Cooleman Plain is high up in the NSW Alps, in the northern part of Kosciuszko National Park. It’s a wide area of forest and grassland broken up by limestone cliffs and gorges, crystal clear creeks, the occasional hut, and the gem that is Blue Waterholes.

It’s reasonably easy to find as long as you’ve got a fairly rugged vehicle. The turnoff comes straight off the Snowy Mountains Highway. Drive down Long Plain Road and watch out for potholes, sharp corners, the occasional brumby- there are plenty of them on the grasslands. If you come in winter it’s also worth checking with the local parks service office (Tumut- you can get them on 6947 7025) before setting off, because the road does get closed off in poor weather.

Blue Waterholes is more than worth an hour or so on a bumpy road. The water really is blue, because of its chemical composition. The water rises from an underground source not too far from the campground, which explains why it’s icy cold even on a 40C summer day. Near the campsite swimming is strictly for the very hot and sweaty or the very, very brave, but the water warms up as it travels overland so walking downstream for a couple of kilometres brings you to warmer swimming holes that are just as pretty.

The walk down Cave Creek is worth it even if you don’t fancy a dip. The path snakes along the waterside and then hugs the inside of Clarke Gorge. Look straight down and you’ll probably see trout in the pools below. If you’ve brought a torch, a sense of adventure, and preferably an experienced caver with you, the entrance to Barbers Cave is close the track. Stick by it and before long you’ll find a beautiful waterfall with a nice pool at the bottom, ideal for a quiet swim.

There are more easily accessible caves on the Nichols Gorge track, which also starts from Blue Waterholes campground. Murray Cave was once decorated with white crystal stalactites and stalagmites, but sadly many of them have been broken off and ‘souvenired’ by the visitors of the past. It’s still worth a visit though – there are hanging shawls and other spectacular cave decorations in hard-to-reach places and as far as caves go, the floor is fairly even and the terrain friendly enough for kids and those who don’t enjoy small, enclosed spaces. Cooleman Cave involves a bit of a squeeze, though.

If you arrive early it’s possible to do both the Clarke and Nichols gorge tracks in a single day, but if you want the time to enjoy the scenery, explore the caves, and have a swim it’s better to stay overnight. The campground is pretty basic, just flat space, a bit of information, and a toilet, but it does the job and it’s usually nice and quiet. Just don’t forget the insect repellent- the march flies want to keep Blue Waterholes for themselves and they make a spirited attempt to drive off human visitors!

Jess Spate was born in Tumut, not far from Cooleman Plain. She now lives and works overseas, for an outdoor gear shop, but every time she comes home Blue Waterholes is on the must-visit list.

A few weeks ago we ran a small competition with some Strive dehydrated hiking food as the prize. One of the winners was long time reader Greg from N.S.W.

Whenever we run competition or offer any advice about a trip, we always love getting emails or comments back letting us know what happened…..

Greg and his son Alex have been kind enough to share some words and images from their overnight walk to Balor Hut in the Warrumbungle NP

Greg and Alex

I have attached a photo of us partaking in the fare for dinner Saturday night. We had it served over some chopped salami sausage which wasn’t too bad. I mean I dont think I’d be all that happy to pay $20 for it as a main at a local restaurant but, as we have often said, its amazing how good food can taste after a day’s walking. Even my son Alex, a rabid carnivore usually, finished his plateful!

Next time, I might try frying the salami a little first and maybe stir through some tomato paste for a little extra taste & moisture.

I have also attached an interesting shot of The Breadknife from the north side, just near Balor Hut, the opposite side to the iconic shot you always see of it more from the south eg from Lugh’s Throne or the Grand High Tops. Looks a lot less like an actual breadknife from this angle but still very impressive nonetheless. Its all pretty impressive there really.

