Four Walks Worth Packing Your Boots For
When people think of hiking in the Grampians, Halls Gap is often the first place that comes to mind.
But Dunkeld often referred to as the southern gateway to the Grampians, offers some of the most rewarding hikes in the region. One of the things we loved most during our five weeks in Dunkeld was that you didn’t need to set aside an entire day to experience the mountains. Unlike some of the longer Grampians hikes, each of these walks can comfortably be completed in an afternoon, making them perfect if you’re fitting them around work, travelling, or simply waiting for the weather to clear.
That’s our biggest tip… don’t let a rainy morning stop you.
We spent five weeks based in Dunkeld during winter, fitting our hikes in whenever the weather gave us a break. Many of our hikes happened after overnight rain, morning showers or grey skies. As soon as the weather cleared, we’d throw on our boots and head out. Those changing conditions often made the scenery even more spectacular, with mist clinging to the mountains and fresh green landscapes stretching in every direction.
With the exception of Piccaninny, expect plenty of rocky steps and some reasonably steep climbing. Your glutes and calves will definitely know they’ve had a workout!
*Feature image: Mt Abrupt from the summit of Signal Peak
Which Hike Is Right for You?
| Walk | Time | Difficulty | Perfect for… |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Piccaninny (Bainggug) | ~1 hour return | Easy | Perfect if you’re short on time or just want a beautiful view over Dunkeld. |
| Mt Sturgeon | 2.5–3 hours | Moderate | If you only have time for one big hike, we’d choose this one. |
| Mt Abrupt | Around 4 hours | Challenging | The most rewarding views and the most physically demanding climb. |
| Signal Peak | Around 3 hours | Moderate | Northern Grampians views with a worthwhile campsite detour. |
Choose Your Hike
The Piccaninny (Bainggug)
If you’re looking for an easy introduction to hiking around Dunkeld, start here.
The Piccaninny (Bainggug) is the gentlest of the four walks, taking around 30 minutes each way with only a gradual incline. It’s an ideal option if you’ve only got a spare hour, you’re travelling with family, or the weather is looking a little unpredictable.
Despite being the easiest hike, the views are anything but ordinary.
From the lookout you’ll enjoy sweeping views across Dunkeld, Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt, with farmland stretching into the distance.
While standing at the top, I couldn’t help thinking what a lovely place it would be to bring a small picnic and a bottle of champagne to simply sit and soak up the peace and quiet.
If you’re lucky, keep an eye on the sky too. We were treated to a wedge-tailed eagle soaring overhead.
Mt Sturgeon
If you only have time for one of the longer hikes around Dunkeld, this is the one we’d recommend.
It was the first mountain we tackled and, after completing all four, it’s still the one we’d recommend to most visitors.
The return walk takes around 2½ to 3 hours, but there’s one piece of advice we were incredibly grateful to receive from the locals…
Do the loop. This made all the difference to our experience.
Although the sign at the car park suggests returning via the same track, there is actually a loop option. Once you reach the summit, keep an eye out to your right for a small opening through the shrubs. This leads onto the return track, which offers completely different scenery on the way back down.
We’re so glad the locals shared this with us because it almost felt like doing two different hikes in one.
From the summit you’ll enjoy sweeping views across Dunkeld, Piccaninny and Mt Abrupt, making every step worthwhile.
Extend Your Adventure
If you’re staying in Dunkeld, consider leaving the car behind.
The Dunkeld to Mt Sturgeon Discovery Trail is an easy 6 km shared walking and cycling path linking the Dunkeld Visitor Information Centre with the Mt Sturgeon Summit Track.
Apart from one decent hill on the return journey into town, the trail is mostly flat and makes for a really enjoyable ride.
We were staying near the Dunkeld Arboretum, so we cycled through town to the trailhead before tackling the hike. It only took us around 15 minutes each way and added another enjoyable layer to the day.
There’s also something incredibly satisfying about riding back into town with Mt Sturgeon towering behind you, knowing you’ve just stood on its summit.
Mt Abrupt
If Mt Sturgeon is our overall recommendation… Mt Abrupt is the most spectacular.
It’s also the most challenging.
If you can organise transport, we’d recommend starting from the Piccaninny car park and finishing at the Mt Abrupt car park (or vice versa). It creates a fantastic through-hike without having to retrace your steps.
If that’s not possible, you could ride bikes between the two, although the connecting road has a 100 km/h speed limit and several blind corners, so only consider this if you’re confident riding on country roads.
The hike itself constantly changes.
You’ll move through different landscapes, climb what felt like hundreds of rocky steps (seriously… there have to be more than 500!), and enjoy ever-changing views across the surrounding mountain ranges and farmland.
One of our favourite sections was near the summit, where the track winds through a beautiful eucalyptus forest.
But what really stole my attention was the enormous moss-covered rock wall unlike anything I’d seen before. It was one of those unexpected moments that completely stopped me in my tracks.
Don’t Skip the Campsite Detour
Before starting the incline to the summit, allow another 30 minutes to duck into the campsite.
From the campsite, look for a small path heading down into the gully. About five minutes down you’ll discover some beautiful pink “cloud caves” tucked away on your right.
It’s only a small detour but one we thought was well worth making.
The main hike took us around four hours without visiting the campsite, although someone a little fitter than us could probably shave half an hour off that.
Signal Peak
If we had to rank the four hikes, Signal Peak would probably come fourth… but only because the others are so incredibly good.
The views throughout this walk are fantastic.
As you climb, you’re treated to ever-changing panoramas across the Grampians, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take it all in. In fact, we thought some of the views along the track were even better than those from the summit itself.
From the top, you’ll enjoy sweeping views across the Grampians stretching as far as the eye can see and, looking in the opposite direction, Mt Abrupt standing proudly above the surrounding landscape.
There is slightly more vegetation around the summit than on the other peaks, which obscures parts of the view, but it’s still well worth the climb.
Another worthwhile detour
Just 800 metres from the car park you’ll find the campground.
Walk through to the communal shelter and head around the back.
The lower viewpoint overlooking the Grampians is beautiful and often overlooked by visitors heading straight back to their cars.
Can You Do All Four?
Absolutely.
If you’re reasonably fit and only have one day in Dunkeld, it’s possible to tackle them all.
Pack plenty of water, snacks and lunch, then simply start at either Mt Sturgeon or Signal Peak and follow the connecting tracks through the ranges.
It’ll be a big day, but a memorable one.
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