Innehållsförteckning för August/September 2018 från Great Walks

“WALK yourself young”. That’s our big headline for this issue but is it a big ask? Absolutely not! Our Hike Forever Fitness guide, starting pg 66, will attest to that. The premise is simple; as we get older, regular exercise and a balanced diet become even more important – and you don’t have to take up marathon running or fad diets in your later years to achieve this lifestyle change. The simple act of walking in nature, getting your heart rate up and sticking to a healthy diet – even if you’ve never done any of these before or have let them lapse – have obvious benefits. Fresh air? Tick. Working your core? Tick. Great for your mental health? Tick. Encouraging social contact? Tick. Exploring parts of the country you’ve…

A mighty effort I’m so impressed by your two writers who took on NZ’s nine Great Walks in nine weeks (The greatest show on Earth, GRW June-July 2018). What an inspiring journey and an inspiring article. So far my husband and I have done three of the Great Walks – Milford Track, Routeburn Track and Heaphy Track, which was my personal favourite. Next summer we’re planning on heading down to Stewart Island to walk the Rakiura Track. By the way, we found the DOC website (doc.govt.nz) really helpful so I would suggest anyone wanting to bushwalk in NZ to use this as their first point of research. Mary Jones, Hawthon, Vic Yes we were very excited when writers Cat Smith and Joe Bird contacted us with their story. And then…

IT’S 4.30am, but despite the lack of moon, the sky outside is anything but dark. The streaky smudge of the Milky Way lies thrown out across the night sky, the curved dome flashing intermittently with silent lightning. Hopefully the distant storm will not transition to rain here. The hooting of an owl and the susurration of nocturnal cicadas perfectly soundtrack the green flashes of fireflies, eerily synchronised as they move through the air above our tents. This stillness belies the method by which we were awoken – a harsh bugle sounding The Rouse, the traditional soldiers’ wake-up call, courtesy of our ex-military guide, Major Chad Sherrin. Although this daily alarm blares from an iPod via portable speaker instead of from the lips of a bugler, it has the same effect…

WAITING at the red light on the fifth set of roadworks on the New England Highway, I try and channel my inner Zen. After all, I’m about to embark on a five-day Yatra walk (translated from the Sanskrit as ‘mindfulness, journey, path of life’ or ‘pilgrimage’). Nonetheless, I’m less concerned about the walk than about camping at Girraween National Park which is notoriously cold in winter. I am also a tad apprehensive as I’m not very good at either keeping still or being silent. Hiking is my passion, and finances and work permitting, my favourite activity is doing solo ultra-long distance walks in Europe. However, over the past few years I’ve also been investigating various mindfulness practices, particularly to help with anxiety. Mindful walking in natural environments has proven benefits,…

“OHHH! Arrgggh!” I grimaced and gripped my left knee as it locked in a straight position at the top of 300 steps above the Corniglia railway station in Italy. We were one-fifth of the way into the famed Cinque Terre walk and it looked like we would be catching the train. A Voltaren and a prayer saw it free up and we continued the next few days unhindered. There were niggly clicks and twinges over the next 12 months; maybe age had just caught up with me. Later, however, the diagnosis was a torn meniscus and pending surgery. The culprit was twisting and turning along parts of the narrow cliff-top section of the Italian track on the first day. Perhaps those suggested walking poles should have been used. We had…

MY earliest bushwalking memory is of my father taking me up Mt Tibrogargan in the Glasshouse Mountains when I was about 12. I got stuck on one of the real scrambly sections and had to downclimb – it had me pretty spooked. That was probably my first taste of exposure. I spent my youth surfing and ocean swimming on the Sunshine Coast. During my 20s I worked as a molecular pharmacologist at UQ in Brisbane, basically to fund my travels. My most memorable adventures are my yearlong journey circumnavigating the South American continent on a 125cc motorcycle, cycling solo through the USA and spending five epic winters snowboarding in North America. After working as a snowboard instructor and later a ski patroller in the Kootenay Rockies in Canada, I decided…

