Bushwalk Australia

I have a friend coming over from the U.S within the next couple of months and he has enough time spare to do a 7-10 day hike, he's a very experienced hiker and would like to see kangaroos as well as, of course, our beautiful country side. Being from the west I don't know of the many hiking trails possible in the eastern states, could you please give some recommendations of a few of the best trails for that time frame?

Cheers!

Have a look at the many trip reports. Or have a look at the other thread that was posted less than a week ago.

7 to 10 days usually means one way trips, unless combining several circuits. Doing both the Northern and Southern circuit of Wilsons Prom would fit the bill for example. There aren't that many options for a single 7-10 day trip. A large portion of the Great South West walk, the Great Ocean Walk, or the Wilderness Coast ( http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... -Coast.pdf ). For long walks in the Victorian Alps, others would be more qualified than me to talk about it.

One long high country loop would be Bogong village > fainters > Feathertop > razorback > Mt hotham > Mt loch > pole 333 > ropers hut > big river crossing > Mt Bogong > bushbashing > Bogong village.

A shorter one that I have done in winter is: Bogong village > fainters > tawonga huts > pole 333 > ropers hut > spion kopje > Bogong village.

If you have 2 cars / can get a second lift / love cycling you can just do feathertop to bogong with no off-track / hard walking.

The Alps. The Bogong one suggested by Icefest is an example. Another could be - Stirling - King River - Cobbler - Speculation - Howitt - Bluff - Howqua River Stirling loop. Best thing to do is get a map and join the dots.

Hallu wrote:7 to 10 days usually means one way trips, unless combining several circuits. Doing both the Northern and Southern circuit of Wilsons Prom would fit the bill for example. There aren't that many options for a single 7-10 day trip. A large portion of the Great South West walk, the Great Ocean Walk, or the Wilderness Coast ( http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... -Coast.pdf ). For long walks in the Victorian Alps, others would be more qualified than me to talk about it.

This one looks good, I just passed it on to him.

Cheers!

icefest wrote:One long high country loop would be Bogong village > fainters > Feathertop > razorback > Mt hotham > Mt loch > pole 333 > ropers hut > big river crossing > Mt Bogong > bushbashing > Bogong village.

A shorter one that I have done in winter is: Bogong village > fainters > tawonga huts > pole 333 > ropers hut > spion kopje > Bogong village.

If you have 2 cars / can get a second lift / love cycling you can just do feathertop to bogong with no off-track / hard walking.

I'm not sure of his transport situation so the loop is a good suggestion, he's pretty keen to see kangaroos, excuse my ignorance but how is the wildlife around that hike?

Earwig wrote:The Alps. The Bogong one suggested by Icefest is an example. Another could be - Stirling - King River - Cobbler - Speculation - Howitt - Bluff - Howqua River Stirling loop. Best thing to do is get a map and join the dots.

Cheers I just googled your destinations and found a map of all the possible campsites, this will work well if he can plot his own course.

Thanks!

Kangaroos tend to hang around lower elevations. They do venture into the alps but you would be lucky to see one. Lots In the Grampians and Wilsons Prom.

Yeah it's tricky for kangaroos. Honestly, if you want to see them, forget the Alps. Pure coastal walking would usually mean no kangaroos too, unless with some inland sections like on the Great Ocean Walk. But Wilsons Prom is perfect for that : roos, wallabies, wombats, the lot. You'd need your own car to connect the Northern and Southern section though. It may be possible to do it off-track, and connect the 2 circuit through 5 mile beach, but I have no idea if it's something people do, you could contact Parks VIC http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... -Hikes.pdf .

No roo's in the alps and no Koalas. You'll see both in the GSWW, Otways and Grampians.

The Alps have brumbies though :p

icefest wrote:No roo's in the alps and no Koalas. You'll see both in the GSWW, Otways and Grampians.

The Alps have brumbies though :p

Yep I think this is the way to go, I just passed on a link for the Grampians. He's dead keen on seeing our wildlife, I don't blame him, we do have some pretty unique animals here.

Thanks!

Is this for summer? Grampians are a no-no for me in summer.

Tell him to have a bushfire escape plan for other trips, al la southern California in summer.

icefest wrote:Is this for summer? Grampians are a no-no for me in summer.

Tell him to have a bushfire escape plan for other trips, al la southern California in summer.

I'm not 100% sure of his arrival date? Once I get more info on when he plans to arrive and which of the suggestions I've forwarded he prefers I'll then have to check whether it's a suitable time?
Why are Grampians a no-no for you in summer?

In winter you have plenty of water and no risk of wildfire. In summer it's the opposite.

icefest wrote:In winter you have plenty of water and no risk of wildfire. In summer it's the opposite.

Ok, Good to know!

What are the best months for hiking? My friend has asked for warm but not scorching hot! I've sent him links for the Alps and Grampians.

The best time would be November or March. But that doesn't mean you can't get hot 30°+ days or 3 days of consecutive rain. January would be the worst : school holidays, and the hottest month with February. Regarding bushfire, it's risky wherever you are, it's just less risky on the coast because the beach is a safe zone.

Hallu wrote:The best time would be November or March. But that doesn't mean you can't get hot 30°+ days or 3 days of consecutive rain. January would be the worst : school holidays, and the hottest month with February. Regarding bushfire, it's risky wherever you are, it's just less risky on the coast because the beach is a safe zone.

Hallu do you mean November to March? Sorry to be pedantic but wouldn't like to pass on misleading info.

