Karijini 2010
Another wonderful time in Karijini! This timeless landscape works its magic every time. The fabulous colours, the dramatic gorges, those beautiful swims! We were a small group this time- Claire, Kay, Pam, Carole, Ute, Peter, Greg, Jennifer,Richard and me. We met in Newman and the very next day tackled Mt Meharry. It’s a rough drive in and then a steep ascent, but the views are spectacular. Not everyone made it to the top, but it was still a good taster of things to come. By that evening we were ensconced in our campsite at Dales camping area- our home for the next 5 nights. [Read more]
Ryan’s Best of Everything!
A group of ten friends from sunny Queensland joined us on an adventure in the south west of Western Australia as we explored some of the highlights of the two greatest hikes in the region. On the first day we hiked from Moses Rock to Gracetown and enjoyed the company of Renee, my guide friend. Ray, being a greyhound, took off in front and he became a speck on the horizon until we met at the place where the waves crash on the rocks and we all ate lunch together in the shade of a big rock. Gracetown graced us with its charm and then Alf whisked us away to a visit with the artist Pat Negus and a warm, hearty meal cooked up by Di, in Augusta.
At Redgate beach the following day, we searched in the waves for a glimpse of the wreck of the ill-fated steamer, the Georgette and then hiked down the beach and on to Bob’s Hollow and Conto’s Cliffs. There were two snake sightings today, a python and a dugite. The views were as amazing as always and we loved the contrast of the coastline and the trees today as we finished off in the company of the towering karri trees.
Jane Scott, the author of the guide book on the Cape to Cape joined us for Day 3 and we all thoroughly enjoyed her company and her passion for the area. T’was a day of exploring the coastline between Hamelin Bay and Cosy Corner and three mermaids and a merman even braved the rain for a dip in the Indian Ocean while the rest of us huddled on board the bus! We all loved the blow holes and were happy we decided to push on as we were rewarded with spectacular views of Deepdene beach and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. We said farewell to Jane and topped the day off with a visit to Cape Leeuwin and a hot drink to warm us up.
Then it was time to say farewell to the Cape to Cape and we jumped on the bus and had a travel day down to Denmark. I must say, I was impressed by the travel games on board and they definitely helped to amuse us and pass the time! A wander in amongst the tree tops at the Valley of the Giants introduced us to the mighty Tingle trees. Then we arrived at The Cove, our accommodation in Denmark and got settled into our cozy cabins.
After our travel day we were all keen to get out walking again and we were blessed with great weather for our beach walk from Mutton Bird Island to Cozy Corner. The sand was not too bad and we just had to keep an eye out for vehicles and the occasional rogue wave which threatened to take away our packs. Jan nearly lost hers while off in the dunes! Pam joined us for the hike after a lovely morning tea and we made our way up and along the coast. Lunch overlooking Dingo Beach with million dollar views was a highlight and then a drive and a swim for a few hearty souls at Shelly Beach was a fantastic way to end the day.
It was a pleasure to be able to walk out of The Cove in the morning to begin our walk on Day 5, which followed the inlet, then headed up and over Mt. Hallowell. The granite rocks and karri trees were superb and we had time to enjoy the views from the top before the rain set in. Across to Lights Beach we headed, then a lunch stop and a short detour to a lake (did the guide go the wrong way or was it deliberate, that is the question!). Up and over some steep sandy hills and a big bar of chocolate to share at Williams Bay shelter helped us all to finish off our long day. And of course another swim at Greens Pool was refreshing for the brave ones.
Our last day of hiking arrived so soon and we headed into the Tingle and Karri trees and soon developed sore necks from all of our admiring of the tall trees. We all loved the Frankland River shelter and had to drag ourselves away as some of us got very comfortable. We met a man who had been walking for 37 days on the Bibbulmun Track and encouraged him to keep on going as he seemed a bit weary. No wonder! Before we knew it, we had arrived at our end point, the Giant Tingle Tree and then we finished off the trip on a fantastic note – with a wilderness cruise on the Walpole-Nornalup inlet. Gary entertained us with his stories and wowed us with his local knowledge and we feasted on snacks and sipped on champagne and took in the beauty of this wild area. As it was Di’s birthday, we surprised her that night with a birthday cake and party hats were donned and a most wonderful evening ensued. It was certainly a great way to finish off a great week together.
