Unplanned Walk among the Giants: Pinnacle Lookout in Grampians

A long three-hour drive from Melbourne to Grampians region yielded a pleasant surprise. The weather could have gone either way with rain or sunshine, but it turned out to be a beautiful day.

As soon as I returned from Sydney, a friend emailed me to tell me she would be in Melbourne for a week and we should catch up, and then I was invited to join her trip to the Grampians National Park. The only thing I've planned is to return to work after a week's vacation, lol. The truth is that my friend was leaving the country soon, so I wanted to spend some time with her and of course, joined her journey to the National Park.

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The trip was full of unexpected turns and challenges, but it turned out to be a rewarding experience and memorable trip. When we started driving, the sun was shining but it quickly changed. The rain started and then the thunder and lightning. It was a bit strange to see all of that in just a few hours' drive however, it's "Melbourne love" (weather), lol.

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We had been driving for hours, ever since we left the city. We finally reached the town, and the weather turned out beautifully. I can't help but feel relieved that we made it there safely.

Wow, I could see it in front of my eyes: nestled in the rolling hills and surrounded by mountains, this quaint little village offers up stunning views of nature at its finest. There were a few tourists who came to visit (maybe it's not busy during weekdays), and I felt it is also a peaceful community that is perfect for relaxation. Such a pleasant atmosphere.

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Having parked the car in the town, we quickly checked out the center information to find out where we would visit in a day and what tracks we could hike. Here we were at Hall Gaps which is one of the villages in the Grampians Region and a popular tourist destination. Here is known for its stunning views of the Grampians mountains, and is a popular spot for hiking.

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The journey began. Quite literally, rock is everywhere lol. We were here around 1pm. The weather wasn't too hot but still very humid.

The Grampians National Park has many famous hiking trails such as the Grampians Peak Trails, Mount William, Mount Stabylton, and so many campgrounds. Check out here for more information. However, we just stayed here 1 day and decided to check out some scenic lookout around the Hall Gaps. We drove right away to Wonderland car park and hiked to Pinnacle Submit which was a bit challenging more than 2 km 1 way walk and took around 1.5- 2 hours to complete.

I saw a huge Emu (big bird) with such a long legs :) So cute

We encountered one of Australia’s beloved creatures, the Kangaroo or Wallaby appeared in middle of the road! Some of them ran so fast that I couldn't take the photos. It was an incredible sight to see. Of course, we had to be careful not to run them over while driving so we had to take extra precaution and drove slowly.

Talking to some other hikers on the way, I was aware that this is the easiest hike in Grampians National Park. Well, this is the first time I did hiking after a long break. I found myself unprepared for the difficulty of this hike, which resulted in a more difficult journey and long hours than expected.

At certain points, there were times when I wanted to give up due to exhaustion. "^{I wanted to give up, I nearly gave up; however, I didn't give up.}" It wasn't like me before who could hike for hours up to the mountain lol.

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The last parts of the hike were quite almost laneways both vertical and horizontal. I felt almost in crack of the earth among the huge rocks while hiking through some very narrow environment. Challenging yet rewarding

The walk to the peak was steep and challenging, yet its breathtaking view at the summit was worth every step of the climb, and took my break away 🙂 Well, reaching its summit was no small feat; it required a long, and arduous hike. It was the longest 2-kilometer hike I've ever done, lol. Once I made it, it was an incredible feeling of accomplishment.

During the hike, I told her to go first without me; however, she patiently waited until I caught up. What could be better than having a good company? As we reached the top, we enjoyed the view, took a break, and returned to the town to check-in. To end the day, we took a scenic drive back to the top of a nearby hill (further than Pinnacle a few kilometers) to watch the sunset while enjoying some peace and quiet. 🙂

Such a full-filled day!!

As someone who has been a home girl for a long time, I haven't felt much of an inclination towards outdoor adventure until my friend asked me to join her. She took me to another steep hike the next day, I felt much better and my legs stronger. I should hike more often now :)

Accomodation

When looking for accommodation in town, there were several different options available. However, we decided to stay at Grampians Eco YHA and we couldn't have been happier with our choice.

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It was very affordable for backpackers or tourist alive. The place is very cozy and welcoming. After a long day, we really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere and stunning view around.

Staff was incredibly friendly, kind and looked after their guests. I overpaid my stay and promptly refunded my mistake. 😇 Highly recommended it.

I couldn't sleep well that night as my mind was racing with what the next days would bring, lol, and all the possibilities that might come with it. I will write about it soon. That's it for now :))

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the my snapshots of my experience in Hall Gaps.