15 Dec 2008, 6pm - Halls Gap, Grampians

Halls Gap YHA (Youth Hostel Australia) Hostel Entrance

We reached Halls Gap, the main town in the Grampians mountain range, around 6pm. Whew, that was a long drive. Actually, we got a bit lost. Whahahaha

Not lost as in "LOST!", but just took an alternative "scenic route" from Ballarat. And somehow ended up above Grampians (we were travelling north from Ballarat, remember?), traveling south. It took us 40 minutes to detour back, after driving 26 kilometers down Grampians. OMG!

Our room in YHA Halls Gap

Anyway, Hall Gap YHA is nice. Neat, tidy, clean and eco-friendly. There are even individual lockers for each person in the dorm. And each person has his/her own key to the dorm room too. Wow! Well worth the price!

So, we are at the Grampians. Time to go hiking!

15 Dec 2008, 6.30pm - Chatauqua Peak, Grampians

Our first hike in Grampians

The trail to Clematis Falls and Chatauqua Peak is right behind Halls Gap. With two hours of daylight remaining, we decided to try out this "moderate" trail.

As an aside, I think it is important for anyone going hiking in foreign places to hike on a short "moderate level" trail first. This allows you to have a sense of the grading system used for the trails, and also familarise yourself with the terrain, flora and fauna.

I consider the trail to Clematis Falls rather easy. It is wide, well-maintained, and certainly a breeze to finish. The trail up to Chatauqua Peak is more difficult though. The initial phase is easy, but the scrambling up the rocks close to the top is not for the faint-hearted.

Here are some pictures.

Big termite holes on the trail up the mountain

Clematis Falls. Not much water due to drought

Kangeroo on the trail to Chatauqua Peak

View from halfway up the mountain. Halls Gap in right bottom corner

View of opposite mountain

EU scrambling up rocks

15 Dec 2008, 8pm - Halls Gap, Grampians

We came down the mountain around 8pm. Yeap, it's still bright! Summer time, you know.

Right below the mountain, close to Halls Gap Primary School, we saw a magnificent kangeroo with her baby joey in her pouch. Wow! Somehow, we see more wildlife below the mountain than on the mountain. Maybe it's the timing.

Hungry, we went foraging for food. Gasp! All the shops are closed! Shocking! It seems that Australian shops really close at 6pm.

Finally, we found a single shop that is "Open Till Late". They close at 8.30pm and are cleaning up. Luckily they agreed to cook a pizza for us, so we won't go hungry through the night.

Seen outside Halls Gap Primary School

Side view of kangeroo

Cockatoo?

The most magnificent cloud formation I have ever seen