Grampians Regional Itineraries
Are you planning a trip to the breathtaking Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park? Prepare to be captivated by the rugged beauty of towering peaks, cascading waterfalls, and panoramic vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. To help you make the most of your visit, we have curated a selection of suggested itineraries that will allow you to explore the very best this region has to offer. Discover the rich history and cultural heritage of the Grampians with visits to iconic landmarks and attractions. Food and wine lovers will delight, our itineraries include visits to local wineries and cellar doors, including Best’s Great Western of course, where you can experience award-winning wines crafted from grapes grown in the cool-climate vineyards.
For outdoor enthusiasts, our itineraries offer a range of exhilarating activities. Scale the heights of renowned peaks, such as Mount William and The Pinnacle, for awe-inspiring panoramic views. Chase cascading waterfalls that cascade down dramatic cliffs, including the majestic MacKenzie Falls and the ethereal Silverband Falls. Lace up your boots and explore the diverse network of hiking trails, from gentle strolls to challenging treks, each revealing its own unique wonders. Whether you seek adventure, relaxation, or a blend of both, our suggested itineraries in the Grampians offer a diverse range of experiences that will leave you with unforgettable memories. So, pack your sense of adventure and embark on a journey through this spectacular natural wonderland. The Grampians will welcome you with open arms.
Great Western weekend wine and cultural experience
Stay at Concongella Cabin hosted by Wendy
Friday
Arrive afternoon/evening
Dinner: Head to the Great Western Hotel for dinner (last orders 8pm) or pick something up on your way.
Saturday
Book 11am underground tour at Seppelt Wines home to the largest underground cellar in the Southern Hemisphere. There are over 3km of tunnels, “The Drives”, under the winery which were hand dug by miners from the 1860’s and expanded with the use of machinery up until the 1940’s. The guided tour offers visitors a fantastic insight into the history of sparkling wine production in Australia.
Lunch at Salingers – The cafe is nestled in a historic building, which adds to its character and charm. The menu at Salinger’s Cafe is diverse and caters to various tastes and dietary preferences. They offer a range of breakfast, brunch and lunch options.
Book 3pm Icon Tasting at Best’s Wines – A visit to the Grampians region is not complete without a stop at our historic cellar door. Our Icon Tasting experience allows guests to taste the best of Best’s Wines which includes the highly regarded Thomson Family Shiraz.
Sunday
Check out and Head to Halls Gap via Bunjils Shelter , is a significant cultural and historical site which holds great importance to the local indigenous people. The shelter itself is a rock overhang or cave nestled within the rugged sandstone cliffs of the Grampians. It is named after Bunjil, a powerful ancestral figure in Aboriginal mythology who is often depicted as an eagle. Bunjil is regarded as the creator of the land, animals, and people by the local Indigenous communities.
Have breakfast in Halls Gap – LiveFast Café or Flame Brothers. LiveFast offers excellent coffee and delicious food made with local ingredients where possible. Flame Brothers offers delicious cooked breakfasts with the option of including their signature smoked meats as well as fabulous coffee or event a cheeky Bloody Mary.
Take a short walk/hike Venus Baths or Silverband Falls (Be sure to check Parks Vic for possible closures to some walks and sights.)
Visit Brambuk Cultural Heritage Centre – It serves as a hub for Aboriginal cultural experiences and is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich heritage of the local Indigenous communities. The centre provides visitors with a range of educational and immersive experiences that highlight the traditions, customs and stories of the Aboriginal people who have inhabited the Grampians region for thousands of years. It serves as an important platform for cultural exchange, fostering understanding and respect between different cultures.
Drive home.
(Image credit Seppelt Underground Cellars, Flame Brothers, Concongella Cabin)
Family Friendly weekend
Accommodation options: There are several option for larger groups or families wanting to stay in Great Western.
House on Stephenson – Great Western
Vine Lodge, Great Western
St Peters View, Great Western
Also we can highly recommend Lakeside Tourist Park in Halls Gap when travelling in a family group.
