Halls Gap: Hiking, Nature and Culture

Halls Gap is a starting point for hikes on the trails in Grampians National Park. The town especially appeals to travellers who want to combine longer trekking experiences with shorter walks, bike rides and nature discoveries. There is also Brambuk The National Park and Cultural Centre, along with other activities that offer a different focus from a day of hiking. This makes it possible to consider during the trip-planning stage which experiences should shape your stay.

Hikes of varying lengths

The Grampians Peaks Trail is a 164 km, 13-day hiking experience that passes through Halls Gap. The trail currently starts and ends in Halls Gap. This makes the town a starting point for a multi-day hike; a separate section of the three-day Bugiga and Barri Yalug 3-day Hike also continues from here. Its first day covers 8.9 km and leads from Halls Gap to the Bugiga Hike-in Campground. These details help give you a sense of the scale of the hiking plans: the Peaks Trail is a longer undertaking, while the three-day route has its own clearly defined stage.

A shorter walk follows the Venus Baths Loop Walk from the centre of Halls Gap, across a small bridge over Stony Creek, to the Botanic Gardens. The walk is described as easy and is 2.3 km long. At Venus Baths, natural pools have formed in the sandstone. So, in addition to the walk itself, those interested in the landscape can discover a geological feature here. The route and the longer hiking option differ considerably in length, though distance alone does not indicate how long either will take to walk.

Explore the area by bike

The Halls Gap Bike Path offers another route option: it runs 5.5 km one way from Ararat Rd to Brambuk. You can start at Delleys Bridge, Halls Gap or Brambuk. This means the route can be joined from any of these stated points. When planning, it is important to bear in mind the wording “one way”; it does not automatically describe a round trip. Those who see hiking and cycling as separate parts of their trip can plan them as distinct activities during their stay.

Culture, wildlife and other discoveries

Brambuk The National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap grew out of the construction of the Brambuk Cultural Centre in 1989. Its purpose was to recognise, protect and share the cultures of the Jadawadjali and Djab Wurrung. Visitors can get topographic maps at the Centre and speak with knowledgeable staff for up-to-date information about the park. This combines a cultural insight with a practical opportunity to find out about hikes in the park.

Halls Gap Zoo is 7 km from the town centre, between Halls Gap and Pomonal. It offers visitors of all ages an immersive wildlife experience, making it a different excursion option from the walks and routes around Halls Gap. Halls Gap Adventure Golf, in turn, offers an activity in the bush: the 18-hole course is in the heart of Gariwerd (The Grampians), and its layout includes waterfalls and tunnels. With these different activities on offer, you can consider the kind of holiday you want when choosing a holiday rental in Halls Gap—from hiking and culture to wildlife experiences and adventure golf.

More destinations: Goughs Bay, Yackandandah, Rheola, North Geelong, Sale, Birregurra, Bambra, Patchewollock.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.