The Grampians (Gariwerd) were the last big stop of our December trip, between the Adelaide Hills and Melbourne: a long chain of sandstone ranges rising out of the farmland of western Victoria, with bush campgrounds tucked in below them. We had two nights, one at remote Coppermine in the north and one in the forest at Jimmy Creek in the south, with sandy tracks under the cliffs, Halls Gap and the Pinnacle walk in between. This guide covers the northern and central parts of the park, the parts we saw, and it will grow as we see more.
About the GrampiansAbout
Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park runs north to south between Horsham, Stawell and Dunkeld, and it’s one of Victoria’s best-known parks. The ranges are steep sandstone, with the Mt Difficult Range and Mt Zero in the north, the Wonderland Range above Halls Gap, and the Serra, Mt William and Victoria ranges further south. Halls Gap sits right in the middle and is the main base. It’s also the Country of the Jadawadjali and Djab Wurrung Peoples, and Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap shares their culture.
Getting There and AccessibilityGetting there
The Grampians are about three hours (260 km) from Melbourne along the Western Highway, and about five hours (460 km) from Adelaide. We came in from the South Australian side, past the Welcome to the Grampians sign, and went straight up to Coppermine in the north; we left on Grampians Road past Lake Bellfield and the Grampians Scenic Route towards Melbourne.
Most hire companies don’t allow unsealed roads in a standard car, so check the terms or book a 4WD. We may earn a commission if you book through these links.
The main roads to Halls Gap, Grampians Road and Roses Gap Road are sealed, and the roads to Plantation and Troopers Creek are fine for any car. Coppermine and the back tracks in the north are sandy and 4WD only. If you’re towing a caravan, note the VicRoads sign on the way in: the Northern Grampians Tourist Road may not be suitable for caravans past Zumsteins, and the alternative route to Halls Gap is via the Western Highway.
Map of the Park and Our StopsMap
The park runs north to south, with Halls Gap in the middle. Coppermine and Troopers Creek are in the north, Plantation and the Pinnacle near Halls Gap, and Lake Bellfield and Jimmy Creek to the south.
Campgrounds in the GrampiansCampgrounds
We camped in two very different places. Coppermine, in the north, is a tiny 4WD-only campground with just four sites, and it feels remote and away from everything. Jimmy Creek, in the south, is bigger, right in the forest, with a loop of sites around an open centre, good long-drop toilets and fire rings you can actually use, though it was busy and the neighbours are close. On the way between them we drove through renovated Troopers Creek below Mt Difficult and free Plantation, just north of Halls Gap. The park campgrounds are all booked through Parks Victoria; Plantation is first come, first served.
Coppermine Campground, Grampians National Park
Scored 8.5 out of 10- $35.60 a night, up to 6 people
- Toilets
- No dogs
Our take: A remote little 4WD camp in the northern Grampians: four big sandy sites, each with a fireplace, that feel a long way from anywhere. Read more
What we like
- Only four sites
- Feels remote and quiet
- Fireplace on the sites
- Big, flat sandy sites
- Near Mt Stapylton walks
What we don’t
- 4WD only
- No drinking water
- Book well ahead
Troopers Creek Campground, Grampians National Park
Scored 8.5 out of 10- $35.60 a night, up to 6 people
- Toilets
- No dogs
Our take: A renovated campground below Mt Difficult, with new toilets, fireplaces and trails to Briggs Bluff and Mt Gar right from camp. Read more
What we like
- Recently renovated
- Below Mt Difficult
- Trailheads at the campground
- Group areas for up to 16
- Sealed road to the gate
What we don’t
- Little shade on some sites
- No drinking water
- Bookings required
Jimmy Creek Campground, Grampians National Park
Scored 8.4 out of 10- $35.60 a night, up to 6 people
- Toilets
- No dogs
Our take: An easy forest camp in the southern Grampians: a big loop of sites with fire rings and good toilets, though you’re close to the neighbours. Read more
What we like
- Right in the forest
- Fire ring on the sites
- Toilets in good condition
- Easy 2WD access
- Walk straight from camp
What we don’t
- Close to your neighbours
- Busy in the holidays
- No drinking water
Plantation Campground, Grampians
Scored 8.3 out of 10- Free
- Toilets
- Dogs allowed
Our take: Free camping under old pines just north of Halls Gap: drop toilets, tables and room for caravans, but it fills up fast. Read more
What we like
- Free, no booking needed
- Close to Halls Gap
- Dogs allowed on a lead
- Room for caravans and trailers
- Big, open camping area
What we don’t
- Busy in the holidays
- No drinking water
- Watch for falling limbs
Lookouts
The Pinnacle is the view everyone comes for: a fenced lookout high above Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield. From Sundial Carpark it’s 2.1 km each way over sandstone slabs and past rock towers, and it took us about an hour and twenty minutes there and back.