Saturday – Full Day Halls Gap Adventure
Breakfast at Salingers Café in Great Western or grab a quick bite to eat from Chris ‘N Di’s bakery on the Western Highway in Stawell on the way to Halls Gap.
Halls Gap Zoo – head to the Halls Gap Zoo, Victoria’s largest regional Zoo. The Zoo is super popular, spread across a spacious area and is home to a wide variety of animals, including both native Australian species and exotic creatures. Be sure to buy some ‘animal food’ on entry to feed the free roaming deer and wallabies. The Halls Gap Zoo also offer special one on one encounters with some of the amazing creatures, check out their website for all the information, pricing and availability.
Time pending, pop into Fallen Giants Vineyard for a wine tasting or even stay for a cheese platter lunch. Fallen Giants was originally established in 1969 and then purchased by renowned winemaker the late Trevor Mast in 1996. It changed hands in 2013 and is now one of only two certified organic vineyards in the region, producing Shiraz, Cabernet and Riesling. If you’re looking for something a little more substantial after the zoo, head to the Halls Gap Hotel for lunch.
After lunch head to the centre of Halls Gap for an Ice Cream. There are two Ice cream shops to choose from, Gelato Guys a relative new comer which produces some incredible flavours using native ingredients, dairy free options and more. Coolas Ice Creamery is a Halls Gap institution and generally has a line stretching down the street, especially on hot days.
After Ice Cream you can opt for a short walk and/or a visit to Brambuk Cultural Heritage Centre. During the school holidays there are plenty of bookable activities to get the kids involved in. Alternatively head to Grampians Adventure Golf a mini golf course, café and gallery space which is sure to entertain the entire family.
Dinner – for dinner we suggest Flame Brothers for sizzling American BBQ, Raccalto for wood fired Italian style pizza or the Kookaburra Hotel for yummy pub grub, all of which are in the centre of Halls Gap.
Return to your accommodation and rest up before another adventure tomorrow
Sunday
Book 11am underground tour of ‘The Drives’ at Seppelt Wines and learn about the history of sparkling wine production in Australia.
No visit to the Grampians Wine Region is complete without a visit to our cellar door. Book a tasting experience at Best’s Wines and enjoy a “Pick a Platter” cheese board lunch before heading home.
(image credit Halls Gap Zoo, Visit Grampians, Gelato Guys, Grampians Adventure Golf)
Secluded Vineyard Getaway – Wine Weekend
Stay at Hounds Run Vineyard – Tiny House
Friday
Arrive afternoon/evening
Dinner: Stop in Ballarat for a meal at Ellington’s Wine Bar or Lola at The Provincial Hotel, bookings essential alternatively request a cheese and wine hamper for your arrival at Hounds Run or pre-order a pizza from the Great Western Granary to collect on your way. Note: All pizza’s are pre-ordered only, orders must be placed on Thursday’s before 1pm and they do sell out.
Saturday
Have a slow morning with nowhere to be, enjoy breakfast (locally baked bread and locally made jam, coffee and/or tea) overlooking the vineyard and take your time to get going for the day.
Lunch & Wine tasting at Grampians Estate Whether you are a wine connoisseur or simply appreciate the beauty of vineyards and winemaking, Grampians Estate Winery offers a delightful experience that combines stunning scenery with delicious wine and food.
Book a wine tasting experience at Best’s Wines historic ‘Stables’ cellar door. Constructed in the late 19th century the stables is a wooden structure with a warm cosy fire in the winter burning in the winter months. On display is Henry Best’s journal, with entries dating back to 1866, along with interesting artifacts and historic family photos.
Dinner at the Great Western Hotel. Located in the heart of Great Western and offering a seasonal menu for both lunch and dinner 7 days a week, as well as having the Grampians’ largest regional wine list, all available by the glass and the bottle.
