124. Lakeview Lookout and Sundial Peak

U3A HIKE NO 124



Hike Report by Mark Hawley

After 4 days of parking the car in a valley and walking up to a spectacular view, this walk was the perfect way to end a busy week. A 9am rendezvous at the Halls Gap parking area saw Gordon presented with a thank-you gift of a book about Grampians wildflowers for his great leadership, preparation and organisation over the week. Next a short drive to the Sundial Carpark located up the back slope of Sundial Peak. 


Part One (approx1.5k) of the day’s walking was to Lakeview Lookout. As the name implies it offers a view of Lake Bellfield, plus the entire valley with Halls Gap nestling below. Lurking next-door to the north side is The Pinnacle - hardly Everest but it still prompted the Edmund Hillary quote: ‘We Knocked the Bastard Off!’ from our walk a couple of days ago. Next the path – part of the 36km Grampians Peaks Trail which took us along the top of the ridge until it offered a choice of continuing on to The Pinnacle or looping back to the carpark. Pinnacle being old news now, carpark was the choice. 


Part Two (approx4.5k) of the day saw us walking to the Sundial Lookout on a picturesque path lined by wildflowers and lusher than we had seen most of the week. Although it is not obvious usually, Sundial Peak is sundial shaped if viewed from Mt Rosea next-door south side. Morning tea was taken on the lookout approach and admiring Mt Rosea (our first Hillary moment for the week). Onwards we marched to the top to find there is acyually a sundial on Sundial Peak (courtesty of students from Stawell Tech School), plus more stunning views of the valley. A pleasant downhill walk back to the carpark led to the drive back to Halls Gap.  There we had more morning tea/ lunch and most made their good-byes from a memorable week. 


Both the paths were on the easier side on the scale that Grampians offers. Relatively small uphills because of the elevation of the Sundial carpark and long sections of level sandy/soil paths were a contrast to the steep and rocky diet we had come to expect. The sort of tracks you could probably manage with the family carrying a water bottle and wearing soft shoes and casual gear, if you arrived under-prepared for a harder hike. Lots of wildflowers, rock formations or glorious views depending on where your passions lie.  BIG thanks to Gordon, Andrew and U3A Hikers for showing us around areas that we could only imagine existed.  A fun and active week indeed! 


Photos by Andrew Parker









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