Category Archives: Birds

Huemel Circuit – Santa Cruz Province – ARGENTINA

2/12/2025 – 5/12/2025 Huemel Circuit

Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (Los Glaciares National Park)

Area Lago Viedma

Santa Cruz Province, ARGENTINA

Distance: 75.8km Time: 34 hours

Total Ascent: 2695m Total Descent: 2803m

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Pedro Navarro (Guide), Patrizia Schäffnerl, Valentina Sobol (Porter)

The Huemul Circuit is not a casual stroll but a full immersion into the raw weather, vast ice and big skies of southern Patagonia. From the moment our small team left El Chaltén and Monte Fitz Roy faded behind us, daily life was replaced by a rhythm of boggy lenga forest, wind‑buffeted passes, creek crossings and evenings spent drying gear beside lakes.

Guided by Pedro, with our porter, Valentina, carrying a very heavy pack and an endless supply of good humour, we circled Cerro Huemul above Lago Viedma, twice crossed the Río Túnel by Tyrolean traverses, and crunched over glacial ice while storms and sun took turns sweeping the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This report aims to capture an experience that tested creaky knees and comfort zones, but rewarded us with a guanaco on a perfect backdrop, rare orchids, and the quiet satisfaction of finishing one of South America’s toughest and most beautiful treks.

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Bariloche – Refugio Emilio Frey – Laguna Toncek – Laguna Jakob Rucaco – Refugio San Martin – Tambo Báez

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27/11/2025 – 29/11/2025 Bariloche – Refugio Emilio Frey – Laguna Toncek – Laguna Jakob Rucaco – Refugio San Martin – Tambo Báez

Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi

(Nahuel Huapi National Park)

Rio Negro Province

Patagonia Lakes District

ARGENTINA

Distance: 46.6km Time: 21.5hours

Total Ascent: 1692m Total Descent: 1848m

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

A much-anticipated start after multiple delays.

Getting to the start of the walk was an adventure in itself. We were lined up to board our international flight from Sydney to Buenos Aires when the line came to a standstill. The staff were looking stony-faced as they were given the news. There was no announcement, but they came over to the line and started speaking to individuals. We soon learned that our plane had been “struck by lightning” and the flight was cancelled. Great start to our trip! We were offered overnight accommodation if we didn’t live in Sydney and a meal voucher. A few hours later, I received an email saying our flight had been rescheduled for the following day, 27 hours late. We were transferred by bus to the Holiday Inn Sydney Airport, where they were keen to give us free food. Dinner and breakfast were included as well as the shuttle back to the airport. We settled in for the afternoon.

We did take off at the new time the following day, but I had to adjust our travel plans, accommodations and our flight into Bariloche for the following day. The new flight time, unfortunately, had us waiting for seven hours in Santiago for the connection. We arrived in Buenos Aires close to 10:00pm, and I had organised accommodation close to the airport. Our flight the following day was at 3:15pm, but we had to check out of our accommodation at 10:00am, so we just headed for the airport. We checked our bags in, and soon after, I received an email saying the flight was delayed another six hours! So we had an 11-hour wait at the airport!

We eventually arrived in Bariloche close to midnight and fell asleep as soon as we hit the pillow.

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Kidman’s Camp – PV Jandra – Darling River – North Bourke Bridge – The Big Billabong

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Tuesday 28/10/2025 Kidman’s Camp – PV Jandra – Darling River – North Bourke Bridge – The Big Billabong

Darling River Cruise

North Bourke, NSW

Ngemba Country (Ngemba people)

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

The PV Jandra—a replica of a classic paddle steamer—evoked the era when riverboats shaped regional life and trade. As we glided out from the wharf, our guide shared stories about early river explorers and the crucial relationship of the Darling River to Aboriginal Ngemba people. The backdrop of centuries-old red gums and gnarled coolibahs reflected the enduring life of these waters.

