Best of the Grampians Peaks Trail – 7 Days

distance - above average

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan. Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Additionally, also include back-to-back walks to simulate walking on consecutive days. This helps your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day. Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

elevation - above average

Elevation training is a major consideration in your overall training program. You must include walks with serious hill climbs. If you do not have access to hills, it it essential to replicate the elevation level you will be undertaking in any way possible via a treadmill or stair climber. Prioritizing resistance training assumes heightened significance in this context, emphasizing the incorporation of stair climbing whenever feasible. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand, or up and down small hills, boring as that sounds, is incredibly useful. Elevation is the chief walk killer, not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles. If high altitude is a factor, incorporate sessions at a higher altitude to acclimatise your body to reduced oxygen levels ( this may not be possible). Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

terrain - Rocky and Mountaineous

Rocky and Uneven

Whilst preparing for walking on rocky terrain, you must focus on the development of balance, strength, and agility. Integrate targeted strength exercises, such as lunges, squats, and step-ups, to fortify your leg muscles, with a particular emphasis on enhancing stability on uneven surfaces. Balancing exercises are essential. Undertake core strength activity, coupled with exercises such as planks and russian twists to enhance balance. As you progress, include hikes on progressively rougher terrain to acclimate to rocky conditions. Additionally, the appropriate footwear with good ankle support and tread for grip are essential. Stay mindful, watch your step, and use trekking poles for added stability.

Mountainous

As terrain associated with Mountain climbs is often somewhat uneven and or rocky balancing and core exercises are vital. Try to also include some form of elevation in more than 50% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up mountains or hills or up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand or up and down small hills, boring as that sounds, is incredibly useful. Elevation is often the chief walk killer, not distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles. So concentrate on doing lots of squats and lunges to build your glute muscles.

HOW TO GET THERE AND AWAY

By Public Transport

V Line operates a combined train/coach service from Southern Cross Railway Station in downtown Melbourne to Stawell. There are a couple of departure times each day – check their website www.vline.com.au  / phone: 1800 800 007 . There is an airport shuttle bus service from Melbourne airport arrivals area, direct to Southern Cross station in Melbourne’s CBD. It’s called Sky Bus & departs every 20 minutes.

If you choose to catch public transport to Stawell please advise your arrival time so that we can arrange for you to be picked up at the railway station and transferred to your first nights’ accommodation.

At the end of your holiday, you will need to catch the v/line bus from Dunkeld and Grampians Visitor Information Centre. This service departs early on some given days so check the vline website www.vline.com.au for up-to-date information.

Depending on the day of the week this could be via Ballarat or Ararat.

IMPORTANT: All V Line services should be pre-booked.

By Private Car – Self Drive Option
Please note if you choose to self drive on your Grampians Walking Holiday you will need to drive to the end point of each walking day. We will then have you transferred back to the start of the walk. If you choose this option there is a significant discount per person, it will also allow you to complete each days walk in your own time.

Directions from Melbourne, follow the M8 past Ballarat to Ararat. Turn L, go through Ararat, and continue to Moyston via Pomonal to Halls Gap where you will drive to your first accommodation. This is the fastest way. Please watch out for wildlife on the roads, especially at dusk.

The Grampians walks finishes in the morning of day 6 in Dunkeld. As you will be self driving throughout this walk, your car will be with you at The Royal Mail in Dunkeld.

TRANSFERS

If you arrive by public transport, Auswalk will arrange all your transfers. If you are willing to use your own car, we will transfer you from the end of the walk back to the beginning of the walk in the morning each day. All the details will be outlined in your walk notes. This saves a significant cost for us which is passed back to you.

WEATHER

September to November is usually warm. The summer months of December to March are likely to be warm, and sometimes quite hot. During summer, it is common to have daily temperatures in the 30s, with the nights remaining quite warm. April and May are cooler and the winter months of June through August can vary from cool to mild temperatures with the occasional cold, wet spell. The wildflowers are usually at their best between August and November – although there are always some flowers around. Not available during July.

See the Bureau of Meteorology’s information about average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.

INSURANCE

We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance for all of our trips. We absolutely require that you purchase a travel insurance policy for all travel overseas. We charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it. It is also important in the event of an accident or loss of property.  See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.