By Rama Gaind.
Get ready to set off on the first section of the Grampians Peaks Trail.
Hopes of travelling are wishful thinking at present, but there is no stopping our ability to dream big and ponder over the what-ifs. Melbourne was where we should have been right now, until Mr Covid came calling – again.
Non-essential travel is currently not permitted in Australia with pandemic restrictions in place in some places and lockdown and curfew in Melbourne and Sydney. Uncertainty prevails, but hope springs eternal!
There is just so much to see and do in ‘The Place to Be’. It’s back to the future, in Melbourne as I recollect my movements for the week that should have been.
We were going to re-visit familiar tourist sights in the city. Also, we would have been set to discover grand and rugged mountain ranges, spectacular wildflower displays, a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities and a wealth of Aboriginal rock art sites in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park.
Advice was taken onboard about going there in August (couldn’t make it in September/October) for the best colourful spring wildflower displays in the park, with heathlands enlivened with striking shows of Grampians Boronia, Blue Pin-cushion Lily and a multitude of other herbs and shrubs. The park is also home to a profusion of native animals and birds, where you can find kangaroos, koalas, emus, wedge-tailed eagles and more.
Arts Centre Melbourne. Photo: Rama Gaind
Seeing ancient art was on the itinerary, not wanting to miss the chance to observe ancient Aboriginal rock art paintings in shelters throughout the park, evidence of Aboriginal people’s long association with the Grampians. Effort was going to be made to head to the Billimina, Gulgurn Manja and Manja Shelters.
Choosing the type of adventure we undertook, and how active we became, would have depended on how inspired we felt by the fresh air in the park. Options were a few: bushwalking or set out on one of the numerous walking tracks for a casual stroll or an overnight trek. For fishing or canoeing, plans were to hit the waters of Lake Bellfield and Lake Wartook or take advantage of the rocky crags for rock climbing and abseiling.
There was an opportunity to set off on the first section of the Grampians Peaks Trail that looked to be rich in Aboriginal culture. The journey would provide an insight into the Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung people who have walked and lived in these ranges they have called Gariwerd for thousands of years.
A great spot for a base: nestled beside the Wonderland Range is the town of Halls Gap, good for exploring the park, and home to Brambuk – The National Park and Cultural Centre where you can discover more about the park’s natural and cultural features.
Some highlights
What are The Grampians? They are a series of five spectacular sandstone ridges running north to south with steep and craggy slopes on the eastern side and gentler slopes to the west. They are the result of earth movements lifting and tilting the hard sandstones to create an impressive landscape of peaks and valleys. While it looks stunning in spring, there are also lookouts with stunning panoramic views as well as a number of impressive waterfalls.
Penguin Parade on Phillip Island.
In addition, optimism surrounded a planned viewing of the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island, a popular day trip from Melbourne, just off Australia’s southern coast. Only 90 minutes from the city, Victoria’s wildlife island features spectacular coastal scenery and plenty of Australian wildlife. Promotional material also highlighted a virtual tour at the new Antarctic Journey, see the koalas at the Koala Conservation Reserve or let time unwind at Churchill Island.
Advice was to gather at Summerland Beach at sunset to watch the Penguin Parade, when little penguins come ashore in groups. Watch them dash home across the sand at dusk. Explore boardwalks after dark to see, smell and hear these penguins in the colony, greeting neighbours, partners and their chicks. While wandering, we were supposed to keep an eye out for resident wildlife including Swamp Wallabies, Eastern Barred Bandicoots, Cape Barren Geese and Short-tailed Shearwaters.
The Nobbies outcrop is the viewing site for Seal Rocks, home to a large colony of Australian fur seals.
It was interesting to note every visit to the Penguin Parade protected nature for wildlife. Visitors support Phillip Island Nature Parks vital research, education and conservation projects that ensure its native habitats thrive into the future for both wildlife and us to enjoy.
Sharing conservation stories and penguin information with a ranger will now have to wait … just like enjoying the free interactives inside the visitor centre … until we get on the other side of this pandemic.
DETAILS BOX
Melbourne
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