Wild about the Grampians

Posted on by Miriam

One of the most picturesque caravan parks in Victoria is nestled at the foot of the Grampians, which also happens to be one of my favourite places to walk.

Jump for joy!

We first camped at Lakeside over 30 years ago. I remember all our walks, the grunting koalas at night having loads of raunchy fun in a tree behind us and, if my memory serves me correctly, our tent was flooded. Aah yes, it was memorable.

Fast forward to February 2020. A lot’s changed since then. We’re back, this time with a van, and the caravan park has undergone a huge transformation, as life often does.

We’re back with two special guests, Catherine, aka Cyranny, from Canada, and David, her partner. It was here we spent the first two nights of our mini Victorian tour, my first unofficial guided tour! If you missed my post about how this came about, you can read it here.

So, why do I love this place so much?

The Welcome and the Wildlife

It’s smiles and genuine warmth when you rock up at Lakeside Tourist Park in Halls Gap. Owner Josephina and her enthusiastic staff greet us with smiles and banter and we instantly feel we’re in a special place.

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There’s great coffee at reception, local wines for sale, advice and suggestions on things to do, complimentary birdseed to feed the squillion of birds and maps of the area, even though we already knew where we wanted to go! Welcome to Lakeside.

It didn’t take long to set up camp, and we had plenty of company. Cockatoos and colourful rosellas drop in and visit, ducks waddle past and kangaroos laze in the background … that’s the daily traffic here. Our powered site backed onto the adjoining valley where emus wander and roos graze in the distance.

This place is the epitome of an Australian wildlife adventure and Catherine found out firsthand just how friendly the local cockatoos could be.

It’s all smiles but it got a little bit wild and bloody.  I’ll let her tell you all about it here.

The Quotes

Who would have thought that a trip to the loo could take so long … or be so much fun.

Love this one. So true!
Love a new pair of shoes!
Here’s to beautiful destinations
Agree?
Hubby liked this one!
Walk around the park and be inspired, literally. On the walls of buildings, cabins, fences, inside the modern amenities, that resemble more like bathrooms of a five star hotel, and the impressive camp kitchen and cosy lounge are a host of feel good mood boards.

Needless to say, a walk anywhere took me ages. It’s easy to get sidetracked here, with all the quotes, the whizz bang trampolines and roos that keep hopping out in front of you.

The Walking

Did I mention walking?

The Grampians National Park is big enough that you feel like you’re the only one around for miles, even when, in reality, you’re only two hours from your car at the Wonderland Carpark. That’s the cheat’s way. Otherwise you can walk the entire 10kms walk from Halls Gap. Here’s my wandering hubby coming back down from the Pinnacle.

The walk to the Pinnacle takes you through the precariously placed boulders of the Grampians’ very own Grand Canyon before you have to squeeze through a crevice called Silent Street to reach the rocky formation jutting out of the cliff that is The Pinnacle.

This place is sensory overload … in the best possible way.

You can walk for an hour or you can trek for days but I think our walk was just long enough!

The Pool

Ahh, this was pure bliss.

After a big day of climbing mountains we were keen to have a dip in this beautiful wood heated pool, the only one of its type in Australia. It’s like an oasis. And an hour in here was heaven.

In summer it’s heated to about 28C and in winter to a whopping 38C. Pure bliss.

The Waterfalls and those awesome views

If the Pinnacle was all about going up, Mackenzie Falls was all about going down.  I was looking forward to taking our guests to this special spot, undoubtedly the most visited waterfall in the Grampians.

Down at the bottom of the steps, where the falls cascade in all their glory, close your eyes and absorb the sounds. Feel the spray. Dip your feet in the water. On a warm summers day it was magic.

As we were soaking up the sun with our toes dipped in the water, I felt a deep sense of contentment and gratitude. Catherine and I spoke about our blogs and all the special connections we’d made. She even wrote about it here.

This is a place of contemplation, of big skies and a place to appreciate nature.

Whether it was a sunset from Reeds Lookout or at the very top of the Pinnacle it’s hard not to feel a deep sense of satisfaction. Here’s Catherine doing her victory salute at the top.

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You can read her story of the climb to the top here.

For me, however, the best part was all the stuff along the way … walking through the incredible rock formations of the Grand Canyon and Silent Street.

I felt the same the night before, on our sunset walk to Reeds Lookout (aka the Balconies). As we stood at the lookout, right on dusk, the colours illuminating the sky and mountain crevices were breath taking.

This is a place to find your zen.

I’ll be honest, it was a bit of an undignified scramble to get up on this rock but hey, they wanted a photo, so I obliged!

As is the way I approach life, the journey is really at the heart of living and we made the most of every moment, savouring the views, the cool fresh mountain air and the fabulous company. It still felt a bit surreal that we were sharing our favourite spots with Catherine and David.

Our stay at Lakeside passed happily, with good dose of adventure and relaxation. Plus a little bit of unexpected drama with Cyranny’s intimate cockatoo encounter … yes, our adventure was off to a flying and wild start!

