Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/829524
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 MAY 2017 52 BY MARC CASOLANI "GARIWERD", that's what the folk in the area call it. One of the four locations in all of Australia that you can find yourself walking above the clouds. It is also a major dreaming site to the Jardwadjali and Djab people. With its natural beauty and continuing aboriginal importance it is no wonder that it is on the list of National Herit- age. Being anywhere within a 40km radius of the three main gateways to the Grampians will make you understand why this is an area of splendour and a rich geological landscape. Located North West of Mel- bourne, the Grampians ranges cov- er about 1,600 km² and its highest peak at Mt. William reaches 1167m above sea level. Most of the ranges are sandstone that has formed over around 40 million years. In my opinion this region has an insane layout thanks to its crazy evolution and has thus given us the opportu- nity to explore a variety of unique formations and paths that have all been naturally carved out. Places like Halls Gap, Hollow Mountain, Wonderland, the Pinnacles and many other areas within the Gram- pians are a hiker's, photographer's, biologist's, geologist's playground. It's easy to say that you have a lot to see here and explore, but it's not easy to plan out your route and time is needed to see most of it, if not all. Take time to create a good plan before you go into the Gram- pians as you can easily get caught up in one area or end up being cut off to another area because there is no direct access unless you come from another side. Hall's Gap is the most popular ar- ea to enter as there are many of the easier accessible places to explore and a couple of the main attrac- tions. It also has a very small town from where you can get your sup- plies, find accommodation, have a dip in the thermal pools and have a walk around the only lake in the ar- ea. It would be a great place to base yourself if you know that you have at least five to eight days to explore Travel Exploring Australia's raw