GRAMPIANS – ZUMSTEINS MEET UP
The Grampians are about 3.5 hours out of Melbourne and are one of Victoria’s most impressive natural attractions, popular with bushwalkers and holidaymakers seeking a mountain forest and lake environment.
The Grampians span the western end of Victoria’s Great Dividing Range, which consists of soaring mountain peaks, rugged and lush bushland, rivers, waterfalls, and a number of large lakes.
A scenic drive north-west of Halls Gap along the road towards Horsham encompasses some interesting attractions. A detour via Mount Difficult Road leads to the Boroka Lookout where spectacular views over the Halls Gap town centre and south to Lake Bellfield can be enjoyed.
Further along on the Mount Victory Road is the Reed Lookout with its views across an endless expanse of dense bushland and of Lake Wartook and the Moora Moora Reservoir.
A brief detour via the Wartook Road leads to the largest waterfall in the Grampians – the MacKenzie Falls.
MacKenzie Falls now has a new Kiosk and picnic facilities and are conveniently located next to the car park and a walking track that leads to the Broken Falls and a lookout above the MacKenzie Falls.
Visitors can descend the well built concrete track down to the rockpool at the base of the falls for some stunning photo opportunities. PS: Rosellas, Lorikeets, Parrots, Currawongs, Kookaburras and Kangaroos abound in the area and can be photographed easily from seats in the carpark.
Back on the main road north-west towards Horsham passes through the Zumstein Picnic Area which was originally a tourist park in the early 1900s but now offers picnic and BBQ facilities and a popular spot to view kangaroos and other wildlife. This is the spot where we will meet and greet for the BBQ…
Zumsteins is a great secluded area running along side MacKenzie Creek and many opportunities to photograph Parrots, Currawongs, Kookaburra, Kangaroos and Emus..
Finally the north-western edge of the Grampians National Park is reached at the Wartook Valley. Surrounded by panoramic views of the Grampians, this area comes alive during springtime with rich and colourful wildflower displays.
Roses Gap Rd runs essentially east-west through the northern section of Grampians National Park from Wartook to the Western Highway just south of Dadswells Bridge.
It contains the Roses Gap Recreation Centre (a holiday resort with accommodation, a fauna park, general store and day activities), other accommodation sites, Troopers Creek Campground (located in a forested valley) and walking tracks which are outlined in notation available from the Grampians National Park Visitor Centre.
The Beehive Falls track (2.8 km return) starts from a carpark on the roadside just west of the Mt Zero Rd intersection. Mostly easy, but with some steep sections, it leads along a creek to the base of the waterfall. There are some fine wildflowers about in spring. It is possible to continue on past the waterfall to Briggs Bluff, an open plateau with fine views of the Wimmera Plains. This would lengthen the walk to 8 km return and render it far more challenging.
Anyhow, this is a few things we can do on the day that most people could take part in with a moderate fitness level and a camera (tripod is optional but handy)
Be sure to let us know if you are interested in this outing day and please remember, that other day outings can also be arranged at fairly short notice on other days…
Just contact Jennifer or David Craker on 0438 812 887 or 03 53855518
GRAMPIANS – ZUMSTEINS MEET UP belongs to the following groups:
All About Flowers, Australian Landmarks and Icons, Farms and Countryside, Melbourne & Victoria, Nature's Wonders, nice to MEET you, Rivers and Streams, Scenery, Shameless Self-Promotion and Victorian ViewfindersGRAMPIANS – ZUMSTEINS MEET UP
Date: Thursday December 25th 2008
Time: 12 noon onwards
Meet at Zumsteins for a BBQ and we’ll talk over where to photograph this evening together…
Suggestions so far:
MacKenzies falls (lot of water going over at present.)
Reed Lookout – Outstanding Vistas
Jaws of Death
Boroka Lookout
RSVP: Comment in this thread
Contact: David 0438 812 887 (save my number in your phone)
What to Bring: Camera, BBQ lunch (Snags, Burgers, Onions, Loaf of Bread, Pasta Salad, if you want it)
Updates: Will be posted here and in my journal
The Grampians are about 3.5 hours out of Melbourne and are one of Victoria’s most impressive natural attractions, popular with bushwalkers and holidaymakers seeking a mountain forest and lake environment.
The Grampians span the western end of Victoria’s Great Dividing Range, which consists of soaring mountain peaks, rugged and lush bushland, rivers, waterfalls, and a number of large lakes.
A scenic drive north-west of Halls Gap along the road towards Horsham encompasses some interesting attractions. A detour via Mount Difficult Road leads to the Boroka Lookout where spectacular views over the Halls Gap town centre and south to Lake Bellfield can be enjoyed.
Further along on the Mount Victory Road is the Reed Lookout with its views across an endless expanse of dense bushland and of Lake Wartook and the Moora Moora Reservoir.
A brief detour via the Wartook Road leads to the largest waterfall in the Grampians – the MacKenzie Falls.
MacKenzie Falls now has a new Kiosk and picnic facilities and are conveniently located next to the car park and a walking track that leads to the Broken Falls and a lookout above the MacKenzie Falls.
Visitors can descend the well built concrete track down to the rockpool at the base of the falls for some stunning photo opportunities. PS: Rosellas, Lorikeets, Parrots, Currawongs, Kookaburras and Kangaroos abound in the area and can be photographed easily from seats in the carpark.
Back on the main road north-west towards Horsham passes through the Zumstein Picnic Area which was originally a tourist park in the early 1900s but now offers picnic and BBQ facilities and a popular spot to view kangaroos and other wildlife. This is the spot where we will meet and greet for the BBQ…
Zumsteins is a great secluded area running along side MacKenzie Creek and many opportunities to photograph Parrots, Currawongs, Kookaburra, Kangaroos and Emus..
Finally the north-western edge of the Grampians National Park is reached at the Wartook Valley. Surrounded by panoramic views of the Grampians, this area comes alive during springtime with rich and colourful wildflower displays.
Roses Gap Rd runs essentially east-west through the northern section of Grampians National Park from Wartook to the Western Highway just south of Dadswells Bridge.
It contains the Roses Gap Recreation Centre (a holiday resort with accommodation, a fauna park, general store and day activities), other accommodation sites, Troopers Creek Campground (located in a forested valley) and walking tracks which are outlined in notation available from the Grampians National Park Visitor Centre.
The Beehive Falls track (2.8 km return) starts from a carpark on the roadside just west of the Mt Zero Rd intersection. Mostly easy, but with some steep sections, it leads along a creek to the base of the waterfall. There are some fine wildflowers about in spring. It is possible to continue on past the waterfall to Briggs Bluff, an open plateau with fine views of the Wimmera Plains. This would lengthen the walk to 8 km return and render it far more challenging.
Anyhow, this is a few things we can do on the day that most people could take part in with a moderate fitness level and a camera (tripod is optional but handy)
Be sure to let us know if you are interested in this outing day and please remember, that other day outings can also be arranged at fairly short notice on other days…
Just contact Jennifer or David Craker on 0438 812 887 or 03 53855518
Hope to see you there..
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