The best things to do in Halls Gap reads as a list of the best attractions in the Grampians. From incredible walks and waterfalls to wildlife, lookouts, wineries, fishing and kayaking, Grampians – Gariwed National Park is a great place to visit, and Halls Gap is the perfect base to explore the region.
Featured Image: Lookout © Ben Savage
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Contents
- Getting to Halls Gap
- Halls Gap FAQs
- Day Tours to the Grampians
- Halls Gap Walks
- Halls Gap Lookouts
- Grampians Waterfalls
- Halls Gap Family Activities
- Grampians Wildlife
- Halls Gap Adventure Activities
- Brambuk – National Park & Cultural Centre
- Halls Gap History Walking Tour
- Halls Gap Food + Wine
- Halls Gap Accommodation
Getting to Halls Gap
Rising out of farmland in Western Victoria, the Grampians has a big footprint, stretching from Horsham to Stawell and Ararat. Right in the middle is the little town of Halls Gap.
- Melbourne to Halls Gap – 250km, 3 hours
- Adelaide to Halls Gap – 500km, 5 hours 40 minutes
- Warrnambool to Halls Gap – 155km, 2 hours
- Bendigo to Halls Gap – 193km, 2 hours 20 minutes
- Mount Gambier to Halls Gap – 221km, 2 hours 30 minutes
Halls Gap FAQs
Best time to visit Halls Gap
Halls Gap and the Grampians is a popular holiday spot in the school holidays so if you go then, book your accommodation well in advance. Each season brings its own advantages –
- Summer – great time for cloudless views from the lookouts
- Spring – the best time for wildflowers, nice walking weather, you might still get water in some of the seasonal waterfalls.
- Winter – It’s cold but there are fewer people around and the waterfalls are at their best
- Autumn – great walking conditions
Do you need a National Park Pass?
No, you do not need a national park pass for the Grampians or any national parks in Victoria.
Do you need a 4WD?
No. You can get to all the best things to do in Halls Gap in a 2WD car. There are a few dirt roads to a couple of the more remote attractions, but these are also suitable for 2WD.
Things to do in Halls Gap for families
Halls Gap is a great place for a family holiday, there is a huge range of activities. Here are our favourite things to do in Halls Gap for families – there are more details for each below.
- Halls Gap Zoo – Victoria’s biggest regional zoo
- Halls Gap Adventure Golf – there’s no better equalizer than a game of minigolf on this fun course
- Halls Gap Botanic Gardens – follow the kookaburra trail around the garden
- Venus Baths – there is a great pay off on this short walk, the pools and rock slopes are a great playground
- Halls Gap Bike and Walkway – a safe place to scoot, skate, and cycle for kids
- Halls Gap Playground and pool – perfect family spot in summer in the heart of Halls Gap
- Zummsteins Picnic Area – this lovely spot has a creek, lots of open space, wildlife and a nice walk to the Fish Falls
- Reed Lookout – Great views and an easy bushwalk to the Balconies
Day Tours to the Grampians
- Grampians Day Tour from Melbourne – Visit McKenzie Falls, Halls Gap, Boroka Lookout & See Kangaroos
- Grampians Small Group Tour from Melbourne – Visit Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural Centre, The Balconies, Boroka Lookout + plenty of wildlife
- Grampians Canoeing Tour – Enjoy the scenery and abundant birds and wildlife from the Lake
- Grampians Abseiling Adventure Tour – Discover Grampians National Park in a unique, thrilling way by abseiling down a cliff face
- 3 Day Great Ocean Road + Grampians Eco Tour – Spend an amazing 3 days travelling along Great Ocean Road on Route to Adelaide. Explore natural beauty of 12 Apostles, Loch Ard Gorge, Mackenzie Falls, Halls Gap
Halls Gap Walks
Halls Gap and the surrounding bush, valleys and ranges are spectacular and there is no better way to explore them than on foot. Not only are there walks you can do from Halls Gap, but the town is also just minutes away from the Wonderland and Sundial Carparks which offer an alternate starting point for several walks. Here is a summary of the best walks in and around Halls Gap.
