ACCESS TOWN Albany
Set on large King George Sound, Albany is WA's oldest settlement. When the sun comes out, the action moves east to the suburb of Middleton Beach. Within 120km of the Stirling and Porongurup Ranges and Walpole, it is a feasible base for all south-coast walks. Albany Map Centre 9841 1179 126 York St A small collection of walking maps. Albany visitor information centre 1800 644 088 www.albanytourist.com.au Proud love Pde Beside a If a day of walking out and about around Albany has you tired,...
THE WALK Tzu
Day 1 Harrietville to Federation Hut 5-6 hours, 13km, 1360m ascent, 210m descent A broad track heads into the forest and crosses a small stream. Fill your drinking bottles here as there may be no water at the trackside springs further up the mountain. The trail narrows and begins its steady ascent. After 2km you cross a major gully that, during spring, carries a good supply of water. Continue past the signposted Picture Point although there is nothing to see here and Tobias Gap, eventually...
The Walk
From the car park, go east along Putty Beach to the steps at the eastern end of the sand. Climb to an open expanse of fretted and crumbling sandstone, which leads to a long boardwalk above a fine shoreline rock platform. Soon you come to a junction where a short track leads down to small Bul-lima h Beach, which is safe only for paddling treacherous rocks lurk just below the surface . Back on the main track, shady steps take you up to Gerrin Lookout and fine views of Maitland Bay, the offshore...
Kakadu National Park
Kakadu National Park is one of Australia's greatest national assets. At almost 20,000 sq km it is the largest park in Australia, protecting a spectacular tropical ecosystem as well as an important concentration of Aboriginal rock art. Kakadu is more than a nature reserve it is an acknowledgement of the traditional Aboriginal custodians and a leading example of the approach that combines the cultural interests of traditional owners with nature conservation. In 1992 the entire park attained World...
hours km m ascent m descent Swy
This is a short day so there's plenty of time to dawdle over breakfast. Continue up the Burrumbeet Brook valley northeast. About halfway up the climb to the head of the valley there's a right turn to Yurnga Lookout, which is worth the detour on a clear day for its views into the plunging deep below Bibbenluke Mountain. The track climbs steadily for another 400m then follows a scenic ridge crest with some fairly solid scrub-bashing to the west and north of Bibbenluke Mountain. The track descends...
Yurrebilla Sleep
It is not surprising in an area with terrain as mountainous and varied as Kosciuszko National Park that there is such a diverse range of flora and fauna. The park is home 1 Mt Kosciuszko amp the Lakes Circuit 1 Mt Kosciuszko amp the Lakes Circuit
Nitmiluk National Park
Originally called Katherine Gorge National Park, the area was renamed Nitmiluk meaning 'Cicada Place' in 1989 when the Jawoyn Aboriginal people gained title to the land. They now jointly manage the park with the PWS. Nitmiluk is a popular park, with the 13 sandstone sections of Katherine Gorge and the beautiful Leliyn Edith Falls its main attractions. A series of walks, some overnight, lead to various points along Katherine Gorge - which is perfect for exploring by canoe - and there is also a...
Bungonia Gorge
Start Finish David Reid car park Nearest Town Goulburn right Transport private Summary A fascinating walkthrough spectacular limestone gorge country, with some pretty camp sites along the banks of the Shoalhaven River. There are numerous opportunities for swimming in the heat of summer, in Bungonia Creek and the Shoalhaven River. 13 22 51 and Fearnes 1800 029 918 stop in Goulburn. Trains between Sydney and Melbourne also stop here daily. The oneway fare from Canberra is 9 and from Sydney 23...
LINCOLN NATIONAL PARK Investigator Trail
A place of quiet coves, sheltered beaches and sheer cliffs, Lincoln National Park, 20km south of Port Lincoln, is also the location of one of South Australia's few viable longdistance trails. The Investigator Trail, named after Matthew Flinders' boat, winds 93km through the park, making a figure-eight loop that includes Pillie Lake, Cape Don-ington and Taylors Landing. Allow about five days. Information can be obtained at the Port Lincoln DEH office 8688 3111 or visitor information centre 1300...
