The Grampians

So Thomas is gone and arrived well in Germany.

Off to the Grampians. Actually, we only wanted to stay for 3 days. Let's just say it turned into 14 =).....

We stayed overnight at different campsites.. free.. cheap ones in the middle of nowhere (Mt. Stapylton Campground), in a hostel (TimsPlace), and at one of the best in Australia (Lakeside Holiday Park)

Track Mt. Abrupt

Whether the name Mount Abrupt is derived from the fact that this mountain suddenly appears in a flat landscape is just speculation, but it is an exhausting 3 km up and 3 km down with a great view.

Unfortunately, we had to realize quite early on that our Grampians plan doesn't quite work out. Since about mid-2019, many climbing routes have been closed and heavy penalties are imposed if you get caught. It's complicated, one side doesn't understand the other, and climbers are portrayed as destructive tyrants who destroy aboriginal art and smudge chalk everywhere. We wanted to double-check with the National Park Ranger Center before climbing, whether we are allowed to climb in the area we have chosen. The first employee was already annoyed as soon as we mentioned the word climbing, and the second could only present us with a printed map from the internet, unfortunately from the wrong part of the Grampians. So no comparison.. they don't even know themselves exactly what's closed and what's not.

Mt Staplyton Campground

Affordable. Very remote and natural shower with a bucket =). And this was the first time we really used our solar shower properly. It actually gets really warm in there.

Coffee Culture Halls Gap

In short: beautiful mountains, idyllic place, delicious coffee with food=)

They can do one thing well there, make coffee and breakfast.

MacKenzie Falls

Short hike to the waterfalls with swimming opportunity.  

The Giant Koala

Somehow built out of fiberglass in the Grampians, this large figure stands. For whatever reason. Probably to attract tourists. According to the travel guide, there is a souvenir shop inside. But we just drove by and didn't go in.

The Pinnacle Lookout and Canyon and Silent Street

Very impressive and varied route. The Silent Street and the Canyon are the best. Pictures speak louder than words.

Climbing

What can we say, 6 months without training.. you can tell.. Note for the future: Train more.

Unfortunately, we have already declined a lot and could not do many routes. The approaches were also somewhat different than what we are used to: sometimes long and overgrown

Ravine

Tribute

Taipan:

The name is already impressive, the wall even more so, many world-famous climbers have been here. We too, even though we only looked at it from below... but we are not world-famous. An amazing wall, colorful, with many well-secured routes. When we did the Mt. Stapylton Walk, we passed by the climbing wall.

Bouldering

Since climbing didn't go so well, we thought we go bouldering.

Here too, the Grampians have beautiful ones:

Venus Baths

The Bleaches

Hidden in the forest with a great view.

Halls Gap Zoo

Unfortunately, it looked a bit outdated. But they had meerkats and quokkas - but they were sleeping. We could watch the wombats sleeping.

And the bisons were just massive. But with a cute face. And actually, Finally, we saw a real cassowary. So not a fake animal after all. ('Yeah right, it barely moved and was half hidden in the grass. Could just as well have been a mechanical figure, like the ones in the haunted house. I didn't fall for that' -Note by Philipp)

Hollow Mountain Walk

Let's be honest, this hike was very demanding with easy climbing elements and yet you close climbing routes but let hikers continue? Double standards here...

But the hiking trail was still beautiful.

Lakeside Campground

One of the most beautiful campsites we have been to:

Many birds, thousands of stars in the sky at night, grazing kangaroos, great kitchen with induction stove, top showers (better than at home), fire pit rental, daily children's entertainment, the zoo came by twice a week with dingo/AND snake, lounge with fireplace, playground with trampoline (7 in total), wood fire heated pool, and more. And still cheaper than many other places we have been to

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Short and Sweet

The Grampians are our happy place, one of the top highlights. We would have loved to take the Grampians home with us to Germany.