Some of the nitty-gritties concerning amenities at Heavenly Escape, as well as some personal recommendations regarding what to do where to go and dining and drinking around the Grampians. And you are always welcome to contact me directly for any further information and or thoughts regarding what to do, cheers, Tim
Property amenities
- Spa bath
- Queen size bed
- Cast iron fireplace
- Split system heater / air conditioner
- Electric blankets
- Coffee machine
- Kichen: electric ‘kettle’ style BBQ, 4 electric burner stove, full set of pots, pans & cooking utensils, sandwich maker, electric fry pan, crockery and cutlery
- Hair dryer
- Fire extinguisher & smoke alarm
- Extensive film and documentary selection
Please note: we do not have internet
Recommendations – Walks, Drives and Out-and-Abouts
If you have half a day when you arrive in the Gramps and don’t feel like doing any more driving, the Chatauqua Peak loop is a really good introduction to the area. Taking between 1.5 and 2 hours, the walk can be done as an up-and-back or a loop, and offers a wonderful view back over Halls Gap, to Lake Bellfield and down the valley that divides the Grampians. The walk starts from the Halls Gap oval car park.
The Pinnacle is the most popular (and most populated) walk in the Gramps and with good reason. Walk from Sundial or Wonderland Car Park but be prepared for many people on the same track or, our favourite, walk from Halls Gap up via Venus Baths (from the back of the botanical gardens or the back of the caravan park near the swimming pool).
McKenzie Falls: the ‘grandest’ waterfalls. We walk there from Zumsteins via Fish Falls: an easy gradual incline with a very pretty track along the river and a lovely gorge at the end, before reaching the falls. Much more rewarding than simply driving to the lookout and Fish Falls is one of our favourite river swim spots in the Gramps..
Mount Abrupt – a personal favourite of the ‘Mount’ walks (although they are all good). Panoramic views of the Southern Gramps and a great excuse to visit Dunkeld and the Royal Mail Hotel, the latter almost undoubtedly offering the best dining available in the Grampians. The Royal Mail has a top selection of local wines and has a genuine commitment to promoting local foods, wines and artists. The drive down from Halls Gap is very picturesque.
Hollow Mountain and / or Mount Stapleton. Hollow Mountain can be done by itself or as a loop with Mount Stapleton, (a serious hike), but pretty awesome and at least one hiking book rates it in the top 10 hikes in Australia. Either walk is a great excuse to visit the Northern Gramps which have a distinctly ‘Nevada-esque / deserty feel’. Beehive falls and Mount Zero are good short walks in the north.
Driving to the Northern Gramps: If you don’t mind driving and take a full day, this is a great loop – Mount Victory Road to Wartook (through the heart of the Grampians) to Roses Gap and then back round along Mount Zero Road (dirt) to Halls Gap, which has wonderful views of the Northern Gramps. It is less than a 2 hour drive, and there are an abundance of possible stops-for-walks-or-views along the way: Mckenzie Falls, the Balconies, Wartook Lake, Beehive Falls, Mount Zero, Hollow Mountain, The Pines to mention a few.
Bests Winery: probably the best in the district – excellent wine and ‘probably’ only because there are many good wineries around!
Seppelt: the most renowned – and oldest – winery of the region. Some excellent wines and a recommendable winery tour (very interesting history).
Also noteworthy – closer to Halls Gap, and both good spots for a glass of wine and a cheese platter if you are passing by: Pomonal Estate (also good for craft beer) and Montara.
A Couple of other Recommendations …
Halls Gap Zoo – rated one of the best regional zoos in Victoria.
Hanging out With Earl – if climbing is your thing, or you would like to try it out, Earl is a local guide and instructor (he has taught my kids), a great local character, very talkative and someone whose knowledge of the Grampians is exceptional.
Drinking & Dining around the Gramps
The Royal Mail, Dunkeld – see Mount Abrupt. Our number one choice in the area.
Paper Scissors Rock (PSR) – a (very) good selection of locally made craft beer and wines. Reds, stouts and IPAs – very good. The food is pretty good too, served in a social environment which better suits lunch, afternoon nibbles and drinks or an informal evening meal.
Livefast – my pick of the breakfast and, along with Paper Scissors Rock, a good lunch option. Harvest is also pretty good but I think Livefast is better.
The Spirit of Punjab and Halls Gap Hotel are were our family eats when eating in Halls Gap. Spirit is good Indian and the food at the Halls Gap Hotel is also decent (and seems to be getting better and better – I recently had pork neck with fennel on a sweet potato mash and it was pretty damn decent whilst my 12 year old daughter had a vegan pizza which was similarly PDG}. Also, if dining at At Halls Gap Hotel, book an outdoor table – much better ambience than indoors. There is good outdoor sitting at the Halls Gap Pub – indoors can be very ‘family’.
It is a while since we ate at Flame Brothers and we thought they did meat pretty well but lacked with their side dishes. Some good friends (whose taste we trust) do however recommend their pizzas and burgers. Outdoor seating here does make for a good atmosphere.
Worthy of note in Pomonal is Pomonal Estate – again, good outdoor seating, craft beers, local wines and pretty decent food for lunch / afternoon.
Barneys (also Pomonal) has large servings of standard pub fare.
Livefast Lifestyle Café – Halls Gap