Walks from Halls Gap
The Wonderland Loop
9.6km loop, 4-5 hours, hard. Follow the track from the Halls Gap Pool/Botanic Gardens. This isn’t the shortest or easiest walk, but it is one of the most popular things to do in Halls Gap. This walk takes you through some of the best scenery and most popular attractions near Halls Gap. You’ll pass through Venus Baths, Splitters Falls, The Grand Canyon, turning around at The Pinnacle. You return to Halls Gap through the forest down a series of stairs. It’s a solid but spectacular walk.
Halls Gap Bike & Walking Path
This shared path runs from Lake Bellfield, through to the outskirts of Halls Gap. It is sealed and generally flat. It’s a great place to stretch your legs at the start or the end of the day.
Venus Baths
2.3km return, 30-60 minutes, easy. Start at the Halls Gap Carpark or the Botanic Garden Carpark. The walk is well signed and takes you to these lovely rock pools surrounded by steepling sandstone rock walls.
Fyans Creek Loop
2.5km circuit, 30-45 minutes, easy. Start this walk at the Brambuk National Park and Culture Centre. This is a lovely walk for wildlife spotting. The track gets rougher after you cross Fyans Creek for the return half of the walk.
Bullaces Glen
1.7km loop, 60minutes, medium. Start at the same spot as the Venus Baths walk and follow the signs through the forest, across Mt Victory Road and up a medium slope to Bullaces Glen. There is a seasonal waterfall here, but it is the walk through the forest that is the highlight.
Clematis Falls
2.4km return, 45 – 60 minutes, medium. Start at the Halls Gap Recreation Oval Carpark and follow the well-formed path. It is a gentle uphill walk through the bush to these seasonal falls. A Great walk for bird spotting and wildflower watching in spring.
Walks from the Wonderland Carpark
7 minute drive from Halls Gap
Many of the attractions that you can get to from Halls Gap are also accessible from the Wonderland Carpark but with shorter walks. Attractions from here include The Pinnacle (4.5km return medium), Turret Falls (2.2km return medium) and Splitters Falls (2km return medium). From the Wonderland Carpark there is also a short 800m loop to the Grand Canyon, there’s a bit of rock hopping required. If you feel like it, from the Wonderland Carpark it is a 3.2km walk back to Halls Gap via Splitters Falls and Venus Baths.
Walks from Sundial Carpark
14 minute drive from Halls Gap
Sundial Carpark is yet another access point for the Pinnacle. While it is still a 4.2km return walk from here, the elevation change is half that of the walk from the Wonderland Carpark making Sundial the most family friendly starting pointy for the Pinnacle Walk. From the Sundial Carpark you can also do the medium 1.8km circuit to the Lakeview Lookout with views of the William Range and the medium 4.2km return hike to the spectacular Sundial Peak.
Walks from Mackenzie Falls
25 minute drive from Halls Gap
While it is a little further from Halls Gap, we can’t leave out one of our favourite walks. From Mackenzie Falls it is a solid 3km walk to Fish Falls. It is a spectacular walk following the Mackenzie River to the multi-tiered Fish Falls. The walk is a little longer, but flatter from Zumsteins Picnic Area.
Halls Gap Lookouts
Some of the Grampian’s best lookouts are just minutes from Halls Gap. Two of them – Reed lookout and Boroka Lookout – can be easily accessed by a short walk from the carpark. The Pinnacle Lookout takes a bit more effort to reach but is one of the most popular walks near Halls Gap. Keep the weather in mind. As good as the views are from these spots, you won’t see a thing if there is low cloud or fog. It can be cold and breezy at the lookouts too so dress warm if you are there for a sunset or sunrise.
The Pinnacle
This is a walk and a lookout, and it is one of Halls Gap’s most popular attractions. Not only does the walk take you through some amazing sandstone rock features including the Grand Canyon, but the Pinnacle Lookout has some of the best views of the Grampians peaks and ranges. The easiest access to The Pinnacle is from the Sundial Carpark; from there it is 4.2km return walk. There is also access from the Wonderland carpark. From there it is a 4.5km walk which includes some steeper sections.
