Meet a guide from The Murray River Walk
In the third edition of “Meet our Great Walk Guides” we are chatting to an expert guide from South Australia’s Riverland…
Introducing…
GUIDE: HEATHER
WALK: THE MURRAY RIVER WALK
How did you become a Murray River Walk guide?
I came to the Murray River Walk late in my working life, after many years working in Adult Education. We have lived in the region for over thirty years – firstly on a sheep station which is no longer farmed and now comprises part of our walk. It’s great to come back and see the land regeneration. I was approached to apply for a position as a walking guide and have been part of the team for the last two years. I’ve loved every minute of the journey, the people I’ve met and the steep learning curve.
What is your favourite piece of hiking equipment
My Ahnu hiking boots are the best! Really comfortable, sturdy and with great stability, they are a joy to walk in. Paired with my favourite Darn Tough socks from Vermont, my feet are pampered every step of the way – and feel especially good after cool dipping in the river at the end of each day!
What do you love about guiding?
Sharing information about our beautiful Murray River and interacting with our guests. People come with a wide range of walking and travelling experiences and it’s great spending time getting to know them and having fun walking together. It’s also great to be encouraging the less confident walkers and seeing their joy in achieving the walk milestones.
What was one of your favourite moments from the trail in 2018?
Seeing the water rising in the river and wetlands over a period of a few weeks towards the end of the season. Each week the additional water meant we had both wading and canoe crossings of inundated areas. Lots of fun! The water itself, regrowth, and bird sightings were all amazing!
If Heather’s insights have whetted your appetite for the Murray River Walk – view the full walk itinerary here.
With the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort kicking off season 2019, here are five of our favourite birds to spot whilst you’re on the trail…
#1. SPINIFEX PIGEON
Also known as the plumed-pigeon, spinifex pigeons are endemic to Australia and live in arid and semi-arid habitats. The males tend to be larger than the females, with a wing span of about 300-350mm. You can often find these birds on rocky hills, dry rocky creeks and gorges, and along the Larapinta Trail in areas where spinifex grass is found.
#2. ZEBRA FINCH
Zebra finch is a tiny bird with a red bill and a stripy tail. It has a zebra-striped tail, which is the source of its name. They live in mainland Australia except Cape York Peninsula or some coastal areas. They can also be found in Timor and Sunda islands.
Adult birds have a red bill while the juvenile birds have no color. Male birds have chestnut cheeks.
The birds are social and are often in large flocks at water holes. They feed on the ground and their main diet is grass seeds.
They are mainly found in open grassed areas with nearby water, and have an undulating “bouncy” flight.
#3. SOUTHERN BOOBOOK
One of the most common types of owl in Australia, the Southern Boobook can be found throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania. They can adapt well to different types of landscape, from open desert to dense forest, and can be identified by their plumage, which is a dark chocolate brown above and rufous-brown below. They are heavily streaked and spotted with white, with grey or yellow feet. Along the Larapinta Trail, you can spot them nesting in some of the old eucalyptus trees that have hollows.
#4. WESTERN BOWBIRD
The Western Bowbird is characterised by its long neck and round head, marked with buff spouts on the head, neck and upper body. Their yellowish underbody can have red scalloping and their legs are feathered at the top. Endemic to Central Australia, these birds can be found in the open woodland and shrub thickets in arid zones – however keep an eye out – you may also spot them near water amongst the rocky gorges.
#5. WHISTLING KITE
Often spotted throughout all times of the year, this bird of prey is medium sized. It also has white patches on the underside of the wing and a distinctively loud penetrating whistling call. Another distinctive feature is the underwing “fingered’ pattern and the rounded tail.
The Whistling Kite lives on mainland Australia but is not found in Tasmania. It is active during the day but rests in trees during the night. It glides low over treetops and sometimes flies at high altitudes using thermals.
Similar to the black kite, this scavenger bird’s diet mainly comprises of insects, lizards, small mammals, and carrion. It is attracted to bushfires so that it can feed on fleeing insects. It also loves food waste and thermals (up-currents).
Which bird is your favourite? Encounter the wildlife of the Northern Territory for yourself – find out more about the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort with Australian Walking Holidays here.
Indulge with an outback walking, wilderness and wine experience on two special departure dates in June 2019.
Join our four-day Wild Bush Luxury experience on the Arkaba Walk and travel on one of two dedicated departures, Thursday 13 or Wednesday 26 June 2019 and receive a night at The Louise with a four-course dinner at Appellation destination restaurant in the Barossa Valley wine country with our compliments. This property is one of the Luxury Lodges of Australia collection members.
See it at its best. You’ll love the carpet of green across Arkaba’s spectacular topography, painted so beautifully by Hans Heysen, where locals know that the temperatures are absolutely perfect for walking in winter.
Departure Dates
Valid for travel on two dedicated Arkaba Walk departures only:
Option 1:
13 – 17 June 2019
Arkaba Walk – Thursday 13 June, three nights
The Louise – Sunday 16 June 2019 one night
Option 2:
26 – 30 June 2019
Arkaba Walk – Wednesday 26 June, three nights
The Louise – Saturday 29 June 2019
Price
$2900 per person, twin-share with transfers from Adelaide.
This offer represents a saving of $1,500 per couple.
$2400 per person, twin-share for self-drivers.
This offer represents a saving of $1,300 per couple.
