Boronia Peak

Distance: 6.2km out and back
Start: Tandara Rd, Trailhead, Halls Gap
Grade: Medium
Total Elevation: 370m
Estimate Hiking Time: 3.5 hours
Approx Running Time: 1.5 hours

Boronia Peak is one of the lesson-known hikes in the Grampians but offers some of the best 360° views of Gariwerd. Taking in the wonderland range, and views of Lake Bellfield and Lake Fyans, it’s definitely a hike you need to add to your list of things to experience when visiting Halls Gap.

The Trailhead begins at the end of Tandara Rd, approximately 1km away from the Brambuk Cultural Centre.

Crossing Barri yalug (Fyans Creek), you will make your way up the western slopes of the Mount William Range through tall messmate forests and native pines.

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The back story

January 7th was the last time I went trail running. Prior to that, it was early December 2022.

There are many reasons why I haven’t been hitting the trails. One of those reasons is that I have lost confidence in my abilities out on the trails. I had two gravity checks within a week, add the stress of summer, work and building a house just got to me.

Since the falls, I’ve stuck to the easy stuff. Kept to the flats, and added a bit of speed every now and then.

The mountains were there, waiting patiently for me. Knowing that I would return when I was ready.

One morning while I was out doing one of my easy runs, the sky was just spectacular over the range, and I told myself, that I would get up there to experience the sunrise.

Initially, I had planned to run the Pinnacle on Good Friday, but the weather was terrible, so I pulled the pin on that idea.

Running Boronia Peak

Then this morning with a combination of body clock, insomnia and laughing kookaburras, I decided to just do it. Grabbing my pack, I stuffed it with a thermal, buff, jacket, and some water and along with my headlamp I trotted off.

I knew it wasn’t going to be fast, heck there would be more fast hiking than actual running, but that wasn’t the point. I was out there and I was doing it.

At the ridge line, I was not disappointed, the valley below was shrouded in fog, and it was spectacular. I was still about 30 minutes away from sunrise. The best is still yet to come.

Coming out of the valley, I was able to turn off the headlamp. Watching the mountain start to glow with the magnificent morning light was a highlight.

Fog cloaked the entire Fyans Valley. You could just see the tops of the Black Range and Langi Ghiran.

While I didn’t get to the top of Boronia Peak for sunrise (I was a few minutes late), the views did not disappoint.

With Fyans Valley covered in fog and the golden glow of the Mt Difficult Range, it was something special. It was a nice reminder of why I love trail running.