Outdoor Magazine

everyday routine

Kids love it when you lie on the ground and start randomly twisting and contorting your limbs. The “what are you doing?” question, which is usually fired in quick and fast, never comes. “At last,” the two-year-old mind deduces, “something more my speed”, before wordlessly commencing a comical, sort of rolling, slow-mo pile-up demo of their own skill.The need to be supple and flexible is innate in the mind of a new human, as logical to them as eating or understanding love. Which is odd, especially if, like I was, you’re standing on your head exploring a new yoga move. Very young children are still finding their way, developing confidence and coordination, but at the same time, yin and yang-style, they’re keen to fully explore their physical capability.Sitting on…

this issue’s itinerant scribblers

JOANNE MARRIOTT Jo’s hiking and biking adventures have taken her all over the world. She’s squelched through bogs on her way to the top of Mount Stanley in the Rwenzori Mountains, mountain biked across Iceland into freezing headwinds with just socks on her hands to keep warm, and crawled through the snow for the final push to the summit Kala Patthar on her way to Everest Base Camp. She’s happiest in the mountains (somewhat ironic that she lives in Perth) surrounded by fresh air, blue skies, incredible scenery and hearty food. These days you’ll mostly find her on the trails with her husband, daughter and twin baby boys, exploring WA’s stunning national parks and camping out in the bush with some cheeky chocolate and red wine.…

government unchanged on climate

Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina 'I’m a huge fan of renewable energy.’ ‘The science is in.’ ‘We’ll stop being so activist when you stop being so shit.’These were just a few of the signs wielded by the thousands of school children across the nation who walked out of classrooms to join the School Strike 4 Climate Action in late November.The protest drew condescending comments from pollies (“The best thing you’ll learn about going to a protest is how to join the dole queue” – really, Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan?). Nevertheless, the protest seemed to resonate with most Australians.In December, an Australian Youth Climate Coalition poll found six in 10 people – regardless of political leanings – thought the students had a right to demand climate change action…

wilsons perambulatory

Lace up your hiking boots. This issue, Outdoor is taking you to the Prom (forget your original date, who would rather jive under a cheap plastic disco ball than experience the profound beauty of the natural world). It’s cooler down here, thanks to the ocean and the coastal breeze, meaning you won’t sweat yourself into non-existence or become an ambassador for beetroot.The 10km return hike to Tongue Point from the Darby River car park is a great place to start. The walk kicks off with a steep uphill around the side of a hill. As you gain elevation, you score an incredible view of the plain and the Darby River snaking over it. Sometimes, you can pause here and hear the frogs, hundreds of metres away, croaking a deafening…

orbost unplugged

The Snowy River East Gippsland is graced by two National Parks – Snowy River and Croajingolong. Even though they share a border, both are quite different, providing visitors with a variation in environment sure to be valued by those who travel to experience nature close-up. In fact, all locals who Outdoor spoke with mentioned ‘variation of environment’ as a key distinguishing attribute of the region.Tim Behan, who runs the Orbost Club Hotel in town, grew up in Byron Bay. He sees similarities between his childhood home and the coast near Orbost. “Both places share the same geography,” he explains. “Pristine mountain wilderness behind an ocean dune system and if up there, you can gaze out eastwards over uninterrupted Pacific Ocean”.Of course Orbost doesn’t exactly share the same cachet…

karoonda park — gateway to the snowy river

Making a splash Karoonda Park is a one-stop shop for adventure. Whether you prefer going horseback, by kayak or remaining on foot, the Park will sort you out. At 760 meters above sea level, Karoonda Park is about one and a half hours from the Lakes Entrance coast. The Gelantipy plateau is bounded by The Snowy River National Park to the East, The Alpine National Park and Cobbera Wilderness Area to the North, and the Buchan Headwaters Wilderness and State Forest Areas to the West. To the North, East and West the nearest services/ major townships are over two hours away on dirt roads. The Buchan township offers the next nearest tourist facilities, with Bairnsdale being the closest regional centre. Karoonda Park specialises in organising…