Bushwalk Australia

Hi folks,

I'm looking for suggestions for the best (and most exposed) ridgeline trails in Australia. Just returned from The Sentinel in Kosciuszko NP, which was terrific. I see a lot of knife-edge ridges in Europe and the US, wondering if anyone has suggestions for similar here - or anything that might involve rock scrambling/climbing as well. (All possible safety precautions taken of course)

Cheers

Arthur Ranges in Tassie. It's tracked but you can always make it more 'interesting' by taking more direct and exposed lines in places. Cross Pelion West; you can spend hours stumbling around on the boulders up there. DuCane Range to Massif to Falling Mtn, though that's technically off-track. For more hardcore off-track stuff, Spires and Prince of Wales Ranges (no, I'm not serious about those two - while they're frequently narrow, difficult ridges they also involve a hell of a lot of scrub-bashing and are not for those unfamiliar with the SW).

The Cross Cut Saw in Vic.

The Razorback in Vic.

Numerous ridges in the Flinders Ranges in SA. The ridge from Wilpena Pound to Buneroo Gorge to Brachina Gorge then to Parachilna Gorge is a very interesting wander.

Great suggestions so far - I can’t believe I didn’t think of Western Tassie. Mt Scorpio, Fed Peak and the Arthurs in general look incredible…and formidable. I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot of the Flinders but will add Crosscut Saw to the list. The Stirling Range Ridge Walk in WA also looks like it would fit the bill.

Main Range in SE Qld - Spicers Gap (or further north if desired) to Teviot Gap

Also any skyline ridge traverses of Mt Barney: eg Logans Ridge and Savages Ridge

Do you want to climb or walk? Trails or no trails?

The skyline traverse of Mount Yulludunida in Kaputar NP (northern NSW) is a mix of walking and scrambling.

There is also the Woila traverse in the Deua NP (no trail and the regrowth is really thick). Also in Deua NP is Burra Peak (local name). There is no trail but depending on route you can walk a ridge down and then up Burra Peak.

The SE ridge of Mount Barney might fit the bill, as might the west side route on Tibbrogargan in the Glass House.

Mount Anne circuit in Tassie.

The Cathedral Range near Buxton in Victoria has a narrow rocky ridge. Care is needed there and at the Sugarloaf end. Going from Conglomerate Creek west to the ridge about 2 kilometres north of Bryces Gorge is very hairy. It would have been safer with a rope and more daylight. Mount Ida next to Lake St Clair is steep and rocky. Going up The Castle in Morton NP is fun. A rope was used there in case somebody slipped. The tents are just visible on the right.



The pics below are at The Cobberas.

Those three pictures are exactly what I had in mind, thank you! Some climbing/scrambling up to a ridge and a walk along it. Mt Anne has been added to the list as well, cheers.

I think it depends on the season also.
I've done Quartz Ridge on Bogong twice, it was a pleasant doddle in summer but far from easy in the middle of winter when covered with snow and a thick crust of ice.
It's not often you really need crampons and an ice-axe but that was one time they were; even if the distance over which they were needed was short

The hollow mountain/stapylton traverse is a well know off track walk in Victoria. It's nothing like the other knife-edge walks mentioned as it is different type of moutain ridge altogether. However, it does involve some very exposed scrambling and a couple of jumps over deep ravines.

Mt. Barney's ridges:

1. Eagle's especially at the Tom's Tum section
2. Short and Long Leaning (difficult razorback on the latter)
3. Mezzanine

Scenic Rim:

Hole-in-the-wall razorback. It's part of the hike starting from Sylvester's Lookout to Mt. Castle.

Thurat Spires at Kanangra-Boyd NP is a well known classic - lots of scrambling, and a couple of abseils to boot.



https://ozultimate.com/tom/bushwalking/ ... photos.htm

Cathedral Ranges is the scariest and first exposed ridge I walked.
Also frenchmans cap had its moments, but would love to have the time to hike Arthur's traverse one day.

I’d totally second Mount Yulludunida in Kaputar…particularly if you stick to the ridgeline the whole way from the very start to the very end and don’t deviate around the obstacles or bail off at the 2/3rds mark. Mostly steep hiking with a couple of decent scrambles and one pretty reasonable climbing/steep scrambling section. Tonnes of fun you’re a climber or used to steep scrambles a la the caves route on tibro in Qld, probably pretty intense if that type of exposure and scrambling isn’t second nature