What to do, eat and drink in a weekend in Halls Gap in the Grampians
Surrounded by the rugged Grampians, Halls Gap has stunning scenery and mouth-watering food and wine — and plenty more things to do and see if you have 48 hours to spare.
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Drive about 250km west of Melbourne and you’ll find your way to Halls Gap, in the heart of the Grampians National Park.
It’s one of Victoria’s natural playgrounds — with stunning waterfalls, spectacular scenery and walking trails ranging from family-friendly strolls to overnight (or longer) hikes.
But it’s also fast becoming a haven for foodies, who can feast on fresh local produce and award-winning wines.
There are plenty of ways to fill a weekend in Halls Gap — here’s what to do if you have 48 hours up your sleeve.
Take a hike
You can’t beat The Pinnacle lookout for panoramic views of Halls Gap and the surrounding peaks.
Start at the Sundial carpark for an easy 2.1km trail to the top, or the Wonderland Carpark for a more challenging route – either way, you will be rewarded with awe-inspiring views of the area’s ancient rock formations.
Stop by Brambuk National Park and Culture Centre (277 Grampians Rd) to learn more about the indigenous communities that have called this region home for thousands of years.
Buy the infused olive oils then visit the Grampians Olive Co (376 Olive Plantation Rd, Laharum) to see how they are made.
Wet your whistle
Pomonal Estate (2079 Pomonal Rd, Pomonal), a 10-minute drive from Halls Gap, serves craft beers and ciders made on-site as well as locally-sourced wines (while they wait for their own vines to mature).
Adam and Pep Atchison opened the microbrewery, winery and ciderhouse in 2017, installing floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room so patrons can enjoy views of Mount William with a pint of Lost Emu Pilsner.
Chase waterfalls
You will hear Mackenzie Falls before you see it, such is the magnitude of one of Victoria’s largest waterfalls in an otherwise peaceful part of the Grampians National Park.
The cascade of water thundering over the cliff face and into a deep pool is a sight to behold, whether you take the 2km trail to the foot of the falls or the path to the viewing platform.
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Raise a glass
Renowned for its shiraz and sparkling wines, several of the Grampians wine region’s famed wineries are within a half-hour drive of Halls Gap.
Visit Grampians Estate (1477 Western Highway, Great Western) for elegant cool-climate shiraz and sparkling shiraz.
Tour the heritage-listed underground cellars at Seppelt (36 Cemetery Rd, Great Western), while Best’s Great Western (111 Bests Rd), founded in 1866, is one of Australia’s oldest continually family owned and operated wineries.
Grab a good feed
A seasonal street food-inspired, fusion menu, beer brewed on-site and live music make Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co (119 Grampians Rd) a great place to wind down and relax after a big day out and about.
The Harvest Halls Gap (2 Heath St) cafe and provedore showcases a who’s who of local growers.
Refuel with a hearty sweet potato hash or Lebanese lamb and eggs then stock up on drinking chocolate from Grounded Pleasures.
Where to stay in Halls Gap
Getting close to nature doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your creature comforts.
Glamp it up at Halls Gap Lakeside Tourist Park (23-27 Tymna Drive), where you can relax under the stars with a drink by the campfire before retreating to your luxury safari tent, complete with kitchenette, bathroom and private deck.
Or settle into DULC Holiday Cabins (Thryptomene Court), where treehouse-style accommodation connected by raised walkways has been architecturally designed to blend into the bushland with rough-sawn timbers, polished concrete and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Get more inspiration for great places to visit in regional and rural Victoria in the Your Happy Space magazine, in your Sunday Herald Sun this weekend.