WITH the recent opening of the Grampians Peaks Trail, a steady influx of eager bushwalkers have made their way to the area to enjoy the experience, but a local tourism operator believes more can be done to promote the destination.

Dunkeld Caravan Park caretaker, Erin Hinchliffe said they had an “excellent Christmas and New Year period” and were getting “a lot more independent hikers staying in the region”, which was pleasing, but there were additional things that could be done to draw even greater numbers of tourists.

Typically, longer-distance hikers were starting at either the very northern end at Mt Zero, or about a third the way further south at Halls Gap, and making their way along the 160 kilometre trail to Dunkeld.

“Every week, there's probably about two to three different groups that are coming through that have done the Grampians Peak Trail,” Ms Hinchliffe said.

“They're all pretty experienced hikers that have done (substantial parts of) Australia.

“It really impressed (them) with the Southern Grampians part of the hike … just blown away by how beautiful it is and how well (Parks Victoria) done it all.”

However, she was concerned that when people finish in Dunkeld, the experience was somewhat anti-climatic.

“We're meant to have in Dunkeld this whole tourist hub that, you complete the walk and all that,” Ms Hinchliffe said.

“So people are doing the tour, and coming back here, and there’s nothing to celebrate it.

“Other hikes around, they give like little mementos, and all that sort of stuff to say – congratulations, you've completed it.

“The first group that started on the first day, there was four of them … they came and did the whole 13 days and there was nothing to celebrate for it, to acknowledge they’d done the walk.”

Ms Hinchliffe said people were coming a long distance to experience the new attraction.

“At the moment, I've got a guy who sent me some clothes down from New South Wales,” she said.

“He’s just doing the track at the moment – he’s doing the whole 13 days.

“I just like the fact he’s pre-sent me his clothes for when he gets here, but when he gets here … we've got nothing to celebrate.”

Supporting those using the trail was all part of the job for her, as Ms Hinchliffe explained they look after those just doing day walks as well.

“I try and support them as much as we can, like doing pick-ups, drop-offs or providing information,” she said.

“We’re getting a lot more people interested in the day walks as well.

“But there's really no business here at the moment that provides a shuttle bus or transport, just for day walkers, so that'd be … a business opportunity.”

For the time being, some people were so keen they were just using the existing public transport services.

“What people are doing is getting off the train (at Ararat) and bus to Halls Gap … and then when they get down here, they’ll catch the bus back to Ballarat,” Ms Hinchliffe said.

“There’s so many people that were so ready for this track.”

Ms Hinchliffe said she had contacted the Southern Grampians Shire who had “been really supportive” and were considering making up a certificate for people that have completed the trail in the meantime, but there was an opportunity to round out the experience.

“We’ve opened up the track, but we’re not really finished down this way,” she said.