The Grampians Peaks Trail has officially reopened its entire 164-kilometer route, marking a major milestone in the recovery of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park after the 2024–25 bushfire season.
This restoration allows hikers to access the full journey from Mount Zero in the north to Dunkeld in the south for the first time since the fires impacted more than 135,000 hectares of the park.
According to an article by Australian Traveller, the five hike-in campgrounds—Barri Yalug, Duwul, Durd Durd, Yarram, and Wannon—reopened last month to complete the trail’s overnight capacity. These sites join the previously restored Bugiga campground to facilitate the full 13-day trekking experience.
The recovery efforts were supported by $36 million in funding from the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.
While much of the trail had been accessible by July of last year, the scale of damage in the remote central and southern sections required extensive rebuilding of tracks and facilities.
Parks Victoria Recovery Project Officer Kyle Hewitt noted that post-fire inspections revealed sections where the track had effectively disappeared due to the loss of vegetation corridors.
Crews stabilized and redefined approximately 20 kilometers of track and installed around 100 stone steps to manage steep gradients in the fragile environment.
Repairs at the campgrounds included the installation of new timber tent pads, replacement water tanks, and repairs to solar power systems.
The Barri Yalug and Duwul sites sustained the most significant damage, requiring helicopter sling-load operations to transport materials into the remote locations.
Hewitt observed that while nature is recovering through epicormic growth and returning ground cover, shade remains limited in the hardest-hit areas.
Hikers planning to tackle the Grade 5 trail are encouraged to visit the official Parks Victoria website at parks.vic.gov.au for trip planning details.
This reopening restores a premier multi-day hiking asset that drives regional tourism. For campground operators and equipment outfitters, the return of the full 164-kilometer route signals a rebound in visitor traffic and provides a stabilized environment for commercial tour partners and nature-based hospitality providers to resume full operations.