Hiking Boots and Tasmanian Devils

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Hiking Boots and Tasmanian Devils There are eight Great Walks of Australia that highlight the country’s dramatic landscape. Daniel Resnik steps out on two of them, including the multi- award-winning Maria Island Walk, in search of restorative adventure WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS: DANIEL RESNIK Destinations: Australia • Niassa Reserve • Abidjan • Georgia • Eco-concious Travel • Indonesia • Gallery A breathtaking view of spectacular Wineglass Bay along the Freycinet Experience Walk. For use by [email protected] only. Distribution prohibited.

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http://www.flysaa.com/za/en/ | Australia’s landscape speaks of adventure; offering breath-taking scenery and diverse flora and fauna. Here we highlight the Eight Great Walks of Australia that will inspire your wanderlust, getting you booking those flights to Australia in no time.

Transcript of Hiking Boots and Tasmanian Devils

  • Hiking Boots and Tasmanian DevilsThere are eight Great Walks of Australia that highlight the countrys dramatic landscape. Daniel Resnik steps out on two of them, including the multi-award-winning Maria Island Walk, in search of restorative adventure

    WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS: DANIEL RESNIK

    Destinations: Australia Niassa Reserve Abidjan Georgia Eco-concious Travel Indonesia Gallery

    A breathtaking view of spectacular

    Wineglass Bay along the Freycinet Experience Walk.

    For use by [email protected] only. Distribution prohibited.

  • These Maria Island striations are famously named the painted rocks.

  • he trip starts on a grey, drizzly Hobart morning at the company Q|0

    #versatile guides, Claire and Ned.

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    >/#9 30 minutes along the deserted sands to reach #are prominently displayed.

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    For use by [email protected] only. Distribution prohibited.

  • A grey sky contrasts with the emerald green of the ocean and alongside the track,

    wombats and wallabies graze freely and happily as we walk by.

    Trekking through the Freycinet Tasmanian wilderness, accompanied by chirping birds and wallabies.

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    The camps eco-friendly and consists of six pod-like tents, each accommodating two people. After a more-ish lunch, theres a choice of relaxing at camp or a four-hour, 12km bush trek to Haunted Bay, hopefully to spot little penguins and enjoy glorious Maria Island views. We all take the latter option.

    Wildlifes scarce, except for one unsociable Tasmanian devil, but its all made worthwhile by the crashing waves and the views from rocks covered in vibrant orange and yellow lichen.

    Near the water, we discover quite a few penguin burrows which are occupied by young chicks hungrily awaiting the return /

    Many kilometres later, we return to camp '/8##brewed. Its a good opportunity to chat, laugh and bond over an exquisite dinner of scallop and asparagus risotto, followed by a summer berry pudding and thickened cream.

    The next days the only one on which we carry our full packs for a good seven hours over many deserted beaches and through classic Australian bush. This time, the wildlife comes out in force. Wallabies, preening Cape Barren geese, kangaroos and wombats can all be spotted. The Maria Island wombat is a lot lighter in colour than the run-of-the-mill one and a cuter animal Ive yet to see.

    0drizzly, it gradually improves and by the time /#suns peeking through. When it comes out, the colour of the water is aquamarine and the clearest Ive ever seen. Later that afternoon, three of us hikers and both the guides brave the ocean for a swim. As I suspected, its numbingly cold, but invigorating.

    Our second camp is much the same set-

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    we dine on exquisitely marinated quail, duck and kangaroo sausages, as well as local lamb chops with couscous salad. We also /cake and cream, washed down with local

    /0#well-earned, blissful sleep.

    Day three consists of a three-hour coastal /thriving town of Darlington. A stunning grey sky contrasts with the emerald green of the ocean and alongside the track, wombats and wallabies graze freely and happily as we walk by.

    We stop along the way at some of the coves and inlets, including one area known as the painted rocks, where the sandstone looks like waves of caramel and vanilla gelato.

    Not long afterwards, we enter quaint #/

    nights accommodation is a real house (a heritage listed island relic) with electricity, hot showers and beds.

    After lunch, there are options to rest, take short walks or embark on an elevated #island views and is worth every second of the gruelling three hours it takes to complete.

    #/of Tasmanian cheeses appears and six weary, but exhilarated walkers relive the past three days over yet another superb, candle-lit meal. Crispy Huon Valley salmon served with soft herbed mash, baby spinach and roasted garlic aioli is on the menu tonight.

    The next morning, theres again a choice of several short walks. We return to Hobart tired, but with a sense of incredible achievement.

    However, Im soon called again to the spectacular wilderness of dramatic coastlines, deserted beaches, mountains, turquoise ocean and classic Australian bush that is the Freycinet Experience Walk on Tasmanias east coast.

    >/#to our guides at the Woolshed Apartments/Hotel opposite Constitution Dock in Hobart.

    Our adventure begins with a three-hour road trip to Coles Bay. Were then transported by boat to Schouten Island, where we land at a pristine, uninhabited beach.

    '/(something we dont seem to stop doing for four days). After lunch, theres a steep, /views of the Freycinet Peninsula. If you dont 0#/available. At the end of the day, we return to Coles Bay for a short walk to our lodge at Friendly Beach.

    The idea of hiking into the wilderness and staying in a solar-

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    A Maria Island wombat.

    The two-person comfortable pod accommodation on the Maria Island Walk.

    For use by [email protected] only. Distribution prohibited.

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    48 Sawubona June 2015

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    OTHER GREAT WALKS DOWN UNDER

    THE BAY OF FIRES LODGE WALK, TASMANIA

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    THE CRADLE MOUNTAIN HUTS WALK, TASMANIA

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    THE TWELVE APOSTLES LODGE WALK, VICTORIA

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    THE LARAPINTA TRAIL, NORTHERN TERRITORY

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