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