La Dolce Vida

We stayed in Hall’s Gap a total of six thoroughly enjoyable and laid-back days. We went on many hikes in the mountains, and saw a great deal of wildlife. In particular, we saw a lot of little black skinks, which like sunning themselves on the warm rocks.



As you can see, they would pose obligingly until we snapped a few pictures.



Glen attempted to stare one down. Eventually, the skink squibbled back into its rock crevasse, and Glen declared victory.

We also crawled around town a great deal, and found Glen Street.



In case you’re wondering, he still hasn’t gotten over the discovery.

Most delightful of all, we managed to make a few friends. There was a very nice girl from Kent, England who came on a very affordable three hour bus tour around some of the remoter areas of the mountains. She was kind enough to get what is quite possibly the most atrocious picture of my arse that shall be captured on this entire trip:




Behold the magnificent Visible Panty Line! I was ducking my head into the bottom pool of the MacKenzie Falls. Our bus tour guide assured me that to do so constituted some form of initiation, so I was the first to stick my head in. Most of our group followed suit. The water wasn’t as cold as I expected!

Glen opted for the spread eagle post when dunking his head:




For the record, MacKenzie Falls looks like this:



To our very great delight, we met a positively wonderful couple who hailed from Melbourne. They were up for a few days of relaxing at the Eco-Hostel, and we met by having them explain how Aussie rules football works while watching one of the semi-finals matches in the hostel TV room. We hit it off and continued hitting it off over several days. Marathon conversation periods that spanned entire afternoons and evenings ensued, fuelled by generously shared wine and lovely nibblies. Our Kent girl joined as well, and I’ll risk sounding overly cheery by saying that we had several merry evenings by the fire in the hostel common-room.

Mel and Damien – the couple in question – invited us to stay with them when we passed back through Melbourne on our way from the Grampians to Tasmania. We took them up on their offer and had another enjoyable evening of excellent company. As we need to pass back through Melbourne again on our way back from Tasmania, we’re hoping to hang out with them some more. I was hoping to make some firm overseas friends on this trip, and I consider it a very good omen that we made such good friends so early into the expedition.

I cannot recommend the Grampians and the YHA Eco-Hostel in Halls Gap enough. If you have the opportunity to visit the region and enjoy both the area and the hostel, it would be well worth your while to do so. The managers are delightful, the hostel is spotlessly clean and eminently comfortable, there is loads to do for people of all athletic abilities; challenging hikes for those who want the exercise, pleasant strolls and guided bus tours for those looking for more gentle activities. The town is a bit pricey, but the hostel is more than reasonable and it is very possible to visit Halls Gap on a modest budget. If all you want is a place to kick up your heels, read a book, and have some really good wine, the Eco-Hostel can provide that too. All in all, it is a great region to visit and a great place to stay. And the friends are a definite bonus!