Travers-Sabine Circuit in Nelson Lakes NP

Every multi-day walk should be launched with a powerboat ride!  The 20 min ride across Lake Rotoiti begins our 7 day tramp on the Travers-Sabine Circuit in Nelson Lakes National Park (NP).

The 80km Travers-Sabine circuit is the ideal way to see the rivers, lakes, beech forests and high mountain country of the Nelson Lakes NP.  Located 90 min from Nelson, the Nelson Lakes NP formed in 1956, now has over 15 huts and covers over 102,000 ha.  An earthquake 6 days prior to our journey, reminds us this National Park also sits on a major fault line.

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Fraser Island Great Walk

Depending on where you are walking in the world, one may have to be mindful of interaction with large and dangerous native animals such as bears, large cats etc.

Australia’s preferred option of injury or even death via fauna interaction is generally poison by a snake, spider or some other creepy crawly.  The kangaroo, cassowary and dingo are about as big as we get in Australia.

Whilst the dingo has nothing on a huge grizzly bear that can still out run and out climb you (how anyone can sleep while hiking in bear country is beyond me), to see a dingo in the wild is always a little exciting.

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Queen Charlotte Track

The Queen Charlotte Track is unique for a multi-day walk, in that it’s suitable for any level of walker.  The 71 km walk can be done with a full pack utilising the numerous camp sites along it’s length.  Alternatively it can be walked with a small daypack, with your remaining possessions transported by boat to your next intended destination.

Accommodation options range from tent camping, homestay and backpacker lodges through to 5 star resorts.  Further more, the option to walk certain sections or even ‘bail out’ and get a boat back to Picton is always available.

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Upper Noosa River

The water is barely showing a ripple, the air is still and the sun is spreading it’s warmth; it’s a perfect morning as I push off from the beach at Elanda Point.

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Thorsborne Trail – Hinchinbrook Island

The 32 klm Thorsborne Trail explores the east coast of one of Australia’s largest island national parks.  Hinchinbrook Island east of Cardwell, is nearly 40,000 ha of national park and forms part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

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Bushwalking Basics / Hiking Essentials – What you Need To Get Started

You’re sick of staring at a computer all week, can’t bear the thought of another weekend channel surfing on TV.  You look out the window, the sun’s shining and you decide it’s time to go bush.

So what are the bushwalking / hiking essentials you need before you head out into the vast unknown?

This list is for those looking for something more than the standard two hour return trip on a National Park marked trail; ie. Four hours or more with some (or all) off-track walking, possibly requiring navigation, bush-bashing, scrambling and/or rock-hopping.  If this sounds like you, read on…

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Walks in Girraween National Park

Located some 3 hours from Brisbane, visitors to Girraween National Park will find not only a different climate, but a spectacular granite littered landscape unlike anywhere else. Giant granite boulders and slabs, along with massive granite dome outcrops featuring names including Pyramid Rock, Castle Rock, Mt Norman, Mallee Ridge and South/Middle/West Bald Rock.  The myriad of caves, rock formations and spectacular outlooks from atop the many peaks, will surely spark the imagination and curiosity in even the least adventurous.

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Walking on Moreton Island

If you’ve grown up in SE Qld as I have, you’ll recall family trip’s made to Bribie, partied/camped/chilled on Straddie and found any reason you can to visit Fraser.  Few of us it seems (yours truly included) have made the journey across the bay to Moreton Island, seemingly a forgotten cousin of the aforementioned islands.

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Carnarvon Great Walk

33 degrees and humid!  Perusing the 7 day weather forecast posted on the wall at the Carnarvon Gorge Ranger Station, the first day’s outlook on the Carnarvon Great Walk is not exactly desirable.

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Larapinta Trail

Sitting on the mini-bus from Alice Springs out to Redbank Gorge – I’m walking the trail west to east starting at section 12 -and staring at the imposing peaks and ranges that comprise the West MacDonnell National Park; I wonder what the next 17 days will bring. Already it’s had surprises. Continue reading