Indholdsfortegnelse for October/November 2018 i Great Walks

“Cosily snuggled down in my rain jacket I was reminded of the Japanese practice of ‘ forest bathing’, or shinrinyoku, a national health program introduced by the Japanese government in 1982. It’s not a bath where you jump into a tub; this is more sublime and a great way to reconnect with nature in a simple yet profound way. All it requires is for one to go into the bush, breathe deeply and be at peace. It’s absolutely wizard! As I happily ambled along in my little hooded world I could feel the benefit of our six days abstinence from civilisation...” I LOVE this quote from Ian Trevaskis’ story pg 39. The idea that you can be externally and internally cleansed by nature is beautiful. In the wilderness we become…

Well read Hi Great Walks, I was so excited that the new issue was out that I came to the top of Kunanyi/ Mt Wellington just to read it. Happy Days! Brent Gray, via email Wow, thanks Brent, we’re really honoured! Make sure you check out our Mount Wellington walk on pg 52 on the disappearing tarn! – Ed Hooray for Hollyford I want to thank Great Walks for the opportunity to walk NZ’s Hollyford Track after winning your competition. My sister and I had a wonderful time and would highly recommend the Hollyford Track guided walk. We spent an unforgettable three days exploring the magical Hollyford River valley. Our guides Mark and Susanne shared many stories about the history of the area as well as their knowledge of the…

WE all have our bucket lists and I’ve always wanted to visit Bruny Island. Earlier this year I got my wish. I set off from Sydney to Hobart on the Friday evening, joining my friend who works down there just in time to grab tasty pub meal. We were off to a very good start. The next morning we caught the ferry from Kettering, 30 minutes south of Hobart and within another half hour we were on Bruny. Our first stop was Cape Queen Elizabeth, which is to the south east of the northern half of the island. Bruny Island is really two islands joined together by a narrow isthmus a couple of kilometres long. The whole island being is about 100 km long and has very few humans compared…

In the Dreamtime all the earth lay sleeping. Nothing grew. Nothing moved. The animals, birds, and reptiles lay dormant under the earth’s crust. Then one day the Rainbow Serpent awoke from her slumber and pushed her way through, moving the stones that lay in her way. When she emerged she travelled the land far and wide, and when she grew tired she curled herself into a heap and slept. Upon the earth she left her winding tracks and the imprint of her sleeping body. Now all the dry parched earth needed was water to fill the springs and river and bring life to the surface... THE Rainbow Serpent features heavily in Aboriginal folklore and Aboriginal art. As I wandered through one of the many rock art sites in Kakadu NP…

AUSTRALIANS may not be familiar with the name Alfred Wainwright (1907-1991) who is regarded as the grandfather of long distance walks in Great Britain. Wainwright was a British fellwalker, guidebook author and illustrator. His seven-volume Pictorial Guide to the Lakeland Fells, published between 1955 and 1966, consisting entirely of his own notes and hand drawn maps, has become the standard reference to 214 of the fells of the English Lake District. Among his 40-odd other books is the first guide to the Coast to Coast Walk, a 300km long-distance footpath devised by Wainwright which remains popular today. But there is one long-distance walk he designed that almost never made it to the public eye, the Pennine Journey and this is where our story begins. “DURING THE WALK HE SENT BACK…

THE Disappearing Tarn is a mystical place located on Kunanyi/Mt Wellington which overlooks the city of Hobart. Kunanyi is the Aboriginal name for the 1271m high mountain located in Wellington Park. The tarn is fabled in local bushwalking circles as it only rarely makes an appearance after ‘favourable’ weather conditions. The best chance of seeing this phenomenon is after heavy rain or snow melt. When nature works its magic the tarn will appear as an incredible turquoise colour in a small depression in the middle of a boulder-strewn field. It can be difficult to locate and if the tarn was empty you may not even know you were there. When it is full it usually drains away within a few days and effectively ‘disappears’. After a recent downpour where Hobart…

