Parking
Sundial Carpark at the end of Sundial Road near Halls Gap; named surface carpark with no fee and bus parking. Toilets and picnic facilities are at the trailhead; there is no drinking water.
Overview
About Sundial Peak Walk
- Out-and-back, returning along the same corridor
- About 4 km return (measured line about 3.82 km after map simplification)
- 1.5 to 2 hours, with 1.75 hours a fair point estimate
- Under 200 m of climbing, rising from roughly 680 m to about 780 m near the top
- Start and finish at Sundial Carpark, at the end of Sundial Road near Halls Gap
Why go
- Broad views over Lake Bellfield and Mount William
- Quieter, more shaded alternative to The Pinnacle
Heads up
- Uneven ground and short steep sections
- No drinking water at the trailhead
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Grampians map
Full mapElevation682–779 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
5 active Grampians alerts
- ClosureBushfire-damaged walks and picnic area remain closedThe Fortress, Red Gum, Billimina, Chimney Pots and Brownings Loop walks, plus Mafeking Picnic Area, remain closed because of track or site damage from the 2024/25 summer bushfires.Official details
- ClosureMackenzie Falls precinct closed during constructionThe Mackenzie Falls (Migunang wirab) Precinct has no vehicle or visitor access during major construction works expected to finish by the end of 2026.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Grampians Tour Guide
Your drive to Sundial Peak Walk, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Grampians National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Lakeview Lookout from Sundial0:00 / 0:53
“You're nearing Sundial Carpark, the starting point for Lakeview Lookout, which is my pick here if you want a rewarding walk in about an hour. The Lakeview loop covers just 1.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Grampians Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Mount Rosea: The Gate of the East Wind
- The Cockatoo with a Creaky Call
- The Robin on the Tree Trunk
- Brambuk: Wildlife and Wetland Walks
- 233 audio storiesacross Grampians’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Short-beaked Echidna, Powerful Owl, Wedge-tailed Eagle, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 81 trails, 62 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Sundial Peak Walk
Sequence and payoffFrom the carpark the track joins the Sundial to Bellfield Track, traversing the southern slopes…
From the carpark the track joins the Sundial to Bellfield Track, traversing the southern slopes of the Wonderland Range through heathy, open dry eucalyptus woodland with bracken. At a junction the named Sundial Peak track branches off and climbs to the finish point at Sundial Lookout, where the forest opens out. Turn around at the lookout and retrace the same route.
Views and photographyThe lookout gives open outlooks over Lake Bellfield, Mount William and the southern Grampians…
The lookout gives open outlooks over Lake Bellfield, Mount William and the southern Grampians ranges, with Mount Rosea prominent nearby. Early or late light is best for the lookout views, and much of the approach is shaded.
Difficulty and footingPractical effort is moderate, around Australian Grade 3 to 4.
Practical effort is moderate, around Australian Grade 3 to 4. The gradient is mostly gentle through forest, with occasional short steep sections, uneven ground, and some steps. There is no technical scrambling on the established route. Sturdy footwear with grip is worthwhile.
Hazards and rulesWatch for falling limbs and trees, unstable cliff edges near the lookout, and slippery rocks
- Watch for falling limbs and trees, unstable cliff edges near the lookout, and slippery rocks
- Dogs are not permitted; assistance dogs are subject to separate entry requirements
- No vehicles, camping, fires, horses, generators, bicycles or firearms
Access and facilitiesAccess is by road to Sundial Carpark, a named surface carpark with no fee and bus parking.
Access is by road to Sundial Carpark, a named surface carpark with no fee and bus parking. Toilets and picnic facilities are at the trailhead, but there is no drinking water, so carry what you need for the full return walk.
Nearby comparisonThe Pinnacle Walk: busier, with a comparable lookout-focused payoff and heavier foot traffic
- The Pinnacle Walk: busier, with a comparable lookout-focused payoff and heavier foot traffic
- Mount Rosea: a much longer and harder day, including the 17.5 km circuit that links Mount Rosea with Sundial Peak, which is a separate route from this short out-and-back
Wildlife
Wildlife in Grampians
157 sightingsShort-beaked EchidnaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
37 sightingsPowerful OwlMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
59 sightingsWedge-tailed EagleMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
24 sightingsEastern Brown SnakeMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
10 sightingsTiger SnakeMost seen around noonSighting map
29 sightingsRed-bellied Black SnakeMost seen around 11 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Grampians. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
