Indholdsfortegnelse for August-September 2025 i Great Walks

WELCOME to the Aug-Sept issue of Great Walks, our annual Camino special, starting pg 36. Caminos, especially the famous Camino de Santiago, hold deep significance for many people. These ancient pilgrimage routes are more than just walking trails – they are journeys of transformation, reflection and connection. For centuries, people have walked the Caminos seeking spiritual growth, healing or a deeper understanding of themselves and the world. One of the main reasons people walk the Camino is for introspection. The simplicity of walking day after day allows space for mental clarity and emotional release. Without the distractions of modern life, many find peace and insight they’ve long been seeking. Others walk to mark a major life transition – a loss, a new beginning or a personal milestone. Caminos offer a…

IMMORTALISED by Banjo Paterson in verse, the NSW Snowy Mountains echoes with the stories of stoic stockmen. This is a land where the crisp air cuts sharp and eucalypts cling to the slopes, and it’s the home to the new 56km Snowies Alpine Walk (SAW), in Kosciuszko National Park – five years in the making. SAW opened in sections and the first one, Guthega to Charlotte Pass, opened three years ago. At the time Great Walks was invited to get a behind the scenes look at how the track work was going and to walk that new section. We were accompanied by Greg Thomson, Principal Project Officer, Southern Ranges Branch, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and three years later we were back to walk the final sections of…

THIS MONTH’S WINNING PHOTO Cradle Mountain, Tas Sandra Berndt, Devonport Tas Camera: Canon EOS 6D Sandra: “A magical night at Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park, overlooking Dove Lake. The Aurora Australis lit up the sky with waves of colour, dancing among the stars. The landscape glowed with soft, shifting light. It was one of those unforgettable moments that truly takes your breath away.” Snowy Mountains, NSW Jill Hancock, Baranduda Vic Camera: Canon EOS R6 Jill: “There are many examples of old huts in the Snowy Mountains, some have been burned and replaced but many are still there in their original garb. On a cold and wet day it was lovely to arrive at White’s River Hut where we could shelter for the night in the rustic building.…

THE Way of St James or the Camino de Santiago is a long-distance pilgrim walk that leads to the shrine of the apostle James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. It’s been walked by hundreds of thousands of people, over hundreds of years – but as this story by first time Camino walker, Sally Drinkwater suggests, not that much has changed over time and the struggle is real. Day 14 – Somewhere between León and Astorga Dear Diary, This morning, I woke up with a blister the size of a baby tomato on my heel, and honestly, that feels like the most accurate summary of the Camino so far. Pain, oddly shaped feet and unexpected comparisons to produce. But I’m still walking. I’m still…

HOW you walk your Camino is completely up to you. You may be a purist and want to walk the whole thing independently with just your possessions on your back and stay in dorms with other pilgrims? You might want to do a self-guided walk where a tour operator carries your luggage from hotel to hotel, but you do the walk on your own. Or you might want to do the Camino pack-free, fully guided and stay in gorgeous accommodation. All options offer a memorable experience. And with the last two options in mind we profile eight tour operators who offer various levels of comfort. Life’s An Adventure The traditional Camino routes can be up to 1000km in length, taking a month or more to complete. Life’s An Adventure have…

DAY walking is a different game when it comes to gear. It’s usually lighter weight, less bulky and multi-purpose. Gear that can take you from trail to town. Day walkers don’t have to opt for hiking specific gear, seeing as most day walks aren’t overly technical and can be done in everyday wear, however, having the right gear makes all the difference in making any walk comfortable and enjoyable. My partner and outdoor photographer, Mikhail, and I were out on a three-day trip involving four different day walks and wellness activities in between. We could only pack gear that could handle all terrains and different weather conditions. I needed lightweight gear fit for any terrain, while Mikhail required comfortable lightweight products that could fit his camera gear. Here are some…

What’s your earliest bushwalking memory? I got into bushwalking a bit later in life. During my early 20s, I was offered to go for a bushwalk while working as an artist in the Blue Mountains of NSW. Later that day I found myself off track exploring some of the spectacular canyons. I remember how pleasant the cool canyon was from the sun baking the eucalypt forest, and how light fell through the ferns above. I’ve been hooked ever since. What got you into the walking tour business? It seemed like a dream job. To spend so much time in such special parts of Australia, bushwalking and showing people why these places are so important. It came as a great career change from the Arts and sometimes I still can’t believe…