Alex with The Breadknife from the north side

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Belougery Spire shrouded in mist

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The Breadknife from the more usual (southern) side from Lugh's Throne

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Balor Hut and campsites around it

It costs $5/night/person for hut use plus park entry fee. Camp in your own tent beside for park entry fee only. Pit toilet there for all to use. Not sure about inside hut but I think just basic furniture, bunks with no mattresses etc. It’s best to check with NPWS, you can visit the official Warrumbungle NP site for more information.

Many thanks to Greg and Alex for sharing their adventure. We still look back, as a family, with fond memories of camping trips with friends. It was great fun and the children have some fantastic stories and experiences.

Do you take your children hiking or camping?

Have you been to the Warrumbungles National Park?

Share your stories below:

This is a guest post by Neil Fahey from Bushwalking Blog. Neil does a lot of hiking (mainly day-hikes around Melbourne) and shares in-depth trip reports on his blog. He has also recently written a few stories for Great Walks Magazine.

 If you’re an Aussie hiker then you probably already know and love Great Walks Magazine. If you’ve never heard of it, now is as good a time as any to head out and buy yourself a copy.  Need convincing? Well read on and you might be persuaded.

Brent McKean has been editor of Great Walks for several years now and is obviously a very keen hiker. I recently asked him to participate in a brief e-mail interview, thinking it would be a good opportunity for Our Hiking Blog readers to find out a bit more about another interesting outdoors enthusiast and also about the magazine.

Brent McKean - escaping from the office

So what came before Great Walks for you Brent? How did you end up being the editor?

I used to work in banking but it was always just a means to an ends. I was looking to do a job I was passionate about so after spending a year hiking around South America I decided to go to uni and get a journalism degree. I graduated from the University of QLD just after my 30th birthday and my first two jobs were back overseas.

The first was working as a volunteer journalist for Amnesty International, reporting on human rights abuses in India, Nepal and China. That was incredibly confronting but it reinforced to me I had chosen the right career path. I then worked in the Middle East for 1.5 years as a journalist/editor. I was based in Oman but my job took me everywhere – all over the Arabian Gulf and to Europe and Africa. In ’99 I moved to Sydney and worked for AAP (Australian Associated Press) for five years working in hard news before moving back to magazines. I was deputy editor of car magazine Overland 4WD for two years before I got the job running Great Walks and I couldn’t be happier.

Most of your readers probably think you’re the luckiest guy in the world, having a job that revolves around hiking. Is it as amazing as we think?

Yes and no. Any editor will tell you running a magazine is very demanding. The buck stops with you. However, I do get to do some great trips (I was in Africa in April) and sometimes I shake my head when I think about where my career’s taken me so far. Generally I’ll be out of the office four to five weeks a year on trips. The rest of the time it’s head down, arse up.

Great Walks 2010 Bumper Annual Edition

 Your role as editor must have given you the chance to take off on some incredible hiking trips… Care to share a couple of your best and/or worst hiking experiences?

My trip to walk the Milford and Routeburn tracks last December was brilliant. I’m from Auckland and spent most of my childhood walking or cycling around the North Island but I had always wanted to walk these two iconic South Island tracks. It was a dream come true and it didn’t disappoint. At the end of each day I found myself in some very nice lodgings, sitting besides an open fire, drinking a gorgeous NZ pinot. Life doesn’t get better.

As for my worst hiking experience. Well I’ve had my fair share of challenges but I must admit a walk I did in PNG a few years ago really tested me. We were on the island of New Britain, walking an unmarked track retracing the steps of WWII Diggers. The walk was like Kokoda but more rugged and without a trail to follow. The terrain was some of the steepest I’ve ever walked and we were literally pulling ourselves up the track by grabbing tree roots. The rain was relentless, the path turned to mud and I had a full pack. By the end of the four days I was totally spent. I can’t imagine how our Diggers spent weeks in that unforgiving terrain. It was very enlightening.

What do you set out to achieve with each issue of Great Walks? Does the magazine have a mission statement?

