GPT Southern Section Planning and Tips
We respectfully acknowledge the Djab Wurrung and Jardwardjali people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of Gariwerd.
Amazing views and great track on the Serra Range
If you’ve seen our Northern and Central Section pictures and are wavering, the 47km/29.2mi (from Yarram, not Jimmy Creek Rd), 4-day hike from Yarram to Dunkeld Southern Section should reassure you: it’s nowhere near as consistently demanding as the other sections. You still get fantastic views both to and from the Serra Range and marvellous peaks such as Mt Abrupt, but the track is largely well-formed, with far less scrambling (though there is some).
The Serra Range making its own weather… and views.
The spring wildflowers in this section are also extraordinary, perhaps even better than in the rich northern section: with a great variety of vegetation associations, from swamps to forest to rocky outcrops, orchid enthusiasts will find much to excite them!
Sun orchid with pollinator
White Spider Orchid
The southern section starts on the Mt William Range, but on Day Two you cross the Grampians Valley and climb onto the Serra Range, which you’ll follow all the way to the southern terminus at Dunkeld township. Because the trail follows the spine for so much of the time, you’ll have views both east over swamp-studded farmland, and west to the Victoria Range across the Victoria Valley with more shining lakes. You’ll also summit Signal Peak, Mt Abrupt, the Piccaninny and Mt Sturgeon, all with their own character and highlights. It is a marvellous section worth doing in its own right.
Peaceful easterly views between Wannon and Djardji-Djawara
Details
Here’s a map for the Southern Section:
The above statistics are for the Southern Section only and exclude the 7 km section from Jimmy Creek to Yarram.
Officially the section starts at Yarram, but that only works if you are continuing on from the Central Section because there is no public vehicle access to Yarram.
If you are planning just to walk the Southern Section and stay at all the campgrounds/huts, you will need to start (or finish) at Jimmy Creek.
The standard four-day three-night itinerary is:
Yarram to Wannon (11.1km / 6.9miles, 470m / 1540ft elevation gain, 740m / 2430ft elevation loss)
Wannon to Djardji-Djawarra (16.3km / 10.1miles, 610m / 2000ft elevation gain, 490m / 1610ft elevation loss)
Djardji-Djawarra to Mud-Djadjug (8.1km / 5miles, 580m / 1900ft elevation gain, 460m / 1510ft elevation loss)
Mud-Djadjug to Dunkeld Township (14.8km / 9.2miles, 510m / 1670ft elevation gain, 810m / 2660ft elevation loss)
However, if you are starting from Jimmy Creek campground, the hike to Yarram from Jimmy Creek is approximately 7km (4.4miles), with an elevation gain of approximately 500m (1640ft). And it’s a reasonably hard hike with steep and rugged parts, so slower hikers should allow for an extra day and night to walk into Yarram from Jimmy Creek, rather than trying to walk through Yarram to camp at Wannon on the first day.
Challenging track between Jimmy Creek and Yarram (technically in the Central Section, but those starting from Jimmy Creek will encounter this).
More challenging track between Jimmy Creek and Yarram but, rest assured: the track is significantly easier from Yarram wards.
There is no shelter at Wannon but all the others have huts and tent platforms. Wannon is quite exposed in terrain that funnels wind. Not only is the windbreak orientation suboptimal, but many of the tent pads also lack wind protection, so be prepared with a solid tent and stakes that can penetrate the hard compacted substrate.
Wannon Communal Gathering Place
We believe most slower hikers should be okay with the standard itinerary, but there are many day hiking or alternate itineraries because, whilst car access to each campsite is not possible, there are convenient access points to the track by car either side of each hut. Some examples how you can use this to create your own shortened itinerary include:
You can skip the challenging hike across the section of rock scree into Yarram by starting at the Yarram Gap Road crossing. You can also turn this into a day hike if you walk past Wannon and onto the Griffin Trail Head, but you’ll need a car shuffle or track transfers.
Alternatively, you can shorten this section into a two-night three-day hike if you start at the Griffin Trail Head.
Djardji-Djawara is a short hike in from Cassidy Gap Rd and, when we stayed, a couple of families with young children were there on an overnight out and return.
There are numerous alternatives, so if the full section seems a little dauting, check out our daily blogs to choose the day(s) that look most interesting to you and take advantage of the intermediate access points.
View from beside the hut at Djardji-Djawara
Water
The tank at Djardji-Djawara is serviced and will be topped up all year, but most hut tanks are not like this.
The huts all have larger tanks associated with them and these are less likely to empty, but always check with Parks in case large groups have recently been through, or at the end of the dry season eg late summer and in autumn before the season breaks. Wannon only has a small tank beside the toilet with its small roof catchment area; top up at Yarram Gap Rd crossing if travelling north to south. If travelling south to north you can fill up at Griffin Trailhead, or you may be able to fill up at the Wannon River.
Permanent serviced water tanks are located at or near:
Djardji-Djawara hut
Griffin Trailhead
Yarram Gap Rd
Picanninny Gap Car Park
Victoria Valley Rd Car Park.
Wannon’s tiny water tank and tiny catchment of the toilet: this tank could easily empty very quickly, especially if a large group or two travel through.
How to Make this Section Easier
This section is the easiest of all to customise because of the number of road crossings that allow for transfers, food drops, rest days and exit points. It is even possible to do this section as a series of day walks if you have two cars to shuffle or can or utilise Track Transfer Companies.
If you are prepared to walk a kilometre along Yarram Gap Rd, Wannon Crossing Campground can split the first day between Yarram and Wannon campgrounds. You could also start this section from there, thus avoiding the rocky terrain between Jimmy Creek and Yarram.
As always, starting early is an excellent option for slower hikers, but the distances and terrain mean that, in spring and autumn, even slower hikers should have plenty of time to complete the standard itinerary; shorter daylight hours in winter may require you to adjust your schedule.
If you’ve done the standard food drop at Jimmy Creek crossing before Yarram, you’ll be carrying five day’s of food for this last section. However, for those with spinal or other issues, the potential for food drops means you need only carry one day’s worth of food at any time because there are road access points every day. If you plan to do this, be aware that it will be expensive if using track transfer companies; it is much more economical for those with their own car.
If you elect to drop food at these non-standard locations, use well-secured plastic barrels or tubs stashed discreetly behind a bush, especially at sites such as Griffin Trail Head (walk in 600m) frequented by day hikers. Other crossing points, such as those across the Grampians Highway, Cassidy Gap Road, Yarram Gap Road and Victoria Valley Rd are more obscure: it’s likely only GPT hikers are likely to know where they are. You need a 4WD for the track in from Picanninny East Car Park, or it’s a short walk to where the GPT crosses the track.
One of the best ways to make the last day easier is to ensure that you have your vehicle and/or accommodation at Dunkeld on the last night, rather than rushing to meet the deadline of transport to take you back to Halls Gap or elsewhere. Details for this transfer are described in the General Planning and Tips for the entire hike.
Dunkeld is a quintissential Aussie country town: why not stay the night here rather than rushing off?
The Southern Section of the Grampians Peaks Trail has as many views, wildflowers, fun and variety as te Northern and Central Sections, but overall the track is better than that of the Central section, and the elevation gain and loss (and distances) less than that of the Northern Section. If you think the other two sections might be too challenging, this southern section is the one to taste: you can always come back for more! Our daily blogs will give you a good idea of the track condition, so click below to take a look, and start planning!
Following the spine of the Serra Range
