What To Do In The Grampians

Eastern Grampians Region

The Grampians offers endless opportunities for individuals and families, romantic weekends away. The not so well known Eastern Grampians is often overlooked, leaving people not so sure what to do in the Grampians East.

Let us assure you, there are lots of things to do in the Grampians East, read on to discover what it has for you to enjoy.

Travelling from Melbourne you will come across the Eastern Grampians region first up. It is easily accessed along the Western Highway for local travellers and for those coming from interstate, go the fly and drive option from Melbourne Tullamarine or Avalon Airport.

Eastern Grampians Region includes Ararat, Pomonal, Lake Bolac and Moyston. 

What To Do In The Grampians East

ARARAT

Ararat – the gateway to the Grampians.   It is conveniently located 1 hour west of Ballarat and only a quick 30-40 minute drive to Halls Gap.  Ararat is a great place to visit with families.  Everything is located a quick 5 minutes from the centre of town – supermarket, movie theatre, skate park, gardens, cafes and shops.

The Astor Movie theatre or one of the pools in Ararat is also a real hit.  During the Summer, children of all ages flock to the outdoor pool.  It has a new water slide and splash playground for the babies/toddlers to enjoy.

Many people wouldn’t realise that Ararat has a lot of history.  Great family places to visit to learn more about the history in Ararat: Gum San Chinese Museum, Langi Morgala Museum, J-Ward, and Aradale.

Green Hill Lake is on the edge of Ararat.  Many families like to go and camp out at the free camp grounds around the lake especially on long weekends and during the Summer.  This is a particularly busy spot when the lake is full.

Bush walks through some of the many trails around the area is very popular.  An easy walk if you have little ones, is the Venus Baths Loop, in Halls Gap.  A visit to Halls Gap isn’t complete without a stop at Coolas Ice Creamery.

Ararat has a number of great cafes to offer a friendly place to stop and eat in.  Foragers Café is located at the entrance of the Ararat Art Gallery and has some yummy items on the menu.  Other cafes located in the main street include Fred and Bets, The Vines and S.E.D.E. . For people staying in Ararat overnight looking for a place to eat out, the top three recommendations are Sicilians Restaurant, Blue Duck Hotel and The RSL.

If you’re looking for accommodation in Ararat, there are several options.  The Ararat Motor Inn is located at the Melbourne end of Barkly Street and has all the conveniences you need for a comfortable stay.

You can see more family accommodation options and up-to-date prices and details here.

By Emma Coburn. Eat Pray Lovel Travel.

POMONAL

Pomonal is located in the Eastern Grampians. It is a small town consisting of a General Store, Primary School, Community Hall, family friendly wineries, a bistro, small businesses and a whole lot of charm. Pomonal is located just 10 minutes from the popular town of Halls Gap; and, makes for a great alternative from the hustle and bustle of its neighbouring town!

There are lots of fantastic places to visit in Pomonal, that you really do need a few days to get around to everything and enjoy it! A very popular place to visit is Five Ducks Farm, where homemade preservative free ice cream and amazing condiments are available to taste and buy. The magnificent work of artist James McMurtrie, is available to be seen at his glass blowing studio, this is located on the road between Pomonal and Moyston.

Visit one of the many wineries in the Grampians Region, more locally you’ll find Pomonal Estate and Fallen Giants. If you’re lucky, you can time your trip to coincide with one of the popular Pomonal Community Markets, where you will meet many of the local growers and small business holders – including Blue Wren Bakery which does not have a shop front.

If you are an adventurous family there are a great number of family friendly walks in the Grampians National Park. Pack a picnic, wander and explore some of the more hidden tracks or bush spots, including Kalymna Falls Campground. If you’re feeling very energetic, with preparation and well trained children, you can walk up the back of Mt William to the lookout. This outing, however, is not for the faint-hearted – pack plenty of water, snacks and jumpers.

If you enjoy good food as well as wine, beer and cider, look no further than Pomonal Estate. The cellar door offers beer/cider and wine paddles and by the glass, food from the menu, homemade cakes from the display fridge and a genuine welcome.

The grassed area boasts incredible mountain views and a relaxed family friendly atmosphere. Enjoy the outdoor lounges, table and chairs or picnic blankets, while the kids run around and kick a ball or play cricket. The indoor area is modern, clean and beautifully presented, with floor to ceiling windows for maximal mountain viewing.

There is something on the menu for everyone for lunch, as well as an afternoon visit! Pep and Adam, owners of Pomonal Estate, have made their cellar door a “one-stop-shop” where people can come and stay, relax and enjoy their time with all needs met.

The Grampians General Store makes great Mahalia Coffee and has a range of milk available to suit your needs. It has cafe-style seating inside and outside in the garden. You can pick up your every day needs as well as the extensive range of local produce from the area!

You can head to Barney’s Bistro Bar for a good pub meal, a great outlook from outside and a unique shearing shed style building. Bookings are essential as it gets quite busy. There is a basic children’s menu and a big screen to keep them seated and entertained.

Pomonal is such a lovely and quiet part of the Grampians – staying here will certainly create a slower paced and relaxed time away. You can see the latest prices and more details here.

If you like to go camping, there are some fantastic opportunities in and around the Grampians National Park. There are several free camps around, including Kalymna Falls campground, so if you come prepared with a tent or swag, you will be guaranteed to have a marvellous bush experience!

Views at Pomonal is a lovely family friendly Airbnb just a short drive from the hub of Pomonal. The accommodation is set apart from the owners residence, it has a private yard and uninterrupted views of the Grampians.

The unit is very clean, well maintained and has all essentials to have an enjoyable family stay. The two bedroom accommodation sleeps 5, with bedding configuration being a queen room and triple bunks. The master bedroom boasts floor to ceiling glass doors, which open up to the deck and magnificent mountain views.

The living space consists of a couch, dining table and good size kitchen with all the necessities. Surrounding the house is a deck which allows you to take in the incredible views from all angles. There is outdoor seating and dining, just waiting for you to enjoy the peace and quiet of this lovely Pomonal accommodation.

You’re welcome to wander through the paddock, feed the resident alpacas and pat Rex the family Red Heeler.

Do yourself a favour and take the time to set up for a few days. There is something very relaxing and easy about staying at Views at Pomonal.

Once you’ve exhausted all the wonderful things Pomonal has to offer, venture out to surrounding towns or head into Halls Gap to explore the main tourist town of the Northern Grampians Region.