OK, back home, thought I'd close off this thread for any future newbies with a similar question.
Tuesday afternoon hiked Chatauqua Peak/Clematis Falls, excellent opening walk that tested my fitness.
https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=19795394Wednesday did the Pinnacle Loop from Halls gap, returned the front way down the steps. This was a fantastic experience that I'll remember for a long time. Surprised that it seemed like my fitness had improved since yesterday, obviously just getting used to climbing steps.
https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/spatial ... d=19810214 Bit weary after this so just did some sightseeing to a couple of lookouts to fill in the day.
Thursday morning had a go at Mt Rosea - got to the section where you start to crawl though and over boulders, seemed to be a false peak then down a rocky gully before back up to what I assumed was Mt Rosea. I was getting worried about injuring myself clambering over those boulders so let discretion be the better part of valour and turned back - I didn't want to be the guy who had to get helicoptered out with a broken ankle on his 3rd day hiking. If the rest of the walk was easy (which I doubt) please don't tell me.
https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/spatial ... d=19854232 At least I have an excuse to hike it again.
Returned to Mt Rosea carpark then hiked up to Mt Sundial. Really enjoyed this walk, it was steep and tough going for the first section, then a nice comfortable walk with really pleasant bushland and fantastic views to the top.
https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/spatial ... d=19875630Diverted to Bugiga campground on the way back to reccy it for my GPT hike in the near future (passed a walking group leaving as I came in - anyone from here?). Drove out to Boreang Campsite to check it out and ended up giving a Melbourne couple a ride back to Halls Gap that had just done the two days of the GPT.
Friday I decided to just walk Zummsteins to McKenzie Falls along the river. It was fairly hot for Sept - this walk goes through some fairly thick marshland with what I think was Lomandra right up against the track so you had to brush through it. Frogs croaking, wet grassy scrubby marsh, warm rocks - tiger snake heaven, I could not relax at all. I've grown up on the Murray, on the land, so have had my share of snake encounters and while I don't like them I'm not paranoid - this just went against all my self-preservation instincts. I was fully expecting to meet a grumpy, just-woken-up, horny, hungry, territorial Tiger snake at every bush. The walk wasn't that spectacular (Falls were nice) so I walked back to the ute on the bitumen road - which turned out to be ok as the view down into the river valley was pretty good most of the way. Ended up quite enjoying it surprisingly.
https://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/spatial ... d=19854229I ended up staying at Halls Gap caravan park the whole week. There weren't many people there and the campsite down the end (near the Pinnacles trail head) was empty apart from me and about 15 roos. I could have a campfire, but also a shower and pub counter meal - soft I know.
As to carrying hiking poles - took them on all walks and never regretted having them with me (in fact I would have missed them if I left them in the ute). Stowed them a few times, notably on Mt Rosea track through the boulders, but otherwise used them 80% of the time.
No sign of the knee soreness that I was expecting, but my calves were VERY tight yesterday, and I had some pain in the top of my right foot in the later walks, not sure what that's about. No blisters (Salamon trail running shoes and thick Smartwool merino socks).
Ran out of time (or energy) to do the Boronia peak walk and any of the northern walks, so I can't wait to get back there again.