Grampians Peaks Trail

[plink01]

Hey guys just wondering if anyone has done or has much experiance with this new Grampians Peaks Trail.

I've done a heap of hiking in the Grampians, it's what actually got me into hiking.
I sort of did the Grampians to death and moved onto the high country and never really gone back. That was about 7 years ago.

I've got a 4x4 trip coming up in Big Desert and I was thinking about doing a 4 day hike in the Grampians on the way. Looking up some hikes and this Grampians Peak Trail comes up.

I'm not liking the feel of it at all. The fee's are psycho, $48 per night! The walking distance between each camp sites seem too small, maybe catered for more beginners/elderly. I could attempt to double the recommended distance each day but coz I have to book the sites that makes for a tricky situation, if the distances are short because its steep or rough terrain, I don't want to have paid for a site that will be a doozy trying to reach. Normally I just pitch my tent in a nice spot but your not allowed to on this hike.

The camp sites look crazy good but that isn't my style, I want to get away from everything, not have modern huts with solar panels and lights. It's the complete opposite of what I like.

I know that's unfortunately generally what the Grampians are, but this monetisation of a National Park makes me a bit sick in the guts.

Has anyone done it or have heard much about it?? Im not liking the sound of it one bit but there isn't much else hiking wise out west to my knowledge.

 

[zapruda]

I hate the idea of the fees and limitations of this walk, and those shelters are horrendous. Not my style at all. A forced 13 days over 160kms is crazy for most competent walkers. For a lot of people this could be a 4 or 5 day walk…

I say go for it and make your own camps and don’t pay the shelter fees. We shouldn’t be forced to pay for amenities we don’t want to use in a national park. I’m all for appropriate park entry fees but this is just highway robbery.

Pack light and if you get pulled up just say you’re on a day walk.

If we don’t encourage this runaway commercialisation then hopefully it won’t grow beyond the already shameful state it’s in.

 

[zapruda]

If that doesn't sit well with you, you could give the Desert Discovery walk in Little Desert a go.

 

[plink01]

I hate the idea of the fees and limitations of this walk, and those shelters are horrendous. Not my style at all. A forced 13 days over 160kms is crazy for most competent walkers. For a lot of people this could be a 4 or 5 day walk…

I say go for it and make your own camps and don’t pay the shelter fees. We shouldn’t be forced to pay for amenities we don’t want to use in a national park. I’m all for appropriate park entry fees but this is just highway robbery.

Pack light and if you get pulled up just say you’re on a day walk.

If we don’t encourage this runaway commercialisation then hopefully it won’t grow beyond the already shameful state it’s in.

I totally agree with everything you said. I was thinking ill just camp anywhere and they can go and get f#$&ed. Im seeing more and more of this monetisation of National Parks, proposals and governments trying to convert them into this glamping shit. My heart rate increases just thinking about it.

I don't think I can bring myself to pay the money that helps reward the bozo's who thought this was a good idea.

If that doesn't sit well with you, you could give the Desert Discovery walk in Little Desert a go.

Thanks for that! I just looked into it and that's perfect. It's a round trip too so I don't have to end up hitch hiking and lowers the possibility of ending up in some Ivan Milat style scenario.
I'm gonna give it a crack. I don't usually do desert so it'll be a good change up.

 

[Dropbear]

I hate the idea of the fees and limitations of this walk, and those shelters are horrendous. Not my style at all. A forced 13 days over 160kms is crazy for most competent walkers. For a lot of people this could be a 4 or 5 day walk…

I say go for it and make your own camps and don’t pay the shelter fees. We shouldn’t be forced to pay for amenities we don’t want to use in a national park. I’m all for appropriate park entry fees but this is just highway robbery.

Pack light and if you get pulled up just say you’re on a day walk.

If we don’t encourage this runaway commercialisation then hopefully it won’t grow beyond the already shameful state it’s in.

Couldn't agree more. And if they're charging ridiculous fees, then are you increasingly paying for the people to spend time enforcing the fees (instead of encouraging people to enjoy the park)?

But what happens if you come across a ranger on the track? I'd like to think that they couldn't ask you to confirm your bookings but I don't know...

 

[DidSurfNowSki]

The price for a standard tent pad for the full trail (13-days/12-nights) is $524.70

Grampians Peaks Trail

The Grampians Peaks Trail (160km) is a world-class 13-day hiking experience from Mt Zero in the north, through Halls Gap and finishing at Dunkeld in the south. It can also be completed in shorter sections.

www.parks.vic.gov.au

 

[nezumi]

Check out the thread on the same topic on the Bushwalk AU forums: https://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=38659
Buried somewhere in there is my tentative (untested) itinerary for a free version a la the Free Capes Trek in Tassie. There are some sensitive areas that are closed off to camping, but last I knew the broad ban on dispersed camping was not yet in effect.

 

[plink01]

The price for a standard tent pad for the full trail (13-days/12-nights) is $524.70

Grampians Peaks Trail

The Grampians Peaks Trail (160km) is a world-class 13-day hiking experience from Mt Zero in the north, through Halls Gap and finishing at Dunkeld in the south. It can also be completed in shorter sections.

www.parks.vic.gov.au

Yeah its outrageously expensive. Add in at least a tank of fuel if your from Melb + food and its gonna cost close to $800.

$800 for a walk and a sleep in a tent is ludicrous. Ill be skipping it for the time being.

 

[CaptainC]

There is now a set of 3 maps put out by Parks Vic. This is one retailer, https://www.mapsbookstravelguides.com.au/grampians_peaks_trail_map_set , but there are a number of others. The price is certainly expensive for one person as you have to pay for a 2 person campsite. If there's 2 of you it's still expensive but not too outrageous.