The Stirling Ridge Walk in WA’s Stirling Range NP is a demanding 25km one-way hike that offers both challenge and breathtaking natural beauty. Known as one of the toughest hikes in the state, it traverses rugged ridgelines, steep ascents and exposed granite peaks. With over 1500m of elevation gain, the route requires excellent fitness, navigation skills and a strong respect for the unpredictable weather conditions of the region. Walkers are treated to panoramic views across the plains, wildflower-strewn slopes and the unique biodiversity of the Stirling Range, home to many endemic species. The jagged silhouettes of Bluff Knoll, Ellen Peak and other dramatic summits create a cinematic backdrop for a true wilderness experience. exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au…

THE new Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk in the Byron Bay hinterland only opened in April 2025. We were lucky to be among the first walkers to tackle it. The trail crosses Mount Jerusalem and Nightcap national parks, and Whian Whian State Conservation Area. This region is part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, with close evolutionary links to that ancient super-continent. About 23 million years ago (give or take a day), a large shield volcano began erupting here. Wollumbin (Mount Warning), the highest peak in the area at 1157m, is the remnant plug of the volcano and the hike traverses along the south-eastern rim of the ancient caldera. Wollumbin means ‘Cloud Catcher’ and the name is apt, as the peak captures the prevailing moisture-laden maritime winds generating plenty…

I first encountered Raynor Winn’s memoir The Salt Path soon after its 2018 release and have treasured it since. As a walker myself, I felt every stride, setback, and moment of euphoria as Raynor and her husband traversed the South West Coast Path. So, when the film adaptation was released, I approached it with some hesitancy — film often fails to capture the essence of a beloved book. A gift from Great Walks led me to a Mother’s Day screening with my daughter and husband. It’s a powerful film. While the wild coastal landscapes are striking, the film’s true potency lies in the quiet intimacy of a couple facing far more than a physical journey. We meet Raynor and Moth on the trail, their first steps weighed down not just…

THE Camino de Santiago is the most famous pilgrimage route in the world. Whether for spiritual, cultural, or personal reasons, here are 10 key things you should know before setting out on this unforgettable journey. 1 There’s more than one route While the Camino Francés is the most popular route, there are several others, including the Camino Portugués, Camino del Norte, and Camino Primitivo. Each offers unique landscapes, levels of difficulty, and cultural experiences (see pg ??). 2 You don’t have to walk the whole way To earn the Compostela certificate, pilgrims must walk at least the last 100km (or cycle 200km). Many start in Sarria for this reason. You can choose the distance and route that suit your time and fitness. 3 It’s not just for the religious While…

IT was nearing dusk late September 2023 when I stood in front of the picturesque Pont Valentré in southern French town of Cahors, gesturing a passerby to take one last pic of my pilgrimage, having made the 375km journey from Le-Puy-en-Velay. However, I felt like I was walking out halfway through a movie. So, I made the promise to return and complete the journey to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (SJPDP). Fast forward to May 2025 and I’m back, standing in those exact same footprints in Cahors so as not to miss a step in the next 375km – yes, I am that competitive. There were lingering doubts though. Would the sequel surpass the original? Would it be a six-oscar winning follow-up like Godfather II or a disappointing monumental flop like the 2nd Speed?…

IT seems odd to drive for 6.5 hours to a significant landmark (say, the 29m tall Green Cape Lighthouse) and not take a good poke around. If this were a typical day, I’d kick myself for not reading every interpretive sign I could, pausing to ponder life here as a lighthouse keeper or gaze out at the yawning meld of blue, where the ocean meets the sky. But today isn’t a typical day. Today is the start (here at the end) of my north-to-south journey, along the 32km new-look Light to Light (L2L) walk. Over the next three days, I will walk back to this spot having experienced one of the great coastal walks of Australia, satisfy my curiosity about the recent changes and what makes it one of the…

IF you love to photograph the great outdoors and see your photos on display then you should enter Great Walks’ Wilderness Photographer of the Year, presented by Mountain Designs. And to help you out we spoke to some of last year’s finalists and asked them for some top tips to bring out the best in your photos. Benjamin Maze What was the biggest lesson you took away from entering – and becoming a finalist – for Wilderness Photographer of the Year? That it’s worth giving a crack! You never really know what is going to resonate most with judges. I had actually entered my winning image in another competition with some hopes for its performance and came away a little disappointed with an average score. For whatever reason, it just…

