DRAFT version 23Jan 2017
Northern Rivers Bushwalkers Club
Grampians and Western District Volcanoestour itinerary
Sunday 22 October – Monday 30 October 2017 (9 days/8 nights)
This tour focuses on discovering two of Australia’s most beautiful and fascinating landscapes - the geologically recent volcanic landforms of the Western District of Victoria (Australia’s newest landscape) and the ancient sandstone landscape of the adjacent Grampians Ranges. The tour encompasses numerous walks in order to experience and learn about these amazing, yet completely contrasting, landscapes. During the 1850s and 1860s Austrian born Colonial artist Eugene von Guerard (1811 – 1901) painted many of the scenes we are exploring. We will be largely following in the footsteps of this great master.
This tour would suit those wanting to discover the geography, geology, botany and history of this region through easy to moderate hiking. It is a fascinating and spectacular part of Australia to explore if you haven’t done so before.
Graeme McGregor will lead the tour.
Transport:
Mini bus transport will be provided and is included in the cost.
Guests are responsible for getting to and from Ballarat where this tour starts and ends.Ballarat has regular train services from Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station which is where the Melbourne Airport Skybus also arrives and departs.
Accommodation:
Eight nights accommodation is provided and included in the cost. Accommodation is yet to be sourced but will include double, twin and single rooms. Cost will depend upon the type of accommodation you choose. Please advise if you are travelling as a single but willing to share a room.
Meals:
Breakfast and/or breakfast provisions will be provided each day for those being accommodated and is included in the cost. On some days lunch packs will be provided and these lunches are included in the cost. Other lunches will be at own cost. Every effort will be made to meet special dietary requirements.
It is not yet clear how many dinners will be provided but it may be more efficient to have some group dinners from a limited set menu. You will be required to pay for all alcoholic drinks and meals not provided as part of this tour.
Cost:
At this stage costs have not been determined due to the many variables involved but a rough estimate is approx $100/head/night ($800 total) which includes: accommodation; bus and support vehicle; entry fees;incidentals; all breakfasts, and other meals as per final itinerary. Your final cost will be influenced by the accommodation you choose. Bus and support vehicle, meals, entry and incidental costs will be equally divided between the number of guests. Accommodation options are being investigated which could bring the cost down.
Group size:
Group size will be a maximum of 25 guests (plus tour leader/driver and any specialist day guides).
Walks that will probably be included on the tour.
It should be noted that the Northern Grampians were severely damaged by bushfires in 2014 and many of the walking tracks and roads are yet to reopen which is why the Grampians walks outlined below do not include northern walks.
Easy (i.e. grade 2) and Moderate (i.e. grade 3-4) walks feature on this tour but some guests may wish to do more difficult walks when based at Halls Gap. They are welcome to do so but must be totally self-reliantfrom the rest of the group and allocate a competent leader for these walks.
Grampians National Park:
Mt Sturgeon or Mt Abrupt (Dunkeld)3hrs returnModerate
Boronia Peak (Halls Gap)3hrs returnModerate
Boroka Lookout to Wonderland Rd junction1.5hrs one wayModeratedownhill walk (First 400m is very steep)
Silverband Falls (Halls Gap)0.5hrs returnEasy
McKenzies Falls to Zunstein1.5hrs one wayModerate
Wonderland carpark to Halls Gap1.5hrs one wayEasy
Wonderland carpark to Halls Gap via the
Pinnacle3hrs one wayModerate
Sundial carparkto Wonderland carparkvia
Lakeview Lookoutand the Pinnacle2.5hrs one wayModerate
Read Lookout to the Balconies0.75hrs returnEasy
Mt Eccles National Park:
Crater rim hike (via lava cave)1.5hrs returnEasy
Natural Bridge & Dry Crater1hr returnEasy
Mt Elephant
Summit hike2.0hrs returnModerate
Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve:
Wetlands boardwalkand/or
“Journey to the last Volcano” hike0.75hr returnEasy
Mt Noorat (near Terang):
Summit hike1.5hrs returnEasy
Mt Napier State Park
Summit hike1.5hrs returnModerate
ByadukCaves circuit walk0.75hrsreturnEasy
Mt Rouse
Downhill from summit picnic area0.5hrsEasy
Some places wehope to visit
Brambuk Cultural Centre and National Parks Visitor Centre, Halls Gap
Volcanoes Discovery Centre, Penshurst (03 5576 7233). Reservations essential
Volcanic features including: Wallacedale Tumuli; Byaduk Lava Caves; Mounts Elephant, Noorat, Eccles, Napier, Rouse and Tower Hill State Wildlife Reserve
Proposed itinerary(day for first tour option/day for second tour option)
Day 1.Sunday 22 Oct. (night only)
Today we arrive at Ballarat. If arriving at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport catch the regular Skybus service to Southern Cross Station in central Melbourne where you catch one of the regular trains to Ballarat station. From here you will need to make your way to our accommodation (TBA). We will have a group meal and tour briefing together that evening.