THE Grose Valley often gets a tough wrap in comparison to other ‘more scenic’ walks in the Blue Mountains. Monument wise, it may be lacking in multiple siblings and rainforest feels, however the views along the valley from Du Faur head, and from the top of Lockley’s Pylon are some of the best that can be experienced in the Blue Mountains from such an easy, casual stroll. A cruisy 9km return trip out to Du Faur Head via Lockleys Pylon, in the Blue mountains’ Grose Valley (with extendable options) is a relatively unbeaten track. It is a fantastic and easy walk with spectacular cliff views and mainly overland walking. Parking is available at the Lockley’s Pylon trailhead on Mount Hay Road and is accessible with brave 2WD’s (I took my…

“IF we blow it full of air it’ll float and my pack will stay dry,” said Ed as I watched him turn purple as he blew into an orange garbage bag. After the headrush he walked merrily into the river, dragging the handmade floatation device behind him like an inanimate puppy. He was right, it did float. His rucksack, clad in its new orange bubble, was bobbing on the water behind him. Ed looked pleased with himself too. So much so, the rest of us followed. The words river + hike have never computed for me. Do you walk in the actual river or alongside? In your boots or barefoot? How do you keep gear dry? How do you guage depth? These questions have seen me avoid pretty much any…

THE NSW GOVERNMENT will spend $50 million upgrading national park walking tracks in Sydney, Port Stephens, Tweed-Byron, on the Macleay Valley Coast and the South Coast. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the funding was part of a $630 million investment in the state’s national parks estate: “This funding will ensure our national parks continue to grow and are accessible to everyone. It will protect threatened species and preserve habitats for our wildlife.” In Royal NP, a 9km section of the track between Garie Beach and Otford will be upgraded with elevated boardwalks, stone steps and staircases, with construction to begin in September. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au AN AMBITIOUS PROJECT to better preserve the so called “dinosaur tree” – the Wollemi pine – has blossomed and is sprouting in a secret location. “There are…

THE spectacular alpine region of Victoria provided the traditional owners who gathered here during the summer months with an abundance of Bogong moths and fruit berries. As winter approached they would return to the valleys to avoid the hash inhospitable conditions. The first non-Aboriginals to explore the area were cattlemen looking for summer pastures and it was these men who named Mt Feathertop, after the large cornice of snow that is often formed in winter by the prevailing winds along the summit ridge. The picturesque Mt Feathertop at 1922m is the second highest mountain in Victoria. From the summit you can look across to Mt Bogong, higher by 64. The famous botanist Baron Ferdinand Von Mueller (Born 1825) was one of the first to climb the peak in 1854, suggesting…

IT was early morning and after 120 days on the track we were tired as we set off from the Devon village of Braunton…. “We feel disconsolate to start with, but it’s a stunning day and my mood can’t resist the weather’s prompts. The air is biting cold but the sun has already asserted its authority in a clear blue sky. There’s a promise of heat to come, just the fillip we need. This is the classic England that stirs my dreams and on such autumn days I would swap it for nowhere else. Everything I yearn for in a climate is encapsulated in this moment: a fierce bright glare that brings life to the early morning streetscape; searing frigid air to fill my lungs; breath exhaled in a mist…

WALKING in South East Queensland offers plenty of bang for your buck – wildly varied terrain, lots of gorgeous views, battles with leeches and warm, steamy weather contrasting cool rainforest – all within easy reach of Brisbane. So here’s out top ten day walks. 1 Cougal Hiking Trail, Gold Coast Hinterland Distance: 10km. Time: 4-6hr but allow a day. Where to start: End of the Garden Of Eden Road. One for the challenge chasers, this Mount Cougal walk borders Qld and NSW with a barbed wire fence separating the states your only guide. The terrain is diverse, so hiking poles, navigation skills and a courageous heart are recommended: however climbing Mt Warning’s wild older sister has its rewards: stunning views, proper bushbashing adventure and an experience few will be able…

