WITH hundreds of kilometres of gravel roads, 4x4 tracks and walking trails, plus accommodation, restaurants and numerous wineries, the Grampians attracts those who want to get up close and personal with nature as well as those who don’t want to leave life’s little luxuries behind in the process.
Halls Gap (population 430) located at the northern end of the National Park is the gateway to the Grampians. While small, the town provides a good range of services with a bakery, general store, hotel, service station and cafes that support a seemingly endless flow of tourists.
The town has a range of attractions, including Victoria’s largest regional zoo featuring more than 160 species of native and exotic mammals, reptiles and birds. The zoo offers special one-on-one up close and personal encounters with dingos, meerkats, giraffes, cheetahs and rhinos. For the kids there is electricbike hire and a paved bike/walking track running the length of the town that they can terrorise. Meanwhile, long-suffering parents can indulge in self-medication at any (or all) of the numerous nearby wineries (Fallen Giants being a recommendation).
Piscators (as in fishermen, not the VB swillers) will find the Grampians abounding with man-made lakes and reservoirs, most of which are stocked with
