Halls Gap

Lake Fyan. Constructed 1916 Capacity 18460ML. Now: sad looking dry lake
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I continued out of town at about 60km-70km/h in an 80km/h zone. <Tip for travelling on Australia's road: At dawn and dusk is when animals like to roam about. Drive with care. > I have to say that compared to NSW and ACT, there aren't that many dead animals on the side of the road in Victoria.

As the sun rose it allowed me to see the beautiful Australian country side. And even two emus. Which I thought was weird. I wonder if they were farmed. I can't say I've ever seen emus in the wild.

A roo guiding my way up to the cave
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Nearing Halls Gap, a sign for Lake Fayan caught my eye. It's not worth going to. It kind of breaks my heart actually. check out the photo. Once upon a time I'm sure it was a great lake.

I figured since I was already on this road I'd continue towards Stawell. There's really nothing there but on the way there is Bujil's Cave. It's not a bad morning walk and it provided me a place to have breakfast, brush my teeth and change all in relative privacy...as long as you don't mind kangroos watching you...or those people at that farm house around the corner that I didn't notice until later.

Bunjil's Cave itself
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I feel I went all the way to Stawell, just to go around a corner...which in effect I did. Now I'm on my way to Halls Gap. When I arrive it's 10am and any climbing tours (if there were even any spaces left) have left.

A few tips about Halls Gap: 1. Digital phone reception: minimal. Therefore if you haven't booked tours previously, without some luck, you 're stuffed. Also because the reception of the mobiles on the other end when they are in woop woop is also bad.

2. Information centre: They have a land line and are very nice 3. Accomodation during the easter period...book 2 weeks in advance - i'm so glad I planned to sleep in my car.

the view near Bunjil's Cave
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So, whilst waiting for the tour operator to return a call, I headed out the Mt. Williams, the highest peak in The Grampians reaching 1162m high. You can drive 10km up the mountain and then it's a 2km constant incline up to an amazing view. Well worth doing.

Back at 1230 and I have a booking for climbing tomorrow. Horrah! I fluff around town until 1400. I say fluff but in fact I bought a newspaper to line my car with so I would freeze tonight. Well worth my $1.40 and a $50 touristy fake polar jaket. I didn't think it was worth it, but would later be very thankful for its warmth.

The view from Mt. William
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1415 and I'm off trying to find the start of the popular Halls Gap to Pinnicle walk. It goes via

Venus Baths: few puddles of water a young school group seemed to be enjoying

Str... Falls: which weren't actually falls at the time i went but just rocks

Wonderland Carpark: another starting point for the walk to the Pinnacles

The view just from Halls Gap town
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It was nice and isolated up to Wonderland Carpark. It seems this is where tour groups also start. From here it's about another 2km of (relatively well marked) track to get to the Pinnacles. As I approached the top, I realise that I don't actually know what I'm meant to be seeing up there. Pinnacles? I don't know. I didn't see any. There's a great view from the lookout though and the rock structures are pretty narly looking. On the way down a met a Swiss woman here on a tour group with her daughter. That woman with her handbag and city looks (with new sneakers) put me to shame walking down the rocks. Sure I'd walked the first 3kms already and then a 2km walk previous to that but still... Leaving her company at Wonderland Carpark, I continued back to Halls Gap. It's always much quicker going back. I wonder if that's because you know exactly how far you have to go still? Back at 'base camp' ie. my car parked next to the information centre I decided I needed some protein. Steak was the first thing that came to mind. After that walk I figured I'd treat myself to some real food. Bad idea. All I wanted was a simple steak sandwich. What I go was burnt bread encasing soggy tomato, shrivelled lettuce and fat with a bit of beef. Yuk. I'm buying my own food next time. The night was spent in my new Halls Gap jacket which does indeed to it's job, trackkies and the comfort of my newspaper lined boot :) Day 2 in Halls Gap. I'm going climbing today!! I was so excited. I quickly cleaned up, bought some yogurt for breakky (i got sick of eating salmon :P) and was out in front of the Information centre promptly at 0830 to meet "Hanging Out (with Earl)"'s Earl whom was also promptly there. There was a family of 5 as well as another single girl in the group. It took us about 5 minutes to get to the crag at Sundial carpark which had just been reopened after 4 years of being closed after the fires. It took us another 2.5 hours to setup and actually start climbing. Abseiling down for first climbers where they can't see the bottom until they are roped up is a real test of the guides skills in getting strangers to trust you. If you're a serious climber, climb with a group of climbing friends. We finally start climbing at 1100. ...