GIBRALTAR Range National Park is a part of a larger suite of parks that straddle the Gwydir Highway, between Grafton and Glen Innes in northern NSW. To quote from a National Parks brochure: “Spanning the eastern edge of the Great Dividing Range in northern NSW, six parks offer a range of experience. Striking granite outcrops and steep escarpments, wild rivers, woodlands, spectacular flowering heathlands and World Heritage rainforests provide a varied backdrop for a range of activities.” As the Gibraltar Range NP is somewhat remote from large population centres, a place to stay helps enjoy the many day walks and longer walks found in this and nearby parks. I enjoyed camping in Mulligans Campground: easy to drive to and great facilities. A more luxurious alternative is the nearby Gibraltar House.…

THE week had all been leading to this. I took a tight grip of the rope, leaned back and slowly pulled myself up one of the steep faces of Mount Gower. My heart was pounding and I was reminded of my scouting days another life ago when I hiked, climbed and abseiled away my weekends. I was about to stand on the final peak of the Seven Peaks Walk and even though I had only been here for five days I had managed to fit in a lot on the small island. Lord Howe is a mere dot in the Pacific. It’s 10km long and feels like it should be a part of Fiji rather than Australia. Pinetrees Lodge, one of the oldest family businesses in Australia, has been operating…

EVERY now and then you come across a walk that offers so much for everyone you wonder what we did to deserve it. Thirty minutes drive south of Townsville is such a place. The Alligator Creek Falls day walk is one of my favourite places to go adventuring. It is located in the Mount Elliot section of Bowling Green Bay NP. The walk is a 17km return trip that offers a diverse range of terrain, vegetation, wildlife, vistas, swimming holes, side trails and picnic areas. At the trail head is the shady day use area with a short walk to the main swimming holes. Many families cool off here on summer weekends, enjoying the clear waters and fun little cascades. About 5 minutes in to the walk you will reach…

BEAUTIFUL hard-won memories are the souvenirs of a good walking holiday. On the Coast to Coast Path across England you’ll take home plenty. The 300km rugged ramble through the world-famous Lake District, the glorious Yorkshire Dales and the mysterious North York Moors physically and mentally challenges those who complete it. But the rewards are enormous. Wainwright created a route that offers everything you could ever possibly want in a long-distance walk. It is an exceptional way to enjoy the English countryside and its many layers of history and literature. The sweeping landscapes and colourful characters you meet along the way will capture your heart. And there are plenty of welcoming village pubs to enjoy the lively company of other walkers. When you book your guided or self-guided Coast to Coast…

Distance: 125km | Time: 9 days | Grade: Challenging Day 1: Taylor’s Crossing to Camp #1 at Stony Creek. 8.8km/3.5hr/moderate-tough. Day 2: Stony Creek to Camp #2 at Johnnies Top. 14.8km/7.5hr/tough. Day 3: Johnnies Top to Camp #3 near Buckwong Creek. 23.8km/10hr/moderate-tough. Day 4: Buckwong Creek to Camp #4 near Limestone Creek. 14.7km/8hr/moderate. Day 5: Limestone Creek to Camp #5 at Cowombat Flat Track. 6.5km/6hr/moderate. Day 6: Cowombat Flat Track to Camp #6 at Cowombat Flat. 14.6km/5hr/easy. Day 7: Cowombat Flat to Tin Mine Huts. 16.7km/7hr/easy-moderate. Day 8: Tin Mine Huts to Cascade Hut. 16km/5.5hr/ easy-moderate. Day 9: Cascade Hut to Dead Horse Gap. 9km/3.5hr/easy.…

Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island, SA John Earle, via email Camera: Canon PowerShot John: “For natural beauty and classic walking tracks, the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail is hard to beat.” Kuitpo Forest, SA Monique De Wit, Mitcham SA Camera: Panasonic DMC-TZ110 Monique: “Kuitpo Forest south of Adelaide is one of my favourite walking destinations. Following the trails that wind through the forest on a misty morning and enjoying the quiet stillness is a wonderful experience. One of these trails is the well known Heysen, and I think its southern Mount Lofty Ranges sections are amongst the best. Torres del Paine NP, Patagonia, Chile Muriel Neilson, Surrey Hills, Vic Camera: Canon A1 Muriel: “This is me standing in front of Mirador Las Torres in the Torres del Paine Nation Park, Patagonia. We…

REVIEWS_DAN SLATER MODELS_ DAN SLATER & HIS 10 IDENTICAL BROTHERS WATERPROOFS, or hard shells, are one of the most important weapons in the bushwalker’s arsenal. They can be very expensive and must perform impeccably under duress, so the importance of choosing the most appropriate model cannot be understated. Great Walks gathered some of the best jacket options available from the most reputable brands around, and reviewed them for fit and function, durability and breathability, and even style thanks to the critical eye of my wife, Gerda. Unfortunately, the worst drought for hundreds of years precluded comprehensive testing of their waterproof membranes, but a hastily-arranged long weekend snowshoeing around Kosciuszko NP was a good substitute, along with a few minutes under a shower on the seams and zips. N.B. ‘Waterproofness’ is…

WHEN I walked in Fitzgerald River National Park (FRNP) for the first time, I didn’t know much about it at all. I didn’t know that it was home to almost 20% of WA’s plant species, that it was a UNESCO listed biodiversity biosphere and a natural treasure. I didn’t know that the Ravensthorpe Wildflower Show attracted thousands of visitors from all around the world during its annual two-week event in September; but most of all, I didn’t know that it was going to blow me away. After five hours’ driving – the FRNP is about 460 km SE of Perth on the Great Southern Highway (route 120) – we passed Jerramungup, a town on the northwest edges of the park. Not long after, we turned off the South Coast Highway…

“CARCOLEPSY: A CONDITION WHERE A PASSENGER FALLS ASLEEP AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTS MOVING” “ASKHOLE: SOMEONE WHO ASKS MANY STUPID, POINTLESS AND OBNOXIOUS QUESTIONS” “HOPTIMIST: A PERSON WHO BELIEVES EVERYTHING IS BETTER WITH A GOOD CRAFT BEER.” “COLUMBUSING : WHEN WHITE PEOPLE CLAIM TO HAVE DISCOVERED SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR CENTURIES” “UNLIGHTENING: LEARNING SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU DUMBER” “CELLFISH: AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CONTINUES TALKING ON THEIR PHONE AS TO BE RUDE OR INCONSIDERATE TO OTHERS” “NONVERSATION: A TOTALLY WORTHLESS CONVERSATION; SMALL TALK ” “DESTINESIA: WHEN YOU GET TO WHERE YOU WERE GOING BUT FORGET WHY YOU WERE GOING THERE” “BEERBOARDING: EXTRACTING SECRET INFORMATION FROM A COLLEAGUE BY GETTING THEM DRUNK” “AFTERCLAP: THE LAST PERSON WHO CLAPS AFTER EVERYONE ELSE HAS STOPPED”…

The Murray River is Australia’s most iconic waterway. It rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of our highest mountains, and then meanders across the inland plains, forming the border between the states of NSW and Victoria as it flows to the northwest into South Australia. The Murray River Walk is the only guided walk that allows you to discover this beautiful waterway on foot whilst staying in unique houseboat accommodation. This 4-day/3-night walking experience takes you through ancient red gum forests and spectacular floodplain wetlands. Daily your houseboat cruises to the new walking destination, the view from your bedroom window never the same. Nightly, your guides prepare three courses showcasing native ingredients and local Riverland produce with menu designed by a renowned native food chef, Andrew Fielke.…

