Paddling in Grampians National Park

Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park sits in western Victoria, roughly 235 kilometres west of Melbourne, where sandstone ranges rise above a landscape of lakes, reservoirs, and creeks.

The paddling here is flatwater — calm lake surfaces, quiet coves, and still inlets — framed by mountain ridgelines that drop directly to the water's edge.

There is no whitewater to speak of; this is a place for canoes and touring kayaks, for covering ground slowly and watching what comes to the bank.

The waters that anchor the paddling are Lake Bellfield, Lake Wartook, and Moora Moora Reservoir, all named by Parks Victoria as paddling destinations within the park. Lake Bellfield draws paddlers and anglers to its open water and quiet coves.

Wartook is more secluded, suited to unhurried exploration. Moora Moora Reservoir rounds out the park's core flatwater.

Lake Fyans, just outside Halls Gap, is the most accessible entry point and the base for guided canoe trips — a short drive from the main township and calm enough for first-time paddlers.

Lake Hamilton rounds out the lakes commonly paddled in the broader region. Many of these waters are motorboat-free, which matters: you paddle in genuine quiet, with the sounds of the park rather than engines.

Wildlife comes close — roos at the water's edge, pelicans overhead — in ways that don't happen on the walking tracks. The Grampians has a mild climate and paddling is viable year-round. Bring your own boat or hire locally; both are workable.

Drone use within the national park requires a permit, as drones affect wildlife and park operations — check with Parks Victoria before flying anything over the water. The lakes here don't ask much of your technical skills.

What they ask is that you slow down enough to let the park come to you.