a weekend to remember

Sunday morning we got up early and left for the Grampians (on the list of 1001 natural wonders of the world). Took a train from Southern cross station (melbourne) to Ararat, bus from Ararat to Stawell, Bus from Stawell to Halls Gap (main town in the Grampians, has a population of 300 people.). The Grampians is a national park and renown around the world for its rock climbing (which we learnt from rock climbers staying at Tims place (hostel). We arrived @ 12 and luckily the bus driver for the last part of the trip had hiked the area a few million times so advised us where to go. We followed his advice and took all 3 hikes he suggested. The first one, about 8kms, was through a valley following a stream to the Brambuk national park and cultural center. along the way we saw a ton of kangaroos and also 3 emus. The emus chased the kangaroos. We also saw 2 red bellied snakes (apparently posoinous), a superb fairy wren, and 2 shingleback skinks (that made me eeek). We then walked back to Tims place and after a little rest headed to Chatauqua Peak for a magnificent vue of the valley and stopped at Clematis falls on the way (not much water was flowing down). Along this walk Leslie spotted an Echidnae and we also saw 2 more shingleback skinks (which again caused me to yelp). The day was topped off with watching a game of Cricket (first time i sat down and tried to understand what was going on).... but the highlight was the fact that there were about 15 kangaroos hanging out on the field (some with babies in their pouches) just chilling there... and were only alarmed if the ball went there way and someone ran into the crowd of kangas to get the ball.
At night we chatted with people from our hostel from all over, cambodia, sweden, france, belgium and a few from Australia.

We woke up early Sunday morning, tasted some vegemite from John (the man tending to the hostel while Tim was in Paris) and started our hike to the pinacle (about 10km from where we were staying). This hike brought us through the Halls Gap botanical gardens, Venus Baths and Splitters falls before arriving to the Wonderland car park where most people start the hike. The first part of the hike led us through a beautiful canyon, the rest was quite steep but we took the long way up (passed the pinnacle because what you're following is arrows on the rocks... which can be confusing), and took in a breath taking views from the top. We took the shorter but steeper hike down.We then indulged on pizza and fries after feeling like we'd done more exercise than we have the whole almost 2 months we've been here and then took the long ride home. what a splendid weekend.