Great Walks is Australia’s only dedicated bushwalking magazine. Unlike other outdoors magazines we don’t try to be all things to all people. If you’re a bushwalker or are interested in taking it up hopefully you’ll buy the mag. With each issue we try to appeal to all types of walkers, from the beginner to the very experienced. Also 45% of my readers are women so I’m very aware of that when I look at gear to review. What I want to do with Great Walks is entertain, inform and inspire.

Do you think the magazine has any role in advocacy for bushwalkers, or in speaking out about conservation and environmental issues?

Definitely. We do look at social and environmental issues concerning bushwalking and the outdoors community. However, I’ve purposefully avoided making the mag an issues-based soapbox. Magazines like Wild do a great job creating social discourse on many environmental issues and I didn’t see the point in trying to emulate them. The news section of Great Walks is only a few pages but that way I have more space for what we’re really about – great walks!

 What can we look forward to from Great Walks in the coming year? Are there any particularly exciting stories or special editions planned?

We’ve got some great stories coming up. In the Aug-Sept issue a mum and dad take their three kids (4, 7 and 9) on a 10-day walk of the Overland Track. I did that on my own a few years ago and that was interesting enough let alone with three kids in tow.

The Oct-Nov issue showcases a brand new multi-day walk in WA (similar to Spain’s famous pilgrim walk) which I’m very excited about, and the Dec-Jan issue will feature our Christmas gift guide, which was really successful last year. I also have plans for a Great Walks cover photo competition early next year.

You mentioned in the June/July issue of Great Walks that there is a website on the way. Can you tell us how soon we can expect that to go live and what you have planned for your online presence?

The publishing company I work for Yaffa Publishing is rolling out websites for many of its 30 magazine titles. However I don’t expect www.greatwalks.com.au will be up and running until at least the end of the year, if not early 2011. When it does go live I think it will be a very dynamic website featuring walks, maps, gear reviews and lots of reader input. Stay tuned.

By the way, I’m about to take a six-month break from running the mag to look after my baby daughter Matilda. My partner Holly and I decided we wanted Matilda to have a full-time carer for the first year of her life. Holly did the first six months, so now it’s my turn. I’ll be leaving Great Walks in the very capable hands of Richard Cann, a former Yaffa journalist who’s in the middle of training for Sydney’s Oxfam Trailwalker. I’ll be back at the helm in Feb next year.

Cheers.

Great Walks can be found on the shelves of most good newsagents and Borders bookstores, or you can subscribe online at the Yaffa Publishing website. If you’re still not convinced, Yaffa provide a couple of sample pages on their website  for you to preview. Thanks to Brent for taking time out of his busy work-schedule to answer my questions.

We hope you have enjoyed Neil’s guest interview with Brent as much as we have. Don’t forget to check out Neil’s site Bushwalking Blog, especially if you are planning any day hikes around the Melbourne area. He goes to a lot of trouble to make the information accurate and does some very interesting trips.

If you ever feel the urge to share an article such as a trip report, gear review or just musings about the outdoor world, feel free to contact us, we’d love to publish your work.

Just a quick post to follow up on the Great North Walk – Sydney to Newcastle article from a few days ago.

The team there have produced a “companion” for the walk , which is a VERY interesting concept, and quite different to what we have seen before.

Part of the “spin” is to:
Write the final “chapter” and have your hiking book published……

As a “promo” the team sent us the following information, including independent reviews from Wild magazine and Wild Walks.

A new book ‘The Great North Walk Companion’ is the tale of a family walk along the full 250 km of New South Wales ‘The Great North Walk’ .  It can be enjoyed on your couch as an armchair bushie’s adventure or taken along with you in your backpack as you hike Australia’s most accessible trail.  Either way there is a new and exciting addition offered by the authors of this paperback – you are invited to try your hand (pen or keyboard) at writing a chapter.

Here’s how it works.

