Grade 4
Grampians National Park is part of the Gariwerd Aboriginal cultural landscape. Parks Victoria respects the deep and continuing connection that Traditional Owners have to these lands and waters, and we recognise their ongoing role in caring for Country.
Gar and Werdug 3-day/2-night hiking itinerary
This section of the Grampians Peaks Trail has not been affected by recent bushfires in the national park.
Along this hiking itinerary in the northern section of the Grampians Peaks Trail, you'll witness seasonal waterfalls, climb mountain summits and enjoy clifftop camping.
The track is an overall Grade 4 walk with steep and uneven terrain, suitable for fit and experienced hikers.
Gar (meaning ‘big mountain’) is the highest on the western side of the range, an optional side trip on day two will reward you with spectacular 360-degree views. On day three you’ll reach Lake Wartook Lookout (829m) which is one of the highest points on the eastern side of the Mount Difficult Range with sweeping 360-degree views of Gariwerd.
This section of the Grampians Peaks Trail is particularly spectacular in winter, spring, and after rain, when clifftop rockpools and seasonal waterfalls are at their best.
Distance: 34km
Duration: 3 days
Elevation: 1526m
Grade: 4
Northern Grampians Peaks Trail map – Gar and Werdug
Hike options
- Self-guided: the trail is free to self-guided hikers, but camping fees apply to stay overnight. Book campgrounds.
- Fully-facilitated: book a Northern Peaks Experience through a Licensed Tour Operator. Find out more.
Getting there
This section of the trail begins from Gar Trailhead on Roses Gap Road.
From Melbourne, it’s around 3.5 hours' drive.
From Halls Gap, drive north on Grampians Tourist Road (C216) for 1.2km. Turn left onto Mt Zero Road (unsealed) and drive for 21km to Roses Gap Road. Turn left onto Roses Gap Road and drive for 3.8km to Gar Trailhead.
This itinerary requires a car shuffle from start to finish. If you only have one vehicle, contact Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre for pick-up/shuttle options.
Gar and Werdug 3-day itinerary highlights
Day 1 – Gar trailhead (Roses Gap Road) to Gar Hike-in Campground
Distance: 7km
Duration: 2 hours
Elevation: 544m
Begin your hike at the Gar Trailhead on Roses Gap Road (N2 on GPT topographic map). Along the 7.3-kilometre rugged, rocky track you'll experience steep climbs and panoramic views including the seasonal waterfalls of Gar.
As the trail zig zags upwards, you’ll see uninterrupted views to the north. You will climb through stunted eucalypt forest, past boulders and over rocky slabs on the edge of the Mount Difficult escarpment taking in views over nearby mountains, Wartook Valley, Asses Ears and the Black Range (Burrunj).
Arrive at the Gar Hike-in Campground, perched on a spectacular cliff top high above the valley below, where you’ll spend the night camped along the rocky terrace.
The climb to Gar Hike-in Campground
Day 2 – Gar Hike-in Campground to Werdug Hike-in Campground (via Gar)
Distance: 17km
Duration: 5 hours
Elevation: 738m
From the hike-in campground, take a side trip to the rocky summit of Gar (Mount Difficult). Enjoy the sunrise before traversing south towards Lake Wartook along rocky ridgelines.
The trail rises and falls over highpoints and through mountain saddles, before finishing on a high knoll at Werdug Hike-in Campground. The campground provides views over Lake Wartook and across the Mount Difficult Range.
Sunrise from Gar
Day 3 – Werdug Hike-in Campground to Halls Gap
Distance: 13km
Duration: 3.5 hours
Elevation: 244m
Start the morning off with a steady climb to Lake Wartook Lookout for spectacular views and a morning tea break.
To the west is Lake Wartook with Bear Island in the middle, the western Mount Difficult Range, Asses Ears and the Black Range (Burrunj) in the far distance. To the south, Mount William (Duwul) dominates the skyline, curving from The Sentinel at the northern tip around to the highest mountains in the park - Redman Bluff and including Mount William (Duwul) and the Major Mitchell Plateau massif.
