Celebrating 50 years – Thank you!
Grampians Retreat, built as a school camp in 1970, is celebrating 50 years of providing fun and adventurous camps that deliver educational outcomes and growth opportunities for students, as well as providing many fond memories for all of the families and groups that have also stayed here!
We would like to express our gratitude to all of the schools, teachers, students, families and groups that have supported Grampians Retreat over the last 50 years. Thank you!
What are we?
Grampians retreat is a group accommodation facility catering for schools camps and large group accommodation for up to 88 guests hardtop and up to 160 including camping. We also cater for individuals or smaller groups through AirBnB and phone bookings.
We are a fully accredited school camp with the Australian Camps Association and a member of the Victorian Tourism Industry Council. We are affiliated with Visit Victoria, Grampians Tourism and Tourism Australia.
Where are we?
Grampians Retreat is located near the village of Dunkeld, on 80 acres of natural bushland, picturesque river flats, majestic mountains and melodic birdsong. Wildlife abounds and the six seasons certainly deliver in the Grampians! We have full catering options, adventure activities, meeting facilities and many recreational activities and programs.
Grampians Retreat has seen many ‘custodians” in its 50 years, not to mention the traditional custodians of Geriwerd (the Grampians), the Djab Wurrung and the Jardwadjali who have been in the region for over 40,000 years.
In 2020, previous owners were privileged to work with local Jardwadjali elder, and acclaimed artist, Nerissa Major, who gifted Grampians Retreat with its own First Australians logo representing the two nations of the region, their connections and peaks of the Geriwerd. What an honour, and great way to celebrate 50 years!
Who are we, and what do we do?
We’re Gavin and Julie Mackay, the owners and operators of Grampians Retreat. Between us, we bring over 27 years of experience in teaching, coaching, running our own business, and working with young people in practical, hands‑on environments. Our extensive backgrounds have shaped the way we approach outdoor education — with a focus on clarity, organisation, genuine care, and meaningful experiences for students.
We take pride in being actively involved in the camp. From shaping programs and supporting teachers to ensuring every group feels welcomed and looked after, we’re committed to creating an environment where students can learn, grow, and enjoy the outdoors in a way that feels both safe and exciting.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Grampians, with its wildlife, rugged peaks, and unique landscapes, we’re fortunate to offer students an outdoor setting that inspires curiosity, confidence, and connection. The environment itself becomes part of the learning — helping young people understand the world around them and their place within it.
When students have the opportunity to be the architects of their own development — at their own pace, in a supportive environment — they grow in ways that are hard to replicate in a classroom.
We exist to create a place where nature turns challenges into confidence, and people discover what they’re truly capable of.
