In 2020 Aboriginal cultural heritage was re-discovered at Taipan Wall (Gunigalg area) in the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. The climbing area was subsequently closed to allow Traditional Owners and Parks Victoria to determine a long-term solution for protecting the cultural values of the area through the Greater Gariwerd Landscape Management Plan.

The Climbing Victoria Advisory Council (CVAC) and its member organisations support Traditional Owners to rediscover and protect their cultural heritage.  We ask all climbers to support this approach.

The Gunigalg visitor area, including Taipan Wall, covers much of the northernmost part of Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park and includes some of the park’s most significant Aboriginal cultural places within this area, as well as popular climbing locations.

Recognising the importance of Taipan Wall to the rock-climbing community, the Gariwerd Traditional Owners, represented by the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation, worked with Parks Victoria and the Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network to find alternate access routes that allowed climbing but protected the cultural heritage values. As a result, the northern section of Taipan Wall (left hand side) was designated as a rock climbing area in the Landscape Management Plan pending completion of site protection works.

After years of extensive work, behind the scenes and on the ground, including volunteer activities by CVAC members at the northern section of Taipan Wall, a section is now available to climb.

CVAC acknowledges the generosity of the Gariwerd Traditional Owners in working through this process.

There are changes to access points and climbing routes that climbers must familiarise themselves with. An access point information sheet has been prepared with CVAC’s input; you can access it here . There is also signage onsite to help climbers understand the changes and new exclusion areas.  It is the responsibility of rock climbers to know where they can and cannot climb.

Current information on climbing at Gariwerd is available on the Parks Victoria website: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/grampians-national-park/rock-climbing-in-gariwerd, and at Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre in Halls Gap, where Parks Victoria staff can provide further information on rock climbing in Gariwerd.

Entering and climbing in these locations should be done with respect for the Traditional Owners of these lands along with taking appropriate care to look after these places and avoiding places where climbing is not permitted.