The Pinnacle Walk from Sundial Carpark, Grampians
Scored 9.3 out of 10- Free
- Toilets
- No dogs
Our take: The best view in the Grampians for a short walk: 2.1 km over rock slabs to a lookout high above Halls Gap and Lake Bellfield. Read more
Sights
Halls Gap is the town in the middle of the park, where you stock up, get lunch and pick up maps at the visitor centre, and Lake Bellfield is a few minutes south, an easy stop for a walk on the shore below the ranges.
Halls Gap, Grampians
Scored 9.1 out of 10- Free to visit
- Toilets
- Dogs allowed
Our take: The easy base in the middle of the Grampians: cafes, shops and the visitor centre under the ranges, with rosellas in the trees. Read more
Lake Bellfield, Grampians
Scored 8.1 out of 10- Free
- Toilets
- No dogs
Our take: A good place to stretch your legs. Lake Bellfield sits right beside Grampians Road, a few minutes south of Halls Gap, with picnic tables on the shore and the ranges rising behind the water. Read more
4WD Tracks in the North4WD tracks
On our second morning we left Coppermine on the sandy tracks below the Mt Difficult range, heading south towards Halls Gap. They’re soft, pale sand in places, winding through low scrub and stringybarks, with the cliffs of the range right above, and the Prado came out the other end covered in dust. They’re fine in the dry with a 4WD and sensible tyre pressures; after rain, check the track conditions with Parks Victoria before you go.
Practical TipsPractical tips
The park campgrounds are booked online, none of the ones we saw has drinking water and you can’t collect firewood, so it pays to come prepared. Halls Gap is the place to stock up, and here’s what we’d sort out before going.
- Book the park campgrounds. Coppermine, Troopers Creek and Jimmy Creek all have to be booked and paid for online with Parks Victoria, all year round. Plantation is free and fills up fast in the holidays.
- Bring water and firewood. None of the campgrounds we saw has drinking water, and collecting firewood in the park is prohibited. We passed bags for sale by the road in Halls Gap for $10.
- Fires in the fireplaces only. Never on a Total Fire Ban day, and on Catastrophic days the park closes.
- Leave the dog at home. Dogs aren’t allowed in the national park; Plantation, just outside it, allows them on a lead.
- Stock up in Halls Gap. It has fuel, food, cafes and the visitor centre, open daily 9 am to 5 pm.
Summary
The Grampians are bush camps under big sandstone ranges: remote Coppermine at the end of a sandy track in the north, the forest loop at Jimmy Creek in the south, and Halls Gap, the Pinnacle and Lake Bellfield in between. Book your sites, bring water and firewood, and give it more than two nights if you can. We came here from the Adelaide Hills, where our last camp was Pymbroke, and drove on to Melbourne.
Bush camps under big sandstone ranges.
We spent two nights, one at remote Coppermine in the north and one in the forest at Jimmy Creek, with sandy tracks, Halls Gap and the Pinnacle walk in between. Book the park campgrounds ahead, bring water and firewood, and give it more than two days if you can.
- 4WD tourers
- Campers
- Hikers
Yes. The booked park campgrounds are $35.60 a night, Plantation is free, and the best walks and views cost nothing.
Recommended Gear for the Grampians
None of the campgrounds has drinking water, so carry plenty in good water containers. You’ll need your own firewood, and a folding saw makes quick work of it. For the sandy tracks in the north, a set of tyre deflators makes airing down quick, and a headlamp like the Black Diamond Astro 300 helps around camp after dark.
