It's going to be a mixed bag weather wise this weekend, but that shouldn't stop you getting out of the house (yes - lockdown is well and truly easing) and trying out a few of these great ideas.
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Saturday is looking wet so what better way to spend some time than to support local businesses by buying a coffee, cake, lunch. Or picking up some local art or produce.
On Sunday, why not get out on your bike and put to use all the kilometres you've been ticking over in isolation by trying something new. I'm sure you could find a coffee stop along the way.
Whatever you choose, it's a great chance for locals to help locals as they rebuild after COVID-19.
1. Ride the Grampians Rail Trail
The 11 kilometre trail starts at a small car park on the Grampians Road, 700 metres south of the Western Highway. The trail is relatively flat, on fine gravel and travels predominantly through picturesque bushland towards Heatherlie Quarry.
From the car park at Stawell West, the trail heads west towards the Grampians with the first 2.5km being on a gravel path. The rest of the trail (about 9km) follows the old rail alignment, parallel to the Grampians Rd, and then onto Mt Dryden Rd, in close proximity to Lake Lonsdale.
Bridges have been constructed and an 80 metre boardwalk has also been completed. The trail continues on to a car park at Mt Dryden Rd.
At Heatherlie Quarry, a short section of trail is suitable for walking to this fascinating site. A number of quarry buildings are still standing, and there is plenty of interesting mining equipment to explore.
More information: https://www.visitgrampians.com.au/products/the-grampians-rail-trail
2. Visit wild waterfalls
If you've visited some of the well-known waterfalls in the Grampians National Park, why not broaden your horizon by checking out Clematis Fall, Beehive Falls or even Ferntree Falls in the Mt Buangor State Park.
You can take a picnic (or, perhaps, a Thermos of soup if it's cold) and just enjoy the view.
So, take the road from Halls Gap to Wartook Valley to see the iconic MacKenzie Falls, one of the largest and most spectacular waterfalls in Victoria.
Head north to Beehive Falls to see the water drop 25 metres into the rock pools below, wander from Wonderland to the serene Splitters Falls, or take the fern-laden trail south to Silverband Falls, just 15 minutes' drive from Halls Gap.
Visiting Southern Grampians? The Hamilton area is home to two waterfalls fed by the Wannon River - Wannon Falls and Nigretta Falls.
More information: https://www.visitgrampians.com.au/see-do/nature-wildlife/waterfalls
3. Explore local culture
The Grampians has a long and interesting history that can be explored at museums and galleries across the region.
There are also artists, furniture makers, glass artists and environmental artists dotted in areas such as Mirranatwa and Dunkeld, at the southern end of the Grampians, or the tourist hotspot of Halls Gap.
The Grampians is also home to a rich tapestry of culture from Aboriginal artifacts and exhibits at Brambuk Cultural Centre in Halls Gap.
Chinese textiles, embroideries and relics that tell the story of miners coming to the goldfields can be found at the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre in Ararat.
While in Ararat, visit it's lunatic asylums for history tours, ghost tours and paranormal investigations of J Ward Lunatic Asylum and Aradale. Walk through the cavernous wards and halls of the institution that treated and housed the mentally ill of Victoria for over 140 years.
More information: https://www.visitgrampians.com.au/see-do/culture/art-history
4. Go off-road in a 4WD
There are plenty of opportunities to head off the bitumen and experience the more remote and less-visited areas within the Grampians National Park.
Well known for its extensive network of tracks and trails, the park provides many ways to get out in nature and to explore by four wheel driving.
Try this 4WD tour that winds its way among the spectacular mountain peaks and dramatic rock formations of the Grampians National Park, and features waterfalls, panoramic views and ancient Aboriginal rock art sites making exploring this park easy and enjoyable.
5. Visit rock art sites
The Grampians is the home to about 200 rock art sites, which is more than 80 per cent of Victoria's Aboriginal Rock Art Sites.
Five of these are open to the public to visit. Don't forget to take your camera.
Most art sites are situated under rock over hangs providing shelter and strategic viewing points of the surrounds with some dating back more than 20,000 years
- Content courtesy of Grampians Tourism.
