A Planning And Preparation Guide for the Grampians Peaks Trail

Let us be blunt about planning for the Grampians Peaks Trail (GPT): it is no casual amble that you can put in a day’s work and have a pleasant lookout to show for it. In Gariwerd the trail will make short work of any vague optimism if you are undertrained or overburdened with kit and expecting the water situation to resolve itself. Good planning is its own reward here.

Whether your intentions are for an end-to-end traverse of the Grampians or a single day out, this guide has what you need. Thomas Rourke has made a point of covering the practicalities: route options, where to book in, campsites, the cost of it all, and the kind of things that have a way of catching people when they are out on the track with their boots on.

Get To Know The Trail

Put aside the dehydrated pasta debate and the pack comparisons for a moment and consider the walk for what it is. The GPT is as long as it is varied and will test you physically beyond what the numbers would have you believe.

Running from Mt Zero (Mura Mura) up north to Dunkeld (Tafanyuk) in the south, the 160 km or so of the full route is generally divided into three parts; the northern, central and southern Grampians Peaks Trail. For those interested in mountain range adventures, there are several trailheads to be had should you want to keep your ambitions in check and do something shorter.

Quick Facts

Trail Element	Practical Detail
Total Distance	Some 160 km to go from one end of the Grampians Peaks Trail to the other
Start / Finish	Mt Zero (Mura Mura) and Dunkeld (Tafanyuk), either way
Main Hubs	Dunkeld, Halls Gap, Mt Zero
What to expect	A full traverse, a section hike or 1 to 3 days out
Terrain	Uneven footing, steep ascents, exposed ridgelines and plenty of rock
Technical	The odd hand-and-foot scramble on a rocky approach
Water	Not much to be relied upon in nature; most will be treating tank water
In a nutshell	For the fit walker at ease with remote logistics and his gear

Who is it for?

An experienced day hiker looking to put in some multi-day miles, a bushwalker after a substantial Victorian route, or a traveller who will put up with rough-as-guts terrain for good ridge walking. Not a place for a novice or one who does not like being exposed or has trouble on uneven rock with a pack on.

Making an Itinerary

Your itinerary for the Grampians Peaks Trail should be dictated by your time and what you are willing to carry in the way of food. Too many make the error of going for the trip that has the best sound to it and find themselves on a death march come the last day.

Thomas Rourke’s view is simple: with a day to spare, take a section that gives you your money’s worth. Three days and you build your plan around sensible access and the better ridgelines, not what is convenient on paper.

To go End-To-End or not?

If you have the time and the proven fitness for self-supported camping, the full traverse is fine, but allow for the weather and the fact that the GPT is not flat. You will be checking your route, taking photos and dealing with pack fatigue and rocky steps; moving times are apt to run longer than you think.

Then again, section hiking is more sensible for most. It means lighter loads and less pressure when the wind is up or your legs are done for. Halls Gap makes an excellent midway base to break the trail down and get at transport and provisions.

One Day Only

Make for a ridge-linked walk or something close to Halls Gap where the effort is well rewarded. While conditions and access will dictate the best section, the central ones will give you a better combination of views and rock formations than making the drive in for an out-and-back in the north or south. An itinerary of three days in Gar and Werdug is a solid way for a walker to get a good measure of the GPT without having to put in the time for the entire route. It will provide the steep ascents, some challenge and camp immersion you would expect of a proper undertaking, yet spares you the bother of food and leave arrangements that come with the full route.

Do not be taken in by the distance alone; it is the tempo that gets people. With a pack on your back over three days of rock, it can be more arduous than a longer trip in other climes. Temper your daily goals accordingly and have time in hand for weather or a protracted descent.

Bookings: Do it early

There is nothing glamorous about making bookings but it is important, certainly more so than the titanium spoon someone will be at pains to put before you. Once the peak walking season is upon us it is harder to put together camps, access and support if you have not already put dates down.

For current Grampians Peaks Trail booking arrangements, campsite availability, and official trail updates, check Parks Victoria’s Grampians Peaks Trail information. Parks Victoria has the word on official trail updates and what is available for the Grampians Peaks Trail. They would have you “book before you go” and one can hardly fault that logic when the campground system is as managed as it is and conditions are in flux.

Campsites And Reservations

Your planning will revolve around the Grampians Peaks Trail campsites in large part; they set the rhythm of the walk and your water and daily mileage. In the busy times you will want to secure the better combinations first, the ones that make for a comfortable day rather than a heroic effort.

