The Grampians and Wimmera, Victoria (June 2014)

Last year, we spent a week in The Grampians and loved it so much, we decided to book it for a month in winter. Unfortunately, we couldn't have foreseen the January bushfires that burnt out 52,000 hectares.

Where we were staying bordered the Grampians National Park. Thanks to the owners’ fire-fighting efforts, the all timber cottage (photo below) was saved. However, the surrounding area wasn't so fortunate. Much of it was charred and it still had that burnt smell (not a nice wood fire smell either). The blackened skeletons of trees provided little cover or feed for wildlife and most of what had survived had gone. We saw a few emus (photo below), Wedge-tailed Eagles and the odd magpie, but that’s all. But the Australian bush is nothing if not resilient and there were signs of regeneration everywhere.

Unable to explore the Grampians National Park as we’d planned gave us the opportunity to explore areas further afield that we wouldn't have otherwise seen. We even caught a glimpse of the rare Mallee Fowl (sorry, no pic).

Where we stayed

Taken from the back deck of the cottage

Not exactly our usual type of lunch spot, but we didn't have much choice that day deep in the park.

Epicormic growth

The grass tree is one plant that does love fire (so long as it's not too hot)

Zumsteins

Red Rock - Grampians NP 

Mountain Dam - Rocklands State Forest

Mount Arapiles - Natimuk 

Water skiing at Lake Albacutya - not the best photo, but the signs says: Speed Limit 5 Knots

Part of a mural - Albacutya

Kangaroo and joey - mum cleaning while bubs naps

Toadstool, Grampians National Park VIC

Toadstool, Grampians National Park VIC

Wallaby, Grampians National Park VIC

Male Wallaby, Grampians National Park VIC

Wildflowers of the Grampians

The park contains over 900 indigenous plant species. Twenty of these, including the Grampians Gum and Grampians Parrot-pea, are found nowhere else in the world. We were there at the right time as flowering was in full swing. I spent several hours wandering around in the bush to get these shots mostly on Asses Ears Road. Many of these flowers are on plants that are close to the ground and many of them have prickly leaves so I had to get down on the ground without crushing any orchids or other beauties to get these shots.

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Burrong Falls, Grampians National Park VIC

Burrong Falls are accessed along a gravel road deep in the middle of the Grampian Ranges. We were the only visitors, so this was a very peaceful spot to sit and take in the beauty of the place. There were many wildflowers out as well to further excite our senses. Post on the wildflowers to follow.

Paddy's Castle, Grampians VIC

Paddy’s Castle is a rock outcrop deep in the Grampians National Park.

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Red Deer, Grampians VIC

These red deer are a feral animal in Australia and a big nuisance. They cause a lot of damage to the native flora and bush floor. Still could not help ourselves and stopped to take these pics. They must be either farm-raised escapees or are used to seeing people. They just looked at us and remained there for quite some time allowing us an opportunity to get these shots.

Orchids, Grampian National Park VIC

Wallaby and Joey, Grampians VIC

We saw this cute wallaby and her joey at a Grampians National Park campground we stopped at for lunch. The joey is very young as he is still hairless. Normally wallabies are quite timid, but obviously at this campground they are used to visitors.