HIKING is more than one foot in front of the other; it’s a combination of pace and speed. What’s the difference? Pace, regular and methodical, has more to do with rhythm than speed. Rhythm is how it feels; fast or slow, speed is the end result. The right pace for you will get you to your destination having enjoyed a great day out. The right approach For some, hiking is a gentle stroll along an easy and well-formed trail; for others it’s a sprint to get there first – wherever there is. It’s important to realise that the longer the walk, usually over three hours, the more of a mental exercise it becomes. Maintaining a positive mental attitude and the right rhythm will help you to achieve what you might…

“I HAD FRACTURED THE BOTTOM OF MY FEMUR AND HAD NO CARTILAGE ON BOTH KNEES.” Editor of Great Walks’ sister publication Australian Sporting Shooterand author of Bushwalking Basics, Marcus has spent much of his life in the outdoors. I suppose I have done everything I possibly could have in my 61 years to end up with arthritis in my knees and shoulders. It started with hard running in the Regular Army, often in boots and carrying pack and rifle. To add insult to injury I trained hard in my spare time, ran fun runs, played rugby, dabbled in mountaineering and was a pretty serious bushwalker – I could have been born with a pack on my back. All through this time, I cycle commuted about 8,000km per year for 30…

Look... I never thought I’d use the word “sexy” to describe a cooking pot but when I got to open up the new range of Sea To Summit Alpha cook pots that’s pretty much how I’d describe them. Similar to that first time you open that iPhone box. It almost seams too simple to do everything it claims to but once you start using it everything works intuitively. These pots aren’t going to boil water any faster than the cheap ones from the army disposal shop but they are just one of those pieces of kit that makes you find excuses to use them. Weight and Durability The first thing you notice when you pick these guys up is how light and thin they feel. When I first touched it…

It's been around for 350 million years and revered by its Aboriginal custodians for at least 40,000 years, but the striking Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage-listed Purnululu NP was a secret from the outside world until 1983. Today this maze of orange and black striped karst sandstone domes, likened to giant beehives, is one of the best loved attractions in WA's Kimberley region. The area attracts visitors for a whole range of reasons; the sheer grandeur of the sandstone massif, watching it change to a golden colour late in the day, walking through some of the marvellous gorges, and for keen bushwalkers, a walk along Piccaninny Creek for an overnight camping experience. Other walks include the Echidna Chasm Walk, Mini Palms Walk, Cathedral Gorge, the Domes Walk, Piccaninny Creek…

IN February 1937 A Stinson airliner was reported missing on a flight from Brisbane to Lismore with seven persons on board. A number or unconfirmed sightings were reported but extensive air searches revealed nothing. After a week Bernard O’Reilly, a resident of Lamington Plateau acted on his theory that the plane may have gone missing in the remote and rainforest clad mountains of the MacPherson Ranges. His discovery of the wreck and two survivors two days after he set out and nine days after the crash is a story of amazing bushmanship, courage and survival. Soon after reaching the survivors he set off for help and discovered the body of James Westray who had survived the crash but had perished trying to go for help. O’Reilly managed to reach Christmas…

THE first person to successfully swim the shark infested waters off the Tasman Peninsula was a bushranger named Martin Cash to escape the terrors of Port Arthur in 1840. Back then the penal colony was surrounded by high walls, armed guards, impenetrable bush, impossibly high sea cliffs and those uninviting waters, all making it escape proof. Well, almost. I was introduced to Martin Cash by my Life’s An Adventure guide Danny as we began our Three Capes walk. Danny’s a local and knowing a whole lot about the state, loves telling stories about the characters who add so much colour to Tassie’s history. Our Three Capes walk started off with a lovely bus ride from Hobart to the start of the walk in Tasman NP on the peninsula. This place…

