When you think of Australia’s natural wonders, the first places that come to mind are Uluru (or Ayer’s Rock, as it used to be called) and the Great Barrier Reef. Spectacular as they are, those are just two of the many equally wonderful natural attractions Australia boasts. Victoria’s Grampians National Park, just 162 miles from Melbourne, attracts over a million visitors a year and yet remains a secret to many people outside the country.

Devotees of rock climbing throughout the world know about the Grampians, though and have been spreading the word. Most climbers from outside Australia have stumbled across them almost by accident. Thousands of rock climbers come to Australia every year for only one reason: to climb the world famous climber’s mecca of Mt. Arapiles, near Horsham, one of the gateways to the Grampians. While sitting around their campfires in the evening, they hear stories about the even more amazing rock formations in the Grampians. Intrigued, they travel the short distance it takes to see them for themselves. When they return home to Europe, the United States or elsewhere around the globe, they share their photographs and videos with their friends and families and gradually, the Grampians are becoming a "can’t miss" Australian sight.

While Australians of European descent discovered the Grampians less than 200 years ago, they have been known and revered by the indigenous population for over 20,000 years. Today, the local aboriginal communities display their cultural heritage in the Brambuc National Park and Cultural Centre in Hall’s Gap. Throughout the Grampians, evidence of their remarkable history can be found in ancient aboriginal rock art.

Hall’s Gap is where you will likely go to first when you visit the Grampians. Tucked between the towering peaks of the Mount William and Wonderland ranges, this beautiful community is an ideal setting for introducing newcomers to the region. The valley puts on a spectacular floral display during the month of October which the locals celebrate with the annual Grampians Wildflower Show. October and November are great months to visit the area. The streams and lakes are full and the waterfalls flowing, making Springtime in the Grampians simply spectacular.

If you visit the Grampians over the Christmas season, you won’t be disappointed, either. December and January are the months when the serious rock climbers and hikers come to visit. On their first visit, climbing enthusiasts often make the Mt. Stapylton camping grounds their home and do their climbing at the easily accessible and only moderately difficult climbs in the appropriately named Summer Day Valley. More experienced and adventurous climbers stay in Mt. Stapylton, too, but take on the extreme challenges presented by the sheer cliff faces of the famed Taipan Wall and other cliffs, many of which are as challenging to get to as they are to climb.

As busy as the Grampians get, finding a Halls Gap accommodation is easy. Aside from the many wonderful campgrounds in the vicinity, there are quaint B&Bs, cozy lodges, hotels and motels and other Grampians accommodation to choose from. If you do stay indoors, though, make sure you spent your days outdoors, soaking up the magnificent grandeur of the Grampians.