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Australia


Thorsborne Trail

Thorsborne trail hike on Hinchinbrook Island in Australia
In early May I walked the Thornsborne Trail, which goes along the eastern side of Hinchinbrook Island in Queensland for 20 miles
Trekking on the beach on the Thorsborne trail in Australia
Permits are limited for the trail and a boat shuttle is required, I used Absolute North Charters out of Lucinda (2018)
Restroom on the trail
Not going in there, look at what happened to the last five people
Nina Peak sunset hike on Hinchinbrook Island in Queensland Australia
Looking north from Nina Peak at sunset. When hiking back in the dark to camp, one of the dry creekbeds swelled to waist deep from the tide shift
Sunrise at Nina Bay on the Thorsborne trail
Sunrise at Nina Bay
Thorsborne trail campsite on the hike in Hinchinbrook Island in Queensland
First campsite on the beach at Nina Bay, my favorite of the week
Rocky section of the trail
The rocky section heading out of Nina Bay
Looking back at Nina Bay
I did the walk in 5 days/4 nights from north to south therefore saving the swimming holes for the end.  Many do the trail in 4 days/3 nights skipping over the Nina Bay campsite, I would not recommend it as Nina Bay is the most scenic spot on the trail.  If only doing three nights I would go Nina Bay-Zoe Bay-Mulligan Falls.
Small cove on the trail
This cove would make a good place to camp on night two if you have a way to hang your food (no foodbox)
Foodbox for the rats
Food storage boxes at the campsites, the rats were most active at Zoe Bay and Mulligan Falls swinging from the trees at night dropping some type of buckeye-sized fruit on the tent.  They are known to chew through the bottom of your tent if food is left in your pocket.
Sunrise at Banksia Bay on Hinchinbrook Island
Second evening at Banksia Bay
Banksia bay campsite
I camped in the woods here as there was a swamp behind the beach
Crocodile warning sign
Saltwater crocs or "salties" inhabit the west side of island, there are said to be less on the eastern side. While there are croc signs throughout the trail I would pay particular attention at North Zoe Creek as the trail was moved inland here to be deemed safe.
North Zoe Creek at low tide on Hinchinbrook Island
I made a point to cross North Zoe Creek at low tide
Wetlands section of the trail
The trail then goes through wetlands. Some of the most venomous snakes are in Australia but typically move off the trail when they see you. The exceptions are the tiger snake and coastal taipan which can attack if they feel cornered. The coastal taipan will even chase you during breeding season when it is most active.
South Zoe Creek
The mouth of South Zoe Creek near the campsite.  Another place of caution as crocs are sometimes seen sunbathing here in the morning, not a place for a night swim/washing your feet on the river edge.  I was told many stories here, particularly about how successful saltwater crocs are at attacking.  They will stalk you for days and watch for patterns in your behavior and if you climb a tree to get away they will wait at the bottom for over a month.  They are said to have an attack success rate of 90%, the next closest being the lion at 60%.  After teaching me all of this, the locals got up from dinner and starting throwing coconuts into the river and watching them float with their headlamps.  The most memorable evening of the walk.
Mount Bowen from Zoe Bay at Sunset
Beautiful sunset at Zoe Bay
Goanna at the Zoe Bay campground
The Zoe Bay campground was the busiest, as boaters will drop people off here.  This camp also has the most critters including a few goannas.  This one was about 4 feet, half-sized or "just a baby" according to locals as they can reach 7 feet long.
Goanna on the beach
The goannas in eastern Australia are considered the closest relative to the Komodo dragon, smaller in size by comparison, but have longer tails which they use for climbing.  It can be painful if they mistake a human for a tree as their claws are quite large.
Zoe Falls on the Thorsborne trail on Hinchinbrook Island National park
The walk from Zoe Bay to Mulligan Falls was exposed to sun and very hot, although no trouble getting water as May is the end of wet season
Fish swimming in the pool
Dozens of curious fish would surround me in the swimming holes
Mulligan Creek crossing on the Thorsborne trail
The final crossing at Mulligan Creek

Budawang Wilderness

The trail near Corang Peak in the Budawangs of Australia
I started late afternoon at the Wog Wog campground trailhead, easy day as the sun goes down early in late May (430pm)
Corang peak summit camp in Morton National Park, Australia
Just enough room on the summit of Corang peak
Sunrise from the peak
From Corang peak, all of the major mountains of the Budawangs are visible
Shrouded Gods Mountain summit camp in the Monolith Valley of the Budawangs in Australia
The route was sometimes difficult to follow on day two, a good map will be your friend here, the Corang 8927-3-N is all that is needed for the route.  I went off-trail and climbed Shrouded Gods Mountain.  I boiled water once I found a place to camp on the summit as there were no creeks flowing in the Monolith Valley after a dry summer
Mount Mooryan from Shrouded Gods Mountain in the Budawangs of Australia
Mount Mooryan from Shrouded Gods Mountain
Trail conditions
For my own humor, reminder of the trail conditions
Rope to help with the rocks
Chains were provided on the main trail, if you enjoy a real challenge take the side route from the Monolith Valley to Mount Owen on the return hike
View from the trail
When the trail does open up, the views are quite scenic
Hike up the Castle in the Budawangs of Australia
The next day was shorter, but exciting again as I climbed up the Castle.  This photo looks down at the route coming out of the forest, which appears intimidating but it is fairly straightfoward until the last bit where there are ropes to help with a series of climbs.
Sunset on the top of the Castle in the Budawangs
The Castle was popular, there is a shorter route to reach it from the south that could be done as a dayhike or a one-nighter
Pigeon House and Byangee Mountain from the Castle at sunset in the Budawangs in Australia
Looking southeast over Clyde River Gorge towards Byangee Mountain and Pigeon House
Corang Arch in the Budawangs hike in Australia
I did the long hike back to Wog Wog (16 miles) in one day stopping briefly to photograph Corang Arch which I scouted earlier in the week and thought would look best in the afternoon sun
Walking back to Wog Wog
The final stretch through the forest to Wog Wog

Great Ocean Walk

Beach on the Great Ocean Walk hike in Victoria Australia
A stormy outlook meant cancelling hiking plans in Tasmania, so I shifted flights to Melbourne to complete the Great Ocean Walk in Victoria
Approaching Cape Otway on the Great Ocean walk in Austrailia
The trail is wide and in excellent condition with staircases, mowed grass and trimmed hedges
Johanna beach camping at sunset in Victoria
I used the free parking lot at Shelly Beach near Apollo Bay as a starting point. The campsites require bookings online with Parks Victoria

Day 1: Shelly Beach to Blanket Bay (8 miles)
Day 2: Blanket Bay to Johanna Beach (21 miles)
Day 3: Johanna Beach to Devils Kitchen (17 miles)
​Day 4: Devils Kitchen to Twelve Apostles (9 miles)
Road sign on the trail
There is a good deal of road walking between campsites, less than five miles of beach on the trail
Kangaroos on the road walk
Most wildlife encounters occured on the roads, which at times helped make up for the lack of scenery
Kangaroos on the Great Ocean walk near the campground
Roo with a little Joey inside
Koala in the bush on the Great Ocean walk in Australia coast
Koala in the bush
Johanna beach from the campsite for the night on the Great Ocean Walk in Victoria
View from the Johanna Beach campground. Any choice of the final three campsites would be good if short on time or doing the hike in sections
End of the walk
The battle with the wind continued to the end of the walk at the Twelve Apostles, one of the icons of Victoria

Resources
​
http://www.john.chapman.name/index.html
https://davidhoulder.com/

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Contact: darnoldhiking@gmail.com

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