Leaving the Lake Wartook lookout, make the descent passing rocky outcrops through lower vegetation with the last views over the Mount Difficult Range. Leaving the dry and rocky northern Grampians and moving onto the wetter eastern slopes, the trail gently descends through a canopy dominated by Messmate and Brown Stringybark with an open understorey featuring ferns, grasses, wattles and tea trees.
Take a short detour to Chatauqua Peak (Bim) before descending through tall forest, rich with birdlife and wildflowers, completing your journey in Halls Gap.
Lake Wartook Lookout
This 3-day hiking itinerary connects with the Barigar overnight hike to the north, as well as other tracks, so you can step on and off from various points throughout Gariwerd.
Gar and Werdug hike-in campground information
On this itinerary, you’ll spend your first night at Gar Hike-in Campground, and second at Werdug Hike-in Campground.
These campgrounds can be booked together as a 3-day/2-night itinerary at a cost of $100.80 for up to two people on a tent pad. Book now.
These fees contribute towards the operation and maintenance of this unique hiking experience and help to protect the environmental values of this heritage-listed national park.
We recommend booking your 3-day hike well in advance of your planned departure to ensure there is tent pad availability at each campground.
Each campground has been individually designed to fit within the surrounding landscape.
Both campgrounds have timber tent platforms (either 3.5m x 3.5m or 5.0m x 5.0m) with steel chains that can be used to secure your tent. Additional guy rope may be needed for tent vestibules or tunnel style tents.
There is an unpowered communal area for meal preparation with basic toilet facilities and water collection points. The use of fuel stoves in all hike-in campgrounds is permitted but open campfires are not allowed.
Please take your rubbish with you on the entire journey and dispose of it when you return home or finish your walk.
Important: mobile phone service is not available within the Wartook Basin, but you may get some along ridgelines and lower elevations.
Communal area at Werdug Hike-in Campground
Prepare for your adventure
Water safety
Plan and prepare
7 Things You Need To Know About Hiking the Grampians Peaks Trail
Laura Waters, long distance hiker and author, was one of the first hikers on the trail, setting out on the first day of the GPT opening.
How to get there
Gar and Werdug 3-day Hike
Need to know
Gar and Werdug 3-day Hike
Walking track grades
Hikes along the Grampians Peaks Trail have been graded using the Australian walking track grading system, which is a primary means of informing people about the features of walking tracks, so they can gauge their suitability for a particular track. Under the system, walking trails are graded on a difficulty scale from grades one to five.
Grade 1: No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for assisted wheelchair users.
Grade 2: No bushwalking experience required. A hardened or compacted surface which may have gentle hill sections or occasional steps.
Grade 3: Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Tracks may have short steep sections, a rough surface and many steps.
Grade 4: Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.
Grade 5: Very experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked.
Hiking tips for Grampians Peaks Trail
- An Official Grampians Peaks Trail topographic map (for North/Central/South) available from Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre, Halls Gap and other visitor outlets in nearby towns (and compass)
- Waterproof jacket and pants, thermal layers, breathable-fabric layers, beanie, sun hat and sunscreen.
- Hiking boots or shoes with a good tread and support.
- Water and food for all meals and snacks, plus extra for an emergency. Fuel stove for cooking.
- Drinking water treatment equipment for untreated water tanks at campground.
- 3-season tent, 3-season sleeping bag, mat and cord/thin rope to attach your tent to timber tent platforms.
- Lightweight gas or liquid fuel stove, matches/lighter, cooking pot and utensils.
- Head torch with spare batteries. Useful when moving around a campground at night.
- Good quality first aid kit with snake bite bandage.
- Mobile phone with USB cable – you can recharge at campgrounds along the trail. We also recommend taking a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for extra safety and a small radio to listen to weather or bushfire updates.
- Toilet paper, trowel and a bag to carry your rubbish.
- Waterproof pack liner to keep everything in your hiking backpack dry.
Be bushfire aware
The warmer months are the perfect time to experience regional Victoria. However, Victoria is one of the most fire-prone areas in the world. During summer in Victoria, the weather can be very hot and dry and the risk of summer lightning storms can increase the chance of bushfires.
Follow these bushfire safety tips to ensure that your experience is safe and enjoyable.