Overnight – Sovereign Hill Hotel at the historic village.
Optional"Blood on the Southern Cross"night tour (extra cost) will be offered on the first night.
Day 2.Monday 23 Oct
Today we travel to Mt Elephant, a breached scoria cone and one of Western Victoria’s highest volcanic cones (240m), where we will hike to the summit followed by lunch.
We then drive to Camperdown where we follow the Volcanic Lakes Scenic Drive showcasing LakesGnotukand BullenMerri. These lakes are maars, formed from volcanic explosions, and their beauty was captured by renouned colonial artist Eugene von Guerard.
As we travel further west we visit Mt Nooratand hike to the summit and peer into its deep crater. It is then off to Warrnambool for one night.
Overnight – Deakin University, Warnamboolcampus.
Possible evening sound and light show at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village.
Day 3.Tuesday24 Oct
Today we travel to Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve starting with the viewfrom the crater rim lookout. We then proceed to thepark visitor centre andhike the wetland boardwalkand/or the “Journey to the last Volcano”trail.
Then it’s time to head toMt Eccles National Park and hike the crater rim exploring lava caves,lava canals and natural bridge before heading north to visit theWallacedale tumuli or lava blisters. If time permits we will fit in a walk to the Byaduk Lava Caves which, like the Wallacedaletunuli formed on a lava flow from Mt Napier.
Overnight – Four accommodation houses in Dunkeld; Southern Grampians Cottages; Corrugated Cottage, Kerala House and Grampians View B&B.
Day 4.Wednesday 25 Oct
If time didn’t permit it yesterday we will visit the Byaduk lava caves and do circuit hike and venture into a cave today.
We then drive to Mt Napier and hike to the summit where ther are lovely views of the surrounding countryside.
We then proceed to Penshurst to explore the Volcanoes Discovery Centre followed by a drive to the summit of Mt Rouse and hike down from the summittoPenshurst.
Overnight - Four accommodation houses in Dunkeld; Southern Grampians Cottages; Corrugated Cottage, Kerala House and Grampians View B&B.
Day 5.Thursday 26 Oct
After packing up we hike to the summit of Mt Sturgeon OR Mt Abrupt, both close to Dunkeld.then travel to Halls Gap
Then it’s time to drive to Halls Gap and visit the Brambuck Visitor Centre and Cultural Centre.
Overnight - D’Altons cottages, Halls Gap
Day 6.Friday 27 Oct
Today we explore the Wonderland Range which overlooks Halls Gap. From Wonderland carparkwe hike to the Pinnacle via the Grand Canyon and Silent Street, thendescend down the eastern face of the range to Halls Gap (a one way hike).
Optional “reserve”walk option afterwards.
Overnight - D’Altonscottages, Halls Gap
Day 7:Saturday 28 Oct
Today it’s time to head west to the view theMcKenzie Falls and Broken Falls from rim lookouts.
