The MacKenzie River / Bun-nah Trail is a 10.5km, grade 3 one way hike located in the Grampians National Park Victoria. The hike stretches between Wartook Valley and Zumsteins Picnic Area and should take approximately 3hrs to complete.

Summary

The Mackenzie River/Bun-nah Trail is a historic route that stretches for 10.5km between Wartook Valley and Zumsteins Picnic Area. You can walk in either direction but my recommendation is to start at Wartook Valley as from Zumsteins walkers can continue on the Mackenzie River Trail for another 3.7km to Mackenzie Falls.

Originally known as the ‘Back Track’, the trail closely follows the Mackenzie River, or Bun-nah as it is known to the Traditional Owners. Along the route there are interpretive signs that detail the area’s history and its significance to the Jadawadjali People. The trail is open to walkers and mountain bikers when conditions are dry. Download the brochure here.

Tips

At times the Mackenzie River floods and the trail is impassable; in this instance it is best to access the trail at Cooinda Burrong.

History

For 100 years, the ‘Back Track’ was the main road from Wartook Valley into the Central Grampians Ranges. The Back Track was traversed by walkers, horses, carriages and bullock wagon teams. The track was used to transport supplies, animals, timber from mills, tannin bark from wattle stripping and honey and beeswax collected by local beekeepers. Bun-nah (Mackenzie River) runs through Jadawadjali country, from the northern part of Gariwerd down through the plains to its confluence with Walla Walla (the Wimmera River) at Horsham. Both rivers form a key part of the Gariwerd Creation story. As you follow the track along Bun-nah, you are following the creation story of Tyingal (Tchingal) the emu and Waa the crow.

Getting there

Wartook Valley runs along the Grampians’ western foothills, giving a completely different perspective of the mountains. Heading to or from Horsham, this is the scenic alternative to the Western Hwy (A8). From Wartook, the sealed Roses Gap Rd and Mt Victoria Rd pass through the park, and there are lots of unsealed roads and tracks passing little creeks, waterfalls and idyllic picnic spots.

This trail reopened in 2018 so the GPX file may not be completely aligned with the newly aligned trail.