Mount Arapiles is one of Australia’s premier rock-climbing locations. It rises about 140 metres above the Wimmera plains. Mount Arapiles is primarily composed of quartzite, a metamorphic rock originating from the Devonian period (approx 420 miilion years ago). The rock has a distinct red/orange tinge that is due to trace amounts of iron oxide.
Fairy waxflower (Philotheca verrucosa)
Hibbertia
Flame heath (Stenanthera conostephioides)
Bluff Lookout with the rock formation Pharos at right and Mitre Peak and Mitre lake in the distance
Leopard Orchids (Diurus pardina)
Dwarf greenhood orchid (Pterostylis nana)
Sundew (Drosera sp.)
Slender Cypress-pine (Callitris gracilis)
Common Heath (Epacris impressa)
Lichen with vivid fruiting bodies
Beard lichen (Usnea scabida)
Wallowa (Acacia euthycarpa)
Queen of the Bush (Pimelea linifolia ssp. linifolia)
Leopard Orchids (Diurus pardina)
The Gorge on the southern side of The Bluff
Lily pretending to be a praying mantis
Back of The Bluff
Looking north across Bushrangers Crag to The Grampians
Scented Sundew (Drosera aberrans)
Summit Lookout access track
Summit Lookout
Mitre Rock and Mitre Lake
Wimmera Plains
Part way down the Summit Road is Bushrangers Crag
Coast groundsel (Senecio pinnatifolius) an Australian native not to be confused with the feral groundsel bush.
Nodding blue lily (Stypandra glauca) was thick on the ground in places.
Sundew (Drosera)
Ferns are plentiful on this southern slope of Mount Arapiles
Mount Arapiles, known traditionally as Dyurrite, is a sacred and deeply significant Indigenous cultural landscape. This is Taylors Rock. These rocks have dozens of motifs in charcoal and red ochre, including a decorated oval reminiscent of designs painted on Aboriginal shields. Signs ask visitors to respectfully not enter this area.
Rock escarpment near The Pines – a camping area popular with climbers.
New Holland honeyeater
The Organ Pipes
Mount Arapiles is world-famous as one of Australia’s premier traditional rock-climbing destinations.
It features thousands of single-pitch and multi-pitch routes ranging from absolute beginner to elite grades.
Climbers at the Organ Pipes.
The rock formation known as Pharos.
Climbing area known as Bard Buttress with the Crags above. Climber on rock far left side.
Same climber on exposed buttress.
Close-up from same image
Arapiles is known globally as a traditional (“trad”) climbing paradise, featuring high-quality quartzite/sandstone rock, clean lines, and exceptional gear placements.
Trad climbing paradise
Spot the four climbers
I wonder how these guys got into climbing. Probably a natural inclination.
Close-up of the bottom two from the image above.
Views of Mt Arapiles From Centenary Park Road
Mitre Rock
The remainder of this day can be found on Day 34 (pm) – Little Desert National Park:
