The Wonderland Loop is a hike I pieced together many years ago from a series of Grampians trails. After exploring most of the Grampians, I thought it would be great to have a longer day or overnight option. This was before the Grampians Peaks Trail was developed. My original plan was to do this as an overnight hike but I ended up completing it in a day. You could do either but would need to research appropriate campsites.
Commencing in Halls Hap, along School Road, this loop first allows you to summit Chatauqua Peak north west of Halls Gap before making your way along the creek via Venus Baths, Splitter and Stoney Falls before arriving at the Wonderland Carpark.
After traversing the Wonderland Forest, you will then commence a steady climb via Cool Chamber to the famed Pinnacle Lookout where you will be rewarded with stunning views over Halls Gap and the valley below. From the Pinnacle, continue to make your way south via Bellfield Park and Devils Gap to the Sundial Turntable carpark.
It covers most of the Wonderland Loop including the Pinnacle and Sundial Peak before crossing the valley to the opposite ridge. Following a short side trip to Lakeview Lookout, continue to follow the trail south east towards Eagan Point and the breathtaking Sundial Peak where you can gain access to a number of view points.
After leaving Sundial, continue south east along the trail as it slowly descends to the valley below. You will reach the valley at Bellfield Settlement where you can spend some time exploring the dam wall of Lake Bellfield. From this point, you simply follow the walking track that runs parallel to the Grampians Pipeline and main road into Halls Gap and the end of the trail.
Variation to extend the hike
If you wanted to extend the hike (by approximately 5km), you can cross the dam wall at Lake Bellfield to pick up the Baronia trail on the eastern side of Fyanns Creek. When I did this hike, the section from Lake Bellfield to Boronia Peak was extensively overgrown and took a long time and a lot of effort to navigate. Just before reaching Mount Ida, you can take a quick side trip to the summit of Baronia Peak for great views of the range you traversed earlier. Complete the circuit hike by continuing north along Fyanns Creek to Grampians Road. Cross the bridge over the creek and make your way back into Halls Gap and the end of the trail.
You will find the GPX file for this variation below.
Wonderland Loop - 25km
Total distance: 22741 m
Max elevation: 779 m
Min elevation: 233 m
Total climbing: 1254 m
Total descent: -1256 m
Download file:
Wonderland-Loop.gpx
Wonderland Loop via Baronia Peak - 30km
Total distance: 29044 m
Max elevation: 779 m
Min elevation: 228 m
Total climbing: 1775 m
Total descent: -1776 m
Download file:
Wonderland Loop Baronia Peak.gpx
No Records Found
Sorry, no records were found. Please adjust your search criteria and try again.
Maps failed to load
Sorry, unable to load the Maps API.
Grampians National Park is in western Victoria, 260km from Melbourne and 460km from Adelaide. Halls Gaps is 253km west of Melbourne.
It’s a good idea to let someone know where you’re going. Fill in a trip intention form to send important details about your trip to your emergency contact. If you are lost or require help and have phone reception, call 000 and ask for police. The international standard emergency number is 112, if you dial this number in Australia you will be treated exactly the same as a 000 call. If you believe your life is at risk, activate your personal locator beacon (PLB), then make your position visible to rescue teams and keep warm and dry.
Renowned for rugged mountain ranges, rich cultural heritage and breathtaking scenic views, the 168,000 hectare park is ideal for a wide range of outdoor activities. The many walking tracks will take you on a journey to waterfall vistas, ancient geological rock features and forests. There are guided tours, and with a large network of roads available, car touring is a great way to explore. Renowned as the major attraction in the region, the Grampians National Park is a must-visit destination for all travellers, backpackers and day-trippers in Victoria. The spectacular setting of the mountainous landscape boasts a wide array of attractions and activities for visitors to the region. The Grampians National Park (also Gariwerd), commonly referred to as The Grampians, is a national park located in the Grampians region of Victoria, Australia. The 167,219-hectare (413,210-acre) national park is situated between Stawell and Horsham on the Western Highway and Dunkeld on the Glenelg Highway, 260 kilometres west of Melbourne and 460 kilometres east of Adelaide.
