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.
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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
12/10/2017 – 18/10/2017 Thredbo – Mount Kosciuszko – Mount Townsend – Mount Alice Rawson – Wilkinsons Creek – Abbott Ridge – Northcote Creek – Lake Albina – Little Austria
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Distance: 92km Total Ascent: 4,630m Total Descent: 4,630m Time: 40 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report)
My previous week had been spent waiting patiently for a multi-day window of descent weather, so with the next six days after Thursday forecast to be cool, dry and very calm it was now time to act. The trip objective being to camp high on Abbott Range or Mount Townsend or thereabouts and make good use of the two heavy DSLR cameras, two lenses, tripod and multitude of other camera gear I had decided to take. There was also a brand new GoPro to christian and learn how to use. Hopefully some epic day to night time lapses, telemark runs and worthwhile photos will be recorded. Continue reading
29/09/2017 – 4/10/2017 Guthega – Pounds Creek – Twynam Creek – Mount Anton – Mount Twynam – Watsons Crags – Mount Anderson
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Distance: 86km Total Ascent: 4640m Total Descent: 4640m
Time: 39 hours Track Info
Participants: Damien Aggio, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Murray Gibbs
Despite a forecast for wind and clouds on Saturday early next week looks calm. My objective for this trip was to wait for the calm weather then move camp to the top of a high point with great views that would work well for star trails and time lapses. Several similar trips over the last few years have yielded some good results. Continue reading
20/09/2017 – 23/09/2017 Guthega – Mt Twynam – Pounds Creek – Snowy River
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Distance: 56 km Total Ascent: 3,980 m Total Descent: 3,980 m
Time: 21 hours
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report)
Guthega provides relatively easy access to a lot a great skiing locations. Cars can be left in the overnight carpark about 1km from the resort. This trip follows the road through the village and before crossing the foot bridge across Blue Cow Creek and continuing south west a couple of hundred metres above The Snowy River until reaching Illawong Hut. Below the hut is a swing bridge with provides easy access to The Great Dividing Range and all it has to offer.
Friday 15/09/2017 Charlotte Pass – Trapyard Creek
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Participants: Damien Aggio, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Kathy Husselbee
Another exploratory day trip skiing, in low visibility, windy conditions, looking for sheltered slopes to leave some turns on. A short return trip from Charlotte Pass.
Thursday 14/09/2017 Charlotte Pass – Wrights Creek
Kosciuszko National Park, NSW
Ngarigo country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
Another exploratory day trip skiing, in low visibility, windy conditions, looking for sheltered slopes to leave some turns on. A short return trip from Charlotte Pass.