Melbourne Independent Travel Day 4｜A Day Trip to Grampians National Park: Spectacular Waterfalls, Kangaroo Herds, and Breathtaking Valley Views

Melbourne offers plenty of natural attractions nearby, but if you want a truly immersive experience of Australia's majestic mountain scenery and wildlife, the Grampians National Park is undoubtedly an unforgettable destination. This time we chose an English-guided one-day tour, which began with breakfast in a small gold-mining town, and went on to include mountain hiking, delightful wildlife encounters, waterfall exploration, and photo stops at scenic lookouts. It was exhausting yet deeply satisfying, leaving us with countless photos and memories.

Go West's Glenburn Day Trip Since KKday didn't offer Chinese tours, we ultimately signed up for the well-known Go West English tour offered locally. Although we were initially worried that language barriers would affect the quality of the trip, in reality, our tour guide Alan this time was the best leader we encountered on this journey. He had a full beard, was passionate and humorous in personality, and also brought along an intern Jerry to join us. After boarding a clean and comfortable bus early in the morning, the trip officially began.After about an hour's drive, we arrived at our first stop — the Ballarat gold mining town. Breakfast time in the gold mining town: a morning where history and the aroma of coffee intertwine Ballarat is a small town that rose to prominence because of the gold rush, and it is also the only place in Australian history where an armed uprising ever broke out. Our guide told us that back then, the miners, unable to bear the exploitation any longer, launched the Eureka Rebellion — an event that also helped spark the beginnings of Australia's democratic system. We enjoyed a simple breakfast prepared by the travel agency on the grass in town, with warm drinks complemented by the morning sunlight, opening a leisurely chapter for this journey.

Splitters Falls: A Gentle Taste of Mountain Hiking After breakfast we got back on the bus and headed into the mountainous area of Grampians National Park. Along the way, rolling pastures stretched out on both sides, and Alan told us that this area mainly raises Angus cattle, Holstein dairy cows, and sheep. Gazing out at the endless green fields, I felt an inexplicable sense of relaxation.

Our first hiking spot was Splitters Falls, a trail marked at only 0.7 kilometers. Although it's easy, the path does have a bit of a slope, which finally gives you a real sense of "actually hiking." The sound of the forest stream and the wildflowers lining both sides of the trail weave together into a quiet rhythm — a short walk that feels especially pleasant.

Lunch and Surprises: Kangaroos, Parrots and Delicious Adventures with Random Deliveries After completing the hike, our car headed toward Halls Gap, a small town in the Grampians. Just as we were about to arrive, our tour guide suddenly stopped the car—there on the roadside were wild kangaroos! We stepped out and carefully approached them. Although we couldn't touch them, getting close-up photos and watching their movements kept everyone absolutely thrilled.

I didn't expect that arriving at this small town would bring yet another delightful surprise -- wild parrots crowding around the outdoor dining tables, fighting over food, completely unafraid of people, and even attempting to snatch your lunch with their beaks.

We picked a pie shop and ordered their signature pies, but because they were about to close, only one meat pie and one vegetarian pie were left. The meat pie I got was quite ordinary, but the vegetarian pie that Ah Cat got was surprisingly impressive and had him raving about it nonstop.

Boroka Lookout: A Deep Breath While Gazing Over the Valley After lunch we continued on the road to Boroka Lookout, the spot with the most sweeping view of them all. Standing on the platform, we gazed out over the valley and the distant Wartook Reservoir.

Alan led us in a small "Embrace Nature" activity right there, having us stretch out our arms and stand in the wind, feeling the flow of the air and the stillness all around us. This activity reflected Australians' respect for and connection with nature — not a rushed glance, but truly being present with this land.

Mackenzie Falls: A Magnificent Baptism at the Stepped Waterfall Today's undisputed highlight was Mackenzie Falls. Starting from the viewing platform, we made our way down step by step, first stopping at the mid-level platform to take some long-exposure photos.

After that, keep going down until you reach the very bottom of the waterfall. When the roar of the water thunders in your ears and the whole waterfall pours down right in front of your eyes, that sense of grandeur is truly a little breathtaking.

Reed Lookout: The Perfect Ending with a Sunset Our last stop was Reed Lookout. The sky had already begun to dim as we sat by the railing, gazing out at the distant mountains and the soon-to-set sun — the atmosphere was peaceful and poetic. I had originally wanted to climb over the railing to take an artistic photo, but later found that sitting on the railing actually had its own special charm — a relaxed, natural scene that felt far more genuine than any deliberately posed shot.

Back in the city, another satisfying bowl of Datou Malatang! We didn't get back to central Melbourne from Grampians until after 9pm, and even though we were exhausted, we decided to treat ourselves to Datou Malatang. This time we tried ordering by "picking ingredients" ourselves, with the three of us picking together — the result was one enormous bowl that left us stunned, but it only cost 37 AUD, which actually worked out cheaper than ordering set dishes individually.

Summary: Nature's Blessing, Made Spectacular by a Great Guide If you're interested in Australia's natural landscapes, then Grampians National Park is absolutely worth dedicating a day to visit. It's not just about the waterfalls, valleys, and wildlife, but rather an experience of stepping away from the city and returning to nature. Most importantly, the reason this trip turned out to be so spectacular is truly thanks to our guide Alan. He not only possesses amazing stamina and accompanied us through every segment of the journey with his backpack, but also engaged everyone with his lively and humorous approach. Even though it's been a week since I left Australia, I still remember him saying: "Kan-Garoo! So many Kangaroo!!" That moment was truly pure and joyful. More Australia self-guided travel guides: Itinerary Planning Australia Self-Guided Travel Guide: 7 Must-Know Things + 10-Day Itinerary Overview ▍Sydney Australia Self-Guided Travel Day 1-2: Flying from Vietnam to Sydney & City Stroll Guide Sydney Opal Card One-Day Tour: Exploring Sydney's Classic Attractions and Transportation Experience Blue Mountains One-Day Trip Diary | Scenic World Railways, Cable Cars & Three Sisters Peak Complete Guide Melbourne Melbourne Self-Guided Tour Day 1 | Jetstar Arrival, War Memorial and Yarra River Sunset Stroll | ANZAC Day Special Itinerary Australia Self-Guided Tour Recommendations: Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon Sunrise Experience & Melbourne Attractions Walking Tour Puffing Billy Steam Train + Phillip Island Penguin Homecoming Day Trip Australia Grampians National Park | Experience Wild Kangaroos & Victoria's Most Spectacular Waterfall Great Ocean Road Day Trip | Twelve Apostles & Loch Ard Gorge, Melbourne's Most Beautiful Coastline Mornington Peninsula Trip Review | Are These Attractions Worth Visiting? A Full Breakdown of Hot Springs, Wineries, and the Lighthouse