Centre will help you get the most of your trip to these rock shelters.

The Grampians draws walkers from around the world. Hike to the highest peak within the Grampians, Mount William, or explore the plethora of walks around Halls Gap and the Wonderland Range. Views from the Pinnacle are famous, but the steep walk should only be attempted by the fit. If you’re an experienced walker you’ll enjoy the unique challenge of the park’s overnight hikes. Choose from the iconic Grampians Peaks Trail, Major Mitchell Plateau or The Fortress and Mt Thackeray Overnight Hike.

There are more relaxing pursuits to enjoy in the Grampians, too. Go fishing, canoeing or kayaking at Lake Wartook, Lake Bellfield and Moora Moora Reservoir or one of the park’s many other streams and creeks.

Source: Parks Victoria

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Acknowledgement of Country

Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.

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