Bushwalking 101

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We had a sellout crowd on Monday, 16 March at the RSV for this event where the crew from  Paddy Pallin provided an inspiring and practical evening dedicated to all things hiking and bushwalking. Topics covered included:

  • smart trip planning
  • essential gear
  • safety considerations and insider tips
  • practical knowledge that can be put into action straight away
  • recommendations for great walks close to home as well as unforgettable trails further afield.

Participant feedback was so encouraging and provided some great ideas for future “Monday night “ events .. so we are busy organising more for the winter months. See the participant generated list of favourite walks/hikes below:

International

Longer Walks

  • Haute Trail (Chamonix to Zermatt)  - 100 miles – 11-14 days
  • Walk trek in Torres Del Paine (Patagonia) – 80 km over 4-5 days
  • Coast to Coast (UK – St Bees to Robin Hood Bay) – 8-18 days (can include rest days)
  • Nakasendo Trail (Japan) – sections of the 190 + miles down the spine of Honshu – 5-9 days
  • Walk one month in Russia – hiking Russia’s Altai Republic offers spectacular untamed Siberian wilderness
  • Mont Blanc circuit – 16-17 days
  • Mt Kenya, Africa – sea level to 1500 feet
  • Inca trail – 4 days to Machu Pinchu – Dead Woman’s pass is the highest point.

One day walks

  • Tongariro Crossing (North Island, New Zealand)
  • Cape Brett (Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand)
  • Key Summit – just out of Milford, South Island, New Zealand
  • Hooker Valley, Mt Cook – South Island of New Zealand
  • Arthurs Pass (South Island, New Zealand)
  • Mountain track to top of Ben Neivs
  • Half Dome (California)
  • Longs Peak (Colorado)
  • Joshua Tree National Park California- bouldering
  • Lake Louise, Canada – any path around the lake
  • Mountain track to top of Ben Nevis
  • Nepal - Mt Annapurna – day walk, start early and stay overnight in the local village. Climb to the top of the mountain for sunrise and return by lunch. Recommended time is February – late summer here but late winter there.
  • China – Tiger Leaping Gorge – SW China (one way trail – four seasons in one day)
  • Ngong Ping Trail (Hong Kong) on Lantau Island
  • Spanish Coast north of Barcelona – (Cadaqués  to Port de la Selva) – Spanish part of the Pyrenees and a lot of rock scrambling – 10 days
  • Italy (Amalfi Coast) down the hills only. Tracks built for pack horses – walk down into the valleys of Amalfi. Start in Amalfi and walk on to The Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei).
  • Cinque Terre – Italian Riviera coastline – similar to Amalfi – trains between but walking better
  • Lesotho, Southern Africa – small land-locked country. Volcanic formation. Drakensberg to Maletsunyane Falls: the highest falls of Lesotho

Australia

***Great app: AllTrails – free version is excellent – has filters (bike friendly/dog friendly and gives terrain hints)

Tasmania

  • Walls of Jerusalem
  • Cradle Mountain
  • Three Capes - a great introduction to multi-day walks as you stay in
    accommodation that supplies beds and cooking equipment in kitchens.

Northern Territory

  • Kings Canyon
  • Larapinta Trails – 230 km plus Ormiston Gorge – can be broken into smaller hikes. Guided or self-organised walks

Queensland

  • Scenic Rim
  • Great walk – K’gari (Fraser Island) 5-7 days
  • Hinchinbrook Island – creeks and waterfalls (requires booking) 3-6 days

New South Wales

***Great app – National Parks and Wildlife Service

  • Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk near Mullumbimby – 45 km over 4 days
  • Main Range Koscuisko
  • Snowies Alpine Walk – only huts
  • Yuraygir coastal walk – Ballina to Red Rock (shuttle bus onto Grafton-Ballina). Angourie to Red Rock – 65 km (lots of sand walking).
    Can carry everything or book accommodation in the small villages near the trail.

Western Australia

  • Bibblemum track

South Australia

  • Heysen Trail
  • South Australia Parks

Victoria – Melbourne Walks

Wider Metropolitan Area

***Great app: AllTrails – free version is excellent – has filters (bike friendly/dog friendly and gives terrain hints)

  • Melbourne Water - Parks and walking tracks
  • Cardinia Reservoir
  • Dandenong Ranges – Sherbrooke, Belgrave to Ferntree Gully, Dandenongs Botanical Gardens
  • Merri Creek, Darebin Creek Parklands
  • Gardiners Creek – Scotchman’s Creek
  • Cranbourne Train Line – Skyrail  (bikes)
  • Cliff top walk: Port Phillip Bay Eastern side (South Road to Beaumaris)
Beyond Metro
  • You Yangs
  • Werribee Gorge
  • Lorne and Otways – Great Ocean Walk
  • Tarra Bulga National Park
  • Cathedral Ranges
  • Lake Tarli Karng hike
  • Western District – Portland (Great South Walk), Tower Hill, Mt Eccles, Port Fariy Griffiths Island
  • Bogong High Plains
  • Razorback – Hotham
  • Falls Creek
  • Bright
  • Mitchell River
  • Wison’s Prom
  • Mornington Peninsula – Back beaches (cliff walks); Bushrangers Bay Cape Schank; Walk across peninsula from Bay side to the other side