Established in 1968, Ararat Regional Art Gallery holds one of only two major contemporary fibre and textile collections in regional Australia. The gallery presents a diverse annual program showcasing artists working with fibre and textiles, together with touring exhibitions and exhibitions drawn from the gallery's permanent collection.
Key sub collections include:
* Textile miniatures
* The Art of the Japanese Package: traditional Japanese packaging predominantly using natural ...
'A visit to Best s is an absolute must for any wine fancier. Few wineries are as historic or as atmospheric. The rustic timber winery building and underground cellar breathe history, and alongside is one of the country s most unusual blocks of vines, a Nursery Block planted in the 1860s which is a sort of living museum of ancient vines, some of them of obscure and mysterious origin. The wines here are excellent, with outstanding Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, savoury Dolcetto, and fresh Pinot Me...
* Birdwatching and nature study are rewarding in an area which is home to a great variety of birds, reptiles and small mammals
There are no facilities or water are provided in the park however there are some campsites provided nearby at Big Billy Bore, the Springs, Moonlight Tank and Broken Bucket Reserve along the Nhill-Murrayville Road. Bore water is available at Big Billy Bore and Broken Bucket Reserve and there are toilets at Broken Buck...
Black Range State Park (11 700 hectares) and the surrounding area provide for excellent bushwalking. A long walk commences at the Black Range Picnic Area and leads to the top of the Black Range providing excellent views. The walk continues south along the range to Muirfoot Track. More adventurous walkers can choose to continue along Muirfoot Track to a walking track leading to Mount Byron (an elevation of 520 metres) or return to the picnic area.
Brambuk is a special place. Situated in Halls Gap within the natural oasis that is Grampians/Gariwerd National Park, it is the perfect place to experience Australia s native flora and fauna and Aboriginal culture.
The site incorporates the National Park information and Brambuk Aboriginal Cultural centres.
Brambuk is 100% owned and operated by Aboriginal people and is the longest running Aboriginal Cultural Centre in Australia.
Its multi award winning architecture interprets the tradi...
Set among rolling hills in Western Victoria, Dergholm State Park is a great place to bushwalk, picnic and enjoy a tranquil natural setting. The park has diverse vegetation communities including woodlands, open forests, undisturbed heaths and swamps, varied wildlife and geological features.
Things to see and do
* Enjoy spectacular spring wildflowers by day
* At night, try a spotlight walk and look for nocturnal animals such as the elusive sugar glider
Welcome to Didjun Skin and Body, your environmentally-friendly spa - reconnecting your personal well-being with nature through our Aveda treatments for the body and soul.
Unwind with our beautiful Aveda treatments or choose from a menu of packages..........
Reduce tension and restore your wellbeing with our elemental nature massage and rosemary mint body wrap - or for those tired and aching muscles, try our deep tissue massage.
Awaken, calm or purify your skin with a facial powered b...
This is the next chapter in the family originally behind the well renowned Mt Langi Ghiran Vineyard. The vineyards are nestled between the rolling hills of the Great dividing range in the Grampians region. Shiraz cuttings taken from the oldest vines at Langi are the backbone for the outstanding Grampians Shiraz. 100% Estate grown, traditional winemaking methods passed down through years of family winemaking are used to produce wines of elegance and distinction.
The cool-climate Grampians and Pyrenees regions produce some fine wines, as well as excellent olives, olive oils and farmed meat such as lamb, venison and rabbit. The Grampians is known as the birthplace of Australian sparkling wine and has a viticultural history stretching back to the 1860s. Bests Wines have been in the same family for five generations, while down the road Seppelt Great Western Winery (est. 1865) has 3km of underground cellars dug for sparking wine, which visitors can tour. War...
Grampians Adventure Golf is nestled in the heart of the spectacular Grampians National Park in Halls Gap. This course is gaining a reputation as being one of the best in Australia and indeed the world.
The beautifully landscaped course is designed to give players the feeling that they are playing in the mountains, surrounded by forest and wildlife. With 18 challenging holes to play, it is a great venue to entertain the young and young at heart.
The Grampians Estate winery aims to produce and sell 1200 dozen bottles of premium wine made predominantly from its own 3.2 hectare vineyard each year.
With an emphasis on quality, it uses the best technology, information and labour available to achieve its goal.
It makes a contribution to the local community by sponsoring the local football/netball club and is increasingly environmentally responsible having commenced an environmental best management practice program.
As more local roads re-open after the recent fires, many areas are open to visitors once again. The information notes listed on Parks Victoria website provides details on all the attractions you can visit. Visitors can obtain further information about accessible areas of the national park from the Brambuk - The National Park and Cultural Centre, or by calling the Parks Victoria Information Centre on 13 1963.
Renowned for rugged mountain ranges and stunning wildflower displays, Grampians Nati...
Come and explore the Grampians in a new, fun and exciting way on one of our guided quad bike tours of our 410 acre property at the foothills of the majestic Grampians Ranges.
Experience the excitement of riding a brand new Honda TRX 250CC 4 wheel motor bike in some of the most stunning Australian bush. See plenty of kangaroos and other wildlife as you go on your way. You will be guaranteed a fun day out with plenty of photo opportunities.
No experience is necessary as full training and...
Imagine life during Ararat's earliest beginnings and the excitement of the Chinese immigrants who discovered one of the world's richest shallow alluvial goldfields.
The world class Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre tells the story of miners from Southern China and brings to life the social, environmental and political situations of immigrant miners in the mid 1800's. Take you own journey and relive the experience of Chinese gold prospectors on their great trek from Robe, South Australia to th...