Reed Lookout + The Balconies
Reed Lookout is less than 20 minutes from Halls Gap on Mt Victory Road and has panoramic views over the Victoria Valley and Victoria Range. From the carpark, it is a short walk, less than 50m, to the viewing platforms. If you want to stretch your legs, take the 2km return track to The Balconies. This is another viewing area alongside some fingers of rock poking out of the hillside.
Boroka Lookout
From Halls Gap on the way to Reed Lookout, you will see the turn off to Boroka Lookout. It is about 20 minutes from Halls Gap to Boroka Lookout. From the carpark it is a walk of less than 5 minutes along an access friendly path to the viewing area. Looking east, you get great views of Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield and if you are there early enough you see a great sunrise too.
See our full guide to Reed Lookout & The Balconies
Grampians Waterfalls
Mackenize Falls
Not quite 25 minutes from Halls Gap along Mt Victory Road is one of the Grampians and Halls Gaps best attractions – Mackenzie Falls. There are lots of waterfalls dotted around the Grampians, but Mackenzie Falls are the only ones that flow year-round. If you don’t fancy a steep decent down a couple of hundred steps to the base of the falls – where the views are amazing – you can see the falls from the carpark. Cranages Lookout at the start of the path to the bottom of Mackenzie Falls is a great vantage point if you would rather see the falls from above.
More Halls Gap Waterfalls
If you are visiting Halls Gap in winter, spring or after decent rain, there are lots of other waterfalls to checkout. Silverband Falls is only a 10 minute drive from Halls Gap. From the carpark it is a flat 10-15 minute walk through the bush to these unusual falls where the water seems to disappear at the bottom into the rocks.
The multi-tiered Fish Falls can be reached from Mackenzie Falls and are a fantastic sight. Splitters Falls which you can get to from the Wonderland Carpark, 6 minutes from Halls Gap, are one of the prettiest falls in the Grampians with its moss rocks and ferns around the rock face. Going on a waterfall tour of the Grampians is one of the best things to do from Halls Gap.
Read our full guide to the Best Waterfalls in the Grampians
Venus Baths
One of our favourite memories of Halls Gap is watching the kids play at Venus Baths. Nestled between towering slopes of sandstone, these rock pools fed by Stony Creek are a great place to relax, cool off in summer and take in the beauty of the Grampians. You can walk to Venus Baths from Halls Gap. From the bridge crossing Stony Creek at the Halls Gap Botanic Gardens, it is about 800m to Venus Baths. From Venus Baths you can continue walking for 2km to the Wonderland Carpark then on to the Pinnacle.
Halls Gap Family Activities
Grampians Adventure Golf
This is one of the best mini golf courses in Australia. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of relaxation by the beautifully landscaped gardens, Grampians Adventure Golf is challenging course. With water hazards, ramps, split level holes and obstacles, the 8 stroke per hole limit can seem a little a low. The holes are named after local features. For example, you can take on the Stony Creek Jump and Beehive Falls – expect to use the net supplied to retrieve your ball from the water. And there’s the Par 4 10th – The Nerve Test – where you can attempt to hit your ball along a thin pillar as a shortcut to the hole – good luck!
After being demoralised by the course, you can relax at the café. In the same spot is the MOCO art gallery that not only has a collection of local work, but you can also do an artist led Canvas and Cocktail workshops there which are a lot of fun.
Grampians Adventure Golf is on Grampians Road between Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield.
Halls Gap Golf
If the obstacles, ramps and hazards at Grampians Adeventure Golf are all too much, check out the regulation greens and fairways at Halls Gap Golf Club. Take the Mt Zero Road out of Halls Gap and follow the signs along the dirt road, it’s less than 10 minutes from Halls Gap. The 3088m, par 36 9 hole course sits in the shadow of the Mount Difficult, it’s a pretty spot and you’ll have plenty of the local kangaroos watching you go around. Clubs are available for hire from the clubhouse.
