Grampians wildlife: Why do so many animal species live in the National Park?

The wildlife in the Grampians is prodigious. That’s partly because the Grampians National Park provides safe habitat, but mainly because geological forces have made it a natural island.

Detailed answer: The Grampians National Park is one of the top national parks in Australia, and a fabulously reliable place to see wildlife. It is most famous for its kangaroos, which hang out around the small Victorian town of Halls Gap, a three hour drive from Melbourne.

It’s not just kangaroos of course, although they’re the easiest creatures to find. Around 40% of all mammals found in Victoria can be found here, along with 45% of all the bird species. Spend a day walking through the forests with your eyes peeled and you’ll probably come across koalas, cockatoos, kookaburras and many of the other Australian wildlife favourites.

Pick the right Grampians tour from Melbourne

Small group eco-tour – including Silverband Falls and Mackenzie Falls.
Great Ocean Road AND the Grampians – two day tour.
Private Grampians tour – pick which sights you want to include.
Small group hiking tour – with three hiking trails.

kangaroo in the Grampians, Victoria — There are so many kangaroos in the Grampians that you might end up with one on a restaurant menu… Photo by David Whitley/ Australia Travel Questions

Geological history of the Grampians

A large part of the Grampians region is national park, but this only partly explains why it’s a wildlife hotspot. To get a full idea, you need to go back a few million years. Around 430m years ago, the Grampians was a coastal area. Sea levels have risen since then, but the beach sand that was around at the time has slowly evolved into sandstone.

In the intervening years, continental plates have pushed together, creating the ridges and mountains that make up the Grampians National Park, while the higher points became islands in a shallow inland sea.

New species on a natural island

The area, to all intents and purposes, became a natural island. This allowed new species to evolve and develop. And once the sea retreated, a certain degree of natural impenetrability protected the wildlife in the Grampians.

The hills and ridges very much give the Grampians its character. They attract rain, ensuring that a regular carpet of green stands out in contrast to the often-parched surrounding areas. Plant species thrive and forests grow, although the rugged, jagged edges of elevation formed through violence lead to startling valleys and sheer drops.

These ridge lines, of course, make for fabulous views such as the one from the Boroka Lookout, Mount Sturgeon near Dunkeld or MacKenzie Falls. Head up there while exploring the Grampians’ food and wine trails or after fishing at Lake Fyans. You can also indulge in more wildlife at Halls Gap Zoo.