After our two hot summery days in the Grampians our next overnight destination was Port Campbell, the starting point of our delicious “reverse” trip along the Great Ocean Road. The weather was going to get a tad more challenging but, as far as I was concerned, the only forecast I could see in front of us had three letters. FUN.

After all, like anything in life, it’s what you make of it.

“Don’t wait for the stars to align. Reach up and align them the way you want.” Pharrell Williams.

And so the journey continues.

Enjoy it all, wherever you are.

In love and light

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Sharing with Jo’s Monday Walks

Was it all just a dream?  As fuzzy as this photo is, no it wasn’t. To read more about our stay in the Grampians, from Cyranny’s eyes, do check out the posts I’ve linked.

88 thoughts on “Wild about the Grampians”

  1. I never really felt that Australia was for me, Miriam, but the more time I spend around here the more I realise how wrong I could be. Your Grampians look stunning! I won’t be visiting any time soon but I’m starting to feel very regretful. Hugs for the link up! 🙂 🙂

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  3. For a minute there Miriam, the way I read it, it was you having raunchy fun at the back of the caravan – hahaha. Remove comma after the word night to avoid confusion, although it was the “in the tree” bit that sent me back to read it again. Still smiling to myself.
    The pictures are wonderful as they always are in your posts. xx

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    1. Thanks for the heads up Barbara. I just went back and re-read it and am laughing my head off! I’ve just removed the comma but could have left it in for some fun. What a hoot! Thanks for making me laugh this morning. 😂

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  4. I have always said this here that i am not an outdoor person. I’ve never camped…maybe i did i cant remember, i never hiked..maybe i did in a way..lol..but the more i read your posts about camping and outdoor life make me wanna try it…
    The falls is so mesmerizing and the mountain of rock (was it a boulder of some sort?) took my breath away.
    And the most exciting for me is you become a guide to a fellow blogger. How fun could that be.

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    1. Aww Mich, honestly it was so much fun and it’s almost as much fun reliving and sharing it here now. Who would have thought that blogging would have lead me to this. I’m so glad you enjoyed my post. xx

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  5. Oh wow! The waterfalls are incredible, Miriam. That’s the sound we fall asleep to on our sound machine. 🙂 Thank you for taking us along on this amazing tour.Your photos are stunning as usual! The Cockatoos look so friendly! I love all of the signs, too!

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  12. What a fabulous post Miriam, I haven’t been to the Grampians but now I definitely want to! I love the quotes and the walking looks good too. What a great way to show visitors some of our country and with you as a guide, they couldn’t go wrong!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed PC. Yes, those cockies do look innocent (and mostly are) but when it comes to feeding time they can get a tad excited! Have a great week. 😊

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  19. Wowza what a post! The Grampians National Park looks spectacular and that waterfall is gorgeous. I love that you made the most of every moment there, and the undignified scramble was worth it, I LOVE that photo of you on the rock!

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  20. I’m not sure what part of that part I would like best: the wildlife, the views or the waterfalls! (Not to mention the pools and the fun signs.) Sounds like a wonderful time, even with the bitten finger….. Birds are not known for patience, but they’re so beautiful that we forgive them for that flaw. Fabulous post, Miriam!

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  21. Both times we’ve been to the Grampians we stayed in a caravan park right on Lake Fyans. I’m not sure if it is the same as this one and it was back in the late 1980s so it has probably changed since then. What hasn’t changed are the spectacular views and wonderful walks. It’s time we visited again.

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    1. We’ve stayed at Lake Fyans too Carol, a different park. Lakeside is just on the outskirts of Halls Gap, near the dam wall at Lake Bellfield. Well worth a visit if you ever go back.

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  22. What a fabulous place Miriam, looks gorgeous. Love all those inspirational sayings, must have created a lot of talking points. And how about those mountains and the views? We drove up into the Grampians a couple of times when we were there and it was truly staggering. Stopped in some lovely little towns and at some amazing lookout points. And a pool to finish the day? Perfect.

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  23. This looks such a lovely place. I confess my first thought when I saw those cockatoos was ‘very cute but I hope they don’t get impatient’ as even one annoyed cockatoo is scary. Then I visited Catherine and saw that my concerns were justified 🙂

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  25. Oh my beloved friend, I sighed and reveled in your magnificent storytelling and just gorgeous pictures! Love them all, and especially the picture of you on the rock! You are amazing my friend. The Grampians look otherworldly-beautiful, and boy do I miss the Aussie wildlife! I´ve been having an intense month on the relationship-level, so your mentioning of life being all about transformation really resonated with me, and reading this gorgeous post is such a breath of fresh air!! Its also inspiring me to write my next post soon. Love what you wrote here – Life is all about the journey, and what we make of it, and to enjoy everything that may arise… you are as always wonderfully encouraging, wise, and beautiful. Love ya! Big hugs and much love cara lioness!! 💖💖💖