Change of Conditions
Nature being nature, sometimes conditions can change at short notice. It’s a good idea to check this page ahead of your visit for any updates.
-
Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park
Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Roads Update 12.03.2025
The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park has many roads temporarily closed due to the recent bushfires. Please be aware the movement of visitors in parts of the National Park is restricted.Key roads open include Grampians Tourist Rd (all side roads remain closed), Mt Victory Rd, Roses Gap Rd, Mt Zero Rd and the Mirranatwa Gap end of Victoria Valley Rd.Please refer to the attached up-to-date road report below.Attachments: Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Road Report - 12.03.2025 (225KB)
Tandara Step Project - Fyans Creek (Barri yalug) Track - Temporary Closure
From Monday 17th March 2025, Wildtracks are commencing works on the Fyans Creek (Barri yalug) Track between the end of Tandara Rd and the Terraces Fireline). Wildtracks will take approximately 2 weeks with this section of the track temporarily closed or detoured around on the Terraces Fireline in accordance with the progress of works. Boronia Peak remains accessible from the northern end of the Fyans Creek (Barri yalug) Track.Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Bushfires Reopening Update - 25.03.2025
The impact of the 2024/2025 summer fires in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park was widespread. It resulted in the closure of many popular visitor sites including campgrounds, picnic areas, a large network of roads and walking tracks (including sections of the Grampians Peaks Trail).The fires are now declared under control and Parks Victoria is progressing with initial risk and damage assessments across the park. To complement this large-scale work, a staged re-opening process of visitor sites is being implemented. Notification of reopening’s will occur through updates on the Parks Victoria website.Currently there are many areas open for visitors to enjoy as we move closer to the busy period around Anzac Day weekend and Easter holidays.Open AreasCentral Grampians, Wonderland Range and Halls Gap area• Brambuk the National Park & Cultural Centre and nearby walks• Boroka Lookout, Reeds Lookout, Mackenzie Falls and Zumsteins Picnic Area• Smiths Mill Campground• The Wonderland Area, including The Pinnacle, Venus Baths and Grand Canyon• Chatauqua Peak, Clematis Falls and Bullaces Glen• Boronia Peak and Fyans Creek LoopNorthern Grampians• Mount Zero, Mount Stapylton (Gunigalg), Hollow Mountain (Wubjub-guyun) and Mount Difficult (Gar) walks• Grampians Peaks Trail between Mount Zero (Mura Mura) and Halls Gap• Barigar, Gar and Werdug Hike-in campgrounds• Stapylton Campground• Troopers Creek Campground• Coppermine 4X4 Campground (and nearby school group camping areas)• Plantation CampgroundSouthern Grampians• Mt Abrupt (Mud-Dadjug), Mt Sturgeon (Wurgarri) Piccaninny (Bainggug), and Signal Peak walks• Grampians Peaks Trail between Dunkeld and Cassidy Gap Road• Djardji-djawara and Mud-Dadjug Hike-in campgroundsDesignated rock-climbing areas• Hollow Mountain (Wubjub-guyun), Mount Stapylton (Gunigalg), Halls Gap and Wonderland area sites 1 – 77Roads• Key roads including Grampians Tourist Rd, Mount Victory Rd, Roses Gap Rd, Mount Zero Rd are all openSafety ConsiderationsFor your safety, always remain in open areas only. In relation to the closed burnt areas, please be aware that:• They contain unsafe trees, unstable rocks and soils with soft hidden holes• Staff and contractors maybe working with heavy machinery, assessing hazardous trees or doing other works• The ecological recovery of the area is highly sensitive to disturbance.Further InformationPrior to setting out into the National Park, visit Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre. Located 2km south of Halls Gap township, this centre provides up to date park information and sells maps, brochures and a range of Aboriginal art and souvenirs. The centre is open from 9am to 4pm, 7 days a week. Contact Brambuk at (03) 8427 2258 or email brambuk@parks.vic.gov.auCall Parks Victoria on 13 1963.For fire related information, download the VicEmergency app or visit www.emergency.vic.gov.auIf you see impacted wildlife, call 1300 356 682Attachments: 20250217_1200_Wimmera19_GrampiansNP_ParkClosureMap_A3P_20022025000048861 (3,736KB)