  The Grampians
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 68 The Grampians Tips.158 The Grampians Photos.0 The Grampians Videos. The Grampians Pages by Kate-Me
| Page Views: 2,650 Last Visit to The Grampians: March, 2006 | The Grampians/Parc National des Grampians by Kate-Me - last update: Apr 11, 2006 |
The Grampians are situated approximately 200 kilometres from Melbourne and 1 hour from Ballarat. They are made up of three main sandstone ranges, stretching North West in a band 90 kilometres long.
The ridges rise more than 1000 metres above the plains of the Western District, which is largely sheep farming country.
* Note, in late January 2006, the Grampians were in the middle of a huge bushfire, and much of them has been severely burned, - 130,000 hectares (about 47% of the park), including stock, hay, several houses, several hundred kms of fencing, etc.....the fires were contained after about 13 days, but before visiting, best to check what has been closed, possibly for several more weeks (see Parks Victoria website doc, http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/resources/05_1491.pdf)
I visited The Grampians for the first time after the fires on March 19, and discovered that the township of Halls Gap escaped the fires, though not by much. Already after just 2 months there is green growth coming back on the trees and on the forest floor. Zumsteins (famous for its Kangaroo viewing) is another part of the park which we drove through which is virtually untouched by the fires.
Several minor roads are still closed (roads leading to bushwalks and climbs such as the Pinnacle walk) while tracks are repaired and falling trees removed, etc.
Boroka Lookout is open, but not its accompanying bush walk.
Les Grampians se situent à environ 200 km de Melbourne, et seulement à une heure de route au Nord-Ouest de Ballarat.
Il y a trois chaînes de montagnes principales, qui s'étendent au Nord-Ouest sur environ 90 km.
Ces chaînes s'élévent à plus de 1000 mètres au dessus des plaines de la region nommée ' Région de l'Ouest' (Western District) , qui est, surtout, une région de fermes d'élevage de moutons.
In area, the Grampians National Park covers 167,000 hectares and is one of Victoria's largest National Parks.
En taille , le Grampians Parc Nationale fait 167,000 hectares.
C’est un des plus grands et des plus populaire Parcs Nationales de Victoria.
There are so many things to see and do in the park that you could spend many days there, and there's activities to suit everyone's interest: |
|  | There are a few small townships throughout the Grampians, but the central touristic area is Halls Gap, small but having everything you need, and just about every kind of accommodation available.
In the town centre there are a few quaint shops clustered together around a nice grassy park area by the creek where native birds wander quite unconcerned about tourists and picnickers, nice cafes & restaurants & a couple of pubs. There are Wineries in the region, much Aboriginal history...but what most people come here for above all else is the beautiful natural surroundings, the abundant wildlife and myriad of bird life, the many waterfalls in winter and Spring, the Spring show of beautiful wildflowers, bush walks, (at least 20 short to medium walks and climbs and several 1/2 - 1 day and overnight hiking routes)
There are hundreds of rock climbing routes possible in The Grampians, and you can also abseil, canoe, go horse trail riding, even Camel riding.
Car is the best way to get around the attractions, but even if you caught a bus to Halls Gap, if you enjoy walking, many of the walks or hikes can be commenced in the township, or you could possibly hire a mountain bike.
The rocky outcrop photo is on one of the easy flatter walks (from Town to the Venus Baths, which are nice rock pools in a gently running stream)
Il y a tant d' activitiés que l’on peut faire dans ce park... faire du cheval ou du chameau, des randonnées pedestres, regarder et photographier les nombreux animeaux et oiseaux.
On peut aussi voir des ‘sites d’art’ des aborigènes.
Pour faire de la randonnée, il y a plus de 20 marches possibles, de très facile à difficile, de courte à plus longue (jusqu’a des marches de 2 jours ou plus)
On peut aussi faire du kayak, aller à la pêche et faire d'autres sports.
Pour les trés sportifs, Il y a plus de 100 voies d’escalade possible dans le Grampians et on peut faire du rappel.
Il y a quelques petites villes dans le Grampians, mais la plus jolie est la ville touristique de Halls Gap.
C’est assez petit, mais il y a suffisamment de lieux pour se loger.
Il y a des chambres d'hôtes.
Il y a aussi des ‘chalets’, motels, hauberges de jeunesse et des parcs pour les caravanes et pour le camping.
Les Kangourous sont trés nombreux, spécialement dans les parcs de camping où l’herbe est plus verte que dans le foret (à cause de la sécheresse qui est trés grave en Australie en ce moment).
Il y a particuliérement des perroquets blancs qui s’appellent ‘Corellas’ et qui couchent dans le parc pendant les nuits et qui s’envolent par millier presque tous les matins, avec un grand bruit.
C’est spéctaculaire.
Au centre ville de Halls Gap, il y a un groupe de magazins interressants qui se situent autour d’un petit parc, avec les oiseaux tout proche.
Le Transport:
C’est plus facile de voyager autour et dans cette région en voiture.
ATTENTION: Eviter de conduire pendant la nuit si c’est possible, a cause de tous les animaux sur les routes.
C’est plutôt dangereux.
Pour les gens qui aiment faire des randonnées et des aventures, c’est facile pour explorer la région autour du pied de Halls Gap.
Beaucoup de promenades peuvent commencer dans le centre ville.
Au printemps, cette région est trés trés jolie avec les ‘fleurs de la nature ’ et les nombreux des cascades. |
| Grampians from a distance |
| | Far off in the distance Here's a typical rural view in summer, with the Grampians far off in the distance.
Ici, vous pouvez voir les Grampians loin au distance. |
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| Pros: | "The variety of wildflowers in spring is huge, lots to see and do" | | Cons: | "Some of the 'off the beaten track' roads are a little rough" | | In A Nutshell: | "A wonderful National Park to visit and so much to do" |
Kate-Me's The Grampians Travel Tips
 Kate-Me's The Grampians Travelogues | | | |
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 Comments for Kate-Me about The Grampians | | | | |
MURRA Thu Jan 18, 2007 12:10 UTC
i am glad you have some mountains they develop some rain | sweetie_inc Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:55 UTC
The Pinnacle - The nerve test looks scary.. I would want to try walk on when t'm there! Cheers.. | pepples46 Mon Nov 7, 2005 06:30 UTC
fantastic Region, superb pix Kate. brought back fond memories | SallyJesseRaphael Mon Sep 19, 2005 01:18 UTC
Great Grampian pages. I noticed VT has THE GRAMPIANS and GRAMPIANS in Victoria - are they one in the same? |
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