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    Tourist visit the popular Venus Baths near Halls Gap at the weekend. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
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    Car fans enjoy a hot rod display at Halls gap on Sunday.

Grampians Tourism leader calls for visitors

Grampians Tourism leader Marc Sleeman has urged people to make the most of the approaching autumn to experience what the Grampians and surrounding districts have to offer.

Mr Sleeman said the Grampians offered an abundance of experiences to satisfy every visitor, whether it be a parkland adventure or a chance to relax and enjoy the region’s award-winning food and wine.

“When it comes to experience there are the leisurely hikes to places such as Reeds Lookout and The Balconies, offering spectacular views over breathtaking Victoria Serra and Mount Difficult ranges,” he said.

“There are more challenging adventures exploring the legendary Grand Canyon, Splitter Falls and Silent Street via the Wonderland Loop Hike.”



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Mr Sleeman said after a turbulent summer of bushfires where anxieties ran high across much of Australia, autumn represented an ideal time of year to visit what was one of the great regions of Australia.

“It represents a time when everything starts to cool down and we’re all feeling a bit more comfortable to explore opportunities,” he said.

“I can’t stress enough how good the fishing opportunities are throughout this district. An enormous effort goes into stocking our lakes and waterways and it is amazing how good the freshwater fishing can be at this time of the year.

“The likes of Lake Bellfield, Moora Moora Reserve, Lake Fyans and Lake Wartook provide the perfect sanctuary for relaxing outdoor activities with a mix of fishing, boating, picnic and bird- watching opportunities available. It’s amazing and sometimes we take it all for granted.

“But if that’s not your thing, you might enjoy guided horse-riding tours or abseil the striking cliff faces of Mount Arapiles.

“And don’t forget that we have cycling in abundance and all sorts of picnic spots.”

Mr Sleeman added that cooler autumn weather brought new colour and texture to the region’s many wineries as the vines filled with ripened grapes and winemakers began preparing for the harvest.

“We’ve said it plenty of times before but the region has produced some of the best wine in Australia since vines were brought over from Europe 150 years ago,” he said.

“It’s a must for locals as well as visitors to take time out of the daily grind to enjoy the rich flavours of the wineries, cellar doors, artisanal produce and local restaurants.

“And then there’s all the accommodation available and events kicking off with the Grampians Music Festival in Halls Gap this week; the Wine and Symphony event at Mount Langi Ghiran vineyard on March 8; Stawell Gift, April 10 to 13; The Grape Escape, May 2 to 3;  Run the Gap, May 24; and the Serra Terror endurance event on June 6 and 7. 

“And it’s all here.”

The entire February 26, 2020 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire February 26,, 2019 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!