Deven Wanders

We drove 3 hours from Melbourne to hike the Pinnacle Lookout in the Grampians, Victoria. One of the most iconic hikes in Australia. The weather had completely different plans for us. 🌧️

The trail takes you through the Grampians’ own Grand Canyon — rugged cliffs, tall rocks, a creek running right through. Honestly one of the most beautiful hidden gems in Victoria.

Then came the rain. Slippery rocks. Steep climbs. We almost turned back twice. We didn’t.

When we finally reached the Pinnacle — complete white out. No valley. No view. Just fog. And standing there soaked and exhausted, we couldn’t stop laughing.

Some hikes give you the perfect view. This one gave us the memory of a lifetime.

📍 Pinnacle Lookout via Grand Canyon Track, Grampians National Park VIC
🚗 3 hours from Melbourne

Would you still do this hike in bad weather? 👇

We almost skipped this lake. On the map it looked ordinary — so easy to drive past on the way into the Grampians. We’re so glad we stopped. 🌿

It’s one of the most underrated things to do near Halls Gap, and easily one of our favourite Grampians hidden gems so far. The water is motor-free — no engines, no noise — just glassy reflections of the Serra and Mount William ranges. Kayak, paddle, swim, or do what we did and just sit with the quiet.

Just off the main road, a short turn takes you right into the lake area. A few steps toward the dam wall… and then it just opens up. The whole lake stretches out in front of you, mountain ranges rising ahead and standing behind you too. We stood there a little stunned.

It’s “Lake Bellfield”. Minutes from town. A whole world away from it.

✨ What you can do
🚶🚴 Walk or cycle the lakeside trail
🛶 Kayak, paddle or swim (petrol boats banned)
🎣 Fish for trout & redfin
🏞️ Panoramic views from the dam wall & the top cliff

🌿 Good to know
🧺 Picnic tables & BBQ spots
🚻 Toilets on site
🅿️ Easy parking by the lake

📍 Lake Bellfield — Grampians Rd, Bellfield VIC 3381 (Gariwerd / Grampians National Park, Victoria)

No one drives 3 hours from Melbourne just to watch a movie under the stars 🌙
…but this off-grid cabin made every kilometre worth it. ✨

Save this for your next couple’s weekend escape❤️

📍 Where is this? Keep reading 👇
Tucked away near Rhymney in Victoria’s Grampians region, Meadowland is a fully off-grid, solar-powered cabin and A-frame retreat set on a working farm — designed for couples who want to slow down and disconnect.

No wifi. No noise. Just rolling hills, grazing sheep, and the most peaceful nights under the stars. 🌾

What you’ll love:
🏡 Beautifully designed off-grid cabin (solar powered)
🛏️ Cosy loft bed up the ladder
🌄 Separate A-frame lounge with Grampians mountain views
🔥 Fire pit + BBQ evenings
🎬 Outdoor movie under the open sky
🐑 Set on a real working farm
🐶 Pet-friendly (well-behaved dogs welcome)

Only ~30–40 minutes from Grampians National Park, and the closest big town is Ararat. The perfect mix of remote escape and easy access.

📖 Book your stay via Riparide —

🏕️ Hosted by .glamping

📲 Story & full guide on

📍 Mount Worth Lookout, Gippsland — Victoria

A roadside lookout most people drive straight past — no platform, no signs, just a curve in a gravel road and one of Victoria’s most underrated panoramas.

On a clear day, the view sweeps across the Latrobe Valley to the Great Dividing Range and out to Westernport Bay. Tucked into the Strzelecki Ranges, with Mount Worth State Park’s rainforest right next door.

Not a regular lookout — just a steel rail, a pull-off, and a view that does the rest.

📌 4802/4806 McDonald’s Track, Cloverlea VIC (drop the pin)
🚗 Parking for 2–3 cars on the curve, gravel road, drive slow
👀
Best on a clear day — that’s when Westernport Bay shows up

We acknowledge the Bunurong People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waters where Mount Worth Lookout sits, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. We were grateful to walk, sit, and take in the beauty of this Country — and recognise its deep cultural significance, today and always ❤️.

Save this for your next day trip from Melbourne.

One of the most peaceful lakes in Victoria, and one of the most underrated day trips from Melbourne.

📍 Blue Rock Lake, Gippsland — Victoria

Just 2 hours from the city, tucked near Willow Grove at the foothills of the Baw Baw ranges, Blue Rock Lake is all still water, soft blue hills and green all around — no crowds, no rush. Just space to breathe.

A lake so calm it mirrors the whole sky — perfect for a slow morning, a picnic by the shore, or a quiet wander along the water.

🌿 Things to do at Blue Rock Lake:
• Kayaking, fishing & boating (one of Victoria’s top spots for Australian Bass)
• Picnics & BBQs by the water
• Swimming on warmer days
• A scenic walking track along the shoreline
• Dog-friendly (on lead)

📌 Good to know:
• ~2 hrs from Melbourne, near Willow Grove (Gippsland)
• Open 8am–8pm · No camping
• Two access points: Spillway Rd & Old Tanjil Rd

Save this for your next day trip from Melbourne ❤️

Less than 2 hours from Melbourne, we found two 100-year-old hidden gems — just 3 minutes apart 🌿

🌉 The Noojee Trestle Bridge — built in 1919, Victoria’s tallest surviving wooden trestle bridge. Somehow survived the 1939 Black Friday bushfires when entire towns vanished. Still standing, over a century later.

🍻 The Noojee Hotel — “Nooj Pub” to locals. The community heart of Noojee since 1925, just turned 100. Good food, good drinks, and a backyard along the Latrobe River with the kind of charm you won’t want to leave.

The perfect Melbourne day trip — less than 2 hours away, packed with 100 years of Victorian history.

🌉 Noojee Trestle Bridge — built 1919
🍻 Noojee Hotel — community pub since 1925
🌊 Latrobe River + open green fields
📍 Noojee, Gippsland, Victoria

Save this video for your next unforgettable day trip from Melbourne❤️