Mount Sturgeon (Wurgarri)

Plan on about 7 km return and roughly three hours for the official route. Parks Victoria describes it as strenuous. Expect a sustained climb, steep and uneven sections, weathered rock, and possible slippery surfaces or water crossings after rain. The upper track can involve rock hopping, so sturdy shoes and a steady pace matter more than speed.

Treat the summit as the destination, not a quick photo stop. The broad views are the reward, but the return is still a real descent. Stay away from unstable cliff edges and be especially cautious when rocks are wet.

• Navigate to the Mount Sturgeon Walk Carpark on Victoria Valley Road, near the Grampians Road junction. This is the practical starting point for the walk.
• Carry water, food, sun protection, and weather layers. There is no reason to treat this as a serviced picnic stop.
• Dogs, bicycles, vehicles, camping, fires, horses, generators, and firearms are not permitted on the walk. Trees and limbs may fall, and Parks Victoria warns of unstable cliffs and slippery rocks.

This is a good southern-Grampians choice when you want a quiet, earned panorama rather than a roadside viewpoint. The mountain is also a useful wildlife walk: wallabies and kangaroos are sometimes seen around the woodland and grassy edges, particularly when the day is cool and quiet.