P.S. This was my last trip with Pam and Inspiration Outdoors as my husband and I move to Canada this year for more hiking adventures and snow! A big thanks to Alf and Di for all their help and all the shared laughs. And to Steve, for being the tail end Charlie and entertaining us with his Canadian insights. And of course, Pam, for giving me encouragement and sharing her vast knowledge over the past three years and for being a good friend.
To see more photos from this trip click here.
Denmark trips 2009
We had 3 trips based at Denmark this year. The first one, an Albany to Denmark, in mid October, comprised mostly people from the east coast. And they were treated to some very unusual Denmark weather. It was hot! I had 3 swims that week,one of which was at Mutton Bird Island beach, something I have never done before! The “easterners” were of cousre very impressed by the wildflowers and I do believe, some of the local wine! And hats off to Patrick, Liz, Brendan and Kaye who joined us for the weekly dance class!
The second Albany to Denmark trip was huge- 16 walkers. Included were the girls referred to as “the farmers”, though I’ve never known farmers to be so addicted to coffee shops! However, their 6am yoga sessions were very impressive, so the coffee must do something! And what about the headstand on the coast? Also on this coast was Patrick’s friend Kate, who was enjoying her first ever trip to Australia from Austria. We had a lovely mix of “newies and “oldies” on this trip and Bob managed to keep them all in line. This week we walked into Mutton Bird Island road, totally drenched- was this really the same location where the week before I’d cooled off in the ocean?
The final trip was Walpole to Denmark. Gisela guided this one and again we had a mix of old and new. Erin, the farmer, brought along a collection of her friends. We were a little concerned to discover that one was a ‘celestial transportation expert”- was he touting for business?? The mix of the Tingle Forest with the coast makes this a great walk, but the culmination is always the last day- the hike over Mt Halliwell. The group had a perfect day for this, and the views were spectacular. Almost as impressive as Rod, who did the entire walk with a broken collarbone and never missed a beat, nor tripped once! (Disclaimer: he arrived with the bone already broken!).
For photos click here
Thanks to everyone who made the 2009 season a great success, especially my team of Alf, Di, Gisela, Bob and Steve.
Christmas Island 2009
What a week! This was my first trip to the island and I’m hooked. It’s a tropical island that looms up out of the Indian Ocean. Most of its coastline is inaccessible due to the limestone cliffs. 63% of the island is National Park, with lush rainforest comprised of huge trees, strangler figs, ferns and a very colourful leaf litter. The birds can’t help but grab your attention- frigate birds and tropic birds circle overhead, while boobies roost in trees and greet you on rocks on the foreshore. Then of course there is the amazing collection of crabs- they really do crawl everywhere. Theirs is a fascinating story, their annual migration to the sea to mate followed by the spawning when the moon is right!
It’s hot and humid, but you start early and enjoy a lunchtime siesta. To cool off, there is the underwater world where the snorkelling is unbelievable. We met many divers who rated it the best they had seen in the world! It is so accessible-you can just slide off the beach into the water and there it is- in knee deep water you can see the most incredible array of fish. We went back time and time again to Flying Fish Cove.
The cultural mix of Malay, Chinese and Europeans makes for an interesting collection of sights- with temples, graveyards and a mosque reflecting the various backgrounds. All this is set against the backdrop of the phosphate mining and now of course the refugee centre. The island is very much under pressure from the sudden explosion of population and the cafes are flat out trying to service everyone.
We did several walks to the coast through rainforest. One such walk took us to Winifred Beach, where the rock platforms and ocean swell prevented us from actually reaching the beach. So we made do with a dip in a rock pool. Another rock pool awaited us at the coconut palm fringed Dolly Beach. However, the grotto made for the most interesting swim, with the breath of the dragon booming from the limestone walls. Yet another walk gave us a shower under a jungle stream. Caves are a feature of the island, as are the limestone blowholes, which seem to blow reliably! One walk took us , after a challenging scramble, to the entrance of a large cave, first discovered from its ocean entrance.
A boat excursion gave us a good view of the limestone terracing of the island, and also provided another snorkelling opportunity. The skipper, Shane, provided us with a colourful insight into life on the island!