Then we hike to the base of McKenzie Fallsand proceed to Zunsteins(a one way hike).
We then drive toRead Lookout and do the short walk to the famous Balconies (previously known as the ‘Jaws of Death’).
Further east we now head to Boroka Lookout with option of walk from (a) Boroka Lookout to Mt Victory Road (for fit walkers only) or (b) Wonderland carpark to Halls Gap via Venus’s bath (for other walkers)(both one way hikes). Keen, fit walkers can hike from Boroka Lookout all the way to our accommodation in Halls Gap (with no bus pickup). All options are one way hikes.
Overnight - D’Altonscottages, Halls Gap
Day 8:Sunday 29 Oct
Today we return to the Wonderland Range and hike from the Sundial carpark to Lakeview Lookout and the Fallen Giant before looping through the Garden of the Grampians to Wonderland carpark(a one way hike).
On our return to Halls Gap we go via Silverband Falls where we do a short walk to the falls.
Optional “reserve”walkor free time afterwards.
OR CHOOSE THIS DAY FROM THE GRAMPIANS PEAKS TRAIL
Bugiga to Borough Huts (13.8km – 5 to 6 Hours)
Take the track to RoseaCarpark, cross Stony Creek Road to start an ascent through tall Messmate forest. On the ridge, carefully follow track markers through a maze of sandstone outcrops, to cross a bridge over the Gate of the East Wind.
Continue the climb up windswept terraces to a sign posted intersection, turning left to the summit of Mt Rosea. Enjoy amazing 360-degree views over the Serra and Mt William Ranges.
Follow the markers down and veer left, through a sheltered forest. Track markers will guide you down rocky outcrops and forested gullies before reaching Borough Huts Campground for your second night’s stay.
Walkers may choose to finish the walk at Borough Huts on day two and arrange for vehicle transport back to Halls Gap.
Overnight - D’Altonscottages, Halls Gap
Day 9:Monday30 Oct (day only)
Today we pack up and have the morning to do an optional “reserve” walk or visit the historic Seppelt winery at Great Western. It is then time to travel to Ballaratwhere our tour ends about mid afternoon. Some guests may like to stay on in Ballarat to discover the wonderful galleries, museums or parks while others may like to catch the train to Melbourne. A drop off at the station can be provided. Guests not catching the train maybe dropped off at a Ballarat city location (TBA).
It is anticipated that an optional visit to the Ballarat Botanic Gardens will be offered after the tour concludes.
“Reserve” walks-Boronia Peak walk; Clematis Falls; Chatauqua Peak, all in Halls Gap.
Reserve activities- SteveMorvell Wildlife Art;Grampians National Park Visitor Centre, and Brambuck Aboriginal Cultural Centre, all in Halls Gap. These activities are ideal is we experience wet weather.
If you are advised that you have been selected for the tour a deposit of $200/head will be required to confirm your place.
Please note that deposits will be refunded only if a replacement person is found for your place on the tour.
Appendices:
Catering recommendations for the tour
Ballarat East Dinner – Red Lion Hotel OR Zagames Restaurant (03 5333 5955)
Halls Gap breakfast packs - Harvest Cafe (03 5356 4782) or D’Altons
Halls Gap lunch packs– Harvest Cafe
Halls Gap dinner 1st night – Halls Gap Hotel
Halls Gap dinner 2nd night – Harvest Cafe
Halls Gap dinner 3rd night – Quarry Restaurant (03 5356 4858)
Halls Gap dinner 4th night (farewell dinner) – Kookaburra Restaurant
Dunkeld breakfasts - Southern Grampians Cottages
Dunkeld lunch packs – Cafe 109 (Malcolm Russell – 03 55772288) or Dunkeld Delights (0400744612)
Dunkeld dinner 1st night – Cafe 109
Dunkeld dinner 2nd night – Cafe 109
Warrnambool - Pavilion Cafe and Bar
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