Halls Gap - Venus Baths Loop Walk
The Venus Baths Loop Walk is a shady stroll to rockpools.
Distance: 2.3 km circuit
Time: 30 minutes - 1 hour
Grade: Easy
Elevation Change: 50 metres
Start: Carpark opposite shops in Halls Gap
Walk through the carpark, past the swimming pool and cross the sealed road. Follow the track and cross the pedestrian bridge to the right over Stony Creek to the Botanic Gardens. The track winds along the creek and past some towering sandstone cliffs. The delightful Venus Baths rockpools are just beyond a footbridge. Return to Halls Gap by the same route or cross the footbridge and follow the track on the opposite side of the creek.
Review:
This is a real Grampians gem, especially during warm weather. The walk is not too long, even for kids, and has impressive rocky walls along the route which follows Stony Creek. It is nice to start on one side of the creek, cross the bridge at the half way point and come back on the other side of the creek. The north side of the creek is shadier and a bit flatter than the south side path and has very impressive rock formations.
At the start of the walk on the south side is a memorial to Agnes Folkes who died aged 3 months on 30th July 1870. This serves to represent a reminder of past activities in the park and a sign reads "A short life ........ The Folkes family operated a local sawmill here, supplying timber for surrounding farms, fences and mines. It was a harsh and isolated life. Aged only three months, little Agnes Folkes died of Diptheria. Her parents were unable to ride through flooded creeks to reach the doctor. Her father made a small coffin of local timber and buried her here near their log homestead. Timber harvesting finally ceased in the Grampians National Park in June 1995"
At the half way point there is a wonderful area where the creek flows into a series of pools and splashes out over rock ledges. This is a great place to loll about on the rocks or splash about in the shallow water. The water can be terribly cold but that just adds to the experience.
This is such a super spot that a sign proclaims that during the last 170 years since Charles Hall explored this gully, more people have passed through this area than any other place in the Grampians.
Please note that snakes also like this place on hot days.
From this point, tracks also lead to Splitters Falls (2.7 km), Boroka Lookout (6.0 km) and Wonderland Carpark (2.3 km)
Photos:
Location
School Street, Halls Gap 3381 Map
