The Grampians: 5 charming accommodations for a weekend in nature

Sip your glass of red wine on your front porch while watching kangaroos play on the grass. Halls Haven offers such cottage experiences with a one-bedroom unit, two-bedroom units and a deluxe two-bedroom cottage with spa bath.

All units will treat you to mountain or lawn views from your private patio and you will have access to an ensuite bathroom with free toiletries, bathrobes and a hairdryer. To really feel at home, your cottage comes equipped with cooking facilities that include an oven, stove, refrigerator and a microwave, so you can cook your own meals and prepare picnics at your own leisure.

Besides nearby hiking trails, Halls Haven entices you to stay on site with a swimming pool, tennis court, playground and free bike hire. For cosy nights on the property, treat the family to a homecooked dinner using the BBQ facilities and top it off by roasting your own marshmallows over the fire pit. Kids will especially love coming here as aside from the nearby Halls Gap Zoo. The resort itself is home to a variety of animals, such as peacocks, ducks, cows, horses, goats and alpacas.

Another tasteful cottage near the nature reserve is at Mountain View Motor Inn & Holiday Lodges. Plan for strolls across the six hectares of native gardens and enjoy the chance to encounter wild kangaroos, kookaburras and Ernie the emu.

Each cottage features an ensuite bathroom and is set up with air conditioning, heating, electric blankets and tea/coffee making facilities. This makes a visit to the mountains comfortable no matter the time of year. Choose wisely and splash out on a cottage with a private spa bath.

Full independence is possible at this accommodation as guests have the luxury of making use of their fully-equipped kitchen or even the BBQ facilities in the outdoor dining areas. Break a sweat on the tennis or volleyball courts and then cool down with a swim in the on-site pool. If you’re travelling with kids, let them run wild at the Inn’s playground.

Mountain View Motor Inn & Holiday Lodges is only 20 minutes by car from the National Park and only five to get you to the zoo, Gap Vineyard, shops, restaurants and the local pub.

If you have a keen eye for style, the Grampians Pioneer Cottages have a range of different cottage designs, take your pick of natural cottages, made from either red brick, redgum logs, stones or mud bricks. All four units have a comfy living room that includes a flat-screen TV and a kitchen fitted with an oven, microwave, kettle and toaster. Free Wi-Fi and BBQ facilities can be enjoyed as well.

There is plenty of space around each cottage for full privacy and the 60-acres of native bushland and walking trails are safe for kids to roam. The local chickens, especially, are a delight to little ones as they can let the birds out of their cage and check for eggs every morning.

If you want to stay active and explore the surroundings, Lake Fyans is close by. Bring your fishing rod and try your luck at catching dinner or go on a casual ride around the lake on bicycles.

The current owners were actually married at Grampians Pioneer Cottages and have called Halls Gap home for the past six years. Therefore, if you need advice on where to go and dine, they are happy to share local tips.

To stay right by a tranquil lake, book your stay at Lake Fyans Holiday Park. Take a moment to really admire the view over the lake with the awe-inspiring Grampian Hills rising in the background.

You have plenty of space to roam the holiday park, which offers the opportunity for fishing, canoeing and boating excursions, as well as an outdoor pool, restaurant and BBQ facilities. For those who like a bit of competition, try the tennis court or one of the games rooms with table tennis.

For larger groups and families, deluxe cabins can sleep up to six people and is equipped with a flat-screen TV, dining area, kitchen and lounge area. The kitchen is well-equipped for cooking and comes with a stove, kettle, pots and pans.

Aside from the wonderful lake, you have easy access to Illawarra State Forrest and the town of Stawell, which are both approximately a 15-minute drive away.

What better way to start your mornings than with the sounds of kookaburras in the distance and views of the Pinnacle mountain ranges from your bedroom window. The Grampians motel is set on 12 acres of parkland and offers a range of different accommodation styles suited to both couples and families alike.

Couples can opt for a spacious deluxe room to enjoy a soak in the corner spa and end their night with a glass of wine in front of the electric log fire. While families might prefer the Bellfield Studio, spacious enough for six people and is fitted with full cooking facilities and a large front deck for wildlife watching. Expect kangaroos, emus, echidna and deer to be walking about!

If you don’t want to venture far for dinner, the on-site restaurant The Views is one of the newest in Halls Gap and offers up different dishes from around the world. If you want to try something a bit more local, opt for The Views Bush Tasting Plate with a selection of Kangaroo fillet, emu fillet, crocodile tail and light-grilled prawns with sides of local chutney and salad.