Tuesday 13/2/2018 Darlington – Bishop and Clerk
Maria Island National Park, TASMANIA
Paredarerme country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This scenic day walk to the rugged rocky outcrops known as Bishop and Clerk provides panoramic views over Fossil Bay to the west on Maria Island and across the Tasman Sea to Freycinet Peninsula. Continue reading
Monday 12/2/2018 Darlington – Painted Cliffs
Maria Island National Park, TASMANIA
Paredarerme country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
It is a short walk from the main settlement at Darlington to the impressive Painted Cliffs at the southern end of Hopground Beach. They are accessible on a low tide with small swell. Continue reading
Sunday 11/02/2018 Mount Amos – Wineglass Bay – Hazards Beach
Freycinet National Park, TASMANIA
Paredarerme country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This walk provides photo opportunities to capture the iconic Wineglass Bay panorama from the top of Mount Amos. Key features of this fantastic day walk include the crescent shaped white sand of Wineglass Bay with the chance to swim in it’s crystal clear turquoise waters all surrounded by native forest and nearby rugged granite peaks. Continue reading
Friday 10/11/2017 Contos Beach
Margaret River, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Today saw us walking our last small “sampler” section of the Cape to Cape Track – a circuit through the colourful coastal heath above Contos Beach and return along its pristine fine sand. In the afternoon had us visiting Jewel Cave. Continue reading
Thursday 9/11/2017 Hamelin Bay – Cape Leeuwin
Margaret River Region, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Today saw us walking another small section of the Cape to Cape Track – from Hamelin Bay along Foul Bay Beach to the inland Knobby Head Lighthouse and return. In the afternoon we visited the south-western corner of Australia to explore the area around Cape Leeuwin. Continue reading
Wednesday 8/11/2017 Boranup Karri Forest – Redgate Beach – Lake Cave
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
Today saw us driving through a Karri forest, walking another small section of the Cape to Cape Track at Redgate Beach and taking a guided tour through Lake Cave.
Continue reading
Wednesday 1/11/2017 Rottnest Island
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
Located 19km off the West Australian coast to the west of Freemantle, Rottnest Island (“Rat’s Nest”) was named after the small native marsupials called quokkas (Setonix brachyurus) found here by Dutch sailors over 200 years ago. It is also home to sea lions and seals, native birds and three endemic tree species. Human settlement dates back at least 30,000 years when then island was still connected to the mainland. Continue reading
Sunday 12/11/2017 Mount Hallowell – Lights Beach – Wilson Head
Denmark, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Minang country
Participants: Ian Cockerill, Junko Cockerill, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Dave
At Ian’s suggestion we found ourselves in Denmark for a couple of nights. He and Junko driving down from Perth for the weekend to stay with friends in the next street and to join us for a local walk with Dave. The weather in Denmark was overcast and decidedly cooler than the rest of the weather we had previously encountered on this trip. This made for much more comfortable walking conditions. Continue reading
Monday 13/11/2017 Isthmus Head – Bald Head
Torndirrup National Park, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Minang country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
The online description of this walk as a challenging 6 hour 12.5km return trip along the undulating spine of Flinders Peninsula we found to be inaccurate. It took us four hours in total and it was described as suitable for “hardcore bushwalkers with steep and difficult terrain”. It would be a shame if this summary dissuaded people from enjoying this very pleasant and scenic half day walk.
4/11/2017 – 10/11/2017 Cape Naturaliste – Margaret River
Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wardandi country
Distance: 78km Total Ascent: 2320m Total Descent: 2340m
Time: 25 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
The Cape to Cape trail is located in the South West corner of Western Australia and predominantly follows the coast through the magnificent Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. It offers stunning coastal scenery, crystal clear waters, an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers in spring. Access to the track by public transport is limited but private providers are available for pick up and drop offs for a fee.
The walk is not a true wilderness walk as it passes through several towns where supplies can be obtained and road access is possible to many sections of the track. Continue reading
Tuesday 31/10/2017 Swan River – Kings Park
Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Wajuk country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report)
As this was our first trip together to Western Australia, with the help of our hosts Ian and Junko we decided on an orientation to Perth walk. From South Bank we followed the Swan River eastwards where we crossed at Windan Bridge (Graham Farmer Freeway). The bridge was well designed for pedestrians with the walkway below road level, providing a safe shaded passage for walkers. Our timing was fantastic, as we saw several dolphins swimming upstream and under us and the bridge from our vantage point. Continue reading
11/12/2017 – 15/12/2017 Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
Flinders Chase National Park, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Karta pintingga
Distance: 81km Total Ascent: 1270m Total Descent: 1180m Time: 23 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail (KIWT) opened in October 2016. It offers walkers access to many of the key features within Flinders Chase National Park. The trail is of a high quality with good signage and excellent campground facilities, elevated camping platforms, large cooking shelters with sinks and running water.
The KIWT website has good information about the various ways to do the walk as well as transportation options. The campground even offers a service to move packs between campsites to eliminate the need to carry a heavy pack.
Key features include encounters with the unique wildlife of the island, stunning coastal scenery, the amazing Remarkable Rocks and limestone caves.
As a huge anniversary treat we stayed at the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat and were transported each day to beginning of the trail and picked up at a prearranged point. This was done for us individually so we did not need to walk with a large group. Continue reading