Hi all. We are planning a month or so trip from Portarlington near Geelong in Victoria in March. We thought we'd like to go to The Grampions. Can you see any drawbacks with our planned route or if you have a better or different suggestion, we'd love to consider your ideas, but we would like to include the Grampions. . We didn't know if it would be better to approach the Grampions from the north or south, any comments there?
So this is what we had in mind:- Portarlington, Lake Bolac, Dunkeld, Grampions, Halls Gap, Horsham, Dimboola, Little Dessert, Kaniva, Bordertown SA, Naracoorte SA, Mt Gambier, Nelson, and then towards home.
All thoughts welcome re things to see, do , not to do etc welcome. And, is Little Dessert worth a visit?
Sounds like a good trip - The Grampians are wonderful, make sure you have lots of time there, so much to do and see - good walks, great views - springtime is best when the wildflowers bloom in abundance.
Haven't stayed in Little Desert, but have been in that area, pretty nice.
__________________
jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
We were down that way staying at Ballarat and did day trips only, beautiful area around the Grampions. Now we are hoping to go back for longer stay soon.
What you have discribed for your plan seems good although I did not check it via paper map but seems good.
Little Desert read lots in 4x4 mags, its on my list also.
Hope you get some positive responses soon. Cheers.
Looks like an excellent trip Diane. There are plenty of places to stay around the area you have mapped out. The CP at Dunkeld has a good reputation. Just dont buy coffee from the shop on the corner on the same side. Apparently the bakery in town is the best place.
The Grampians you can spend so much time there. Depends on your interests. Stawell actually makes a good base or Dunkeld from the other side. Recommend Rocklands Reservior for and excellent stay.
Little Desert is good, have not stayed there as yet but checked it out. Sites with water and power.
Naracoorte, great spot to stop of as a base for areas around that way. Plenty of places to stay and can recomment Black ****atoo Bush Camp. Wonderful people and spot there.
Mt Gambier, great , the Lake will starting to turn from the vidid blue then, but still worth the trip. Recommend the Pine Country CP just out of town past the lake.
Once again you could make the MT a base for surrounding areas. From the MT I would go back via Nelson to Portland and back along the coast.
Free camp at Dartmoor is excellent also about 45ks from Mt Gambier. Depending on which way you go and come from.
I am from Mt Gambier and still around the area at present at Edenhope. I was going to Little Desert but the weather being so hot have decided to stay here. Mainly my fear of fires breaking out during this type of weather.
Would advise a couple of days here also, a lovely place that most people just drive through on the way to somewhere else.
Hope this helps a little.
__________________
I am fun and adventure. So much to see, so much to do, so many people to meet. Will see, do, and meet all that I can.
Sincere thanks for the great information. Looking forward to continuing my planning now I know I'm on the right track. I enjoy searching for things to do and see around areas we are heading , so I'll be kept busy I think !
hi dianne and stuart , enjoy th drive that way , from dunkeld its great , nice camp spot at jimmys creek ,, halls gap is good too , the trip to horsham you,ll have to go in thru stawell , only way , there is a mountain road but really twisty and tight , goes up and thru to zumsteins , great day trip up to lookouts on that road , and waterfalls
we lived in stawell grampians for 23 yrs,
Your trip sounds great. Lake Bolac you can stay at the caravan park or you can stay on the lake (for a small fee I think). I would base myself in Halls Gap for awhile and have a really good look around - great walks and views and you don't want to rush it. I can recommend Jimmy's Creek camp ground just south of Halls Gap or the Caravan by the lake is also lovely. There are also great camping spots around Rockland Res.
Dimboola is a great little town and if you want to stay in the Little Desert NP - Horseshoe Bend is a great spot on the river. The NP park is nice with some sandy 4x4 driving if that is what you wish to do.
Black ****atoo Bush camp just outside of Naracoorte is also a lovely spot. Princess Margret Rose caves are also great and have good facilities for camping as does the caravan park just on the north side of Nelson.
If coming back along the coast, Sawpit camp near Narrawong and the Narrawong CP are also good, as is Mt Eccles.
Thank you so much for theses little hints. We are really looking forward to the trip. We were supposed to go in February, but Stuarts been asked to postpone his leave until March. He's got 9 months LSL then probably retire. I hope!! So more great holidays to come.
