Grampians National Park

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Grampians National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)

Nearest town/city:	Halls Gap
Coordinates:	37°12′28″S, 142°23′59″E
Area:	1,672.19 km²
Managing authorities:	Parks Victoria
Official site:	Grampians National Park

The Pinnacle offers stunning views of the surrounding park, this photograph just one example. Lake Bellfield can be seen at the left.

The Grampians is a mountain range and national park in Victoria (Australia), 235 kilometres west of Melbourne. The Grampians feature a striking series of sandstone mountain ranges. The ranges were named in 1836 by Surveyor General of New South Wales Sir Thomas Mitchell after the Grampian Mountains in his native Scotland, but are also known by the name Gariwerd, from one of the local Australian Aboriginal languages.

The general form that the ranges take is, from the east, a series of low-angled sandstone ridges running roughly north-south. The western sides of the ridges, where the sedimentary layers have faulted, are steep and spectacular, beyond the vertical in places - notably at Hollow Mountain near Dadswell's Bridge at the northern end of the ranges. The most popular walking area for day trippers is the Wonderland area near Halls Gap. In summer the ranges can get very hot and dry. Winter and spring are the best times for walking. In spring the Grampians wildflowers are a major attraction. The area is a noted rock climbing destination, and it is popular with campers and bushwalkers for its many spectacular views and unspoilt nature. However this is under increasing threat by inappropriate development of the area.

Entry Sign - Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia

The Balconies (formerly known as the 'Jaws of Death') - Grampians National Park, Victoria, Australia

Halls Gap is the largest service town in the area and is located at a point roughly equidistant between the towns of Ararat and Stawell. The town is located towards the eastern (Melbourne) side of the park and offers accommodation to the many tourists who visit the area.

A major bushfire burned out about 50 percent of the Grampians National Park in January 2006.