Page 433 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

WESTERN VIC T ORIA  431

cafés, shops and hotels.
Opposite Steampacket Place Flora and Fauna of the Grampians
are the historic wool stores. The Grampians are a haven for a
Wool was auctioned, sold and wide range of birds, animals, native
stored here prior to its being wildflowers and plants. The park is
shipped around the globe from home to almost one­third of all
the 1880s until the 1970s. This Victorian plant species, with many,
generated Geelong’s wealth. such as the Grampians guinea
These buildings have been flower and boronia, found only
transformed; the largest houses within its rocky walls. Koalas grunt
the award­winning National at night around Halls Gap and the
Wool Museum, tracing Australia’s kangaroos at Zumsteins are
wool heritage from the shearing unusually tame and friendly. The air,
shed to the fashion catwalks. trees and scrub teem with beautiful
blue wrens, rainbow lorikeets, gang
A short drive from Geelong gang cockatoos, scarlet robins and
is the Brisbane Ranges National emus. In spring, various wildflowers,
Park, near Anakie, with lovely orchids and pink heath burst from
walks and native wildflowers, every valley, and the creeks and Rainbow lorikeet
such as grevilleas, wattles and rivers are full of rare brown­tree frogs. Just south of the Grampians in
wild orchids, in bloom between the town of Hamilton, a few surviving eastern barred bandicoots,
August and November. Nearby once thought to be extinct, were discovered on the town rubbish tip.
is Steiglitz, a ghost town from the They were quickly rescued and have now become part of an active
1850s gold rush. Few buildings breeding and protection programme.
remain of this once thriving
town, among them the elegant
1870s courthouse, which is like a series of waves above the munities who conduct tours to
closed to the public. flat western plains. Within this the many sites. The Grampians
awesome national park, the third offer many different experiences
E National Wool Museum largest in Victoria, is a diversity of for tourists. Day trips take in the
26–32 Moorabool St. Tel (03) 5272 natural features and wildlife. spectacular MacKenzie Falls and
4701. Open daily. Closed Good Fri, There are craggy slopes, the Balconies rock formation.
25 & 26 Dec. & 7 - ∑ geelong cascading waterfalls and sand­ Longer stays offer bush
australia.com.au/nwm stone mountain tops, all formed camping, wildflower studies,
400 million years ago by an exploration of the Victoria Valley
upthrust of the earth’s crust. It over the mountains from Halls
4Grampians has been known as gariwerd Gap and overnight hiking
National Park for thousands of years to local trips in the south of the park.
Aboriginal tribes, for whom it is Experienced rock climbers come
£ Stawell. @ Halls Gap. n Stawell a sacred place, and 80 per cent from around the world to tackle
1800 065 599; Brambuk National Park of Victoria’s indigenous rock art the challenging rock forms in
and Cultural Centre (03) 5361 4000. is here. The Brambuk National the park and also at the nearby
Open daily. ∑ parkweb.vic.gov. Park and Cultural Centre Mount Arapiles.
au/explore/parks/grampians- displays the region’s indigenous Excellent maps of the
national-park
cultures through multimedia area and guides to the best
The mountains, cliffs and sheer and artifact exhibits and is partly walks are all available from
rock faces of the Grampians rise run by local Aboriginal com­ the park’s visitors’ centre.

Panoramic view from the rugged crags of the Grampians