Mt Arapiles

Often referred to as Victoria’s Uluru (Ayers Rock), Mt Arapiles is a dramatic quartz and sandstone landmark on the Wimmera Plain that rises steeply to 230 metres. Drive, walk, cycle or climb to its summit to take in great views of the surrounding landscape, or take one of numerous trails that crisscross the rock through spring wildflowers.

Mt Arapiles is widely regarded as Australia’s best rock climbing area, offering more than 2,000 different climbs on its many cliffs, crags and pinnacles. Instruction in rock climbing is available locally.

To reach the summit, choose between two short but steep walking tracks from Centenary Park at the base or drive along Lookout Road, which winds its way up to a car park near the summit, where a short track leads to the scenic lookout.

Near the top of Lookout Road, a side road to the right leads to the Bluff picnic area and more great views. The vehicle track that circles Arapiles is suitable for cycling and driving and is a good walk in wildflower season, although all but the eastern end of the track is closed to vehicles during winter.

Most of the Arapiles plateau is covered by low, open forest of box, buloke and white cypress pine. Below the plateau, yellow gum woodland is found. Throughout the park, wildflowers bloom in spring. About 500 species of native plants are found in the park, including several rare or endangered species such as rock wattle and skeleton fork-fern.

Mt Arapiles is home to a variety of animals and 109 bird species have been recorded in the area, including the peregrine falcon, rainbow bee-eater, Gilbert whistler and southern scrub robin. Kangaroos can be seen grazing the lower slopes and possums come out at night to forage in the tree canopies. In summer shingle-back lizards and eastern brown snakes can be seen soaking up the warm sun.

The main picnic area and the only location where camping is permitted is Centenary Park, near the base of the cliffs. There are fireplaces, picnic tables, water and toilets, but no showers, and picnic areas at the car park summit and at The Bluff.

How to get there
Mt Arapiles is 320 kilometres north-west of Melbourne and is directly accessible from the Wimmera Highway, 30 kilometres west of Horsham.