Gar and Werdug 3-day Hike

time 3 days
distance 34km
type One way
Grade

Grade 4

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Gar and Werdug 3-day Hike

Grampians National Park


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.

Barengi Gadjin Land Council   Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation   Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation


Along the Gar and Werdug 3-day hike, you'll witness seasonal waterfalls, mountain summits and clifftop camping. The track is an overall Grade 4 walk with steep terrain, suitable for fit and experienced hikers.

Itinerary highlights

This section of the trail is particularly spectacular in winter, spring and after rain, when clifftop rockpools and seasonal waterfalls are at their best. Gar (meaning "big mountain") is the highest on the western side of the range, rewarding walkers with spectacular 360-degree views. Lake Wartook Lookout, at 829m, is one of the highest points on the eastern side of the Mount Difficult Range with sweeping 360-degree views of Gariwerd.

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Day one: (N2) Gar Trailhead (Roses Gap Road) to Gar Hike-in Campground (7.3 kilometres)

Begin your journey at the Gar Trailhead (Roses Gap Road; N2 on GPT topographic map). Along the 7.3-kilometre rugged, rocky adventure you'll experience steep climbs and panoramic views including the seasonal waterfalls of Gar. As the trail zig zags upwards, uninterrupted views to the north are revealed. 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. You'll be spending the night camped along the rocky terrace, perfect for watching the sunset.

 

Day two: (N3) Gar Hike-in Campground to Werdug Hike-in Campground (14.1 kilometres)

From the hike-in campground, take a side trip to the rocky summit of Mount Difficult (Gar). 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.

Day three: (N4) Werdug Hike-in Campground to Halls Gap (13.0 kilometres)

Start with a steady climb to Lake Wartook Lookout for spectacular views and a morning tea break. Enjoy the sweeping views to the North, west and southern of Gariwerd. 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. The Grampians Peaks Trail crosses these high mountains in the Duwul and Durd Durd 3-day Hike. 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. 

Bookings and itinerary information

This 3-day hiking itinerary connects with the Barigar overnight hike to the north, as well as other connecting tracks to allow you to step on and off from various points throughout Gariwerd. If you are planning on staying longer to do more sections of the walk, you can add other itineraries to your booking. The trailhead for this itinerary is signposted with temporary car parking at Troopers Creek Campground and you can also find its location in the official maps for Grampians Peaks Trail. You can find out how to get there via the map above. All itineraries require a car shuffle from start to finish. If you only have one vehicle, please visit Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre for other pick-up or walk options.

Camping fees

The trail itself is free to hikers but camping fees apply to stay overnight. This itinerary includes two nights at two different, dedicated campgrounds: first night at Gar Hike-in Campground and second night at Werdug Hike-in Campground. These are booked as an all-inclusive itinerary - all you need to do is choose the date of your first night to book. We recommend booking your 3-day hike well in advance of your planned departure to ensure there is tent pad availability at each campground.

The 3-day itinerary costs are:
$100.80 for up to two people on a tent pad (either 3.5m x 3.5m or 5.0m x 5.0m)

These hike-in campgrounds are in very remote locations, you're not near a busy road or carpark, so you feel the reward of being deep inside the national park. They have been built with a good level of amenity that is well designed, sympathetic to the landscape and sustainable. As such, they are priced higher for the value they provide. The price for a tent pad for a 3-day/2-night hike is roughly $50 per night ($25 p/person if sharing) in camping fees for these unique, well-equipped hike-in campgrounds. These fees contribute towards the operation and maintenance of this unique hiking experience and helps to protect the enviornmental values of this heritage-listed national park.

Campground information

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. Each campground has been individually designed the fit within the surrounding landscape. They feature an unpowered communal area for meal preparation, basic toilet facilities and water collection points. Mobile phone service is not available within the Wartook Basin, but you may get some along ridgelines and high points and lower elevations. 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.


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Prepare for your adventure

 

How to get there

Gar and Werdug 3-day Hike

From Horsham/Wimmera River Bridge (53.5km, 25mins): Drive south-east on the Western Highway (A8) for 40.5km. Turn right onto Roses Gap Road and drive for 13km to Gar Trailhead.

From Halls Gap (36km, 40mins): 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.

From Melbourne (270km, 3hrs and 15mins): Drive west on the Western Highway (A8) through Ararat and Stawell to Roses Gap Road. Turn left and follow Roses Gap Road for 13km to Gar Trailhead.

Need to know

Gar and Werdug 3-day Hike

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 National Park

    Mountain Lion (Designated rock-climbing and bouldering area) – Temporary exclusion

    Mountain Lion (Designated rock-climbing and bouldering area) – Temporary exclusion
     
    Significant Aboriginal cultural values have recently been rediscovered at the Mountain Lion designated rock-climbing and bouldering area.

    While Parks Victoria and Gariwerd Traditional Owners determine a longer-term management response, and out of respect for this significant cultural landscape, visitors are requested to not access this area.

    The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 protects Aboriginal cultural heritage and significant financial penalties apply for harm caused by individuals or corporate bodies.

    For more information please visit the FAQ Update at the Rock Climbing in Gariwerd link below.

    Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Roads Update 08.12.2023

    The Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park has several roads temporarily closed for repair works and upgrades. Please be aware the movement of visitors in these parts of the National Park is restricted.

    Road Closures
    Mitchell Road, Mt William Picnic Ground Track are closed.

    Partial Road Closures
    Pohlner Road closed at upper northern section to Winfields Road.

    Grampians Peaks Trail – Trailhead Access
    Road access (Griffin Track) to the Griffin Trailhead for the Grampians Peaks Trail is open to 4WD vehicles only. Walkers can access the GPT on foot via the Griffin Track from the Grampians Tourist Road.

    Redman Road Trailhead carpark is closed. The nearest site for parking is at Borough Huts Campground.

    Please see the latest road report attachment for full road and track details at the bottom of this page.

    Attachments: Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park - Road Report - 08.12.2023 (273KB)

Add more Grampians Peaks Trail hikes to your itinerary

 
The view, from inside a tent, of a women sitting nest to a tent at Bugiga Hiker Camp on the Grampians Peaks Trail

Bugiga and Barri Yalug 3-day Hike

Start the morning in Halls Gap before traversing the Central Peaks of Wonderland and Serra Ranges. Day one follows the cascading Stony Creek upstream to the Grand Canyon.
A man passes a cup of tea to his partner at their tent set up below the communal shelter at Djardji-Djawara Hiker camp on southern section 2 of the GPT

Djardji-djawara and Mud-dadjug 3-day Hike

Scenic ridgeline and mountain walking all the way to Dunkeld, as you wander across the Southern Grampians skyline.
A man sets up his tent at Duwal hiker camp at the end of central section 3 on the GPT

Duwul and Durd Durd 3-day Hike

Climbing through the Central Peaks, this tough walk traverses an exposed montane landscape and the highest mountains in the Grampians National Park.
The view of the Serra Range which is traversed on Southern Section 2 of the Grampians Peaks Trail

Yarram and Wannon 3-day Hike

This secluded walk in the Southern Peaks of the Grampians explores previously untracked terrain on the southern reaches of the Mt William Range.
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