Each chapter of  The Great North Walk Companion describes a part of the Walk with pencil sketches to illustrate environment and social history.  This ramblers’ novel covers more than 250 years of a family tree as well as guiding you along 250 km of great hikes.  The book is organised as a puzzle – as you read you are encouraged to ‘discover’ the identity of the mysterious walking ‘companion’ for whom the book is named.  There are many clues to this person’s life, outlook and character.  The question is can you   figure out exactly who they are?  If you can then you are invited to write a final chapter (Chapter 19) for this book.  The authors have promised they will create a new edition of their book with the best of these puzzle-solving chapters.

There is a challenge already out in the hiking literature – this month’s edition of WILD Magazine contains a review of  ‘The Great North Walk Companion’ – page 23 (March-April, 2010 issue).    As well as some very nice compliments about the book being  ‘well researched’;   having a ‘dedicated website with accommodation options, track conditions, geocaching coordinates and an active discussion forum’; and offering  ‘many interesting stories and marked attractions such as Indigenous engravings.’ The reviewer makes a mistake – he describes the mysterious Companion as Billie’s “niece” – but is this person really female?

Another great review has been published by Matt McClelland of Wild Walks. This overview has the fantastic addition of a table of all the walks that together sum into the Great North Walk.  To be honest Matt didn’t like the Companion much – but as he say in his review he did appreciate ‘the chance to get to “know” the member of the walking party, and there is a sense of “truth” as they explain details of becoming lost, and finding their way again’.

So, whether you’re happy to read about hiking or actually want to do the walk and catch up on some local history, this book is a great buy.  If you are also a budding author then accept the challenge and write the FINAL CHAPTER of ‘The Great North Walk Companion’.

Details:

The Great North Walk Companion by A. Henderson-Sellers, K. McGuffie and B. Henderson-Sellers, $27.50, 2009 (now out with minor correction in a new version – 2010)

Purchase from Digital Print Australia: Click here to check it out

Want to help plan a new multi-day wilderness hike?

Interested in shaping the facilities for a 2000km multi day trek?

Want to help design the next great walk being planned in Australia?

This is your chance to have some input into the newly planned Dreaming Trails in Far North Queensland, Australia

From the official website

Cape York is one of the last pristine regions in the world.
It’s rainforests, savannah plains, tropical beaches and views of the majectic Coral Sea are to be made accessible through a 2000km network of tracks and supporting infrastructure.

You can help design it!

Spectacular coastal scenery

The Dreaming Trails - location in Australia

That is FAR north – lots of crocodiles!

Check out the website, there is a quick questionnaire the planners are keen for you to complete. It is very painless and means you may have a say in shaping this fantastic long distance trek.

Looks like great freshwater swimming

Loved this picture off the website – a gorgeous misty morning.

Looking for two weeks camp hosting in Southern Tasmania?

Happy to volunteer as a campsite host at Cockle Creek?

Like the idea of free accommodation in return for working with the Parks and Wildlife Service?

The Parks and Wildlife Service in Tasmania are seeking Campground Hosts for two week stints at Cockle Creek in Southern Tasmania.
View Larger Map

Cockle Creek is well known by bushwalkers who are completing (or starting) the South Coast Track. This tiny “village” is 2 hours drive from Hobart and is the furthest point you can drive south in Australia.

This is a great way to have a free “holiday” and to experience some of Tasmania’s beautiful wilderness areas. For example, it is a relatively easy walk into the start of the South Coast Track to visit spots such as Coal Bluff or even further on to South Cape Rivulet. It would also be a bit of fun being there to meet hikers who had finished the South Coast Track and check out their condition after this 6- 10 day walk!

Larry Hamilton, in his excellent series on the South Coast Track, shared a couple of pictures with us.

The beach at Cockle Creek

The Cockle Creek bridge

As you can see, it is a very pretty place and quite isolated. Looks like a great spot for a couple of weeks in Tasmania!