MOUNT Buffalo National Park in northeast Victoria is the perfect place to visit if you’re looking for a variety of walks – from an easy doddle around the picturesque Lake Catani to the more serious and challenging Big Walk, or perhaps an overnighter out to Mt McLeod on its western edge where you can escape the world and all its troubles. I’m lucky enough to live reasonably close to Mount Buffalo which means over the years, together with other members of my local bushwalking club, I’ve been able to explore the labyrinth of trails that criss-cross this spectacular “Island in the Sky” with its sheer cliffs, cascading waterfalls, snow gum forests, expansive grassy plains, majestic granite tors, and of course, fresh alpine air. It’s probably not a good idea to…

“WIND-STUNTED TREES GAVE THE IMPRESSION OF WALKING THROUGH A BONSAI FOREST” UNDERTAKING a pilgrimage is more than a great walk. It is a time to visit your inner self; your own mortality, spirituality, weaknesses and inner strength. All within the context of Mother Nature’s best and the shared compassion of others undertaking their own pilgrimage. It is a chance to walk alone, meditate or share. It is in this context that 22 pilgrims set out to walk the 200+ kilometres of the new pilgrimage trail known as the Mary MacKillop Way or the Aussie Camino, fashioned on the great pilgrimage trails of Europe. Easter Monday and day one of our pilgrimage starts with Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral in East Melbourne, followed by a meeting of the pilgrims, registration, distribution…

“THIS is supposed to be spiritual,” I muttered, crouching to inspect what was either a blister or a small moon forming on my heel. I’d come looking for clarity, healing, maybe even a bit of divine inspiration. Instead, I was staring down an 800km commitment with sore feet and mild regret. Before leaving, I’d seen all the blogs – people smiling with glasses of wine, golden sunsets over cobbled streets, profound quotes etched in stone. But nobody mentioned the less glamorous truths of the pilgrimage. So, in case you’re considering it, let me give it to you straight: the Camino has issues. Cold showers Who knew medieval plumbing was still alive and well? Some albergues promised hot water. Others handed me a key, a towel the size of a dish…

IF you think the only Camino pilgrim walks are in Spain then guess again. Globally there are all most 300 official Caminos listed, encompassing more than 82,000km of routes through 29 countries. There are 49 routes in Spain, covering almost 16,000km, and in Portugal there are nine routes, spanning over 2800km, so you have plenty to choose from. So with this in mind here are some lesser known, but just as amazing, Camino walks. Via de la Plata, Spain The Via de la Plata is a lesser known but historically rich pilgrimage route in Spain, stretching over 1,000 kilometres from Seville in the south to Santiago de Compostela in the northwest. Originally a Roman trade route, its name means “Silver Way,” though it likely derives from the Arabic balata, meaning…

FOR the minimalist explorer, a tarp is arguably the most lightweight, easy-to-pack shelter. Shelter here is the operative word, however, because if you don’t know how to set it up properly, you’re likely not going to have a great night’s sleep. Using Mountain Designs’ Tarp 9.0, here are nine ways you can set up a tarp for reliable outdoor cover. Thanks to our good friends at Mountain Designs for sharing this story. Need to know: Mountain Designs Tarp 9.0 Grey $169.99. mountaindesigns.com 1 Classic A-Frame Run some paracord/rope through the centre between two trees to create a ridge line and the subsequent ‘A’ shape, then use pegs at each of the four corners. One of the quickest and easiest ways to configure a tarp and the set-up that’s most like a…

WHEN I was hiking Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit and Base Camp in 1997, I met a woman on the trail who had a porter carrying her gear. However instead of leaving all her heavy books back in a hotel in Pokhara she insisted the porter carry them which added unnecessary weight to the load he was carrying. It seemed quite unfair but at the time there didn’t seem to be any guidelines on what tourists should expect porters to carry. Now there are. Below are six ways to be ethical when hiring a porter in these regions based on the International Porters Protection Group (ippg.net). Pay fair wages One of the most critical aspects of ethical porter hiring is ensuring they are paid fairly for their work. In Nepal and Peru,…

THE Himalayas seep into your soul and possess a spiritual quality that draws people from all over the world on multiple return trips. The warm reception of the local people and some of the best scenery on the planet are just for starters. The Karakoram in Pakistan are a western extension of the Himalayas, sharing similar attractions but are also quite different. World Expeditions’ 27-day K2 Basecamp trek (K2BC) seemed to tick every single box: epic, challenging, different to Nepal and a natural extension to Everest Basecamp trek (EBC) that I completed in 2018. Under World Expeditions 10-point trek grading system, EBC is graded 4/5 (moderate) compared to K2BC which is graded 8 (strenuous) with walking up to 12 hours a day at altitudes above 5,500m on undefined rocky terrain.…