Follow the Glenelg Highway briefly, towards Hamilton and take Route C 198 to Cavendish and north on the Henty Highway Route A200. Follow the western side of the Grampians National Park, grazing land gives way to majestic Red Gum forested paddocks with the ramparts of the Grampians providing a spectacular backdrop. If interests dictate, pull into Rocklands Reservoir.

Turn off at Brimpaen to Wartook Valley where the Wander Inn has coach catering facilities, a provedore gift shop and springtime flowering fields of white and pink thryptomene wildflowers.

From Wartook there are two alternatives for Halls Gap return. From November it is estimated the Mt Victory Road to Halls Gap will reopen, following the January 2011 landslides. Alternative route is to travel from Wartook via the spectacular Roses Gap to the Western Highway, Stawell and Halls Gap.

Self-drive Itineraries

Day Trip: ex Halls Gap (approx 320kms)

(Suited to self drive family outing)

Drive south to Dunkeld through the Grampians National Park. Swathes of colourful wildflowers, tall timbered forests and spectacular mountain scenery are the order of the morning. Dunkeld sits below the dominating peaks of Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt, still wearing the huge scar down its easterly face from the landslides of January 2011. Coffee shops, public toilets and the famous Royal Mail hotel make Dunkeld a convenient stop.

For the energetic, there is a walk to the top of Mt Sturgeon that offers inspiring views back along the Grampians ranges and southward to the volcanic peaks of Mt Napier and beyond.