This is the link to the full information provided by Parks and Wildlife Service in Tasmania (including contact details of where to apply)

Related Posts
The South Coast Track – Solo Winter Trip report by Larry Hamilton – Part One
South Coast Track – Part Two by Larry Hamilton – Ironbound Ranges and Leeches
South Coast Track – Part Three by Larry Hamilton – Surprise Bay to Cockle Creek
Larry’s Port Davey Trip Report- great reading
Gear List for Wilderness Bushwalking Trip – Larry Hamilton’s excellent gear list
Stuck between Louisa and Faraway Creeks – Our adventure on the South Coast Track
Hiking the South Coast Track – our first (and last time)

In this post we continue with Larry Hamilton’s guest post on hiking the South Coast Track in Southern Tasmania.

The South Coast Track runs between Melaluka and Cockle Creek in the South West Heritage area in Tasmania. It combines spectacular coastal hiking with some (a lot) of slog through inland sections with mud and more mud….

Part Two commences from the Louisa Creek campsite before he heads up the Ironbound Range, a climb notorious for difficult weather conditions and a very steep exposed climb.

Day Four 22 June

I was up by 5.30 am packing up in the dark and on the track before dawn at 7.45am. It was a beautiful, clear, still morning and the weather report for the area was for heavy fog. That wasn’t evident in the Louisa River valley but as I ascended the Ironbounds the fog rolled in over the ranges and through the valleys from the west. I was above the fog by the time it arrived and so got a very pretty view of the mountains poking out of the fog for most of the day. And I walked in clear weather for the whole of the day. I got to the top of the Ironbounds at 11.30am and was pleased to have had a cool day for the climb. Tackling the climb on a hot summer’s day wouldn’t be my idea of fun.

Views from the Ironbound Range- great weather


I hit the Ironbounds high camp at midday, had lunch and a look around the campsite. The descent was trickier than the ascent as everyone finds and I reached the low camp at 2.30pm and thought carefully about continuing as dusk was not that far away. I decided to push on and almost immediately came across a number of big trees down across the track and my pet hate (yellow, slimy mud! I much prefer the peaty black mud) this combination slowed me down considerably, probably contributed to by some weariness from the climb and descent.

I got into camp as dusk was descending at 4.15pm in pretty dim light and was pleased to have done so. Little Deadmans Bay is a pretty spot and I thought I’d take another rest day to have a good look at it and its surroundings on the morrow.

(Ed: Check out this post Hiking the South Coast Track Solo by a very fit woman)

Day Five 23 June

Having resolved to take a rest day I woke up feeling fresh and eager to continue and as a result thought again about continuing. The forecast was for deteriorating weather and drizzle in the evening so I fought the tendency to keep moving and instead I took advantage of the sunshine and pretty location to dry things out, relax and take some photos.

Deadmans Bay

Day Six 24 June

The drizzle didn’t eventuate yesterday or last night and while the weather was evidently coming, it was not a frontal gale coming from the west but more heavy overcast and increasing drizzle. It is an easy walk from Little Deadmans Bay to the New River Lagoon and the rain started while walking on the beach approaching the lagoon. I had an interesting half hour trying to put on a tarp/poncho I had brought with me and would have been good entertainment for an observer as I struggled to get it draped as it is intended to be. When I eventually got it on I had a good laugh at my tracks on the beach. It looked as if I’d had a moment of madness dancing and pirouetting around in the midst of a sober and solitary trail up to and on from that mad dance. I enjoyed the walk along the beach.

Somehow the wind and the drizzle matched the wildness of the waves, the windswept beach with its jetsam of bull kelp and the pacific gulls and oyster catchers along the shore. As the wind wasn’t all that strong and was mostly from a northerly direction the crossing was uneventful and uncomplicated. I was impressed by how many wombat and wallaby tracks there were along the banks of the lagoon.

The boat at New River Lagoon – it is heavier than it looks!

Day Seven 25 June

The morning forecast was for increasing showers and rain for the next four days but while there were some heavy showers, most of the early rain was drizzle really so I packed up and headed for Surprise Bay. I got pretty wet on the walk to Surprise Bay as the showers certainly got heavier so I decided to camp there after a short day to wait out the worst of the rain. It was a nice walk though. The crossing of Milford Creek was a thigh-deep wade and it looked like it was rising.