Giant Koala in Dadswell Bridge
Australia has over 200 Big Things dotted around the country, and you can tick another off your list here. Dadswell Bridge, on the northern side of the Grampians and 25 minutes from Halls Gap, is home to the Giant Koala. The 14m tall cast bronze and fibreglass koala was built in 1988 and reflects a time when koalas were much more common in the Grampians than they are now. Sadly, the population here was decimated by disease in the 1990s.
There is something a little sad about Giant Koala too. you can walk inside the giant marsupial to an uninspiring gift shop and café that wasn’t open when we came by. To be fair, it wasn’t peak tourist season for our visit, hopefully the place comes to life a bit when it is busier. The glowing red lights in the Giant Koalas eyes were an interesting affect that made us think twice about the koalas usually sweet, cuddly disposition.
Halls Gap Zoo
With all its walks, waterfalls and lookouts, the Grampians might be the last place you would expect to find a zoo. But in fact, the Halls Gap Zoo is the largest regional zoo in Victoria and is a fantastic thing to do in Halls Gap for families. Open 7 days a week, the Halls Gap Zoo has a big range of Australian animals but there is also a range of exotics from cute meerkats and red pandas to African favourites giraffes, rhinos and cheetahs – to name but a few.
With big, clean enclosures and The Grampians as a backdrop, it is a nice place to walk around. You can probably get around the place in 2 – 3 hours. Like most zoos, you can pay extra to have an up-close encounter with animals including dingos, giraffes, meerkats, and rhinos. The Halls Gap Zoo is less than 10 minutes from Halls Gap on the Halls Gap – Ararat Road.
Halls Gap Botanic Gardens
Halls Gap Botanic Gardens are nestled between Mt Victory Road and Stony Creek adjacent to the Halls Gap Recreation Reserve. You might wonder why you need a botanic garden in The Grampians, but this small community run garden has lots of information about plants endemic to the area, a hide and seek game for children and information about the history of settlement in the region. The gardens have an interesting history themselves, having been destroyed by natural disasters on more than one occasion.
Besides being an interesting little garden, from here you will also find the start of the Wonderland Loop and tracks to Venus Baths and Bullaces Glen. Entry is free and there are sheltered picnic areas. The Grampians and Halls Gap are popular spot for wildflower watching. Each spring Hals Gap hosts the Grampians Wildflower Show. As well as the flowers in the wild, there are also displays of hundreds or native plants and orchids.
Grampians Wildlife
There is no shortage of wildlife in the Grampians, nature spotters won’t have to look hard to spot Eastern Grey Kangaroos, red neck and black neck wallabies and emus. You don’t even have to get into the bush to see kangaroos, they are everywhere in Halls Gap. – The Halls Gap Recreation Park is a favourite hangout spot – you will see them in their dozens. You are also likely to see emus in any open grassed area. Keep an eye on the grassed areas between Fyans Creek and the Halls Gap – Ararat Road – there are often lots there. Wallabies tend to shyer, we spotted them on the walk from Zumstein Picnic Area to Fish Falls.
Bird Watching in Halls Gap
Birders will also have a great time around Halls Gap. From Kookaburras and eagles to little honeyeaters and yellow robins, there is birdlife everywhere, just find a quiet spot or keep an eye out on any of the walks. The Halls Gap Botanic Gardens is a good place to go twitching as are the gardens around the Brambuk Visitor Center. You will also see lots of birds around the Stony Creek Shops. Kookaburras, crimson rosellas, currawongs, sulphur crested cockatoos and galahs have all (not necessarily for the better) got a taste for the pies and ice creams from the local shops. Hold onto your pies or the kookaburras will swoop in and grab them, and you’ll likely have rosellas and a cocky sharing your table as you eat.
Halls Gap Adventure Activities
Halls Gap Bike Rides
If you enjoy getting around on two wheels, there is a great bike path that runs the length of Halls Gap. The Halls Gap Bike Path runs between Lake Bellfield, passing by the Brambuk Cultural Centre, through Halls Gap Township and out to Pomonal Road which is where the last of the caravan parks are on the outskirts of Halls Gap. The 7.0km sealed path is generally flat and passes through bushland as you take in views of the Wonderland Range.
