We thoroughly enjoyed our last bushwalk today in the Grampians - a 5.6 km loop worth!
We started from the oval in Halls Gap and climbed to Chatauqua Peak via Clematis Falls (no falls today - all dried up!) and then down the other side of the mountain to Bullaces Glen and back to Halls Gap.
Great views up Halls Gap Valley to Lake Bellfield and across the eastern plain to Stawell - interesting how the perspective changed as we climbed higher. As we went down the other side of the mountain the vegetation changed due to it being cooler and wetter - lush and ferny! A lot of damage was still evident from the massive flooding of 2010-11.
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The Pinnacle from the Valley floor where we started today's walk and climb - the pointy bit in the middle of the pic.
Click to enlarge - you can just make out the railing and there are some people standing right at the point.
It's a long way up! I was zoomed right in! |
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| Off we go! |
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Click to enlarge
Where Chatauqua Peak got its name from |
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| Nice walk through the open forest to the Falls |
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Clematis Falls - without the water :(
Would have been pretty! Had to use our imagination today!
They say it is best after rain! :) |
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| Starting the climb to the Peak looking up the Valley to the Lake and mountains |
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Lake Bellfield with the Mount William Range as backdrop-
awesome view! |
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| Looking up Halls Gap Valley |
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| The Pinnacle spied through the trees as we climbed |
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Getting higher -
stunning view! |
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View across the eastern plain towards Stawell.
The Big 4 Tourist Park mid-ground nestled at the bottom of the mountain |
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| We climb higher...... |
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| ...and higher |
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| We see The Pinnacle again |
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| The wildflowers put on a good show! |
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| A bobtail blue tongue lizard - a friend for Lois and John's two pet ones in their garden! |
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| Getting stepper - the heart rate is going up as well!!! |
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| The view was amazing! and the bush lovely! |
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Heading to the top of the rocky Peak.
A few boulders to conquer! |
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| Nearly there! |
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| High above the Valley and the eastern plain |
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| Looking down from whence we came - Halls Gap Oval! |
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| Some popular rock climbing areas behind the Oval |
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| Looking back up as we descended from the top of the Peak |
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| Down we go |
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| Another lizard sunbaking on the path |
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| Into the greener , lusher vegetation on the other side of the mountain |
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| Lots of fern clad gullies and glens in the Bullaces Glen area |
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| Still a lot of damage can be seen along the creek bed from the big flood 18 months ago |
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| You are never very far from the rocks of the Grampians! |
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| Shapely and colourful and domineering the landscape |
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| Stoney Creek wends its way down the mountain |
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| Lots of cheeky little finches flittering through the bush today |
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| The bridge was closed so we used the stepping stones to cross the creek |
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Back on the valley floor in Halls Gap.
The ducks were out today having a pick. |
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| Another little finch - very pretty teal blue tail |
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| Chatauqua Peak where we climbed to, viewed from the oval where we started the loop. |
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