Sommaire pour Annual 2023 de Great Walks

WELCOME to this year’s Great Walks Annual. With every Annual we like to change things a bit so it’s not like a normal issue. A good example is we have gone for three Life Through The Lens stories in this issue – hiking in Mount Hotham (pg28), Kosciusko’s alpine huts (pg 82) and exploring the country’s best volcanic walks (pg 92). These articles are all about visual storytelling and letting the photos do all the talking. We are also giving away another pack-free guided walk from our good friends at Life’s An Adventure! This time it’s to experience the mighty Larapinta Trail, that starts just outside of Alice Springs. In my humble opinion the Larapinta is the one walk every Aussie bush-walker should experience. With Life’s An Adventure you’d only…

INSPIRATION Outdoors – they had me at the name. And the tour company’s description of a trip to the Kimberley for those who like to walk, swim, enjoy delicious food and relax under a blanket of stars each evening – they had me there too. “A tour though,” I pondered. The thought of two weeks with a group of strangers made me nervous, and at the same time excited. I like to experience new things and the more I delved into the itinerary the more I liked the idea: guides to drive us, cook for us, make the decisions. Plus, as the old saying goes, ‘Strangers are just friends waiting to happen’… so maybe a tour was for me. The ‘Walking the Kimberley’ itinerary reads like a dream – a…

THIS MONTH’S WINNING PHOTO Main Range National Park, Qld Hannah Thomas, West End, Qld Camera: iPhone Hannah: "This photo of me was taken by my friend Robyn as I watched a beautiful sunrise from Laidley Creek Falls, a remote bushcamp at Main Range National Park. The sun was very welcome as it was a cold and very windy morning (hence why I'm wrapped in my sleeping bag!). A beautiful view to start the day, on a short (5km) but enjoyable overnight hike." Mt Hotham, Steven Genesin, Colonel Light Gardens SA Camera: Olympus EM1 Steven: “The Razorback Trailhead at Mt Hotham in Victoria provides an opportunity for some majestic hiking views. When there is light dusting of snow it’s time to put on the fleece and hope the sun shines for…

WOULD taking a train three-quarters of the way down a mountain be wrong when researching a story about one of its trails? My weary legs and I ponder this question while descending Yr Wyddfa (‘Uhr-with-va’, also known as Snowdon), Wales’ highest summit … then detour towards a paused steam locomotive to enquire about the possibility. Rising 1085m above sea level, Yr Wyddfa is Eryri (‘Eh-ruhree’, also known as Snowdonia) National Park’s most popular summit, with more than 600,000 people hiking it each year. Six main routes lead up it; of these, the most frequented is the 14.5km/six hour-return Llanberis Path, the one I’m doing. The national park’s website warns all routes, including this one, are challenging: prospective climbers should be confident in their fitness, mountaineering skills, equipment, and preparations before…

Across 1. Vic’s 104km hiking trail, the Great Ocean_, passes through Otway NP (4)4. The Australian _ Memorial is passed on Section 1 of the Canberra Centenary Trail (3)5. The Great Noosa _ Walk passes through the Noosa Biosphere Reserve (5)7. The section of water between Victoria and Tasmania, _ Strait (4)9. The Burke and Wills Dig _ at Cooper’s Creek, Qld, is a monument to these explorers (4)10. Completed in 1898, the Queen _ Building, is a popular meeting point in central Sydney (8)12. _ Rock is a curved rock formation around 15m high and 110m long, near Hyden, WA (4)13. At the end of the Razorback _, lies Victoria’s Mt Feathertop, 1922m (5)14. This northern WA NP was previously known as Hamersley Range (8)15. Lake Hillier, located on…

KOSCIUSZKO National Park’s huts are recognised as important NSW heritage structures. They were built by stockmen, prospectors, skiers, recreational fishing people and the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority. Here are some of the dozens of huts that can be found in the park. NEED TO KNOW For info about the huts and walks within Kosciuszko NP visit nationalparks.nsw.gov.au If you would like to explore these huts with a guide, Jindabyne-based Mike Edmondson can get you there and back. mikeedmondson.com.au Mt Jagungal 5-day Huts walk: You’ll climb Mt Jagungal and visit six huts: Horse camp hut, Whites River Hut, Schlink Hilton, Valentines Hut, Grey Mare Hut and Mawson’s Hut. Dates: 2023 November 23-27, 2024 21-25 March. Also ideal for groups of four to six on customised dates. The Pilot 5-day Huts walk:…

WHERE NEXT? PEKOE TRAIL, SRI LANKA Most countries have their own iconic, national walking trail. But for a long time, despite its stunning nature and plethora of tourist offerings, Sri Lanka didn’t. Adventurer and travel specialist Miguel Cunat decided to change that, and with help from the Tourism Resilience Project, the 300km Pekoe Trail was created. The route takes walkers through the country’s tea plantations and hillside communities. Though the paths have been used for years by locals, the creation of the trail has now mapped, signposted and maintained them. The trail is broken up into 22 sections, averaging around 12km each, so whether you’re looking for a day hike or a multi-day expedition, there’s something to suit everyone. The trail starts in the famous city of Kandy and heads…

“WE PASSED KANGAROOS FEEDING ALONG THE CLIFF TOPS” THE Solitary Islands Coastal Walk is a beautiful 60km bushwalk along the NSW coastline from Red Rock in the north to Sawtell in the south. The walk passes through gorgeous golden beaches, rocky headlands and lush rainforests along the Coffs Coast. You can do the walk in either direction. Our group from Brisbane went from north to south. The track follows the coast, with the majority of walking on the beach, a bit of easy rock scrambling, and a few sections of bush track. When planning the walk, you need to check the tides, as there are some areas where you need to cross creeks and river mouths. You need to do these areas at low tide. It is easier to walk…