If you want to get onto the dirt, The Delley’s Bridge track runs alongside Fyans Creek. The track starts just east of the creek off Grampians Road. The track runs parallel to the Halls Gap Bike Path, and you can re-join this path at the end of the Delley’s Bridge Track to do a loop back into Halls Gap. If you want to hire a bike, e-bike or e-scooter, Halls Gap E-bike hire is in the main street of Halls gap, right alongside the bike path.
Kayaking
There is more to the Grampians than amazing hills and clifftop lookouts, there is a bit of water around too so if you like a paddle, you’re in luck. The lakes around Halls Gap have spectacular hills backdrops and calm water. They are perfect for paddling around and enjoying the views and wildlife. There are three lakes to try:
- Lake Bellfield – 5 minutes from Halls Gap. Easiest spot to launch is the picnic area near the turn off to Silverband Falls.
- Lake Fyans – 14 minutes from Halls Gap. Kayak between the reeds and dead trees. The best access is from Kelleys Beach Road or near the caravan park.
- Lake Wartook – 33 minutes from Halls Gap. Located in the same direction as Mackenzie Falls, there is easy access to the lake from a boat ramp. Like Lake Bellfield, you won’t be bothered by any motorised watercraft.
- Grampians Canoeing Tour – Enjoy the scenery and abundant birds and wildlife from the Lake
Halls Gap by Helicopter Tours
If you are in an impressively large landscape one of the best ways to take it all in is from the air. We have done flights over Wilpena Pound in South Australia and Uluru in Central Australia and getting a bird’s eye view is the perfect way to appreciate the lay of the land. This certainly applies to the Grampians too. Grampians Helicopters operate out of Stawell, 20 minutes from Halls Gap, and have a range of flights available over different parts of the ranges. The 20-minute mini mountain flight or Northern Loop Scenic Flight are both great options for seeing Halls Gap, the surrounding lakes, waterfalls and ranges from above.
Trike Tours
If you want to check out the sites around Halls Gap in style, there is no better way than cruising around on a trike. On these 3-seater Boom Mustang trikes you’ll have the wind in your hair as cruise around close to the ground on something that looks like a cross between a hot rod and a chopper motorbike. There are several different tours that range in length from 1 to 3 hours and can cover wineries, waterfalls and lookouts. Grampians Trike Tours is based in Halls Gap near the Visitor Information Centre in the heart of the main street.
Rock Climbing + Abseiling
If you want to get a different perspective of the rocks and cliffs around Halls Gap, there are lots of great rock climbing and abseiling sites. The Halls Gap Valley, Bundaleer and the Watch Tower are all well know climbing spots. If you are not familiar with the area, go with local tour providers like Hangin Out in The Grampians or Absolute Outdoors. With climbing and abseiling adventures for beginners through to experienced climbers, going with local guides is the best way to get your adrenaline pumping on Halls Gap’s and the Grampians peaks.
Grampians Fishing
Whether you want to fish from the shore or float around in a kayak, there is great fishing to be had in the three lakes closest to halls Gap. In Lake Bellfield, Lake Fyans and Lake Wartook you can catch a range of species including redfin, brown and rainbow trout and tech. At Lake Bellfield you might also hook onto chinook salmon and golden perch. Worms, yabbies and gents all work well as bait, you can also try soft plastics on the trout. If you like fly fishing, the streams around the Grampians have smaller trout. If you are between 18 and 70 you need a fishing license to wet a line in Victoria.
- Grampians Abseiling Adventure Tour – Discover Grampians National Park in a unique, thrilling way by abseiling down a cliff face
Brambuk – National Park & Cultural Centre
This impressive looking building and site is 4 minutes out of Halls Gap on the way to Lake Bellfield. The Culture Centre is currently closed for renovations, but the Visitor Centre is open and is a great place to get all the information you need for your visit to Halls Gap and The Greater Grampians- Gariwerd region.
As well as visitor information there is also a gift shop, café, and interpretive information about the culture of the local Jadawadjali and Djab Wurrung Peoples. Outside the building are a couple of short self-guided walks through wetlands and bush habitats. They are a lovely stroll, there are plenty of birds to see as you make your way around.