I was a late bloomer when it came to discovering what I like to call ‘adventure hiking’. It may have been that I had more discretionary time because my children had by then become less dependent. Or it may have been that my children, by then young adults, had become the perfect hiking buddies. And so began my memorable and exciting hiking years. Although I had always loved half day walks I was now able to venture on multi-day hikes, with a varying crew of people which nearly always included my daughter. Her university years with their seemingly continual semester breaks gave the perfect opportunities for annual multi-day hikes, and even when she entered full time employment and got married, our hiking plans continued. Hiking long distances with a pack…

GRW: What’s the total amount of funding the NPWS will be receiving from the state government and how it be spent? NPWS has been successful in $38.6M funding from the NSW Government’s Regional Growth – Environment and Tourism Fund for four major visitor projects in NSW national parks: The Snowies Iconic Walk – 25km of new walking track that will link the Alpine resorts in Kosciuszko NP, offering a unique four-day walk experience on the rooftop of Australia. The Light to Light Great Walk – expansion and upgrade of the existing walk in Ben Boyd NP near Eden on the Far South Coast of NSW, to meet Great Walk criteria and deliver a four-day, three-night hut to hut walk along spectacular wild and remote coastline. The Thredbo Valley Track Extension…

ABORIGINAL Dreaming says that the rainbow serpent Mundagurra carved out the sandstone of Carnarvon Gorge as he came in and out of the river. Today, the gorge is best known for its rock art, which retains its intensity despite extreme temperatures up to the mid-40s in summer. Created using a stencilling technique and red-and-yellow ochre from the river, the art depicts hands, tools, weapons and ceremonial ornaments. After nearly 150 years of Europeans wandering about this landscape, at times degrading the art work and trespassing on sites sacred to Aboriginal people, visitors can share the experience in a respectful way with an Aboriginal ranger. Be prepared to walk. The writing’s on the wall Indigenous rock art holds a fascination for tourists, art historians and archaeologists, and has been heavily promoted…

YOU can imagine my surprise when I found myself upside down in a dry creek bed with my legs jutting skywards, peddling frantically on an invisible bicycle in a desperate attempt to right myself. Hemmed in by suffocating melaleuca, dense tea trees, and pressing buttongrass (a combination I’d come to describe – like many before me – as “impenetrable”) I surveyed my upside-down world with a rattled countenance, wondering if I might encounter a black tiger snake similar to the one our hiking party had just come across half an hour before. But no matter how hard I peddled I wasn’t able to extricate myself from my invidious position. For what seemed like 15 minutes (but must have been closer to two) I was utterly stuck. No snake appeared, and…

WALK into Luxury’s four-day Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk (capetocapewalk.com.au) combines four days walking on the best sections of the Cape to Cape Track with feature food and wine experiences and luxury accommodation. The all-inclusive small group walk takes in pristine beaches and turquoise bays, limestone and granite clifftops, cave formations and vibrant rocky headlands. Guests experience the towering karri trees of Boranup forest on day three, a striking contrast to the otherwise coastal scenery. Luxury plunge-pool villas overlooking the Indian Ocean are home-base on this luxe walk, with guests enjoying complimentary Margaret River wine, cheese and artisan chocolate in their stocked mini-bar. Guests can book in for a massage anytime at the on-site spa to soothe tired legs. Feature food and wine experiences include a private chef dinner…

“ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE CLUB’S PROGRAM IS ITS MARATHON WALK” ESSENDON Bushwalking Club is based in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne. Established in 1975, the club has about 200 members. The club offers a range of day walks, from suburban strolls to trail and off track walking through areas such as Daylesford, Brisbane Ranges, Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine, Lerderderg Gorge and further afield. Day walks are typically 12 to 16km long, and are usually held on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. About four pack walks are ran each year. Favourite destinations include Grampians-Gariwerd, Victorian Alps, Great Ocean Walk and Wilson’s Promontory. Interstate trips have included Tasmania’s Bruny and Flinders Islands, the Overland Track, Fraser Island, Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Weekend and week-long base camps have included Beechworth, Warburton, Lorne and the…