Mount Zero Trail Head to Barigar
Magnificent tiger-stripe cliffs, caves, views, wildflowers and yet more views create an exceptionally fun and varied day!
We respectfully acknowledge the Djab Wurrung and Jardwardjali people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of Gariwerd.
Approaching the magnificent Taipan Wall
The 51 km Northern Section of the GPT is one of the most spectacular and Day 1 is a fantastic introduction to the kinds of views and varied hiking you’ll experience. You’ll follow the awe-inspiring tiger-striped Taipan Wall, detour to the cave and views at Gunigalg/Mt Stapylton and pass under and between huge boulders and rock formations. Walk along with us to find out whether you’ll love the trail as much as we did! Hint: start planning!
Elevation gain and loss details
How to Make Today Easier
This first day is relatively undemanding in terms of elevation gain with 600m; much of it is up steps and on rock slabs and most hikers will be fine with the standard itinerary, not least because it is the first day and you will be fresh. From the elevation profile, you can see that the morning begins with a steep climb up Flat Rock and then along and around Taipan Wall, after which you’ll have a long and gradual descent with views almost the entire way before you reach Golton Creek. Then you have just one more big climb for the day before dropping to Barigar campsite.
The best way to make today easier is simply to start early. Experience the Grampians dropped us off a full hour before the scheduled Grampians Peaks Walking Company bus; we could have booked an even earlier time. A sparrow fart option would also be very useful in summer if you want to beat the heat.
The Northern Section is only three nights (with the fourth being in Halls Gap) but, for those who want to lighten their pack even further ahead of time, you can leave a food drop at Roses Gap Road that you will pass tomorrow. This means carrying only today’s food plus breakfast.
For those who want an even more leisurely approach, you can split today in two (about 7km then 5 km) by booking one of the Coppermine Campsites: you would turn off shortly after Golton Creek. This is also as handy option if your itinerary requires a late start, especially in winter with shorter daylight hours.
Walk with Us:
The day begins with a steep climb to and then along and around Taipan Wall, after which you’ll have a long and gradual descent with views almost the entire way before you reach Golton Creek. Then you have just one more big climb for the day before dropping to Barigar campsite.
But first, please use the boot cleaning station, and don’t forget to spray your trekking poles too, to prevent the spread of the introduced cinnamon fungus that kills so many of our favourite Australian plants.
Almost immediately, you’ll climb Flat Rock, which in laconic Aussie idiom means not the slightest bit flat. You’ll become very familiar with this type of sloping rock because the trail takes advantage of the open hard-wearing surfaces that are so prevalent on the western slopes. Remember to look back northwards to Mt Zero that you can see above in the background; we highly recommend doing the Mt Zero day walk beforehand to greet the Grampians (this daywalk coming soon on our website) and to hike from the northernmost peak to the southernmost one. Very fast hikers could do Mt Zero first up before starting the GPT, but average and slower hikers will find that the day before will be more relaxed and enjoyable.
After the initial climb, you’ll be walking towards and then climbing along the base of the spectacular Taipan Wall. If you’re early, the Wall will be in shade and backlit by the rising sun, tricky for photography!
The wildflowers are quite different on the exposed and sunny open rock faces and in the shadier southerly aspects. Here, Goodenia ovata
Rustic steps throughout much of the Northern Section make for much easier walking, but there are a lot of them!
The view of the Wall is glorious, and the cool shade is welcome. Once you reach the top on clear days, you’ll be in sun most of the time, so enjoy it while it lasts!
By the time you reach this bizarre rock formation, you will soon be at the top of Taipan Wall.
Pterostylis planulata grows amongst rocky peaks in the Northern Grampians, often in tiny cracks and pockets of soil
Hooray say achilles tendons to steps after steep rock! The steps are beautifully built and welcome after a long climb on rock.
Don’t miss Gunigalg/Mt Stapylton: it’s a fun short spur trail with a marvellous reveal at the end; some people climb beyond the signposted finish. This area is heavily frequented by day walkers and, although we usually leave our packs in the open at the start of spur trails, a more discreet spot behind a boulder felt more appropriate here.
Wonderful views north and northeast; Hollow Rock is just out of sight. And more steeply sloping rock: you can also see how this track can get slippery after prolonged rain!
Tetratheca ciliata adds vivid splashes of colour in shadier areas
This trail is incredibly varied: it makes hiking so much fun. Here, the track is routed under a giant boulder.
Pink Fingers (Caladenia carnea) is one of the more common orchids you’ll see
White Hakea rostrata and yellow peaflowers crowded along the track. It is wonderful for those who love plants and there are views for those who don’t!
Grampians Fringe Myrtle (Calytrix sullivanii) comes in shades of dark pink to white and is another common wildflower on the track.
Pausing for second breakfast in a cool rocky corner
Glorious views south with the Grampians stretching to the horizon. It’s a long way but slower hikers have plenty of days, unlike those running the track! You can also see how Geoff is using his trekking poles on this rocky descent: it’s not steep, but slips are easy because it is so uneven.
Holly leaf Grevillea (G. aquifolium) is spectacular…
…but many of Australia’s terrestrial orchids are highly cryptic: they are small and in tones of green and brown. It’s only when you get up close to them that you see their extraordinary form: here, Pterostylis pusillus
A lovely sandy section of track: don’t worry, it’s not all rocks!
This trail has been so beautifully routed. The ledge is plenty wide and of course provides yet more views. You can see how the track has already worn to a different colour to surrounding rock. If you’re unsure of the track, look for this wear as well as those yellow markers.
Another cryptic orchid, the little Bronze Cap (Caladenia iridescens). Most of us enthusiasts usually scan for orchids, but all the ones I’ve spotted today are right beside the path because you really have to watch where you put your feet!
Lunch with a view in a tiny patch of shade: it’s hot! Although we dehydrate homemade Cup-a-Soups, crackers and other lightweight yummy backpacking lunches, hard cheese and salami from the Halls Gap supermarket are convenient for the first day and make for more variety. We tend not to carry these for more lunches because although they are nutrient dense they are also quite heavy (jerky and freeze dried cheese are good alternatives). Crackers are lighter than wraps and mountain bread.
A small waterhole atop a rock ledge.
Blue grass lily, Stypandra glauca
You can see how the the track is routed along edges for much of the time and this is what makes the GPT so great for views. Marvellous stuff!
One last tiny creek crossing
A sea of wattle and lovely underfoot. You are nearly there!
Here is the layout of Barigar campground.
And here is one of those marvellous huts. We weren’t convinced about them from the images because the high ceilings seemed impractical. They are certainly cool with those mesh screens at the top! A heavy sliding door allows you to close up the hut completely. Unlike the tent platforms, the floor has been constructed with gaps between the planks. Go figure!
Here is the XMid Pro2 set up on a platform. We chose a platform in the sunniest spot where the wood had dried enough to create a few gaps wide enough for our stainless deck hooks. The red aluminium fishbone style ones are less likely to fit most platforms, at least for some years yet.
Home dehydrated beef vindaloo on the rock above the hut (right). It has been an exhilarating day, even better than we had imagined it would be. We can’t wait for tomorrow — surely it can’t be as good? (Spoiler alert: it is even more spectacular!).