What’s Included
The Arkaba Walk is redefining the classic Aussie ‘bush walk’, adding luxury touches to a four-day private hike in the Flinders Ranges. Framed by the rugged wall of Wilpena Pound and the red-hued ridges of the Elder Range, Arkaba is one of Australia’s most accessible outback experiences. Covering around 45km over three walking days through an ever-changing landscape on a private wilderness sanctuary.
Your fully guided and hosted Wild Bush Luxury experience on the Arkaba Walk includes:
- One way flight from Adelaide Airport to the Flinders Ranges (Hawker)
- Two night’s swag camping at wilderness camps on our signature star beds
- One night accommodation at Arkaba Homestead
- All gourmet meals, beverages and trail snacks
- Support vehicle for transporting your main luggage throughout walk
- Provision of a suitable hydration backpack with plenty of room for your lunch, camera and personal items
- Scenic road transfer from Arkaba to the Barossa Valley with lunch on the way
Your stay with our friends at The Louise in the Barossa Valley is with our compliments and includes:
- One night in a Stonewell Suite featuring a spa tub, gas-log fireplace, outdoor rain shower and vineyard views
- Four-course dinner at award-winning Appellation restaurant with wine pairings for two
- Deluxe continental breakfast served in the privacy of your room
- Complimentary mini-bar
- Road transfer departing by 11am to Adelaide city or airport
View the full Arkaba Walk guided walking itinerary here.
Book
To book your Outback Walking, Wilderness and Wine experience, please call (+61) 2 9571 6399 to speak to a Wild Bush Luxury specialist. Offer subject to availability.
Enjoy a creekside massage treatment on day three of The Arkaba Walk, in South Australia’s spectacular Flinders Ranges.
After two days walking between campsites and sleeping directly under a million stars, learning so much about the landscape, thanks to The Arkaba’s expert guides, we expect you will be feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, however, Wild Bush Luxury is taking it to the next level, offering a message on your arrival at Arkaba Homestead.
Heightening your experience in this stunning environment with a creekside massage under the River Red Gum trees. Enjoy the chatter of honeyeaters and kookaburras, famous sounds of the Australian bush. This is truly a lifetime experience!
The massages are seasonal and take place in the air-conditioned homestead if the weather is inclement. While advance booking is not essential, it’s recommended to ensure availability and avoid disappointment. Prices are from $50 – $120. Go on, treat yourself…
Find out more about booking you creekside massage here.
View the itinerary and booking details for The Arkaba Walk here
Last week was an incredibly exciting one for the team on The Arkaba Walk, with confirmation of what were once extinct Brush Tailed Possums (or Virlda in Adnyamathanha).
Captured by one of the conservation cameras at the wildlife viewing hide, the blurry (and furry!) guy in the bottom right is being watched by a thirsty kangaroo.
All around us at the Great Walks of Australia we are fortunate to work with women from so many backgrounds, across so many areas of the business – from operations and management, to marketing and reservations, guides and hosts… and more. They are inspiring and adventurous – and today is about celebrating them all on International Women’s Day 2019.
Meet Sue Badyari, CEO World Expeditions Travel Group
Great Walks of Australia product member: Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort by Australian Walking Holidays
An extensive traveller herself, Sue is responsible for the operations of small group adventure tours all over the world. She believes that the most authentic travel experiences occur when travellers get off the beaten track. Her main priority is to develop tourism that goes hand in hand with the local community and protects the natural environment. Responsible and sustainable travel is core to her philosophy and is embedded into all aspects of the group’s activities.
This year the company will have more women guides leading their small group adventures and more dedicated women only departures than ever before.
Working her way up through the company, the group has been under Sue’s inspiring leadership since 1999, growing from a single brand company to a multi-brand operator and distributor of travel products. She has been the driving force behind its many achievements, including:
- Establishing Australia’s first Charity Challenge with the Fred Hollows Foundation
- Developing the World Expeditions’ domestic brand, Australian Walking Holidays and creating the award winning semi-permanent campsites on the Larapinta Trail
- Acquiring Tasmanian Expeditions and UK based Sherpa Expeditions and establishing the UTracks self-guided travel division
- Conducting the negotiations and due diligence for purchasing Adventure South New Zealand (2010); Trail Journeys (2017) and the Blue Mountains Adventure Travel Company (2018)
- Becoming the first-ever commercial operator of the full Nepal 1700km traverse of the Great Himalaya Trail (recognised worldwide as an outstanding operational achievement) and over-seeing the establishment a network of permanent campsites in the Everest and Annapurna regions
- Developing the World Expeditions Community Project Travel program and establishing the World Expeditions Foundation, which became a pivotal fundraising portal in the wake of the devastating Nepal earthquakes in 2015.
In recognition of her pioneering work in adventure travel, Sue is a regular speaker at international tourism and travel events, including the IIPT World Symposium (Johannesburg, South Africa), NZ Adventure Travel Trade Association event (Auckland, NZ), Global Eco Tourism Conference Asia/Pacific (Sydney, Australia). Travel media regularly seek comment from Sue about issues pertaining to the adventure travel industry.
Under Sue’s leadership, World Expeditions offers a flexible work environment to enable parents with children to continue to work and to progress with their careers. Evidence of the long term retention, progression and satisfaction at World Expeditions can be seen by the proportion of employees who have reached 10+ years of service to the organisation.
World Expeditions is Australia’s longest established adventure travel company and offers more than 500 stand-alone itineraries, which are meticulously designed for those travellers who want to take the ‘paths less travelled’. Their member product in the Great Walks of Australia collection is the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort by Australian Walking Holidays.