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    1. Hello gorgeous Maria, your comments always brighten up my day, as gray and drizzly as it is here in Melbourne today. I’m so glad my post spoke to you. Sounds like life is ramping up for you in many ways, intense is not a bad thing, lean into it, let it take you with the flow and be true to yourself. All will be fine I’m sure. Can’t wait to read your next post my cara amica, your words always transport me. In the meantime keep smiling and enjoying the journey dear friend. Lots of love and big hugs always. xx 💞💖

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      1. Cara amica, that is so lovely to read! Beings like you are SUCH a blessing to the world!! Like honestly!! Love your reliability and clear communication style, your enchanting writing, your optimism and hope. You my friend, are a true lioness leader of love. Thanks so much for your wonderful words of encouragement, love your advice on intensity as my natural preference is rather Zen- monk with a good dosage of enthusiasm LOL than intense passions of the heart lol lol. Thought I was past those ones haha. Love ya! Truly. Lots of love and big lioness hugs 💞💖 xoxoxo Have a blessed weekend my friend xoxo

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        1. Love it! I think my passions run deep but I must admit I do kinda like the sound of your natural preference of “zen monk with a good dose of enthusiasm”, lol, that’s cute! 💕 Have an amazing weekend my friend and thank you for your gorgeous words here. They lift me up on a day when I already feel pretty high. Lots of love and big lioness hugs always xxx 😍💕

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        2. Happy to hear you are high on your natural supply LOL haha chuckle. Aw my friend, I don´t even know who I am anymore at the moment I guess… Passion with a dash of Zen? Zen with a dash of passion? Enthusiasm with a dash of Zen? Who knows haha. Reminds me of a book a German philosopher wrote some years ago “Who Am I and If So How Many?: A Journey Through Your Mind” … Wishing you a blissful weekend, let´s keep the highs coming hehe. Lots of amoreee y abrazos sempre xxxx 😍💕

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        3. Haha, love them all, and aren’t we always evolving anyway. Life would be pretty bloody boring if we knew exactly who we were and weren’t changing with the seasons. That German philosopher knew a thing or two, didn’t he? Well, cara, I’m off to bed, you enjoy your Friday and weekend and we’ll chat soon. Ciao Bella xxxx 💕

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        4. Ohh Miriam cara, thanks so much for this! You know what, you are totally right!!! We are always evolving, and life WOULD be bloody boring if we knew exactly who we were… great input for me love. Have a beautiful rest my friend, gracias again and a molto prestooo. Ciao Bellaaaa xxxx💕

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  26. What a spectacular outing, Miri. My favorite photo is of the narrow crevice between mountains that even looks like nature put down a paving-stone path for you. So grateful you had this time with friends and loved ones, and it felt like we came along for the adventure.

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    1. Hi Eli, glad you enjoyed this adventure. I had so much fun putting this together. And yes, that photo you speak of I think is Silent Street. Isn’t nature amazing! Thanks for coming along for the ride. x

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  27. Miriam, thank you for letting us tag along on your trip! 😀The Silent Street is so narrow and The Pinnacle breathtaking and stunning. I love the quotes dotted around and like you, I would be taking non-stop photos of these! I’m happy that you and Catherine connected so well during the trip and it must be exciting to read each other’s posts about your adventures. Finally, it’s surreal almost to see the photo of her with the Cockatoos … the only time we see them is in a zoo! Hope you’re having a lovely week, my friend! Hugs ❤️

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    1. Hi Annika, it sure was a fabulous trip and it’s been a lot of fun reliving it through each other’s posts. 😊 Those cockatoos, they were everywhere, cheeky and clearly very used to people! Thanks for your lovely words my friend, happy rest of the week to you too! xx

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  29. Hi Miriam,
    Looks like a great adventure…loved the cockatoos all over Catherine!
    Also giggled over the saying that your husband liked, “I think I promised I would have 2 more beers and be home by 8. I always get those 2 mixed up.” LOL

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  30. Oh Miriam… I can see why you said ” Such Bliss”…. Those views are stunning and those waterfalls… just beautiful Oh to swim in a heated pool outdoors and have those beautiful surroundings.. I loved your pose on the rock despite the undignified scramble…. Nature, birds…. What more do you need..

    And those Signs on the wall, priceless.. I read them out to hubby and showed him those stunning photos….
    He loved them too…

    Wonderful post Miriam.. So enjoyed my short catch up with your today…
    Have a great weekend my lovely friend… Stay blessed.. and take care on your adventures…
    Much love ❤

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    1. Sue, it’s always so lovely when you drop by. So happy to share my small patch of Australia with you, we have so much beauty here, we really are blessed. The Grampians is a special place, those views and that pool … so good. And yes the signs are priceless aren’t they! Thanks again for dropping by and your lovely wishes. Enjoy this coming weekend my friend, whatever you’re doing. Big hugs xx ❤️

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  31. Miriam, I just love that narrow trail through the rocks. This looks like such an amazing place to visit. Isn’t nature such a gift to our spirits? Keep the photos coming. Sending you love and many more happy journeys.

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