Between 2019 and 2024, Australia’s climbing community has been hit with substantial closures – possibly the harshest in the world – of some of the best climbing areas that Australia has to offer. Including Summerday Valley, half of Taipan Wall, Dreamtime and the majority of the Victoria Range including Weirs Creek, Eureka, Lost World, Red Rocks, Muline, The Tower, Gallery and many more. Tiger Wall and Castle Crag (at Arapiles), including the famous “Bard” have also been closed to climbing for an indefinite period.
In 2022, the Greater Gariwerd Landscape Management Plan was released, which cemented these closures. Submissions were made, but the question many climbers keep asking is “why?”. This website contains many articles and posts that attempt to shine a light on they “why” and often the “how” these bans came to be.
Banning access to widescale areas without cause is unreasonable, excessive, and unenforceable. The Grampians climbing ban has been brought in without any serious consultation, and without hearing genuine solutions offered by the climbing community.
Climbers are extremely respectful of Cultural Heritage sites, and they do tread lightly on the environment, and as such feel grossly mistreated by Parks Victoria.
There are complex issues at play, and this site will hopefully shed some light on the complexities from both sides, and what climbers can do in response.
Please check these posts for the latest updates:
- Intimidation tactics. Take two.
- “You’re hired!” PV seeks climbing guides to chop bolts.
- Park Vic ranger’s harassment & intimidation of climbers – a personal story
- Nanny-State Rules coming soon to YOU
- World Class No More – Days Roll By
Alex Honnold, possibly the most influential climber in the world:
“The Grampians might have the best rock on Earth (a claim that I’ve heard in many places around the world, but is probably true in the Grampians)”