Day Wilpena Pound Resort to Cooinda Camp via Edeowie Gorge
From the bushwalkers' register beside the store begin along the bank of Wilpena Creek. Cross the creek at the second bridge look out for a giant, hollowed river red gum on your right , then turn left, walk 100m and turn right. Follow the 'St Mary Peak Outside Trail' posts through open woodland to a junction where the Heysen Trail peels away right into the camping ground. Continue straight ahead as the path undulates northwest, crisscrossed by dry gullies and kangaroo trails. You get your first...
Snakes
Australian snakes have a fearful reputation that is justified in terms of the potency of their venom, but unjustified in terms of the actual risk to walkers. Snakes are usually quite timid and, in most instances, will move away if disturbed. They have only small fangs, making it easy to prevent bites to the lower limbs where 80 of bites occur by wearing protective clothing such as gaiters when walking. In all cases of confirmed or suspected bites, preventing the spread of toxic venom can be...
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Go east from Kanangra Walls car park, past the locked gate and continue along the track. About 300m along is the first of two junctions about 50m apart for the plateau walk leading to Kanangra Walls. Before taking the turn, go on 150m to Echo Head and Kanangra Walls lookout for an inspiring view of the soaring cliffs and plunging gorge that define the area. Return to the first track junction and set off left downhill, past some sedimentary cliffs and, just before the track rises, the turn to...
THE WALK Ams
From the junction of Red Hands Gully and Glenbrook Creek, Red Hands Track, which is rocky and sandy in places, follows the gully upstream to a junction about 40 minutes from the start . Bear right and climb through mixed forest, including blood-woods, she-oaks and turpentines a tall tree with dark green, glossy leaves , to Red Hands Cave another 25 minutes . The cave is glassed in to protect the hand-stencils detailed interpretive signs explain its history and how the hands were created. A...
SLEEPING EATING Sax
Abel Tasman Caravan Park 6427 8794 6 Wright St unpowered powered sites 17 23, on-site vans cabins 45 95 offers very clean amenities and a good beachfront location in East Devonport, just five minutes' walk from the ferry terminal. Tasman House 6423 2335 www.tasmanhouse .com 114 Tasman St dm 15, d without with bathroom 35 40 is a large hostel with good facilities, 20 minutes' walk from town or you can arrange transport when booking . The building was once part of Devonport hospital and looks it....
Maps Vpp
The CMA 1 25.000 topographic maps Moo-nan Brook and Barrington Tops cover the area of the walk. Both are somewhat out of date, particularly the Barrington sheet. The LPINSW NPWS 1 100,000 Barrington Tops National Park Tourist Map is useful for planning. The NPWS free visitor guide Barrington Tops National Park and adjacent reserves has an overview map and information NPWS's Barrington Tops National Park Guidebook 10 provides greater depth in all aspects. John and Lyn Daly's Take a Walk in a New...
KSCIUSZK NATIONAL PARK Kit Jagungal Circuit
A popular and scenic southern route to Mt Jagungal, over five to six days, starts at Guthega Power Station - about 37km from Jindabyne along the Kosciuszko and Island Bend Rds . The route heads north up the Munyang River valley and heads past Schlink Pass and Valentines Hut to climb the prominent summit of Mt Jagungal 2061m . The return route crosses the heads of the Geehi and Valentine Rivers to Mawsons Hut, then traverses the Kerries -some of the most picturesque walking in the Australian...
THE WALK Sbf
Day 1 Cape Naturaliste to Yallingup From the lighthouse car park, begin along the sealed path southwest to a track junction. The track turns left but if you are walking in winter or spring, it is worth first checking out the track to the right, which leads 600m to a cliff-top whale lookout. You can dump your pack at the track junction there is a good hiding tree a few steps south of the junction . After turning left, cross West Coast Rd. The track here is wide and sandy, passing through low...