Cheers!

Either or. The months in between are not as nice.

Could you describe the in between just in case it's unavoidable?

DannyS wrote:Could you describe the in between just in case it's unavoidable?

Hallu wrote: hot 30°+ days

Hallu wrote: January would be the worst : school holidays, and the hottest month with February. Regarding bushfire

Summer in mainland Australia is hot. School holidays run December to February.

Hot. It may be cooler at height, but I hiked across the Razorback to Feathertop in January one year thinking it would be 20, maybe 25 and it was 30, maybe 35. Above the treeline was baking and below the treeline any breeze disappeared and it was baking. It is also the bushfire season. Great walk though. No matter what you choose, you need a second option in case fire or heat is an issue. You can plan months in advance - but you also need to look at the weather a day or so ahead of leaving and decide then what route or walk you will do. You also need to continue considering your options during the walk - alternative routes, escape routes, or not moving at all - in case conditions turn bad. The CFA, Parks Victoria, Dept Environment and Primary Industry and Bureau of Meteorology websites are all useful.

I also recommend checking out Open Spaces Publishing (osp.com.au) for guidebooks on these areas. Wild magazine also published a couple of little guidebooks on extended hikes in the alps.

Thanks everyone that's great, much appreciated!

Danny

I'd definitely recommend the Great Ocean Walk to a international visitor. It is beautiful, lots of wildlife (especially koalas), navigation is easy, the ocean means it is pretty mild even on a hot day and your fire plan is easy, public transport accessible at both ends (saves having to leave a rental car in the bush for 7 days), and the 12 Apostles at the end is a real talking point. It is not true wilderness - facilties equivalent to what you would find on the Bibbulmun (ie. water tanks, composting toilets and open sided shelter).

Other PT accessible walks would be the Great Divide/Goldfields Track between Bendigo and Ballarat. http://gdt.org.au/ There is also a bus 3 days/week to Mt Hotham in the alps.

A few things you should really impress on him about local conditions:
* wildfire is a major risk in Jan/Feb, and a local risk in Dec and March. Keep an eye on the weather forecast (hot days with a north wind are dangerous), and have a fire plan.
* water points are likely a lot further apart than he is used to - carry 2 litres at a minimum in summer
* being in a different hemisphere screws with your sense of direction - the sun is in a different part of the sky, moss is on the south side of trees, etc. Take extra care with nav.
* know the treament for snakebite http://www.avru.org/firstaid/firstaid_snake.html Australian snakes are from a different class than most venomous snakes in the US, and the toxins work quite differently.
(I don't mean to say he is an idiot - just that some of these conditions are different from what he may be used to).

madmacca wrote:I'd definitely recommend the Great Ocean Walk to a international visitor. It is beautiful, lots of wildlife (especially koalas), navigation is easy, the ocean means it is pretty mild even on a hot day and your fire plan is easy, public transport accessible at both ends (saves having to leave a rental car in the bush for 7 days), and the 12 Apostles at the end is a real talking point. It is not true wilderness - facilties equivalent to what you would find on the Bibbulmun (ie. water tanks, composting toilets and open sided shelter).

Other PT accessible walks would be the Great Divide/Goldfields Track between Bendigo and Ballarat. http://gdt.org.au/ There is also a bus 3 days/week to Mt Hotham in the alps.

A few things you should really impress on him about local conditions:
* wildfire is a major risk in Jan/Feb, and a local risk in Dec and March. Keep an eye on the weather forecast (hot days with a north wind are dangerous), and have a fire plan.
* water points are likely a lot further apart than he is used to - carry 2 litres at a minimum in summer
* being in a different hemisphere screws with your sense of direction - the sun is in a different part of the sky, moss is on the south side of trees, etc. Take extra care with nav.
* know the treament for snakebite http://www.avru.org/firstaid/firstaid_snake.html Australian snakes are from a different class than most venomous snakes in the US, and the toxins work quite differently.
(I don't mean to say he is an idiot - just that some of these conditions are different from what he may be used to).

Good advice there madmacca, the Great Ocean Walk sounds excellent especially as it will allow a little more flexibility with the hotter weather. I'll pass on your advice regarding local conditions, I think these are all important points.

Cheers!

Danny

A good 10 day circuit would definitely be a circuit taking in the Bogong High Plains from Bogong Village, plus Mt Feathertop.

If youre looking at a car shuffle, I'm pretty sure that Low Saddle to Mt Hotham can be cleared in around 10 days or so, however it is dry as anything in Summer, but hands down the best ridge walk in the state.

You could also do an extended Razor/Viking circuit starting at Clear Creek, over Mt Macdonald/The Nobs/Mt Clear, then over King Billy, Magdala/Howitt/Crosscut, the Razor and the Viking, Wonangatta River, Zeka Spur, Howitt/Magdala, the Bluff then Clear Creek via Jamieson Spur.

If youre willing to travel, there is an epic circuit that can be done up at the Main Range, starting at Thredbo or Charlottes Pass taking in Mt Jagungal as well, however this may be a little less than 10 days, but an incredible walk either way.

ryantmalone wrote:If youre willing to travel, there is an epic circuit that can be done up at the Main Range, starting at Thredbo or Charlottes Pass taking in Mt Jagungal as well, however this may be a little less than 10 days, but an incredible walk either way.

I'm interested in this, do you have a trip report? It sounds like a bomber winter trip.

This is great, he's going to be saturated with choice!

Cheers everyone,

Danny