Located in the west of Victoria, the Grampians are a cluster of sandstone mountain ranges that are considered one of the most amazing natural attractions in the state. Getting to the Grampians is easy, particularly if you are driving as the route there is wonderfully scenic. Although only a 3 hour drive northwest of Melbourne, the Grampians feel like a world away from the city and being such a comfortable driving distance, there’s still plenty of time to stop and enjoy the beautiful scenery and charming country towns along the way.
A vast region encompassing a National Park, Halls Gap, Hamilton and Horsham, there are a number of ways of getting to the Grampians depending on which part of the region you wish to visit. Departing from Melbourne, the Western Freeway is the most direct route, passing through Ballarat and Ararat. From there you can either take the Ararat Pomonal Road to Halls Gap or continue along the Western Highway to Stawell and Horsham. Alternatively, you can also take the Glenelg Highway from Ballarat to Dunkeld and onto Hamilton.
The Great Southern Touring Route also passes through the Grampians and is a popular self-driven scenic tour through some of the most spectacular scenery in Victoria. A great way to combine your Grampians visit with an extended holiday, the Great Southern Touring Route also follows the Great Ocean Road and Shipwreck Coast before passing through the Grampians and continuing on to Ballarat.
Travellers who are touring between Melbourne and Adelaide can enjoy stopping in at the Grampians and Mt Arapiles before visiting Little Desert. From there you’ll cross the border into South Australia and the World Heritage Naracoorte Caves.
However if you won’t have access to a car, public transport is available. A V/Line rail service runs daily from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne direct to Ararat with coach services connecting to the Grampians.
