Horsham is the regional capital and an excellent base for a day trip to the Western Grampians. Northwest of the northern extremity of the national park, the region contains ancient Aboriginal rock art sites and natural peaks of great beauty.
The Wartuk Valley is famous for its breathtaking sunrises, sunsets, and magnificent night skies. The region is renowned for its stunning mountain views and sandstone cliffs, offering panoramic sights of the plains, various native wildlife, and vibrant wildflowers.
Celebrate the rich national heritage places of the Victoria-Mallee region on the 200-kilometre Silo Art Trail, soon to become the country’s-air art gallery. Horsham is the perfect gateway for travelling from town to town to witness this innovative art project as part of a memorable Grampians tour from Melbourne.
Mount Arapiles is a world-famous rock climbing destination considered the best in Australia. If climbing isn’t a thing, you can drive, bike or hike to the top to enjoy the excellent views of the surrounding wheat plains. Be sure to stop in the picturesque town of Natimuk, which has historic buildings and a thriving local arts and culture scene.
Dadswell's Bridge
Dadswell’s Bridge, situated on the Western Highway, offers a picturesque setting with the impressive Grampians (Gariwerd) mountains and Dadswell’s Bridge Park in the background. It is an ideal location for taking photos and enjoying a meal or coffee while admiring the panoramic views.
Grampians Edge Caravan Park provides easy access to some of the most popular hikes in the western Grampians, such as Mount Zero (Mura Mura), Mount Stapylton (Gunigalg), and Hollow Mountain (Mount Wudjub-Guyun).
Dadswell’s Bridge is 25 minutes from Horsham, the capital of the Wimmera, where you will find great shopping, cafes and restaurants.
Wartook Valley
The Wartook Valley features stunning sunsets, clear night skies, picturesque mountain vistas, cascading waterfalls, and diverse wildflowers. There are many scenic walks and tracks available for exploration. You’ll find Aboriginal rock art and some Australian groves.
Located on the “sunset side” of the Grampians, it’s a ten-minute drive from Horsham, the capital of the Wimmera, where you will find great shopping, cafes, and restaurants.
Natimuk & Mount Arapiles
Natimuk is a popular destination for adventurers who want to try rock climbing and abseiling on Mount Arapiles, one of the best places in Australia. The Natimuk area, hidden beneath the beautiful Mount Arapiles, provides a canvas for spectacular sunsets, which paint the sky in bright hues and give a captivating glow over the countryside.
If you’re not into climbing, you can still enjoy the scenic Arapiles Big Sky Bike Trail by walking or biking along this 10-kilometre off-road recreational path with stunning views.
If you prefer a slower pace, stroll through the historic nineteenth-century town of Natimuk, where you’ll find restored architectural monuments, local produce, antiques, and handicrafts. Natimuk is 20 minutes west of Horsham, the capital of Wimmera, where you’ll find great shops, cafes and restaurants.
Horsham
Horsham is known as the Cosmopolitan Capital of the Wimmera due to its busy commercial centre on the banks of the Wimmera River. The Grampians National Park is a 30-minute from Horsham in the Wartook Valley.
Enjoy delicious breakfasts and lunches at the numerous new cafes in Horsham, where you can savour good food and wine made with fresh, local ingredients. Horsham also offers a range of boutique and specialty shops in the CBD area for a satisfying shopping experience.
Additionally, plenty of family-friendly activities include walking trails, the Horsham Aquatic Centre, mini-golf, ten-pin bowling, indoor play centres, parks, and opportunities for exploring antiques and collectibles.
Wimmera Mallee
Uncover hidden retreats waiting for you in the Horsham region and embark on adventures in a Fresh Perspective. The Silo Art Trail presents rural Australia through modern and accessible art, with silos strategically chosen for their visual impact and to allow visitors to connect with various communities and outback tourism spots in the Wimmera and Mallee areas. You can either drive yourself or join a tour of the Silo Art Trail.
Beyond historic structures and quaint towns lie the fascinating tales of a bygone era, ready for you to explore. Don’t miss The Stick Shed in Murtoa, the sole remaining emergency grain storage from World War Two, showcasing Australian bush innovation and the resilience of the wheat industry.