By the time I got to Surprise Bay the creek at the west end of the beach was running pretty strongly and was turbulent with froth and dark with tannin so that I had no idea how deep it was. It turned out to be above waist deep with a strong current but I managed to keep my feet. The campsite above the beach was quite large with a good selection of sites to pitch a tent so I set up my tent and tarp and added my poncho/tarp to the set-up which allowed me quite a bit of dry space to sit under outside of my tent.

New River Lagoon from the air

Leeches!

I came across my first leech here. I can’t say I’d missed them earlier in the walk as I’m not too fond of the little suckers but I’d been surprised by their relative absence and had puzzled over why this might have been the case. I can only think that the salty air and seaside environment was something that they weren’t fond of. I always carry salt to deal with them and know how much they dislike it.

For this trip I was keen to try some pyrethrin spray that my research indicated should be effective with leeches. So the first leech was experiment number one and it was one leech down. Even here there were not many leeches and because of that I suppose I got careless. After retiring to my sleeping bag after dark something bothered me while I was lying there reflecting on the day. On turning on my led lantern I discovered a leech stretching from the inside of the inner tent towards my cheek, only a few centimetres away. A flurry of activity and some more spray and scratch leech number two. That had me checking the inside of my tent pretty carefully to make sure that there were no more to surprise me inside the tent and that the inner was zipped up fully.

When it gets dark at 5pm and doesn’t get light again until 7.30am I tend to spend a lot of time in my sleeping bag and really too much time trying to get some sleep. Winter walking is a way of catching up on sleep and I wouldn’t recommend it for insomniacs. At night I value the mp3 player and little radio, even when the reception is pretty crappy.

Related Posts

The South Coast Track – Solo Winter Trip report by Larry Hamilton – Part One
Larry’s Port Davey Trip Report- great reading
Gear List for Wilderness Bushwalking Trip – Larry Hamilton’s excellent gear list
Stuck between Louisa and Faraway Creeks – Our adventure on the South Coast Track
Hiking the South Coast Track – our first (and last time)

There are photographs of the Tasmanian Wilderness and then there are beautiful images.

Pieces of art that reflect the beauty of the area and tell a story that excites you and makes you want to be there!
Ice on duck boarding – Dave Noble

In this post, we highlight a TINY part of a fantastic photographic essay of a recent hike across the Overland Track in Tasmania by Dave Noble (and party). The walk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair covers about 85km of some spectacular wilderness in the heart of Tasmania. It is usually undertaken over five nights but in this case the trip was planned for 10 days to allow for side trips and photography.

The glow of a coal stove – Kia Ora Hut – The Overland Track – Dave Noble

Frank has enormous respect for Dave Noble who has been hiking in Tasmania (and many other places) since the early 1970′s. He has achieved many feats that are the envy of less adventurous bushwalkers. These include extensive multi-day hikes in the South West National Park in Tasmania in the mid 1970′s and then a multitude of fantastic trips in various places across Australia.

Close up with reflection – Overland Track – Dave Noble

We encourage you to visit Dave’s site and read the full trip report and check out the terrific images of this winter hike: The Reserve in Winter – A Walk Along Tasmania’s Overland Track – July 2009

All photographs are used with the kind permission of Dave Noble

The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world’s great long distance walk trails, stretching nearly 1000kms from Kalamunda, a suburb in the hills on the outskirts of Perth, to the historic town of Albany on the south coast of Australia.

In this post, our “End to Ender” Dave Tomlinson, shares his experience on planning, equipment, food, shelter, clothing, cooking and navigation.

There is some great information in this post to assist anyone planning all or part of the Bibbulman Track – something we would love to undertake in the future.

Shelter
The Bibbulmun Track has wooden shelters generally spaced between 13km and 24km apart. The average distance would be about 18km, although in the Kalamunda National Park they are only about 10km apart. I recommend passing through every second one in that section.

