Absolute Outdoors/Grampians Peaks Walking Company

The Grampians/Gariwerd outfitter, based at the gear shop on Grampians Road in Halls Gap, guiding walks, climbs and paddles across one of the most diverse national parks in the country. Their flagship is the Grampians Peaks Trail — the 160-kilometre, thirteen-day traverse from Mount Zero to Dunkeld — which they run as guided pack-free walks and support for independent hikers carrying their own. Beyond it: beginner rock climbing and abseiling on the Grampians' famous sandstone, canoeing on Lake Fyans, and alpine expeditions further east through winter — Mount Feathertop, the Razorback, Mount Bogong. Run on an "educate, inspire, enable" ethos that shows in the outdoor-education programs and skills courses alongside the tours, with a published child-safety code that most adventure operators don't bother to write down. Gold Victorian Tourism Award for adventure, two years running, and a Parks Victoria licensed operator on Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali Country.