The Dandenong Ranges Tourist Track follows Menzies Creek, Woori Yallock Creek, and Sassafras Creek for a stated 15km from Emerald to Sassafras. The total distance measured by us was 16.5km with a very overgrown 5km section in the middle. It seems that the start and the end of this trail are well maintained and enjoyable,...
Eleven hikers joined us at Mortimer Picnic Ground on Sunday 11 February 2018 for a counter-clockwise circuit through Bunyip State Park. The event was planned as a 12km loop with approximately 300m of elevation gain. Our completed route measured 11.00km, took 2hr19min and recorded 288m of ascent. It was a little shorter than expected, but...
Five hikers gathered on the evening of Friday 2 February 2018 for an ambitious Oxfam Trailwalker training challenge: approximately 50km of continuous hiking through the night and into Saturday morning. The walk was organised as a training event for the Oxfam team “We’re All Mad Here”, although other suitably experienced hikers were welcome to join....
Six hikers joined us in the Upper Yarra Valley on Sunday 28 January 2018 for another Oxfam Trailwalker training hike. We followed the designated 2018 Section 8 route before using the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail to complete a loop back to our cars. The event was advertised as a 20km Grade 4 hike. Our...
After completing a 12.31km clockwise circuit during the morning, the same three hikers returned to the trails around Mortimer Picnic Ground for a second loop in the opposite direction. The afternoon event was advertised as a moderate 10km circuit with approximately 200m of ascent. Our anti-clockwise route became considerably longer, with the Garmin recording 14.70km,...
Three hikers set out from Mortimer Picnic Ground on the morning of Saturday 13 January 2018 to complete a clockwise circuit through Bunyip State Park. The walk was advertised as a moderate 10km circuit with approximately 200m of ascent. Our completed route was longer and hillier than expected, with the Garmin recording 12.31km, 3 hours...
Five hikers set out to complete an extended circuit through Bunyip State Park on Sunday 14 January 2018, turning the existing Four Brothers Rocks loop into a challenging full-day walk. The event was advertised as a 22km circuit with more than 500m of ascent. Our Garmin recorded 21.42km, completed in 4 hours and 58 minutes,...
After completing an uphill circuit of the 1000 Steps earlier that evening, the same four hikers set out again at 7:30pm to walk the route in the opposite direction. This time, we climbed towards One Tree Hill using an alternative forest track before descending the Kokoda Track Memorial Walk. The change of direction and slightly...
Four hikers took on the 1000 Steps Kokoda Memorial Walk during a cool and damp summer evening on Friday 12 January 2018. Our first walk followed the famous staircase uphill through the fern-filled forest before returning by a different track. The original event advertised a 5km loop with approximately 340m of climbing. Our Garmin recorded...
Five hikers took on a demanding day in the Dandenong Ranges on Sunday 21 January 2018, following the marked Oxfam Trailwalker Section 4 route before returning by alternative tracks where possible. The planned distance was 25km, and our Garmin recording came remarkably close at 25.15km. What made this training hike particularly challenging was the 1117m...
