A permanent scavenger in Ararat which will lead people across the town in a bid to encourage incidental exercise.

The plan has come out of a challenge set by the Heart Foundation in conjunction with the federal governments Active Australia Innovation Challenge.

Organisations were invited to submit an idea that would help encourage physical activity and the winners received $10,000 to turn their idea into reality.

Out of 130 applicants nationwide only eight were successful, including East Grampians Health Service.

Zosha Jarecki-Warke is an exercise physiologist at the health service and when she heard about the challenge said she wanted to have a go.

The idea is to do a scavenger hunt around the township of Ararat but making it more permanent so it can be done by people repeatedly, she said. The idea is to get active around Ararat. So youd go from checkpoint one and then walk, ride, roller blade, however you want to get to checkpoint two, and youd have the next puzzle piece there.

You can go anytime but the idea will be that it could be changed, so for example you could do a Christmas themed one.

Ms Jarecki-Warke said it would be a fun way to engage the community and improve health outcomes through incidental exercise.

Ararat previously featured on television program The Biggest Loser for being one of the heaviest region in Australia.

Ms Jarecki-Warke said the program was a wake-up call and the town has since embraced a healthier lifestyle.

She hoped that this project will contribute further to that, but emphasised the aim wasnt just to promote weight loss.

Weight is one factor but I certainly believe that being active is the most important aspect, she said.

If youre overweight but youre active thats the best thing for your health. Thats where Im going with the project.

Ms Jarecki-Warde said it was important to make the scavenger hunt free to access.

I dont think finance should be a barrier to people being active, she said.