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The trip starts and ends in Melbourne. 

Joining location: National Gallery of Victoria (NGV International), 180 St Kilda Road (In front of the main entrance to the NGV facing St Kilda Road), Melbourne, Australia

There is no such thing as an 'easy day' on this walk. There are a lot of ups and downs, and lots of rocky sections with the odd boulders. We will take the steep hills at a slow and steady pace and will also take care on the downhill sections. The walk has been designed to make it achievable to those of reasonable fitness by the fact that you only carry a daypack; and you start with short and easier sections, working your way up to longer and more difficult days. You will be surprised just how your fitness improves over just a few days. Usually by day four people are striding out! A positive mental attitude is most important. If you focus on the scenery, the company and the moment, not on the kilometers, then you find yourself reaching your destination with little problem. If you have done some training prior to the walk, you will enjoy it all the more.

The best way to prepare physically for the trip is to walk, walk and walk some more - preferably over a variety of terrain and including lots of up and downhill walking. Try to walk frequently. Even walking around your suburb and up and down sets of stairs will get you walk-fit. By the start of the tour, you should be able to comfortably walk 15km, and try and do a few 20km walks on rough tracks, as well as being comfortable walking steep hills. Include stepping up onto and over big steps, a random rock or bench on your walk would make a good candidate to add to your training regime. Many of the council provided outdoor gyms have blocks you can practice stepping up on to. Make sure to train both legs equally!

We know that this type of preparation is difficult to fit into a busy schedule. If you don't have the time to do long walks, we recommend doing regular stair walking sessions and lots and lots of glut exercises (squats and lunges). Walking small distances frequently helps a lot as well. For instance, walking 3 - 5km four times a week, and 8km once a week, is a great help. If you're doing short training sessions, make sure you get yourself puffed and sweaty. Otherwise you won't benefit from your efforts. And start walking in the shoes you will wear on the walk now!

Passport
You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date.

We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends.

Visas
Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed.

All travellers, except New Zealand citizens, must obtain a visa or travel authority before travelling to Australia. Failure to do so means you may not be allowed to board your flight to Australia. Most nationalities can obtain an Electronic Travel Authority via the internet before arrival.

Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses, including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region, please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative.

If you have credit card insurance, your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number, rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.

GENERAL HEALTH
All travellers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. For the safety and wellbeing of yourself and others, if you are unwell prior to travelling, please stay at home and contact us to make alternative arrangements.

When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the assessment of our group leader or local representative a traveller is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.

You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements in their original packaging as they may not easily be obtained while travelling. If you are carrying medication, ensure you check your government's foreign travel advice for any local restrictions or requirements. 

HYDRATION
Daytime temperatures across Australia be extreme (especially from September to March) with temperatures over 40ºC (104ºF). Even for travellers familiar with these temperatures, it’s easy to become dehydrated. The key point to remember is not to wait until you’re thirsty, but to drink water regularly. Adding an electrolyte solution can aid in replenishing the salts/electrolytes lost when travelling at this time of year. You will be required to carry at least 1L of water per hour of walking.

As we operate in remote areas, guests will need to bring all of their own personal medications on tour. Whilst our guides are qualified in remote area or wilderness first aid and carry satellite phones, we do not carry epi-pens, Ventolin or other emergency medications. If a person requires urgent medical attention whilst on tour, it may take several hours or more for emergency services to attend the scene and take you to a medical facility. Under certain circumstances, your tour consultant may request a medical certificate of fitness before you are cleared to participate in the tour. If pre-existing medical issues that will affect your ability to complete the tour or have an impact on other guests' experiences are not disclosed prior to the departure, we reserve the right to remove you from the tour.

MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS
As we operate in remote areas, guests will need to bring all of their own personal medications on tour. Whilst our guides are qualified in remote area or wilderness first aid and carry satellite phones, we do not carry epi-pens, Ventolin or other emergency medications. If a person requires urgent medical attention whilst on tour, it may take several hours or more for emergency services to attend the scene and take you to a medical facility.

Under certain circumstances your tour consultant may request a medical certificate of fitness before you are cleared to participate on the tour. If pre-existing medical issues that will affect your ability to complete the tour or have an impact on other guests experiences, are not disclosed prior to the departure, we reserve the right to remove you from the tour.

MEDICAL RESTRICTIONS
As we operate in remote areas, guests will need to bring all of their own personal medications on tour. Whilst our guides are qualified in remote area or wilderness first aid and carry satellite phones, we do not carry epi-pens, Ventolin or other emergency medications. If a person requires urgent medical attention whilst on tour, it may take several hours or more for emergency services to attend the scene and take you to a medical facility. Under certain circumstances your tour consultant may request a medical certificate of fitness before you are cleared to participate on the tour. If pre-existing medical issues that will affect your ability to complete the tour or have an impact on other guests experiences, are not disclosed prior to the departure, we reserve the right to remove you from the tour. You can bring a CPAP machine whilst on tour but you will need to purchase a single supplement.