I FIND myself constantly gazing across to Phillip Island, to admire pockets of clear azure ocean in among darker pockets of blue, perhaps containing seaweed. With forested bluffs on one side, the variety of blue on the other, and no other visitors in sight, it’s a serene picture. Merricks Beach fronts Western Port Bay and looks across to Phillip Island famous for its little furry penguins that come out at night. It’s located on the Mornington Pensinsula – east of the national park, in the Flinders Somers Coastal Reserve. The sand is pleasingly, mostly compact, which makes it an easy beach walk. The most glamourous little seashells can be easily found – thankfully they are the only items littered on the beach that is, at least in this part of…

Ben Lomond, NZ Regan Birrell, Hawthorndene SA | Camera: HTC 1M9 Regan: “My husband calls me the ‘Ambush Hiker’. He’s not much of a hiker, but will sometimes come along with me under duress. After catching a cable car up to the base of the mountain range, we thought we would do the 1.5 hour walk up to Ben Lomond saddle. Needless to say, we missed the saddle and ended up walking up to the top of the mountain (1748m) after procuring food from some friendly hikers on their way back down. The view was breathtaking (as was the 25km of walking) and a well earned beverage was consumed on the edge of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown with one very pooped hubby beside me.” Routeburn Track, NZ Sharon Smith, Garden Suburb…

“MY husband Travis and I are keen bushwalkers, and always like to venture off where most people do not. Both working as tour guides across Australia, from the Kimberley region, Arnhem Land and Tasmania, our average day at work usually involves looking after up to 24 tourists. So when we do have time off we go bush, and try to avoid where the tourists go. Having said that, our choice of the Three Capes Track is a popular walk and enjoyed by lots of people daily. We like to camp away from the crowds and have that remote feeling, enjoying nature and our own company. Having welcomed our first child into the world in early 2016, we had hoped to maintain our active, adventurous lifestyle and have our son fit…

WHEN our sixties roll around most of us are on the cusp of retirement. We’re financially secure, the kids have gone and it’s time to do the things we’ve fantasised about during those long working years. My motto is: this isn’t a time to waste. As I’ve found, staying fit is the key to prolonging these magical years and enjoying the best they have to offer. Having said that, staying fit isn’t easy, especially when we’re on the upside of 60. My wife Kay and I have kayaks and bikes, but we have found a combination of exercise and diet, while not restricting the niceties of life, and regular walking are the key to keeping age at bay. Our favourite places to walk are in national parks while we are…

MOST of us, say the experts, fall into the trap of underestimating how much we are eating and overestimating how much we are exercising. And it is that little fib to ourselves that makes it hard to lose weight and to keep it off. It is a well-known fact, too, that although many people take up walking to control their weight, many of them are hoping for a miracle without facing up to what they are scoffing down on a regular basis. If that is the case, the result of all their activity is invariably disappointing. Christel Dunshea-Mooij is a performance nutrition expert who has heard every story in the book about battling the bulge and the barriers people put up to sensible eating, but she says it is never…

Producer by trade, Caro started lotsafreshair.com to inspire people to get outdoors and remove barriers to bushwalking. I REMEMBER when I went on my first trip with the Sydney Bushwalkers Club, (an adventure down the full length of Ettrema Creek from Bullfrog Creek to Coolendel in 5 days) I was so exhausted upon reaching camp on the first night, that my only thought was being horizontal. If someone had mentioned ‘jobs’ or ‘chores’ to me, I would’ve used a few choice four letter words in their direction before promptly falling asleep. It was only after I settled into the routine of the first couple of days that I realised there’s a bit to do at camp when you arrive and it’s so much easier and quicker if everyone pitches in…

John has climbed, guided and walked in many countries. He is best known as the author of walking guide books. CLUBS are a great way to shortcut the outdoor learning experience. While not many clubs provide direct training for new members, just observing others as to what they do, what they carry and how it gets used is very instructive. It can save several years of trial and error. As a new club member you may be able to borrow some equipment and gradually work out what works best for you. The heart of most bushwalking clubs is the walks program. While these will be primarily walks, they can also include activities such as skiing, canoeing and bike-riding. With a program of walks to many different locations, clubs can quickly…