Inside the Waalegh shelter – great facilities

At the time of year I completed the track I had 80% of the campsites totally to myself. So there was no need to carry a tent and I appreciated not having the extra weight. I could assure anyone walking in summer that you’d always find accommodation in the shelters. However, the most popular period for hiking is in spring time when the wildflowers are out. Based on what I read in some of the logbooks, I couldn’t give the same assurance during this season.
The Waalegh shelter – water tank and fireplace

The facilities of the track are world class and very well maintained. I often thought of the wooden shelters as large ‘bus stops’, with three sides that always offered protection from the prevailing winds. There was a difference between the shelters in the northern half and those in the south. Those in the north had a picnic table in the middle and hardboard bunks on either side. In the south the sleeping platform extended around two walls in a large L shape with the picnic table in the remaining space. Both would be able to sleep a maximum of 16 people.

The campsites were generally in a very pleasant location and well landscaped. Apart from the shelter and picnic table, there was a pit toilet that often had toilet paper. There was a large rainwater tank beside the shelter and this is checked by park staff through the dry season to ensure there is always an adequate supply. There was always a fireplace that can usually be used for cooking but I respected the summer fire ban and used my camp stove instead. Most sites also had a second picnic table outside the shelter.

The one campsite which was different from the others was Mount Wells. This was fully enclosed hut because it’s in an exposed and often windy location. You feel a bit like Scott in the Antarctic staying there but as the wind whistles around outside you appreciate having the four walls and it’s a nice view when you awake in the morning.

Stove
My camp stove is a simple arrangement that folds up into a small pouch. It uses the butane gas canisters that have a threaded attachment to the stove. I found, on average, that one standard size canister would last about a week and they were easily found at every town along the track. There was one occasion when I ran out of gas and had to (very carefully) break the fire ban to cook.
The offending fireplace…
Clothing
Again, this depends largely on the time of year. I walked during February and March which is the warmest time of the year in Western Australia. So, I usually only needed t-shirt and shorts when I was hiking during the day. Sometimes I’d use a light windbreaker along the southern coast but it was never cold. It was sometimes cool in the evenings so I put on a sweater and long pants. Altogether, I only had about four days of rain in seven weeks but appreciated having my Goretex jacket when it did.

One of the most important recommendations I could make about clothing relates to your feet. They are what will carry you each day and you must look after them. Firstly, ensure your boots are well broken in and comfortable. Secondly, wear two pairs of socks and always carry at least one other pair. Wearing a thin pair of socks under your hiking socks will help prevent blisters. Also, ensure that your toenails are always cut short, especially in sections that involve hills.

Sleeping Bag
My sleeping bag is rated 5ºC and this was adequate…just! There were some nights, especially in the southern section, where I needed my warm clothing inside my bag at night. Obviously, the rating of your sleeping bag will depend on the season you are walking but I’d make a simple recommendation: go 5ºC below what you think you’ll require. A bag with a hood is best, especially in the colder conditions.

Other equipment
Apart from my clothing, sleeping bag and cooking equipment, there were a number of other important items that should be taken. If you are hiking in summer then ensure you have good supplies of sun cream and insect repellent. A basic kit and first aid knowledge are essential, especially if you are hiking alone. Know what to do if you get a snake bite.

I had a headlight and very small torch as a back up. If you enjoy the camp logbooks as I did, there is usually plenty of reading at each site but I recommend taking a book and also a journal. In such tranquility, I enjoyed writing about my thoughts and experiences each day. I also recommend taking an MP3 player. Listening to some music for half an hour is always a pleasant way to end the day. The one thing that I wish I hadn’t taken is my deodorant. I meant well but really…who needs it out there?

A couple of things I did find very useful were an inflatable pillow and a net you can wear on your head to keep flies and mosquitoes away. I didn’t need the latter too often but really I valued it sometimes. I found my pair of gaiters to be useful in the southern sections that involved walking though sand dunes. Never forget your sunhat, especially in summer and I recommend carrying a beanie at any time of the year.

