Saturday 14/10/2023   Halls Gap Sports Reserve – Chautauqua Peak Walk – Clematis Falls – Chautauqua Peak – Barneys Creek – Bullace’s Glen Walk – Stony Creek

                                          Grampians National Park, VICTORIA

                                          Gariwerd Country                                    

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies 

We departed after lunch for this short walk, having stayed in Ararat overnight in order to take part in their parkrun at 8:00am this morning. With clouds still hanging around the higher peaks and the occasional shower passing through we decided on this walk straight out of Halls Gap. Being breezy and only just above 10C was to make for pleasant walking conditions. Initially, we followed the road to Halls Gap Sports Reserve where the trail begins. Our first destination was Clematis Falls which is a short detour off the Chautauqua Peak Walk track.

Download file: 20231014.gpx                         Track Info

 

The track starts on a broad gravel road before narrowing to a narrower foot track with a mix of gravel, and rocks before arriving at the waterfall over exposed bedrock and boulders. After a couple of days of very light rain, there was a tiny amount of water falling over the 25m or so waterfall. Of greater interest to us was the pair of kookaburras who bestowed on us a visit, being happy to perch on a small tree at our head height less than 5m away. They put on a few good poses for photos as well.

From the falls we returned to the track junction to rejoin Chautauqua Peak Walk track where it begins to climb towards Chautauqua Peak. There were plenty of wildflowers out and we kept checking to see if we could find any species we hadn’t seen before. The track is really good and includes formed slab steps on many steeper sections. Gaining height the views over Halls Gap start to appear through the trees. At around 200m climb from the start, we reached the summit ridge. At this point, you reach a track junction where you turn left and follow the rocky ridge line and occasional yellow triangular marker 300m to Chautauqua Peak. We noted that the passage of many walkers had worn the darker lichen off the rock and it appeared more yellowish-red underfoot. There are a couple of places you need to do short scrambles up slabs which could become a bit slippery if wet. From here following a broad “knife” edge gets you to a fantastic viewpoint from where you can see Halls Gap, Mackays Peak, Relph Peak and much more. Hiking boots with good grip are recommended for this section.

Returning to the track junction we then crossed over to the western side of the ridge to begin our descent. This side has more exposed bedrock near the top as this corresponds with the dip of the rock layers. There are again plenty of steps along the descent. 

On reaching Barneys Creek we opted for the extra, short loop of Bullock’s Glen Walk. This was not noticeably different to what we had already before reaching the glen. Reaching Mount Victoria Road we crossed straight over it and continued along the track back to Halls Gap and our van. As we progressed the track became wider and better formed. This follows an appropriately named Stony Creek back to the carpark.

Photos

 

From Grampians National Park Visitor Guide

Environment, culture and heritage 

Aboriginal cultural heritage 

The park, traditionally known as Gariwerd, has an Aboriginal cultural history dating back at least 22,000 years. The landscape holds this heritage and protects many important cultural sites, including the largest collection of rock art in south-eastern Australia.

Begin your cultural journey at Brambuk, or visit one of five easy to access rock art shelters open to the public; Ngamadjidj, Gulgurn Manja, Billimina, Manja and Bunjils (Black Range Scenic Reserve near Stawell).

Post settlement history 

The Grampians was named after the Grampian Mountains in Scotland by Major Thomas Mitchell on his 1836 expedition. Since this time the area has seen much change through resource industries such as forestry, stone quarrying, gold mining and water harvesting. People have been drawn here for thousands of years and tourism established its roots in the early 1900s. More than 1.3 million people from all over the world visit the park annually.

Geology 

The four distinct sandstone ranges of the Grampians began forming approximately 430 million years ago. Over time, geological processes such as pressure, heat, folding, faulting and erosion have slowly shaped the mountains we see today. Geology is fundamental to soil composition and influences where flora found here.

Plants 

The park protects one third of Victoria’s flora species and is the most important botanical reserve in the state. Close to 970 native species occur and over 40 are found nowhere else in the world. The area is known for its colourful spring wildflower displays and popular walks include Heatherlie area, Sundial Peak, The Piccaninny and Mt Zero.

Wildlife 

The park provides habitat for at least 230 bird, 40 mammal, 30 reptile, 11 amphibian and 6 native fish species. There are 50 known species in the park classified as threatened, including Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies, Smokey Mice and Powerful Owls. Halls Gap and Fyans Valley are one area to see Eastern-grey Kangaroos, Emus and to hear kookaburras. Usually at dawn and dusk.

 

The local flora, fauna, geology and history (Bard)

Flora

Grampians National Park, also known by its Aboriginal name Gariwerd, is a national park located in the Grampians mountain range in western Victoria, Australia. The park is home to a diverse range of flora, including over 900 species of vascular plants.

The park’s forests are dominated by eucalypts, such as the river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), swamp gum (Eucalyptus ovata), and manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis). Other common trees include the black wattle (Acacia mearnsii), silver banksia (Banksia marginata), and mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans).

The park’s understorey is home to a variety of shrubs, herbs, and grasses. Some of the most common shrubs include the wattleseed (Acacia acuminata), hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa), and prickly bush-pea (Pultenaea scabra). Common herbs include the kangaroo apple (Solanum aviculare), billy buttons (Craspedia chrysantha), and blue leschenaultia (Leschenaultia biloba).

The park’s flora is adapted to the region’s Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Many of the plants are drought-tolerant and have deep roots to reach water stored in the soil. Others are fire-tolerant and have mechanisms to regenerate quickly after fires.

Fauna

Grampians National Park is home to a variety of fauna, including over 200 species of birds, 60 species of mammals, and 40 species of reptiles.

Some of the most common birds in the park include the laughing kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae), kookaburra, eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), and common wombat (Vombatus ursinus). Other notable species include the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae), wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax), and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).

Some of the most common mammals in the park include the echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus), platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), and sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). Other notable species include the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), rock-wallaby (Petrogale assimilis), and dingo (Canis dingo).

Some of the most common reptiles in the park include the eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), tiger snake (Notechis scutatus), and red-bellied black snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus). Other notable species include the bearded dragon (Pogona barbata), goanna (Varanus giganteus), and tortoise (Chelodina longicollis).

Geology

Grampians National Park is located in the Grampians mountain range, which is made up of sandstone and quartzite rock. The rock was formed over 400 million years ago, when the region was part of a vast ocean. Over time, the ocean receded and the land was uplifted, forming the mountains.

The sandstone and quartzite rocks of the Grampians are resistant to erosion, which is why the mountains have remained relatively unchanged for millions of years. However, the rocks have been weathered and eroded over time, forming the park’s distinctive rock formations, such as The Pinnacle and The Balconies.

Indigenous History

The Grampians National Park is the traditional home of the Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people. These Aboriginal groups have lived in the region for over 22,000 years.

The Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people have a deep spiritual connection to the land of Gariwerd. The park’s many rock art sites are testament to the long and rich history of Aboriginal culture in the region.

The Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali people were forcibly removed from Gariwerd in the 19th century. However, they have maintained their connection to the land and continue to fight for its protection.

White History

The first Europeans to visit the Grampians were explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell in 1824. The first settlement in the region was established in 1836.

In the early years of European settlement, the Grampians were used for grazing sheep and cattle. However, the region’s sandstone and quartzite soils are not well-suited for agriculture. As a result, the Grampians became a popular destination for recreation and tourism.

In 1984, the Grampians National Park was established to protect the region’s natural environment.

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