For a self-guided affair, put in your reservation on the official system and work out your schedule from there. Some walkers will have their spreadsheets all in order only to find the middle night is no longer an option if they do not reserve first.

Supported Walks

Then there are those for whom the logistics are too much and trail support is the answer. You might find operators like Grampians Peaks Walking Co. offering a guided or supported format, or local services putting on transfers or looking after your food. All of which is why the GPT has a reputation for being costly; add up the gear, the camps and accommodation before and after and you have spent a fair bit before you even get to a muesli bar.

A matter of logistics

You can plan a walk to perfection on paper and still be left in an awkward position with your car at the wrong end of things, a non-existent shuttle or no ride out when you are done and covered in dust. The linear nature of the trail means you have to address the vehicle question early on unless you know a saint who will see you off and pick you up.

Access, Parking, Driving

Cars will bring most from Melbourne or regional Victoria to stage for a trailhead. Halls Gap is a convenient base for many with its central location and ready access to food and local knowledge. At the other end you have the likes of Mt Zero and Dunkeld. But check with the authorities on road and parking access before you head out, particularly in the wake of maintenance or fire.

Shuttles and resupply

If you are a section hiker or your mates have all found something to do when it comes to moving the cars, a Grampians Peaks Trail shuttle is worth the faffing about. As for food, if you are using Halls Gap as a midpoint you can lighten the load by splitting the trail. Supported hikers may put in for pre-positioned supplies. For research and context Trail Hiking Australia is of use, though for the booking details you should go to Parks Victoria.

Water and Food

Optimism is no use to you when it comes to water on the GPT. Put aside any notion that the tanks are full or the creek running or that the day will be cool. A sensible approach is to know where the tanks are and have treatment on hand. There is no point in having a stomach in revolt because you did not filter the water, bushwalking is better enjoyed otherwise.

How Much Water To Carry

A rough guide for planning is 3 to 5 litres a day, though the exact amount will be dictated by what you are carrying, how fast you go and the temperature. Those in hot or exposed situations will have greater requirements. We are talking of an active adult with a pack on his back putting in several hours over steep ground; put in a warm day on a long ridge with no shade and the numbers will be higher.

The common error is not to give enough credit to how little progress one makes on rock. It takes its toll and you will find yourself making more stops for a drink or a snack, and the day will run longer than you thought.

Food Weight And Reality

Keep your food unpretentious and dense, something you can put away when you are at the end of your tether. A well thought out menu has a way of disintegrating after two days when all that is wanted is a quick calorie hit and some salt, rather than faffing about with a stove in the wind.

For a walker in training 18 to 25 per cent of body weight in the pack is a workable figure, but err on the side of less if it does not compromise comfort or safety. There is nothing appealing about a steep slab or step when the pack has been allowed to bloat with “just in case” accoutrements.

Train For The Terrain

You will not fool the GPT with theoretical fitness. Some time in the gym and a long Sunday walk are preferable to none but they do not equate to making your way up rocky tracks with a full pack as your calves contend with stone steps ad infinitum. Fitness for the Grampians Peaks Trail is about balance, leg strength and descending control. Thomas Rourke would prefer to see repeated hill walks with 10kg on your back to a 20km trudge on the flat that was of little instructional value.

What To Practise

• Put some weight in the pack and increase it over time as you tackle hills and stairs.
• Be as rigorous with descents as climbs, for the knees will take the brunt of it.
• Get used to uneven ground and the odd hand and foot scramble.
• Put in consecutive training days so your legs are acclimatised to what day two is like.
• And make sure you have tried out your meals, poles, water treatment and footwear before you set off.

Expectation Vs Reality

“I have done my share of long walks, I will be fine,” is the expectation. The reality is a loaded pack and the need to constantly place your feet on steep stone will make a few kilometres seem a lot. Even short stretches can be a physical trial in warm weather when the surface is rough, so trail grading is of consequence.

Pack Smart And Stay Safe

There is no point in having a backpack the size of a shed; a good packing list for the Grampians Peaks Trail is one where every item justifies its presence and you are safe. Excess weight adds up with each climb. Safety is a matter of sound judgement and preparation, not buying into the old bushwalking notion that discomfort is a virtue. Make your calls early and sensibly, have the proper gear and be aware of conditions.

