Worth getting out of bed for

The Grampians itinerary

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Viewpoint

The Grampians are littered with stunning panoramic lookouts – wherever there's a carpark and a gathering of people there'll be something special to see. Highlights include Reed Lookout, an easy 2 kilometre return walk from the car park, and Boroka Lookout, 100 metres return. Both are wheelchair-accessible. Watch for vertigo.

Arts and culture

The must-see Brambuk (+61 (0)3 5361 4000; www.brambuk.com.au) Aboriginal cultural centre in Halls Gap is one of the country's most important storehouses of indigenous art and culture, showcasing traditional tools and artefacts, and cutting-edge multi-media exhibits that provide insights into the history of the local Jardwadjali and Djadjawurung people, their relationship to the local landscape as well as the coming of white European settlement. It is in equal parts inspiring and sobering. Brambuk is free, open 9am to 5pm daily, and also exhibits and sells traditional and modern art.

Something for nothing

There's plenty of free fun on the walking tracks and by the creeks and rivers. Can you spy a platypus? Is that a koala asleep in the treetops? For a free but enriching experience, we also recommend checking out the ancient Aboriginal rock art at Gulgurn Manja Shelter and Ngamadjidj Shelter, in the northern Grampians near Mt Stapylton, or Bunjil's Shelter near Stawell.

Shopping

Dare we say it, there's no shortage of tourist tack and souvenir clothing available in the region's shops, but most of it's rubbish made in China. Your money's better spent on the more select (and more authentic) wares available at the Brambuk national park and cultural centre. Or buy some of the superb local wines and gourmet foodie produce that are widely available.Make the trip to Mount Zero Olives (+61 (0)3 9315 1410, www.mountzeroolives.com) or Red Rock Olives (+61 (0)401 700 868; www.redrockolives.com.au), or get some deluxe body treatments at Blaze Rock Retreat (+61 (0)3 5356 6171; www.blazerock.com.au) on the Halls Gap-Ararat road.

Daytripper

For nearby excursions check out historic towns like Stawell, Horsham and Hamilton that boomed on 19th-century gold-rush money and squattocracy. The tiny rural settlements of Dunkeld, Pomonal and the Wartook Valley also reward a look. For something further afield, point the bonnet south and head through Dunkeld to Warrnambool and the mighty thrashing Southern Ocean two and a quarter hours away.

Best beach

There are no beaches in the inland Grampians, but scenic lakes dot the National Park, from Lake Wartock to Lake Lonsdale, Fyans and Bellfield, with vast reservoirs also a striking feature.

Perfect picnic

Picnic facilities – tables and chairs, water and sometimes toilets, shelters and free electric barbeques – are peppered throughout the national park. They're all lovely, and all popular. For somewhere far less crowded head for the Red Rock area in the Southern Grampians on the banks of the Glenelg River, which is rich in birdlife and blooming wildflowers in spring.

Walks

Walking tracks to suit all abilities abound in the Grampians. Halls Gap is a good base, with scenic options in the surrounding Wonderland Range, from an easy half hour stroll to Venus Bath to a tougher five-hour walk up to Pinnacles Lookout. From the Zumstein picnic area north-west of town you can also hike to the striking McKenzie Falls.

Children

Kids love the Grampians with lots of bush, fresh air and gentle but spectacular walks. There's wildlife everywhere but if you want to handfeed the critters the best place to head for is the Halls Gap Wildlife Park & Zoo (+61 (0)3 5356 4668; www.hallsgapwildlife.com) where kangaroos and wallabies, wombats, emus, possums and koalas are joined by exotic animals, reptiles and farmyard friends.

Activities

It's all about the great outdoors – camping, walking and hiking, four-wheel driving, fishing, canoeing, mountain biking, rock climbing and abseiling, and horse riding. Parks Victoria manages the National Park and has an office at the Brambuk cultural centre issuing maps, brochures, camping permits and fishing licences. The Grampians page of Parks Victoria website (www.parkweb.vic.gov.au) has links to oodles of organised activities providers. Call into the Halls Gap visitor centre (+61 (0)3 5356 4616, in Australia 1800 065 599; www.grampianstravel.com) for loads of info on activities. In Halls Gap, Grampians Personalised Tours & Adventures (+61 (0)3 5356 46 54; www.grampianstours.com) is inside the general store.

And...

If you prefer something less gung-ho, there are also some fine art galleries in Horsham (www.horshamartgallery.com.au), north-west of Halls Gap, and Hamilton (www.hamiltongallery.org), not far from Dunkeld.