GRAMPIANS (VIC)
           The Balconies (Jaws of Death)

Return distance : 2 km ; Time : 40 minutes

Here is an easy walk in the Grampians starting from Reed Lookout. The Lookout road branches off Mount Victory Road.

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We made an early start and drove to the Lookout, overlooking Victoria Valley. It was just beautiful, with the whole valley covered with a blanket of snowy white cloud.

Reed Lookout is the starting point of the track to the rock formation known as ‘The Balconies’ or more descriptively, ‘The Jaws of Death’.

The track is wide, well made, and has a gentle gradient. Rather different, as I remember, from years ago, when it was a hazardous excursion over loose rocks.

Credit : Bob Padula, http://www.worldisround.com/articles/325944/photo29.html

The track is not a walking challenge, but there are many interesting sights along the way.  Here is an unusual toadstool rock, with Lake Wartook in the distance.  Ignore the gnomes!

In the spring (October) there were lots of beautiful plants to enjoy ... colourful leaves ...

... and various high country flowers.

The track finally emerges at a lookout over the Victoria Valley with this interesting rock formation at the end, aptly nicknamed ‘the jaws of death’.  There used to be uninhibited access to this lookout, but it has now been fenced off in a safe but boring way.  For old times’ sake, one of us decided to scale the fence and face the danger! It is really quite safe.

Ah, the power of example! Now everyone is in on the act!

An easy and worth-while walk.