Great Walks Offers for Spring & Summer 17/18
As the walking seasons change here are the hottest deals from some of our member walks around the country…
A free night in Perth – explore the Cape to Cape Walk, WA in Spring
New bookings of the 4 day Margaret River Cape to Cape group walk will receive a free night at Crown Towers in Perth pre or post walk for remaining spots on Spring 2017 departures. Email bookings@walkintoluxury.com.au and mention ‘Crown in Spring’.
Celebrate 15 years of Maria Island walking
To celebrate this 15-year achievement, the Maria Island Walk is offering a 15% discount on direct bookings for the newly launched summer program, for all walks departing between 1 October 2017 and 30 April 2018.
Walks must be booked before 30 October 2017. Prices start from $2450. To book email bookings@mariaislandwalk.com.au or call +61 3 6234 2999.
Scenic Rim – 20% off in season 2018
Book the Scenic Rim Trail by Spicers before the 20 October 2017 and receive 20% off for each walker for the 2018 season. Set deep within the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland, this guided four-day walk explores some of the beautifully unique, ancient and diverse Heritage Listed Gondwana Rainforest.
With all accommodation, meals, beverages, hiking equipment, knowledgeable guides and luggage portage included, it will be a walking adventure like you’ve never experienced before. Two nights glamping and one night in a Luxury Lodge of Australia complete this experience.
Quote: Call our Reservations Team on 13 77 42 and quote ‘Great Walks’ to redeem this offer.
A free night with Freycinet Experience Walk
Receive a free night at the Old Woolstore Hotel in Hobart on the night before you depart for the Freycinet Experience Walk, offer available on any new bookings made before 23 December 2017.
The offer is for one room per booking (ie. if two friends are travelling together, the offer is for a complimentary twin share room). Once the booking is made for the Freycinet Experience Walk, a booking will also be made with the Old Woolstore Hotel on the guests behalf.
Email walk@freycinet.com.au or call +61 3 6223 7565 and quote ‘News from the Trails’.
Be one of the first walkers! Upgrade bonus on our new Blue Mountains Grand Traverse
Get Festive in Margaret River this Christmas
Walk into Luxury is offering a special Christmas departure of their 4-day Cape to Cape Walk commencing on 27 December, concluding 30 December. Places are strictly limited for this one-off departure. Book quickly to secure your place. Email bookings@walkintoluxury.com.au and mention ‘Great Walks Christmas’.
One of our Signature Collection walks, the award-winning Maria Island Walk on Tasmania’s East Coast, is celebrating 15 years of memorable guided walks and experiences.
In its 15-year history, the guides at Maria Island Walk have led nearly 1000 walks for guests from over 20 countries including the UK, Europe and North America, as well visitors from all over Australia, showcasing some of the most unique wildlife and spectacular landscapes on the globe.
The family owned company founded by tourism visionaries Ian and Bronwyn Johnstone in 2002 has won seven national and 13 state awards, culminating this year with its inclusion as one of the founding members of Tourism Australia’s Australian Wildlife Journeys, which recognises exceptional wildlife encounters.
“Maria Island was a largely untapped jewel of rare wildlife, spectacular scenery and fascinating history when we started and we now have over 20 guides sharing their knowledge of Maria Island to our guests each summer,” said Ian Johnstone.
The four-day Maria Island Walk takes small groups of just ten guests and two guides to explore the pristine beaches, tall ancient forests and world heritage sites of this fascinating UNESCO World Heritage listed island.
With its collection of rare and unusual species, it’s not surprising that Maria Island is described as the state’s ‘Noah’s Ark’. An island sanctuary, it is one of the best places in Australia to see wombats, Tasmanian Devils, Cape Barren geese, kangaroos and wallabies. The birdlife is also an attraction with 125 species including all of Tasmania’s endemics such as the endangered Forty-spotted pardalote and Swift parrot.
The cost of each walk includes return transfers from Hobart to Triabunna, the scenic cruise across the pristine waters of the Mercury Passage to the isthmus of Maria Island, gourmet food and wine, two experienced guides, National Park entry fees, accommodation and use of waterproof jackets and day packs.
To celebrate this achievement, the Maria Island Walk is offering a 15% discount on direct bookings for the newly launched summer program, for all walks departing between 1 October 2017 and 30 April 2018. Book before 30 October 2017. Prices start from $2450. To book, please contact bookings@mariaislandwalk.com.au or 03-62342999.
Spring indicates the end of the Murray River Walk season and nature showcased all its beauty to entice us back for next year… Following the earlier rains, Spring certainly sprung in a most magnificent way on the Murray River Walk with wildflowers blooming, plenty of wildlife emerging from their homes and emu chicks on the move.
Wildflowers
Across the landscape wildflowers burst open colouring the bush, giving the bees something to be busy about. True to their name, Showy daisies put on a show, the grey-green bush becoming completely white with flowers. Electric pink is not a colour you’d commonly associate with the Australian bush, but as the ground covering plant pigface blooms, green floodplains are temporarily painted pink. Walker’s eyes are caught by flashes of vibrant purple as the Slender Darling Pea flowers along the banks of the Murray River, a beautiful contrast to the green and blue surrounds.
Wildlife Encounters
Over winter Emus nested, camouflaged amongst the native lignum plants, the male of the species tending to the turquoise eggs until hatching. Come spring and our walkers have encountered small striped chicks scattering under the canopy of the Black Box Eucalypts. The charismatic Apostle birds are tending their nests now, the various families will all help to feed and care for the young once hatched.
River Rise
Environmental watering activities are occurring, causing a small rise in the river level. Water spills out into small creeks, giving recently emerged red gums and older trees on the low lying river terraces a much needed drink. Natural billabongs are formed, and we discover an oasis in a red gum forest that supports a great range of flora and fauna.
Bush Songs
Frogs emerge from hibernation, the small billabongs acting as an indication that winter is over. Their chorus is deafening as our guides help walkers identify Southern bell, Banjo and Easter Sign Bearing frog calls. Bird calls ring through the air, the owner could be a pardalote or a spiny cheeked honeyeater. The sweetest singers of the bush.
Reflections
Daily temperatures rise, the first signs of the oncoming summer, and light spring winds whistle through the tree tops. The pleasant afternoon weather invites walkers to linger on the deck of the houseboat, dipping their tired feet in the cooling waters of the Murray. They watch as the sun sets and the intense light ignites the colours of the red ochre cliff formations. Beautiful reflections are not
exclusive to sunset as sunrise offers a different type of peace and stillness. The kookaburras not laughing at you, but with you at how unbelievable the experience is.
Find out more about the Murray River Walk and make your booking for 2018 here – don’t delay as the first full walk season in 2017 was a total sell out!