Get Active! Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Australia by Red Nomad OZ

Walk Wild Wilkawillina!

February 2, 2015 Red Nomad OZ Flinders Ranges, Flinders Ranges National Park, National Parks, Outback, South Australia, Things to do, Travel, Walks, Wilkawillina Gorge

A six hour drive north of Adelaide takes you deep into South Australia’s Outback zone AND into the Flinders Ranges National Park. It’s considered remote. By most people’s standards, anyway. Factor in its staggering scenery, wonderful wildlife, numerous hiking trails and awesome natural beauty, and you’ve got one of the best eco-tourism adventure destinations in the country! That makes it[…]

Climb Mount Abrupt! Grampians, Victoria

November 12, 2014 Red Nomad OZ Dunkeld, Grampians, Grampians National Park, Halls Gap, Lookout, Mt Abrupt, National Parks, Things to do, Travel, Victoria, Walks

It took an awfully LOOOOOONG time to climb Mount Abrupt. It took a long time to even get there. Over 20 years of regular trips to the Grampians National Park and its amazing natural attractions had passed by before we fully explored its wilder, more remote southern end. We’d always found plenty to do from Halls Gap, in the Central[…]

Arkaroola Wilderness Adventureland!

November 1, 2014 Red Nomad OZ Arkaroola, Outback, South Australia, Things to do, Travel

For a place explored, surveyed and ravaged by pastoralism, mining and smelting; overrun by sheep, camels, donkeys, rabbits and dingoes; and more recently under threat from an avaricious government looking to sell off uranium mining rights, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary is looking mighty fine! That’s due to the extraordinary Sprigg family* – visionaries, eco-tourism pioneers and explorers – who bought this[…]

View across the Bunbinyunna, Elder and Red Ranges from Bridle Gap, Wilpena Pound, South Australia

Walk the Bridle Gap Wilpena Pound Trail, Flinders Ranges

December 28, 2013 Red Nomad OZ Bridle Gap, Campsites, Flinders Ranges, Flinders Ranges National Park, National Parks, South Australia, Things to do, Travel, Walks, Wilpena Pound

The last few kilometres were heavy going as I trudged back to camp. The bright daylight faded into twilight as the sun sank below the eroded peaks surrounding the amazing Wilpena Pound valley, centrepiece of South Australia’s Flinders Ranges National Park. The evening coolness rose as we entered the campground. While taking an 18.8 kilometre (11.7 mile) hike might not[…]

Sunset at Dales Gorge, Karijini National Park, Western Australia

Walk Dales Gorge! Karijini National Park, Western Australia

August 4, 2013 Red Nomad OZ Campsites, Circular Pool, Dales Gorge, Fern Pool, Fortescue Falls, Gorges, Karijini National Park, Lookout, National Parks, Outback, Pilbara, Things to do, Walks, Western Australia

The Evening Before … I gripped the railing and looked through the deep shadows down the deep RED gash of Dales Gorge. WAAAAAY down. Late afternoon at the lookout meant the sun was long gone from the gorge floor. Even though it had lit up the eastern wall quite spectacularly. Ho Hum. Another day in the Pilbara, another killer landscape[…]

Surviving Nature’s Window – Kalbarri National Park, Western Australia

June 8, 2013 Red Nomad OZ Kalbarri, Kalbarri National Park, Lookout, National Parks, Nature's Window, Western Australia

The sun wasn’t that hot. The track wasn’t that long. The going wasn’t that tough. And yet, all along the short Kalbarri Natures Window walk, people were dropping like flies. Nature’s Window Warnings There are detailed warning signs above the steep staircase accessing the track below the gorge rim. But the walk to Kalbarri National Park’s favourite attraction still looks[…]

Coulthard Lookout View, Arkaroola Ridge-top Tour

Ride the Arkaroola Ridgetop Tour!

May 27, 2013 Red Nomad OZ Arkaroola, Australia, Lookout, Loos with Views, Outback, Ridge-top Tour, Sillers Lookout, South Australia, Things to do, Travel

‘Now we’ll see some REAL scenery!’ Doug announced, herding us away from the spectacular outlook from Coulthard’s Lookout towards our convoy of two vehicles. The Arkaroola Ridgetop tour was well underway. But I was sceptical. The ragged mountain ranges (yes, I’m channelling Aussie poet Dorothea Mackellar*) glistened and glowed in a glorious 360° panorama in the perfection of a clear Outback[…]

Yardie Creek Gorge, Cape Range National Park, via Exmouth, Western Australia

6 ALMOST Secret TOP Australian National Parks!

March 12, 2013 Red Nomad OZ Boodjamulla National Park, Cape Range National Park, Great Australian Bight, HOT Touring Tips, Keep River National Park, National Parks, Nullarbor Plain, Paroo-Darling National Park, Wyperfeld National Park

At LAST I’ve got the answer to that irritating question – Have you been to all the Australian National Parks? I’ll just get out my recently released 2nd edition of Explore Australia’s excellent Explore Australia’s National Parks! And point out that to visit ALL of Australia’s 500+ National Parks would be a life-long project. The question comes up because lots of visitors stop[…]

The Pinnacle Lookout with Lake Bellfield below, Grampians National Park, Victoria

Walk the Pinnacle – Grampians National Park

January 23, 2013 Red Nomad OZ Bakery, Boroka Lookout, Grampians, Halls Gap, Mackeys Peak, National Parks, Pinnacle Lookout, Things to do, Victoria, Walks, Wildflowers

WARNING: Do NOT attempt the Pinnacle walk if you don’t like A) heights; B) snakes; C) wildflowers; or D) looking uncool! Whether or not D) applies depends to a certain degree on physical fitness levels – and possibly hiking fashion sense! Although tragically that’s not a factor if you’re like me. That red face, heaving chest and death-rattle puffing after[…]

Geikie Gorge, via Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia

The Incredible “Icebergs” of Geikie Gorge!

January 3, 2013 Red Nomad OZ Australia, Fitzroy Crossing, Geikie Gorge, Geikie Gorge National Park, Gorges, Kimberley, National Parks, Things to do, Travel, Western Australia

‘Look out for the cat snakes on the rock ledges,’ our guide warned. ‘We saw one stalking a bird the other evening’. CAT Snakes? ‘But don’t take my word for it – I failed the snake identification exam!’ she laughed. Pilchard and I exchanged glances. The previous day a gaggle of grey nomads had shown us a photo of the[…]