Halls Gap - May 2025

 

29th May - 2nd June 2025

$178 for 4 nights - stay 4 pay 3

2 Adults, 2 children (under 5 free)

Powered site 112

 

We had a weekend away with Uncle James, Aunty Ash, Caleb, Heidi and baby Bonnie

We have stayed at Lakeside once before and it is very impressive and it didn't disappoint this time either

Halls Gap Lakeside is located next to the dam wall off Lake Bellfield and adjacent to a valley. It is a beautiful friendly park with great facilities including a wood fire heated pool that is warm all year round, spring free trampolines, playground, large camp lounge & new amenities and amazing views & full of kangaroos

We left straight after school on Thursday and arrived around 6pm, we decided not to set up the annex this tri[ and kept our packing pretty minimal which allowed for a quick set up and then dinner. James & Ash arrived a little later but also set up quite quickly.

We had a late night visitor in our camp 

The wildlife certainly wasn't shy and we had to make sure everything, especially food was always packed up when we weren't there.  

Mason had his breakfast stolen out of his hand by our resident Kookaburra on the first morning which the kids named "Geoff" although scared I think the kids ended up loving him and Mason even brought "Geoff" socks to keep 

 

Next day it was a slow relaxing morning at camp, the kids rode their bikes and played at the play ground

 In the afternoon we headed off for a walk to the Pinnacle 

There are a couple of ways you can climb to the Pinnacle but with 6 kids we decided to attempt the easier of the few.

Distance: 2.1km
Duration: 45 minutes to 1 hour each way
Track condition: Good
Grade: Medium
Start: Sundial Carpark
Finish: The Pinnacle

We got off to a good start 

The walk was quite rocky with lots of rock climbing, exploring and up hill walking

 but the views were beautiful 

and all 10 of us made it to the top!

We had a quick rest / snack stop before heading back down 

Uncle Jim on the way down..

The kids did such a great job, no one was carried (except baby BonBon) and there was minimal complaining 

We headed back to camp for a relax around the camp fire, we had dinner in the camp kitchen/lounge room which is so cosy and comfortable 

and then headed back to toast some marshmellows before putting the kids to bed.

Next day we had a slow morning, the caravan park were holding a treasure hunt so I took the kids to have a go at that. We collected our clues from the office and set off around the park.

I didn't take a photo unfortunately but there were picture of places around the park and when you found each place there was a hidden letter of the alphabet there and all the letters made the winning word. On the back there was also harder questions for the grown ups - It was quite good.

We headed to the Halls Gap Hotel for lunch and sat outside in the sun, with the beautiful view and play ground

 

Then we headed back for a swim in the woodfire heated pool 

on the way home we had to almost come to a stand still to let 2 deer cross the road right in front of us

Dinner was up in the camp kitchen again as it was just freezing outside and more marshmellows for dessert.

Sunday turned out to be another big day of walking!

One of my favourite walks in Halls Gap is Zumsteins car park to the base of McKenzie Falls however the return trip is around 7.2km and a couple of hours which we didn't think the kids could do on top the the pinnacle climb so we opted to drive to the McKenzie Falls car park and attempt the  260 narrow steps and walk to the base of the falls 

We all made it safely to the bottom but photos just don't do this waterfall justice. 

Then one thing lead to another and next minute we are walking to fish falls

McKenzie Falls to Fish Falls return

Distance: 3.9km return
Duration: 1 hour each way
Track condition: Rocky 
Grade: Flat / Medium 
Start: McKenzie Falls Car Park/ Base of McKenzie falls
Finish: Fish Falls

and we made it

Fish Falls cascades 60 metres over terraced rocks into a pool below year round. I have seen this waterfall after heavy rains and it is beautiful 

but this time it is the start of winter and while it is still flowing it is a lot lighter than last time we were here

We started on the top tier and had a snack after our walk. 

and then headed down the path beside the falls

To the pool at the bottom

and then we started the walk back to McKenzie Falls with the kids playing along the way 

We needed some games and songs along the way back to keep the kids distracted from the long walk and It was very tough getting up those 260 steps at the end but we got there in the end

 and finished off with a picnic with an emu

It was a tiring but beautiful day finished off with another swim and a fire

Next day was pack up day and time to head home but not before an ice cream an attempt at a photo

It was so nice to spend the weekend with James and his family and the kids to make lots of memories together, we cant wait for Halls Gap Part 2 together....