Out accommodation was excellent, the food very good and the company superb! Out final night concluded with the customary “examination” which provided much hilarity. We enjoyed the company of Dr Rex, who joined us often and gave us more island stories.
This is definitely going to be repeated in 2010, this time with the addition of the Cocos Islands! Put it on your agenda!
For more photos click here
Cape to Cape October 2009
Day 1
We were a group of 10 happy hikers and one enthusiastic guide, as we embarked on our 135 kilometre journey in good spirits and under sunny skies. After sharing the fascinating history of Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, where I also work as a tour guide, we gradually watched it fade away in the distance as we made our way past Sugarloaf and along the limestone ridges to Yallingup. Everyone was keen to get to know each other on our first day and thus there were lots of interesting conversations took place as we hiked along. We soon discovered a shared interest in orchids and whales, which were spotted numerous times on this day.
Nearing Yallingup, which I call home with my husband, Simon, the group was interested to see the stone cottages where we lived, so after a section along the beach, we took a short detour to have a look at my home and the stain glass windows. Alf was happily waiting for us and we headed back to Augusta to hot showers at Sheoak Chalets. Di provided us with a warm welcome and never ending feasts of delicious and healthy meals each night, along with treats for on the track as well, so we were well looked after for the entire trek. [Read more]
Alaska
Denali National Park is on every Alaskan travel agenda. You go in search of wildlife and you hope to see Denali, or Mt McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. We spent 3 days at one of the campsites in the park. You can’t drive your vehicle around the park , but there are tours and shuttle buses. On our first day, we took a shuttle all the way to Wonderlake, from where there can be a view of the mountain. However, it is only visible 20% of the time, and not while we were there. We saw a handful of animals that first day- moose, grizzly, caribou, fox, dahl sheep. We took a second trip into the park the next afternoon, and had much better views of the mountains. We saw similar animals, but had some closer views of them. And that afternoon we were rewarded by the best rainbow I have ever seen- it was a double one and you could see where both ends touched the ground. [Read more]
The Bowron Lakes Canoe Circuit
Patrick Guiton, one of my regular clients and a good friend, first told me about the Bowron Lakes Canoe circuit a few years ago. A 116km circular canoe trip! I had never heard of such a thing. Anyway, I filed away the information, it looked to be in a pretty nice part of Canada, so you never know…
When Steve and I decided we’d drive through northern BC en route to the Yukon and Alaska, there it was on the map- the Bowron Lakes. Steve had heard of it too, so we thought we just might do it. On our way north we called into Williams Lake. It was late May and the circuit was not yet open, due to the exceptionally cold winter they’d had. Still lots of slush and water in the wrong places- as there is 10km of portaging involved. [Read more]
North to Alaska- 16 June 2009
Everything they say about the mozzies in the North West of the American continent is true- they make our flies seem inconsequential! Forget enjoying the midsummer sun from your outdoor chair over late night drinks. No, hunker down in your motorhome or “RV” and try to outwit them! We had one night where they just seemed to keep coming in, faster then we could kill them. It was not until the next morning that we found the culprit- 2 vents for the fridge that were not flyscreened.
We’ve been 3 weeks on the road, making our way north from Vancouver. We’re now in Fairbanks Alaska. We’ve had some great mountain scenery, lakes and raging rivers. We paddled for a day on the Yukon River out of Whitehorse, just to pay homage to the second largest river in Canada. There’s certainly no such thing as a to and fro paddle on the rivers here- there is no way you can paddle against the current. So you need someone to collect you downstream! We saw lots of bald eagles that day, high over the cliffs, and being harassed by ravens. [Read more]
Cape to Cape Diary-Neal Bennet
Neal walked the Cape to Cape with Inspiration Outdoors in October 2006. He came back in 2008 and walked both Albany to Denmark and Walpole to Denmark. And in February 2009 he’s joining us in New Zealand. He’s sent me his diary for the Cape to Cape, it’s a great record and anyone contemplating the walk should have a read. Thanks Neal.
Neal Bennet’s Cape to Cape Diary
New Zealand-inaugural trip
There’ll be another New Zealand trip- but will you be able to get on it? Lots of those who did the 2009 trip want to do it again next year! It was a feast of challenging walks, interesting accommodation and unbelievable food! And our very own famous NZ folk singer added to the mix!
