The Grampians are such an underrated place to herp.
With close to every single species of temperate victorian skinks confined to the area, it is absolute paradise.
I headed up to the area on the easter weekend for a camping trip with a mate, and when we arrived at the camping ground at Lake Fyans, we were alarmed to see the water was so low, exposing an almost desert like area.
I did not see a single frog this trip.
Lake Fyans by Nick Gale, on Flickr
We soon came across an old and rusting yabby trap, so we threw some bait in it and chucked it in a nearby dam.
Whilst waiting, we headed up to Halls Gap and went for a walk up one of the highest peaks in the Grampians.
I went off track abit, and saw a skink run into a burrow under a rock. After some investigation I was ecstatic to have found a young patternless form Whites Skink! The joy was shortlived, as it was a pain in the *** to photograph.
Whites Skink (Liopholis whitii) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
Arriving back at the dam, we hauled up the net to find some of these monsters.
Common Yabby (Cherax destructor) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
Common Yabby (Cherax destructor) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
But anyway, back to herps.
Not far away from where we were camping is some amazing Granite Hills habitat, which is my fave habitat to herp!.
Unfortunately there appears to have been some damage done by poachers on the habitat, as rocks have been picked up and lobbed all over the place!
After observing some aboriginal artwork, we soon went for an explore.
Not long after looking we found the second ever record for the Ragged Snake-Eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pannosus)from the greater Stawell area, and the most southerly record of this species in Australia!!!
Ragged Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pannosus) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
Soon enough we where finding lots of Marbled Geckos! This guy was photographed further north, but we did find plenty of them in the Granite Hills.
Marbled Gecko (Christinus marmoratus) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
After many run ins from Robust Skinks (Ctenotus Robustus) I had found another species I had never seen before, the Dwarf Skink! this individual could have easily have fitted onto a 5 cent piece.
Dwarf Skink (Menetia greyii) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
Dwarf Skink (Menetia greyii) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
Soon enough we had found one of my fave geckos, this one was stunningly gorgeous!
Thick Tailed Gecko (Underwoodisaurus milii) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
As the sun began to fade we headed back to the carpark, and whilst taking a quick wizz behind a tree I eyed off a very nice looking log. I flipped this skink under it, and initially thinking it was a much larger Dwarf Skink, I later found out it was just a weird looking Boulengers Skink- boring!
Boulengers Skink (Morethia boulengeri) by Nick Gale, on Flickr
After a very successful day we collapsed back at camp.
Such an awesome part of Victoria, Greater Grampians is a grouse place for a herp!
Cheers.
With close to every single species of temperate victorian skinks confined to the area, it is absolute paradise.
I headed up to the area on the easter weekend for a camping trip with a mate, and when we arrived at the camping ground at Lake Fyans, we were alarmed to see the water was so low, exposing an almost desert like area.
I did not see a single frog this trip.

We soon came across an old and rusting yabby trap, so we threw some bait in it and chucked it in a nearby dam.
Whilst waiting, we headed up to Halls Gap and went for a walk up one of the highest peaks in the Grampians.
I went off track abit, and saw a skink run into a burrow under a rock. After some investigation I was ecstatic to have found a young patternless form Whites Skink! The joy was shortlived, as it was a pain in the *** to photograph.

Arriving back at the dam, we hauled up the net to find some of these monsters.


But anyway, back to herps.
Not far away from where we were camping is some amazing Granite Hills habitat, which is my fave habitat to herp!.
Unfortunately there appears to have been some damage done by poachers on the habitat, as rocks have been picked up and lobbed all over the place!
After observing some aboriginal artwork, we soon went for an explore.
Not long after looking we found the second ever record for the Ragged Snake-Eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pannosus)from the greater Stawell area, and the most southerly record of this species in Australia!!!

Soon enough we where finding lots of Marbled Geckos! This guy was photographed further north, but we did find plenty of them in the Granite Hills.

After many run ins from Robust Skinks (Ctenotus Robustus) I had found another species I had never seen before, the Dwarf Skink! this individual could have easily have fitted onto a 5 cent piece.


Soon enough we had found one of my fave geckos, this one was stunningly gorgeous!

As the sun began to fade we headed back to the carpark, and whilst taking a quick wizz behind a tree I eyed off a very nice looking log. I flipped this skink under it, and initially thinking it was a much larger Dwarf Skink, I later found out it was just a weird looking Boulengers Skink- boring!

After a very successful day we collapsed back at camp.
Such an awesome part of Victoria, Greater Grampians is a grouse place for a herp!
Cheers.