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Putta Bucca Wetlands Reserve

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Thursday 30/10/2025 Cudgegong River – Quarry Lake – Turtle Island

Mudgee, NSW

Wiradjuri Country (Wiradjuri people)

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies

The circuit through Putta Bucca Wetlands begins at the edge of the Cudgegong River, where a well-maintained path traces the water before curving towards Quarry Lake. Over a total distance of 2km, the route winds through a tapestry of restored wetlands, tall reeds, and open woodland, offering clear sightlines across open water and floodplain. The walking is comfortably flat, gaining only 8 m in elevation across the loop.

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Bennetts Gorge Picnic Area – Bennetts Walking Track – Mount Gundabooka – Valley of the Eagles Walk – Ngana Malyan

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Monday 27/10/2025 Bennetts Gorge Picnic Area – Bennetts Walking Track – Mount Gundabooka – Valley of the Eagles Walk – Ngana Malyan

Valley of the Eagle (Ngana Malyan) Walking Track

Gundabooka National Park, NSW

Ngemba and Kurnu Baakandji Country (Ngemba and Kurnu Baakandji people)

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

We aimed to head out early on this walk to beat the heat, but by the time we prepared for the walk and drove from Dry Tank Campground to the trailhead, it was 8:00am.

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Mount Grenfell Art Site Walk – Mount Grenfell Historic Site – Nglyampaa Walking Track – Mount Grenfell

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Saturday 25/10/2025 Mount Grenfell Art Site Walk – Mount Grenfell Historic Site – Nglyampaa Walking Track – Mount Grenfell 361 m

Mount Grenfell Historic Site, NSW

Ngiyampaa Country (Ngiyampaa Wangaaypuwan people)

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

After completing the Cobar parkrun and visiting the Sound Chapel, we decided to spend the afternoon in the Mount Grenfell area, about a 50-minute drive west of Cobar.

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Borenore Access Road – Veranda Cave Track – Boree Creek – Tunnel Cave – Verandah Cave – Borenore Picnic Area – Arch Loop Track – The Arch

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Tuesday 21/10/2025 Borenore Access Road – Veranda Cave Track – Boree Creek – Tunnel Cave – Verandah Cave – Borenore Picnic Area – Arch Loop Track – The Arch

Borenore Karst Conservation Reserve

Orange, NSW

Wiradjuri Country (Wiradjuri people)

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

We aimed for an early start for this walk with forecast high temperatures for the day. It was a 25-minute drive from Orange, and we arrived just after 8:00am to a locked gate! After a quick search of the website and a call to NPWS, it was clear that the gate would be open at 9:00am. We decided to walk the 1.2km to the start of the walk. It would be too hot to wait until 9:00am to start.

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Grand Clifftop Walk – Blue Mountains National Park

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Monday 13/10/2025 Katoomba Falls Tourist Park – Prince Henry Cliff Walk – Scenic World – Kedumba River – Katoomba Cascades

Tuesday 14/10/2025 Katoomba Falls Tourist Park – Katoomba Falls – Kedumba River – Prince Henry Cliff Track – Allambie Lookout – Lady Darley’s Lookout – Kedumba View – Echo Point Lookout – Spooners Lookout – Lady Carrington Lookout – Tallawalla Lookout – Honeymoon Lookout – Kiah lookout – Bridal Veil lookout – Leura Cascades Fern Bower Circuit – Leura Cascades Picnic Area – Tarpeian Rock – Olympian Rock – Elysian Rock Lookout – Gordon Falls Reserve – Pool of Siloam – Pool of Siloam Track – Golg Links Lookout – Grand Clifftop Walk – Willoughby Road – Sublime Point Road – Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – Lillians Bridge Track – Valley of the Waters Track – Empress Falls – Conservation Hut – Shortcut Track – Overcliff Walk – Undercliff Track – Princes Rock Lookout – Wentworth Falls – Fletchers Lookout – Jamieson Creek – Darwins Walk – Wilson Park – Great Western Highway – Station Street – Wentworth Falls Train Station

Blue Mountains National Park, NSW

Gundungurra Country (Gundungurra people)

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

I’ve wanted to complete this walk for a while. It opened in March 2024 and is recommended as a two-day walk. With a total distance of 19km, we decided to try it as a day walk. Just to wet our appetite, we wandered down from camp and had a look around the Scenic World section on the Monday evening.

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