An alternative to the above is to arrange a helicopter wine tour with Experience the Grampians Helicopter tours. They will collect you from Hounds Run Tiny House in the helicopter and take you on a winery tour with a picnic lunch and guided tour included. Contact Experience the Grampians directly for options, pricing and to book.
Sunday
Check out and head to Halls Gap via Moyston General Store for a coffee (the best coffee in the region) and some breakfast.
On the way to Halls Gap, just before Pomonal on the left, stop at James McMurtrie’s Glass Blowing Gallery and Studio. James’ artwork is inspired by the natural beauty of the Grampians Region; the sights, the sounds, the smells and the colours.
Stop at the Pomonal Village Market (Last Sunday of the month only) wonderful little village market with an array of stalls including secondhand books, arts and crafts, vegetable and fruit growers, wineries and the all important coffee van.
Either stay in Pomonal for lunch at Barney’s Bistro. Col and Susie are the most welcoming hosts and serve up traditional pub grub in this converted shearing shed. Alternatively drive into Halls Gap and to Boroka Lookout for a spectacular view before lunch in town.
Have lunch at Paper Scissors Rock brewery Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co is an award winning Craft Brewery situated in the picturesque Grampians town of Halls Gap, with fresh beer, great food, and regular live music. Their menu is always fresh and offers gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options plus a kids menu for families. The beers are delicious and taps alternate regularly.
If you’re not ready to leave just yet, take a short walk/hike Venus Baths or Silverband Falls.
(Be sure to check Parks Vic for possible closures to some walks and sights.)
Drive home
(Image Credit Experience The Grampians Helicopter Tours, Paper Rock Scissors, Visit Victoria)
Indulge in Halls Gap & Surrounds
Stay at Mrs Hemley
Mr & Mrs Hemley are two cottages that can be booked separately or as one and operated by Viv and Chris’s daughter Yvette. Book Mr Hemley. Book Mrs Hemley.
On Arrival settle into your luxury accommodation then it’s a short 3 min walk to Grampians Wine Cellar (check opening hours) where you can kick the night off with a glass of local wine. Owner Simon Freeman is a sommelier and the wine cellar stocks wines from all the local producers including Best’s of course.
There are so many places to choose from for dinner in Halls Gap so you can make a choice!
Spirit of Punjab has been a Halls Gap institution for over a decade and produce incredible Indian cuisine. If you’re not keen on curry, check out The Kookaburra Hotel, Paper Scissors Rock Brewery, or Flame Brothers. All are only a short walk from your accommodation.
Saturday
Take a drive, head towards Ararat, on the Pomonal Ararat Road. Stop at Fallen Giants for a wine tasting (Wed-Sun only). From there head to Pomonal Estate for lunch (Open Wed-Sun only, bookings essential). Pomonal Estate offer a limited but very diverse menu, with range of dishes designed to share as well as a few bigger dishes and grazing boards from locally sourced and house made products.
After lunch drive to Best’s Wines in Great Western for a free self-guided underground tour and tasting experience. Indulge in an Icon Tasting and experience Best’s top shelf wines.
After your tasting, time permitting, contact Miner’s Ridge or head to Grampians Estate for another tasting. Otherwise meander back to your accommodation for a hot bath and relaxing evening.
Sunday
Get up early and go for a walk… sunrise from the Pinnacle is spectacular although it’s special at any time of the day.
Enjoy breakfast/brunch in Halls Gap and if you didn’t make it to any other wineries on Saturday take some time to pop into one or two on your way home such as Mount Langi Ghiran or Mountainside Wines.
(Image credits Grampians Wine Cellars, Halls Gap Hotel, Mrs Hemley)
For more great Grampians travel ideas head to Visit Grampians
Staying for longer there are so many things to see and do in the region.
Check out our other blogs for more activities or places to visit in the Grampians Region.
Top Activities in the Grampians
Top 6 Activities in the Grampians
Best Walking Trails in the Grampians
Family Friendly Places to visit in the Grampians
