We have been visiting the Grampians National Park in Victoria for a number of years and were excited to find these beautiful photographs of the area by Melbourne-based photographer, camper and nature lover Sharon Blance. We caught up with her recently to chat about what makes the place so special.

What is it about being outdoors in the Grampians that inspires you?

As much as I love city life in Melbourne, I find that a weekend camping out in the outdoors to be hugely renewing. I was truly blown away by the Grampians, the feel of it, the vastness, the wildness, it’s like being in another world even though it’s only 3 hours from Melbourne!

What makes the natural aesthetic of the Grampians unique?

The shape of the land, the rock formations are quite unique. It’s 380 million year old sandstone that’s been lifted up and tilted by geologic forces. Some parts – like the walk up to the Pinnacles where the rocks look all melty – feel like you’re traversing a strange alien planet. There’s a beauty to be found across all scales – from large rock formations right down to small details like moss growth or patterns on the surface of water pools.

Was there a particularly beautiful hidden / favourite spot (or two!)? Why?

I’ll give you three!

One of our favourite spots was Mt William. It’s the highest point in Grampians, the view is awesome, and it’s less traversed than the more popular Pinnacles lookout. The walk up is weird because it’s a paved road, so it’s kind of a boring walk but with great views along the way. It’s worth the effort – we were the only ones there and we sat on a rock ledge having a little picnic lunch on top of the world.

Another great view is from Reeds Lookout at the start of The Balconies walk. Trees spread out across the valley like carpet as far as the eye can see. The view was so stunning that we went back at dusk to watch the sun set over the valley. A bitterly cold wind was blowing but the scene was awesome – it’s one of those visceral experiences that etches itself into your mind: the howling wind, the bitter cold, and the silent magnificence of streams of sunlight raking across a misty valley.

Our favourite walk was the Mackenzie River Walk from Zumstein’s to the Mackenzie’s Waterfall. We left our car at the waterfall end and hitched a lift with another family up to Zumstein’s so we could do the walk one-way. We spent ages pottering along and even stopped at one point to strip to our undies for a quick dip in a natural pool!

Is there a camp site you happened to see that you’d recommend to people who have never been?

We camped at the Jimmy Creek campground, which we picked as it’s a little ways south of the main Hall’s Gap area, and it’s a smaller site so it’s not as crowded. It’s got a nice woodsy feel, especially if you get one of the spots nearer the back. Kangaroos roam the adjacent forest, and at night we could hear them hopping past our tent.

How do you feel when you’re outdoors, connecting with nature in the Grampians?

Camping always gives me this primordial sense of ‘being home’. Sitting by the fire at night, looking up at the stars I get this uncanny sense of “this is all I truly need.” 
I feel like I slow right down when I’m out on trips like this, partly because of the beautiful setting and being away from mental distractions, and partly also because I’m actively photographing. If the sign says a walk will take an hour it’ll take me 3 hours to do because get so engrossed in the photography, and also because I like to stop and soak up the feel of a place.

Which places did you visit when you were there?

We mainly explored the Wonderland area, which includes the Pinnacles/Grand Canyon walk, Reeds Lookout and The Balconies, Zumstein’s, and the Mackenzie River walk and waterfall. We also did Mt William as it’s near to Jimmy Creek campground where we were camping.

Any other detail you’d like to share about your landscape / natural photography work?

I do commercial photography in Melbourne which I absolutely love, but I find that my personal work often veers into travel and nature imagery, which I guess is a nice counterpoint. I push myself to try to capture the experience of a place, to distil the essence of what I feel when I’m there and communicate it visually. I’ve lived in four countries now so I’ve become accustomed to seeing the world from an outsider’s perspective, which I enjoy as you see so much more. I’m often just looking looking looking at the land around me trying to figure it out: the essence of it, the shapes, the textures, the colour palate, the vibe of the place.