Core Gear That Matters

Stable, proven footwear is a must. As for clothing, it has to stand up to wind, rain and the odd change in temperature, and dry camp layers should be in order. You will want a first aid kit, torch, navigation backup and dependable protection from the elements; these are standard fare.

For remote multi-day walking we would advise a personal locator beacon, particularly in areas with no mobile signal. GPX files on a phone or GPS are handy but a screen is no use if you have put it through the sandstone and apps have a habit of crashing when batteries run down. Have a map to hand, printed or a PDF of the Grampians Peaks Trail, as a precaution.

What Usually Catches People Out

Nothing exotic, just the usual: blisters because the shoes were untried, a lack of electrolytes, a late start that means finishing in the dark, a water filter without any tablets to fall back on, or the assumption that the ridgeline will be as clement as Halls Gap.

Pick Your Season Wisely

Your plan may come to naught if the season is against you. In cooler months Gariwerd is superb but hot weather is hard yakka, particularly on exposed country with long water carries. Then there is the question of heat stress and the threat of bushfire in summer which can put paid to your access and camping arrangements. Many a walker will tell you the shoulder seasons are where it is at, but do not be fooled by a mild forecast; a cold front or some wind and rain can make for a stern day of it.

Weather, Fire, And Timing

One cannot take closures, alerts or access for granted, so the prudent thing to do is to verify them as current. Check official trail notices, any warnings and the forecast before you set off, conditions have a way of turning on a dime.

To keep matters simple, stay clear of the school-holiday rush, when booking is at a premium, and times of severe heat or fire danger. You will find that with stable, cool weather and decent daylight your morale, water consumption and pace are all better served.

Common Questions Answered

After having a good look at the map and coming to the conclusion this track does not suffer fools, most put in the same sort of questions. Thomas Rourke would dispense with the niceties over coffee and answer them like this.

What Are The Best Sections To Walk?

Those in the vicinity of Halls Gap tend to give the best return for effort in terms of scenery and access. When time is short, make for a section of strong ridge walking and easy logistics instead of putting in half a day’s drive to get to some out of the way trailhead.

How Hard Is The Track Really?

Hard enough to warrant some preparation. Put together the steep climbing, the rock underfoot, what you have to carry and the grading of the trail and the GPT is more of an undertaking than the kilometre count would have you believe.

Why Does It Seem Expensive?

You have the transport, accommodation at either end, campground fees, linear-trail logistics, quality equipment and perhaps a guide to consider. A self-guided outing will mount up if you include fuel and food and the cost of a new rain jacket to replace the cheap one that lets the water in.

How Do I Prepare My Body For A Hike?

Do not just train, train for the hills and the descents and for carrying a load. Make a habit of back-to-back sessions in the pack and shoes you intend to use on the trail so the body is used to moving when fatigued.

Do I Need A Guide?

Only if you prefer to have someone else worry about the navigation, pacing and transport, or want a bit of support. An organised and fit walker who has no illusions as to his bush skills can manage fine on his own.

Final Thoughts From Thomas Rourke

The Grampians Peaks Trail is the sort of walk that will only give you what you have put in. With a sensible approach to your gear and proper training, a few days in Gariwerd will be well remembered; plan poorly and it is a trudge made worse by regret and muesli.

Take this from the guide: base your trip on what the conditions are and on bookings you can confirm. Start at Mt Zero or in Halls Gap, or put in a heroic order at the bakery in Dunkeld with your socks caked in dust, provided you have done your homework you are as likely as not to have a very good walk.

1. Do I need to book Grampians Peaks Trail campsites in advance?
   Yes. Parks Victoria will have you make your Grampians Peaks Trail booking ahead of time since the managed campsites are prone to filling up on popular dates and the like.

2. Is there reliable water on the Grampians Peaks Trail?
   Until you have checked, do not make any assumptions. Your water planning for the Grampians Peaks Trail should account for tank locations, a filter or purification tablets and sufficient capacity to carry.

3. Can beginners do the full end-to-end traverse?
   Not as a rule for a first multi-day walk. The route is best left to those with the fitness and navigational sense to handle a steep, rocky track.

4. Should I carry a GPX file and a paper map?
   A Grampians Peaks Trail GPX file is useful but you would be wise to have a printed map or PDF of the Grampians Peaks Trail as a back up in case your device gives out.

5. Is a shuttle worth paying for?
   Often it is. A Grampians Peaks Trail shuttle makes organising a one-way section a lot less trouble and puts the car where you want it.