Halls Gap History Walking Tour
For a deeper insight into the people, buildings and history of Halls Gap, you can go on this 2km, 1 hour 45 minute guided walking tour. These morning tours take you on a gentle stroll around the township as you learn about its origins and local characters. Learn who many of the local landmarks are named after and how Halls Gap came into being. The tour begins at the Visitor Centre in the main street and finishes at the town’s historical society. For tour dates, check the calendar on the Halls Gap Winery website. The Halls Gap History Walking Tour can be found under the Special Tour tab.
Halls Gap Food + Wine
Halls Gap Wineries & Wine Tours
In the wider Grampians area, there are a couple of dozen wineries that have been producing world class reds and sparkling wines for over one hundred years. Wine lovers have a couple of options in and close to Halls Gap. Fallen Giants Vineyard is 5 minutes from Halls Gap and Pomonal Estate is 10 minutes from Halls Gap along the Halls Gap – Ararat Road. Not only can you try their beautiful wines, but both also offer food platters and lovely grounds if you want to while away an afternoon.
In Halls Gap you can sample wines from across the region at the Grampians Wine Cellar. Here you’ll see a variety of wines, as well as a few spirits and a collection of craft beers. If you want to really enjoy wines from the Grampians and get the benefit of some local food and wine knowledge, Grampians Wine Tours based in Halls Gap have a range of tours for both wine and beer drinkers.
Also look out for The Grampians Grape Escape – a wine, food and music festival that runs in late April/early May and Seriously Shiraz, another food and wine festival in September.
Five Ducks Farm
You must make sure you pop into the little farmgate store at Five Ducks Farm. Look for signs on the Halls Gap – Ararat Road a couple of kilometres after the Halls Gap Zoo. Five Ducks farmers Andy and Anita know how to make a jam, conserve and relish. Their stuff is delicious, we can personally vouch for the Raspberry and Mint jam, the shiraz Jelly, and tomato relish. And the lemon curd is a silky smooth sweet and sour party in your mouth that you will want to eat straight from the jar – yum! That’s just the start of their amazing range, they also have locally made vinegars and some nougat that you have to see and taste to believe. They are generally open 10-4 each day but check their Facebook page for current opening times.
Paper Scissors Rock Brewing Co
Right in the heart of Halls Gap, Paper Scissors Rock is just next to the Information Centre and is great spot for food, live music and, of course, craft beer. Exactly what beer you’ll get in the taproom will depend on the season – but you’ll get a range of anything from ales, wheat beer and lagers. There is also a seasonal menu with light meals and share plates. You can do a lot worse than settle in with views over the Wonderland Ranges, listen to some music and try their latest brews.
Stoney Creek Shops – Flame Bros, Bakery, Ice Creamery
Besides being a meeting place for a variety of brazen and hungry birds, the Stoney Creek Shops are a great place for lunch or a snack. The Halls Gap Bakery has a yummy range of hot food and cakes and it’s hard to walk past the dozens of flavours at Coolas Ice Creamery. We can vouch for the magnificent mango – it really is magnificent, the white chocolate raspberry, peppermint chip and Irish cream and scorched almonds – luck we were doing plenty of walking!
Watch out if you eat your pie or ice cream at the tables and chairs outside the shops. You are a good chance of having a kookaburra knock off your pie or a cocky perch on your shoulder trying to get a piece of waffle cone. If you’re not a bird person, head away from the shops to eat your food. In the back corner of the shops, Flame Brothers Restaurant and Bar has a fantastic breakfast menu (before 11.30am), amazing burgers, share platters and a great drinks menu.
Halls Gap Accommodation
- Breeze Holiday Parks – In the heart of Halls Gap enjoy mountain views in your self contained cabin
- D’Altons Studios – Cute little self contained cabin set in natural bushland surrounded by wildlife
- Marwood Luxury Villas – With breakfast, a spa bath and a fireplace, each villa offers a relaxing escape
- Blaze Rock Retreat – With a fully equipped kitchen and a patio with a BBQ and garden views
- Grampians Villas – Each villa offers a patio, self contained kitchen, fireplace, enjoy hiking and fishing nearby
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