Food
Food, glorious food. In planning any hiking trip, this is undoubtedly one of the first considerations. Between Kalamunda and Albany, the Bibbulmun Track goes through a total of seven towns, past a roadhouse and a camping ground. So, you always need to be supplied for between three and ten days along the way.
Mushrooms along the Track – don’t think this one is edible

Tasmania, Australia, is a photographers dream.

Wilderness, huge vistas, interesting elements and unspoilt scenery.

Taking a good picture is not hard but getting a fantastic photograph takes talent, time, effort and perseverance.

In this post, we invited Tasadam to share some of his spectacular wilderness photographs that focus on winter in Tasmania. Winter has just arrived in Australia and these shots are part of Tasadam’s beautiful portfolio . In the future, as the seasons change, more of Tasadam’s work will be featured here.

Water in Three Forms

About the Artist

My name is Adam and I live in Tasmania, Australia, so I call myself Tasadam.

I have been taking photographs for many years. I started when I was young – I don’t really remember when. I do remember when I was 11 years old, I went on a school camp for 6 days and had a 110 Instamatic film camera. My spending money went on film, and I remember my parents weren’t too impressed when I returned home with all those photographs that needed developing…

I studied Photography as an extra subject at Technical College in 1981 where I first picked up an SLR camera. By this time I had developed an eye for subject and composition detail. The honing of my current skills along with the training in technique I received was excellent and opened me towards a new level.

Winter Cradle Plateau

Not long after, I had a few SLR cameras and various lenses of my own and my style and skills flourished.

I have taken modelling and portraiture photography in the past along with weddings, and though I find them enjoyable (although stressful), I prefer to do my photography in conjunction with another passion – bushwalking.

When my wife and I go bushwalking in Tasmania, we typically carry around 10 kilograms of camera gear – two bodies, two tripods, five lenses, and various accessories – batteries, memory cards, cleaning apparatus and the like.

Winter Summit Mt Ossa

I prefer to portray images as I saw them, rather than overdo the post processing with HDR and over-saturation etc. It takes time to process, adjust levels and sharpness to create the best image possible.

I trust you enjoy the results of my efforts.

Check out Tasadam’s art here and enjoy more of his wonderful Tasmanian photographs. You can access his full winter gallery “Cold Tasmania” here.

Related Posts
Outdoor Photography – Six great links to help make your pictures brilliant
The Overland Track – Track Images

Hike the Overland Track free?
Win a trip to Australia and a free trip on the Overland Track with Cradle Mountain Huts?

We stumbled across this opportunity today for anyone who owns a pair of Blundstone Boots (an Aussie icon in work footwear)

Towards Barn Bluff – Overland Track- Tasmania

Head off to the Blundstone Canada  web site and check out the competition they are running to win a FREE trip from Canada to Tasmania. Included is a guided walk across the Overland Track with Cradle Huts. (worth around $A2500)

This is the blurb off the website:

The Cradle Mountain Huts Walk an all inclusive experience for two people 5 nights – 6 days

The Cradle Mountain Huts six-day walk follows the iconic Overland Track through Tasmania’s World Heritage Area. This 40 mile journey offers a rare privilege – one of the world’s great walks through an ancient and richly varied landscape is normally accessible only to the hardy – for at the end of each day hikers sleep in private, environmentally-sensitive cabins. 
There are hot showers. 
Food and wine can feature almost as much as the mountains, rainforests and indigenous wildlife. The huts have been designed to complement their sensitive surroundings. Each hut contains twin share accommodation, toilets, heating, full kitchen facilities and a living/dining area. The guides on this unhurried journey share their knowledge of the landscape, the flora and the fauna, to ensure a rich and informative journey.

The competition runs until the 30th June, so get in quick.

We love our Blundstone boots and had a pair each for years. They are are great Aussie icon…

Related Posts:

Hiking the Overland Track e-Book

Release of the Overland Track book

Various Overland Track posts