Hamilton Art Gallery, one of the finest galleries in Australia, is famous for its outstanding international collections of fine and decorative arts.
* The fabulous Shaw Bequest featuring 800 items of exquisite English and European silver, glass, porcelain, miniatures and oriental ceramics reflects the collecting interests of Herbert and May Shaw of 'Kiama' near Hamilton. This generous bequest made in 1957 was the beginnings of a collection that is today vast, fascinating, diverse and unique. ...
In 1953 when Eric and Dorothy Leeke purchased land to the North West of Ararat their intention was to build a family home, put down roots and create a semi-rural environment in which they could raise their three sons.
Already a successful entrepreneur, Eric s business interests extended from house building to petroleum distribution and from wool farming to motels, however it was his ever growing passion for wine, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling in particular, that prompted him to establish a...
At high water mark, the lake covers 5,850 hectares of the 8,300 hectare park. Ross Lake (470 hectares) and a 2.5 kilometre stretch of Outlet Creek were added to the park in 1991 and some former areas of the park were attached to Wyperfeld National Park.
The lake generally fills and empties on a 20-year cycle, the longest dry period on record being 27 years. It last filled in 1974 and held water for 9 years. Outlet Creek has flowed 3 times since 1974 affording nesting sites for water birds ov...
Fringed by ancient river red gums and fed by the Wimmera River, this huge lake is shared by parrots, pelicans, sea eagles, anglers and water sports enthusiasts alike.
The Wimmera River originates on the Great Dividing Range near Beaufort and ends in a series of 'terminal lakes', including Lake Hindmarsh, Lake Albacutya and finally, the Wyperfeld flood plains.
Things to see and do
* Boating, water skiing, swimming, nature study, camping and picnicking are popular activities at Lake H...
Langi Ghiran State Park abuts the Western Highway 80 km west of Ballarat and 14 km east of Ararat. The 2695 hectare park contains two distinct land types - rugged granite peaks and gentle sloping open woodland.
Things to Do
Picnicking
* There is a small picnic site among Candlebark Gums at the end of Kartuk Road, the main visitor access road.
Camping
* Car-based camping is restricted to the camp area at the end of Kartuk Road.
* Remote dispersed camping is permitted in the m...
Here in the Little Desert - a desert in name only - you can discover how many species of plants and animals have succeeded, on poor soils with little water, in creating a kind of arid landscape where survival depends on maintaining a delicate balance of natural forces. The best time to visit the park is between late winter and early summer when the temperatures are comfortable and the park is full of blossoms and wildflowers. The eastern block is the most accessible.
Mount Arapiles is a spectacular feature, rising sharply from the Wimmera plains to form part of the Mount Arapiles-Tooan State Park. The park includes Mitre Rock, adjacent to Mount Arapiles and the Tooan block. The 5060 hectare park is valuable for nature conservation, with about 14% of the State's flora species represented in the Mount Arapiles section alone.
Things to Do
* Mount Arapiles, widely regarded as the top rock climbing area in Australia, is of world renown.
Mount Napier State Park lies 20km to the north-east of Mount Eccles (260km south-west of Melbourne) and is dominated by Mount Napier, a true volcanic cone. Here one can stand on the edge of the most recently active volcano in Victoria and enjoy magnificent views from the Grampians to the sea.
Things to see and do
There is a walking track to the summit, which leads through the forest and past interesting volcanic formations. The walk winds through manna gum and Blackwood forest and past i...
Often referred to as Victoria's Uluru (Ayers Rock), Mt Arapiles is widely regarded as Australia’s best rock climbing area. A dramatic quartz and sandstone landmark on the Wimmera Plain that rises steeply to 230 metres, Mt Arapiles offers more than 2,000 different climbs on its many cliffs, crags and pinnacles. You can also drive, walk or cycle to its summit to take in great views of the surrounding landscape, or take one of numerous trails that crisscross the rock through spring wildflowers. Mos...
Situated on a loamy buckshot rise, Norton Estate is halfway between the Grampians and Mount Arapiles on Victoria's most southern outcrop of Mallee vegetation, and are producers of high quality wines of distinctive style and character.
The vineyards frost free elevation and loamy buckshot soils, combined with an ideal Mediterranean climate, provide for a perfect setting for premium wine production. Warm days, cool nights and a disease free status allow the vines to thrive in this vineyard.Th...
In the centre of Halls Gap, the heart of the Grampians, Leigh & Steve invite you to join them for a memorable dining experience, in a tranquil setting on the banks of the picturesque Stony Creek, whilst taking in the breathtaking views of the magnificent Grampians sandstone peaks.
Our talented Chefs expertly and lovingly prepare a mouth watering cuisine for you to dine in style & we ensure expert quality service at affordable prices for the whole family to enjoy.
St Arnaud Range National Park has 13,900 hectares of mainly steep, forested terrain and is an ideal place to experience what the forests were like before the gold rushes. The park has one of the largest intact areas of Box-Ironbark vegetation. It encompasses the former Kara Kara State Park and much of the St Arnaud Range State Forest.
Things to Do
* The banks of the Upper Teddington Reservoir are a pleasant venue for camping and picnics.
* The rocky ridge tops in the park offer fine vie...
Located in the flat, semi-arid north-western corner of Victoria, Wyperfeld is one of Australia's most fascinating national parks. The central feature of this huge, 356,800 ha park, is a chain of lake beds connected by Outlet Creek, the northern extension of the Wimmera River. The lakes only fill when the Wimmera River over-supplies Lake Hindmarsh to the south of Lake Albacutya. When it rains the semi-arid landscape is transformed by tiny desert plants that sprout from long-dormant seeds, carpeti...