Dunkeld, Southern Gateway to The Grampians

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Posted 2021-06-08 by Ian Gill ⇒ follow

Dunkeld in western Victoria is one of those places you might drive through on your way to any number of destinations without ever really giving much thought to staying there. But take the time to look around and you'll soon see that it's very worthy of a short stay.

For me, the principal attraction lay in the relaxed, very laid-back and dog-friendly Dunkeld Caravan Park , a mix of shady powered and un-powered sites right on the edge of town – a great place to sit and relax for a couple of days.

Dunkeld was first settled in the late 1830s by mostly Scottish pastoralists with the township originally named Mount Sturgeon. Today, Dunkeld is best known as the southern gateway to the magnificent Grampians with easy access via the Grampians Tourist Road.

If you don't want to travel too far from Dunkeld, take a drive on the Mirranatwa Loop, a 60-kilometre, 45-minute drive on sealed roads through the Victoria Valley to Mirranatwa Gap lookout. From here, you'll get some fabulous views across the ranges of the southern Grampians and adjacent pastoral areas.

For a bit of picturesque family exercise, you might consider the Mount Piccaninny Walk. Graded easy to medium the 2.5-kilometre return walk to the peak of Mt Piccaninny starts 4.5-kilometres out of town on the Grampians Tourist Road. With fabulous views back to Dunkeld, Mount Sturgeon and Mount Abrupt, this 1-hour jaunt is ideal for families and us older grey nomads.

If you're a keen walker with a bit more energy, you might want to try the Mount Abrupt and Mount Sturgeon walks. Mount Abrupt is a 3-hour walk graded Hard. A 6.5-kilometre return, walk this steep and difficult trek to the summit of Mount Abrupt winds through thick forest to the rocky summit. This walk starts 8-kilometres north of Dunkeld, just off the Grampians Tourist Road.

Mount Sturgeon, also 3-hours and also graded Hard starts 3-kilometres north of Dunkeld, at the junction of Victoria Valley Road and the Grampians Tourist Road. A distance of 7-kilometres return the walk is over a well-worn track but only suitable for fit and energetic walkers.

On the outskirts of town, just a short walk from the caravan park, you'll find the Dunkeld Arboretum, a picturesque community project based on the old Water Reserve. There's a loop walk around the reservoir, the arboretum itself, a historic sawmill, labyrinth and some great views.

Keen foodies won't want to miss the opportunity to dine at the highly regarded Royal Mail Hotel or, if you're just after something light, check out the Old Bakery, the Mount View Café or Dunkeld Delights.

You'll find the Dunkeld Historical Museum on the corner of Wills and Templeton Streets, housed in an old bluestone church circa 1865 and displaying hundreds of years worth of local information and artefacts covering local indigenous communities, exploration and early settlement.

The museum is open Thursday from 1 PM till 4 PM, Sundays and Public Holidays from 1 PM till 5 PM and other days and times by appointment.

Entry costs Adults $10, Concession $8 and Children $3.

Check out the website at https://dunkeldmuseum.org.au or telephone on (03) 5574 9236.

If you enjoy a hit of golf be sure to take your clubs with you to Dunkeld where visitors have the opportunity to try their luck on a classic 18-hole, sand-scrape greens country course.

Just 5-kilometres out of town Grampians Golf Club is set in a natural bush setting at the foot of Mount Abrupt.

18-holes will cost you $15, 9-holes $10 or Juniors (Under 18) $10 for 18-holes. The club holds competitions on Tuesdays and Saturdays with visitors most welcome to join in. Check out the website www.grampiansgolfclub.com or call the clubhouse on (03) 5577 2377.