My goal for 2019 was more weekends way with my little family and the first was over Australia Day weekend to Halls Gap.
I have been wanting to visit Mackenzie Falls for ages after seeing friends post photos and doing a bit of research to find out it was one of the largest in Victoria.
Halls Gap is rough 2.5-3 hours from Melbourne and is where you will want to stay when visiting. It is a very small town but surprisingly has a lot going on and plenty to keep you entertained for a long weekend.
I have listed everything we did during our two day stay below for you with tips and tricks. We would definitely recommend heading to Halls Gap for the weekend, especially for the Mackenzie Falls but also for everything else.
ACCOMMODATION
We stayed at Pinnacle Lodge which is definitely the most convenient accommodation you will find in Halls Gap. It literally backs on to the main town centre and has walkways for easy access taking two minutes to hit the cafes and grocery store.
We stayed in a family room which had two separate bedrooms which was perfect with the kids because Leo never sleeps when he is in the same room as us on holiday. The units were basic but had everything we needed including a fridge/freezer, kettle, television and extra towels/bedding. The rooms are not serviced whist you stay but there are garbage bins nearby to empty your rubbish.
Facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a basic basketball court and tennis court and small playground.
You’ll also get to see kangaroo hanging around outside your room which was such a highlight for the kids.
Food
I researched before I went and read reviews which said there were not a lot of options of food available in Halls Gap so we packed lots of snacks and breakfast cereals and also took an eski of cold items.
For dinner we struggled because the fish n chip shop closed earlier at around 5pm, the pizza oven at one of the local cafes had broken down and the only other takeaway option was Indian (which Chance got and loved). Because Finn wasn’t feeling well we didn’t want to drag the kids to a dine in meal but even upon researching options there aren’t many. The Views restaurant is probably one we would have gone too if we had decided to go out because it has awesome views and will try it out next time.
However, what I will highlight is some of the options that we did try and are well worth trying when you’re there.
Live Fast Cafe
This cafe was a two minute walk from our accommodation and we went two days in a row. The food quality is on par with some of the best in Melbourne and their menu has plenty of healthy options that cater to all dietary requirements. The blueberry bircher was definitely a favourite and their coffee was fantastic.
Smugglers Hearth
Smugglers Hearth is a cute little trinket shop that sells a delicious variety of homemade fudge! It is definitely hard to pick a flavour but you can taste test them prior to purchasing. I went with the chocolate macadamia option and it was beaut!
Halls Gap Bakery
The Halls Gap Bakery was always super popular and busy whenever we went in and they actually sold out of everything by around 3pm on the first day we were there. The pies and salad rolls where delicious and we couldn’t resist a vanilla slice. All items were very reasonably priced as well.
Coolas Ice Creamery
These guys had huge lines out the door both times I walked past. They have a great range of gelato options with the option of a homemade waffle cone or cup. I opted for the strawberry and it was so creamy and delicious.
It’s a small shop but they do have a few seats outside if you can nab one up! The perfect place to stop after you’ve trekked the Mackenzie Falls.
Boroka Lookout
Boroka lookout is a 20 minute drive from Halls Gap and is a great spot for getting a panoramic view of The Grampians region without having to walk any distance. It is literally a two minute stroll from the car-park and has a pathway that is easily accessible for prams and wheelchairs meaning everyone gets to enjoy this beautiful view.
Lots of people were getting photos on the rock (where I am pictured) but this is totally at your own risk and you have to climb barriers to get to it.
Great for the picture but a bit terrifying!
MacKenzie Falls
Last but not least, the Mackenzie Falls were the whole reason for this trip and my goodness they did not disappoint.
I did my research prior to coming and asked around for those that had attended to ascertain if I was going to be able to get to the bottom with the kids. Most advice was that it would be fine but a little steep and I knew Leo would need to be in the Ergo carrier.
The walk itself down to the falls isn’t a huge one and I reckon it took us roughly 20-25 minutes to get down to the bottom. However, there were plenty of stairs so you need to have a good pair of shoes on. You’ll also want to take a backpack with water and snacks if you have kids as you’ll spend a bit of time at the bottom of the falls taking photos and admiring the view (and resting your legs after the workout). The walk back up was harder because obviously going up stairs is harder than down and that is where Finn really started to complain but we stopped along the way to give him rest times and he was still recovering from being unwell so he would have been fine otherwise.
If you don’t wish to do the walk to the bottom, they have another option which is a scenic lookout to the falls and is accessible via a pathway. I think it is a bit longer but obviously much less strenuous.
Overall I didn’t find the walk overbearing at all and I think due to it being shorter, it made it less noticeable that it was quite steep.
When you get to the bottom you’ll cross some rocks to get to the other side where you can look up and admire the beauty of the falls. I LOVED it and felt it was quite a surreal moment, like we were totally somewhere else in the world.
Totally worth going for and definitely recommend for everyone!
Other fun things
The centre of Halls Gap has an awesome children’s playground with plenty of options for kids of all ages.
There are stunning views in all directions and the main shop area has plenty of picnic tables to have your lunch and enjoy the sunshine.
We would love to hear your additional tips from your visit to Halls Gap to share with our readers so leave them in the comments below!
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