You will be surprised at just how good the food is! Breakfast comprises a continental buffet or an A la Carte breakfast at the restaurant of the hotel (dependant on numbers). Lunch is cold meats and salad with sandwiches, rolls or wraps. Dinner is a 2-course meal at a local restaurant. Morning tea is supplied and fresh fruit is always available. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know when you book, we are happy to adapt our tasty, nutritious meals to suit a variety of dietary needs.

Feel free to bring alcohol and additional snacks e.g. muesli bars, nuts, chocolate etc. There will be time for you to purchase additional alcohol and supplies during the week.

SPENDING MONEY
When it comes to spending money on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. Make sure you have read the itinerary and inclusions thoroughly so you know what is included in the trip price and what you may need to pay for while travelling.

AUSTRALIA
The official currency of Australia is the Australian dollar (AUD). Card payments, including digital card payments like Apple Pay, are the most common form of payment in Australia. Many vendors add a small surcharge for card payments. Cash is accepted in most places and ATMs are common.

TIPPING
Tipping can be an appropriate way to recognise great service when travelling. While it may not be customary in your home country, it is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many of our destinations and is greatly appreciated by the people who take care of you during your travels. It is always best to avoid tipping with coins, very small denomination notes, or dirty and ripped notes, as this can be regarded as an insult rather than the goodwill gesture it is intended to be.

YOUR GROUP LEADER OR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE
Tipping your group leader or local representative is highly appreciated if you feel they’ve provided outstanding services throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, as a guideline, the recommended amount is 4-7 USD or EUR per traveller per day (in a currency relevant to your destination). Of course, you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length and involvement of your group leader or local representative on your trip.

CONTINGENCY FUNDS
We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or a Force Majeure Event. In such emergency circumstances, the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred because of changes to itineraries, including but not limited to visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights.

Make sure you have access to an extra USD 500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last-minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result, there may be some extra costs involved.

The recommended amount is listed in USD for the relatability of all travellers; however, local currency may be needed once in the country to cover these costs. Please confirm with your leader on Day 1 if you need to carry this in cash, or whether access via card or electronically is sufficient.

ESSENTIAL ITEMS:
Day-pack - with a thick waist strap to help take some weight off your shoulders. In wet weather, a waterproof cover or a bin bag to wrap your belongings in can be handy
• Shorts/long pants and shirts for walking - as many sets as you wish! Quick-dry material is best,
especially for trousers. Don't wear jeans walking.
• Socks - whichever thickness you're comfortable walking in and as many pairs as you like
• Boots/shoes for walking (make sure you wear them in well - see note on footwear below)
• Windcheater or lightweight jumper for walking
• Waterproof jacket*
• Sun protection - hat (secure fitting and/or with chin strap), sun cream, sun glasses
• Casual clothes for evenings
• Any preferred first aid supplies - such as your favourite blister treatment! (Your guide will carry a
full first-aid kit)
• Water bottle/s or camelback - 3 litre capacity
*You have to expect some bad weather at any time of the year along the Grampians Peaks Trail so
bring wet weather gear even if the forecast is fine.

OPTIONAL ITEMS:
• Waterproof pants. Some people love them and some hate them - personally, we don't wear them
too often, but there have been times where they have been invaluable, especially when that chilly
southern wind is blowing.
• Fly net (especially for walks in warmer weather)
• Camera and charger/batteries
• Gaiters for snake bite protection are recommended unless you are wearing long pants and long
socks. They're also good for keeping dirt out of your shoes.
• Sock protectors (to keep rocks out of your boots)
• Sandals for relaxing at the accommodation at the end of the day
• Bathers (the pool at the hotel is closed from May-November)
• Small towel to carry during the day (to dry feet or for after a swim)
• Beanie and gloves (Depending on the time of year it can be pretty cold early in the morning and at
night)
• A lunch container, to avoid squashing your sandwich in your backpack or if you choose to only
bring a salad (with freezer brick and fork if desired). Or a beeswax wrap to use instead of our
provided glad wrap.
• Walking poles (will save your knees 30% less pressure!)
• Torch/headlamp (can be handy when twin sharing for getting up at night)
• Snacks and alcohol - Due to our accommodation being close to the town centre there will be many
opportunities to purchase alcohol during the week if you need to. Some people like to have some
snacks for the trail including muesli bars, nuts, lollies

WEATHER IN VICTORIA
Victoria experiences four distinct seasons throughout the year. During the summer, daily temperatures are between 14C/57F and 27C/80F. During winter, daily temperatures are between 6C/42F and 13C/55F. Spring is the wettest time of year, with October’s average rainfall reaching 53mm. The weather at higher altitudes can be unpredictable and even in the height of summer can experience very cold weather. Please pack appropriate warm and waterproof clothing including a beanie, sturdy enclosed shoes and a rain jacket. Layering clothing can be beneficial. Please consider the time of year you are travelling.