The Dimboola Imaginarium is in the historic building of the former National Bank of Australasia Limited, built in 1909. It combines a gift shop with upscale accommodations.
Discover the attractions of this region, from hiking trails and cycling paths to water sports and excellent fishing, distinctive accommodation choices, and much more.
Western Highlights
Silo Art Trail
The Silo Art Trail is Australia’s-air gallery trail. The trail stretches for more than 600 kilometres, connecting Brim with the neighbouring towns of Lascelles, Patchawalk, Rosebery, Rupanyup, Sheep Hills, Albacutia, Arkona, Nullawil, Sea Lake, Kaniva, Goroke and Horsham.
The hiking route showcases the authentic essence of Wimmer Mallee by featuring a collection of large murals painted on grain silos that highlight and honour the regions, many of which were built in the 1930s.
As part of the project, a team of renowned artists from Australia and around the world travelled to the region, met with local people and transformed each granary into an epic work of art, each telling a unique story about the town where it is located.
Horsham, to the West of West Grampians, is the perfect gateway for travelling from town to town to see and learn more about this innovative art project.
Hollow Mountain (Wudjub-Guyan) Walk
The Hollow Mountain (Wujub-Guyan) walk suits fit and energetic hikers and may include slippery trails, cliff jumping and rock climbing. Follow the signposted gravel path from the car park that gradually rises into an open ravine surrounded by rocky cliffs.
After reaching the cliff, the walk climbs steeply over rocky formations and past ancient caves to a rocky top with a view of the Stapleton Mountain amphitheatre and the Wimmer Plains. The return travel takes the same road.
Gulgurn Manja Shelter - Laharum
Gulgurn Manja, pronounced Gulkurn Manja, is a rocky shelter on the northern edge of Gariwerd. It provided a strategic vantage point for small groups of Jardwadjali to observe the fires of other groups on the plains to the north. The Jardwadjali also utilized the region’s high-quality sandstone to craft stone tools, with remnants of these tools still visible on the shelter walls.
The artwork at Gulgurn Manja features bars, animal tracks, and handprints, with the latter being unique to the northern part of Gariwerd. Many of these handprints were left by children, giving rise to the shelter’s name in the Aboriginal language. These drawings represent a distinct local artistic style for storytelling and passing down cultural laws.
Grampians Olive Co
Established in 1943, Grampians Olive Co. is one of the Australian farms. Heirloom trees, organic dry farming, a Mediterranean climate and a passion for quality all combine to create olive oil.
Grampians Olive Co is the perfect stop on your day trip to the Grampians. The platters feature the company’s premium organic olive oils and a unique range of infusions, table olives and artisanal vinegar. There is also a selection of dukkah, honey and seasonal preserves made exclusively on the farm.
Espresso coffee and lunch plates can also be enjoyed in a tranquil setting. Discover the process from olive tree to bottle: sustainable organic cultivation, harvesting, cold pressing and bottling by hand.
During the harvest season, from May to June, the company organizes open weekends where you can watch the team cold-press fresh organic olives to make the oil. The press is the only one of its kind in the region and reduces the time between harvesting and pressing, preserving the flavour and antioxidants as much as possible.
FAQ
Why is Horsham a good base for exploring the Western Grampians?
Horsham offers easy access to natural attractions like the Wartook Valley, Mount Arapiles, and Aboriginal rock art sites, plus great cafes, shops, and accommodation.
What is special about the Wartook Valley?
It’s known for spectacular sunsets, clear night skies, wildflowers, and scenic hikes, along with Aboriginal rock art and tranquil waterfalls.
What can visitors do at Mount Arapiles and Natimuk?
Mount Arapiles is a top rock climbing destination, but you can also enjoy the Arapiles Big Sky Bike Trail, sunset views, and explore historic Natimuk’s arts scene.
What is the Silo Art Trail and where does it go?
The Silo Art Trail is a 600+ km outdoor gallery featuring large-scale murals on grain silos across towns like Brim, Rupanyup, and Sheep Hills, showcasing local stories and culture.
What other attractions should I see near Horsham?
Don’t miss The Stick Shed in Murtoa, the Gulgurn Manja Shelter Aboriginal art site, Hollow Mountain hike, Grampians Olive Co., and the Wimmera River’s family-friendly parks.
