Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/773562
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 JANUARY 2017 39 get your supplies, find accommo- dation, have a dip in the thermal pools and have a walk around the only lake in the area. It would be a great place to base yourself if you know that you have at least five to eight days to explore the Gram- pians. Anything less and it could leave you cut off from the South- ern and Northern areas. The best treks by far would be those of the Pinnacles, Mt. William and Hollow Moun- tain. These treks would take you through canyons and narrow cre- vasses, steep climbs, rock climbs and a combination of tricky and exciting passages. Both experi- enced hikers and amateur hik- ers would be able to make a full day of enjoyable exploring. Most of the ascent hikes lead to some stunning scenery, as do some viewpoints along the 2wd and 4wd tracks. Even though there is some amazing hiking to do here, if you are able, do not forget the 4wd tracks here. I can guarantee that these tracks will take you to some more beautiful scenic spots and best of all these places will most likely capture your imagina- tion you with the area being com- pletely to yourself or with very few other 4wd enthusiasts. Pic- ture this, your vehicle, a campfire, a hot toddy and stunning view of the landscape or an equally stun- ning view of the Milky Way and stars. Another note worth taking in is that when you do set out on treks here, take plenty of water and ideally take a compass or better so a GPS. This way if you decide to camp for the night you can do night hikes across the ranges with a tool that can help you avoid fall- ing over into the many crevasses that you tend to find the closer you get to the summit. The Pin- nacles is a very good example for this situation, even during the day you are in danger of getting lost or falling over, let alone at night. The good thing is that all the major treks have illuminated arrows set five meters apart along the whole track. The great thing about the Grampians is that you can camp anywhere as long as you can reach it. Once you explore the centre crater like areas you will find that setting up camp is not that hard to sort out. You'll also come across Moora Moora reser- voir, a swampy area rich in bird life as well as small mammals. Most of the top 4wd tracks can be found close to this area, in the central valley of the Grampians. Just obtain a map from any of the small communities around the main entrances and you will be able to see what is what and where to go. If you are lucky, only a few times a year you may get to see the clouds below you from any view point above 800m. It will truly make you feel as if you are in the heavens. Don't forget to take good hiking shoes and plan what season you would like to visit. The summer months tend to be a bit too hot to take on some of the hikes unless you are experienced. The best seasons to visit would be autumn or spring. One thing is for sure, don't forget to take your camera! The Grampians is a place defi- nitely worth capturing. Travel How to get there Emirates offer regular flights between Malta and Melbourne with a stopover in Dubai. Flights departing from Malta on 26 January and returning on 9 February were priced at €1,595 including tax at the time of going to print. Total flying time is approx. 21 hours. The Grampians is a three-hour drive from Melbourne. TY IN THE GRAMPIANS