MUTAWINTJI NATIONAL PARK Homestead Gorge Trail
People visit Mutawintji, in far western NSW near Broken Hill, and come away changed. The park covers much of the Byngango Range and the lands around Mt Wright Creek. Custodians of these lands are the Malyankapa and Pandjikali Aboriginal people. The park was returned to its traditional owners in 1998. The land, waterways and resident plants and animals are associated with Dreaming stories and a cultural heritage that survives to the present day. Mutawintji visitors usually go with Aboriginal...
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In warm weather, an early start to climb the Docker Buttress - one of the steepest ways out of the Grose Valley - is recommended. From Blue Gum Forest, take the left-hand route up the hill, which starts climbing sharply almost immediately. The track straight ahead eventually leads to Victoria Falls, 12km northwest - an alternative way out of the valley, if you've arranged transport to meet you at Victoria Falls Rd. There are a few short flat sections between the uphill slogs, which get steeper...
Great Ocean Road
The aptly named Great Ocean Road, stretching between Torquay and Warrnambool, is the popular choice as Australia's most scenic drive. With two very different stretches of coast divided by the death throes of the Otway Ranges, it attracts motorists in herds, but there are a number of walking trails delightfully removed from the heavy tread of this holiday migration. We have chosen the two prime coastal walks in the region - the Surf Coast Walk and the Great Ocean Walk. For a taste of the damp...
THE WALK Bkm
Head northeast on the signposted Nancy Peak Circuit, crossing over a 4WD track to Tree in the Rock, where a karri tree grows out of a crevice in a large granite outcrop. Begin climbing through tall karri forest. As you swing back west after 20 minutes, look up and you will see the sort of granite dome that characterises the range. A few minutes on, a short side track leads away left to the top of this dome for views across to the Devil's Slide, Hayward Peak and north to the jagged teeth of the...
THE WALK Wdh
The narrow track heads out through marri woodland and, seasonally, a colourful carpet of wildflowers. In 10 minutes it comes to a fairly deep gully and steepens to reach a scree drift. From here it gets serious about climbing. The forest becomes more open, giving way to thicket, until it reaches the foot of a long run of bouldery scree. The way up is clear enough, with yellow-topped stakes helping to show the route. The track makes a short, flattish chicane to the right, then follows the base...
Adelaide Region
Completed in 2003, the Yurrebilla Trail provides Adelaide with an asset possessed by few other major cities a multiday walking track on its very doorstep. As you wander through Waite Conservation Reserve on Day 2 of this walk you will be just 10km from the city, yet you are more likely to see kangaroos than people. The trail traces the line of the Mt Lofty Ranges - the bump in the ironed shirt of Adelaide - linking seven national and conservation parks, including arguably Adelaide's greatest...
Lamingtn National Park
Lamington's rainforest-clad slopes form part of the Scenic Rim, a chain of mountains encircling Queensland's most populated and accessible areas - Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Lamington, like most of the rim, is World Heritage-listed and protects one of the world's largest stands of subtropical rainforest. With most of these forests falling to the logger's axe, it's quite the privilege to be able to explore this ancient landscape. Lamington is all about walking, smelling, seeing, hearing and...
Yurrebillas Accommodation Curse
When the Yurrebilla Trail opened in September 2003, it seemed a masterly piece of accommodation planning. On the first day you walked 17.5km to Eagle on the Hill Hotel for a bed with a view. Day 2 was an easy 16km into any one of three B amp Bs in ever-so-cute Norton Summit, leaving a neat 20.5km to conclude the trail on Day 3. Within two years, Eagle on the Hill Hotel and all three Norton Summit B amp Bs had closed. Suddenly, the user-friendly Yurrebilla Trail was as much an exercise in...
MORE WALKS Msw
SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND Daves Creek Circuit From Binna Burra p339 section of Lam-ington National Park, this 12km day walk is the park's most botanically diverse. Winding through rainforest, eucalypt forest and open heathlands, you're bound to see something flowering year-round. There are several lookouts with uninterrupted vistas of the Gold Coast's hinterland and even a cave resembling an ancient dining room. Add a rock that's a 'surprise' and a couple of creek crossings and you'll have a great...