IN a time when over-tourism in Europe is leading to increasingly busy national parks and trails it is a delight to discover a place that harks back to a less crowded past. Imagine a country abounding with stunning alpine hikes, idyllic valleys, glacial lakes and rivers of eye-popping beauty, abounding with wildlife and flora. Where traditional mountain culture survives, with hospitable people who not only love to be outdoors but truly practice and value sustainability. Welcome to Slovenia! Slovenia's relatively compact size is a blessing for hikers as it allows you to explore a wide range of landscapes within a relatively short distance. You can easily find a level of walking to match your desires and ability: from challenging high Alpine hut-to-hut trips to more sedate river valley and vineyards…

GREAT DAY WALKS MOUGAMARRA NATURE RESERVE, NSW MOUGAMARRA is believed to be an Awabakal word meaning “Preserve for the future”. Preserving for the future was the idea behind the extra land leased in 1934 and eventually handed over to NPWS by farmer John Tipper in 1969. Tippers’ passion for the region and concern about the loss of the Hawkesbury sandstone habitat and damage to Indigenous sites throughout the area lead him to lease the land that is now Mougamarra Nature Reserve. Today, Mougamarra Nature Reserve is open to the public just six weeks a year between August and September. Tickets can be purchased through NPWS and sell out extremely fast. Limiting access to the area helps protects the unique flora, fauna, and Indigenous sites. To be honest you can see…

THIS year I was fortunate enough to undertake and complete the John Muir Trail in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, a 220 mile (352km) exploration of the most beautiful parts of the range, running from Yosemite National Park to the summit of Mt. Whitney, the second highest mountain in the country (read the full story in the upcoming Dec/Jan issue). At six weeks, this was to be my longest ever hike, and so taking the right gear was crucial. Rather than stick with my regular bushwalking set-up, I decided to embrace the US thru-hiker ethos, i.e. go as lightweight as possible without compromising my safety. My base weight (all gear actually carried, not including worn clothing, food or water) came in at just over 10kg, and these were the main pieces.…

VOLCANIC LANDSCAPE FOR a continent not renowned for volcanic activity, Australia has some interesting volcanic landscapes. We have the Cosgrove hotspot track, the longest volcanic chain in the world running 2000km from Queensland to Victoria, and Undara in Queensland boasting some of the largest lava tubes in the world. There are hundreds of volcanoes, all are extinct and some possibly dormant, at least on the mainland. Australia’s active volcanoes are located only on the Antarctic Territory Islands, with the volcano Big Ben erupting in May this year. The last eruption on the mainland is thought to be around 5000 years ago at Mt Gambier and the next one is estimated to be at least that far away. Some volcanic areas such as the Glasshouse Mountains in Queensland and the Warrumbungles…

YOUR WAY READERS’ STORIES I had researched hikes in Bali before my recent trip and was disappointed to find many mountains were closed to tourists, but then pleased to hear from a local driver that Mount Batur was still open, and he could arrange a trip there for myself and two mates. Our trip started with a 1.15am pick up from our resort in Legian, timed to reach the mountaintop by sunrise. A 2hr drive to central Bali, we then met up with our guide, Wayan and set off at 4am. Wayan was remarkable, an 18-year-old local school student who does the walk each morning before heading off to class! The hike is only about 8.5km in total but quite steep in places, and of course the ascent is done…

IN the picturesque alpine landscapes at the peak of Mt Hotham Alpine Resort, you’ll find a range of incredible trails with expansive 360° views, offering an exhilarating experience for hikers of all levels. Discover historic shelters along the Huts Walk, take in the scenery of The Summit Walk, or challenge yourself with the Razorback trail to reach the majestic Mt Feathertop. There’s an adventure awaiting every nature enthusiast, offering an opportunity to immerse yourself in the enchanting alpine landscape. NEED TO KNOW mthotham.com.au…

What's your earliest bushwalking memory? When I was a kid I grew up wandering in the jungle of New Guinea as we lived on New Ireland on a plantation. I have a vivid memory of when I was nine years old I walked with my dad from our plantation called Belik on a track that goes from east coast to west coast at the shortest point; we walked for a few kilometres and he showed me the plants and bush foods that he had learnt from the native workers. I also remember on a holiday back in Australia visiting family and friends, we went walking in Mary Cairncross Park with an older family friend who was teaching us about the Australian bushtucker plants. What got you into the walking tour…

BUSH RESCUES THE tension in the Operations Room goes up a notch as three loud chimes ring out at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. “It’s all hands-on deck,” explains Samantha Siddins, Senior Search and Rescue Officer. The alarm signals an incoming distress message from a personal locator beacon. Inside Australia’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, six search and rescue staff are immediately focused on the information that has bounced from beacon to satellite to receiving dish, before appearing on multiple computer screens across the room. In an ordinary office building in Canberra, this small group of professionals receive every distress notification from beacons triggered in their vast search and rescue zone. Australia’s search and rescue zone covers one tenth of the earth’s surface. At 52.8 million square kilometres, it not only…

“YOU’VE got arthritis in your right knee”, the doctor said. “Get a walking stick and suck it up!” To be told this at age 57, with the tactfulness of a Mack truck, I was gutted, but not one to accept what I’m told, I set about looking for alternatives. Now, four years on, and both comfortably in our 60s, we’ve walked, unsupported, more than 5,500km, completing three long distance walks in Europe and Australia. Our love affair with long distance hiking started after reading Harry Bucknall’s book, ‘Like a Tramp, Like a Pilgrim’. Recounting his eventful and humorous journey walking the Via Francigena (VF), an old Pilgrim route from Canterbury to Rome. The VF is a modern version of the 990 AD account of Bishop Sigeric’s return journey after receiving…