Book the multi-award-winning Maria Island Walk on departures from 10 January to 30 April 2019 and enjoy a complimentary one-night stay at Hobart’s luxury hotel MACq 01, before or after your walk experience.

Offer includes one night in a twin share Superior Hunter Room at MACq 01 hotel, breakfast for two guests, free WiFi and valet parking (valued at up to $490).

MACq 01 is nestled in the heart of the historic Hobart waterfront, surrounded by yachts, docks, convict-built sandstone warehouses and a huge expanse of open water. Each relaxed luxury room in this storytelling hotel is linked to a Tasmanian character central to the story of Tasmania such as heroes, villains, explorers, inventors, convicts and more.

The Maria Island Walk is recognised as one of Australia’s truly outstanding experiences. The four-day walk is a delightful blend of rare wildlife, fascinating history, island tranquillity and gourmet delights.

Set on a beautiful island national park off Tasmania’s east coast, small groups of ten guests and two friendly guides explore pristine beaches, tall ancient forests and world heritage sites by day, while each night relax with candlelit dining.

To check availability or to book please contact:
bookings@mariaislandwalk.com.au or call +61 3 6234 2999 and mention ‘MACq01 offer’.

Offer ends Friday 5pm 18 January 2019 and only applies to new bookings (subject to availability).
Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount or offer.

Walk and stay dates:  10 January – 30 April 2019
Offer not valid during the dates below:
– Australia Day Long Weekend: 25-27 January 2019
– Wooden Boat Festival: 7-10 February 2019
– Easter: 19-21 April 2019

View more images and the full itinerary for the Maria Island Walk here 

The Great Walks of Australia pride themselves on providing delectable, regional cuisine throughout their walks. So as a little Christmas treat, we’re sharing a signature recipe to indulge in over the holidays, courtesy of the Murray River Walk in South Australia.

Riverland Pudding

Ingredients

400g OR 1 loaf white bread, crusts removed

150g melted butter

225g orange marmalade

4 Riverland Navel oranges

Grate the rind from 2 oranges (save half for garnish)

Peel and chop 3 oranges

Peel and thinly slice 1 orange

3 free range eggs

500ml thickened cream

100g caster sugar

3 tbsps brown sugar

Crushed/chopped slivered almonds or almond flakes

300ml thickened double cream

Method

Grease individual ramekins with butter and spray with olive oil

Place a slice of orange on the bottom of each ramekin

Cut bread into small (2cm) chunks and place in a large bowl

Pour melted butter over the bread and combine

Warm the marmalade gently and pour over the bread & butter mixture

Add the orange segments to the bread mixture and carefully mix to combine

Place portions of the mix into each ramekin making sure they are of even amounts

Beat together half the orange rind, eggs, cream and caster sugar

Divide the cream & sugar mix between each ramekin equally.

Sprinkle brown sugar over the top of puddings

Cook for 20 minutes

Gently toast the almonds in a dry pan whilst the pudding is cooking

To serve

Run a butter knife around the outside of the pudding. Place a ramekin, open side down into a bowl. Gently tap it against the bowl and slowly lift so that the pudding comes out neatly – a bit like an upside-down cake.

Pour a generous tablespoon of double thick cream into the bowl – sprinkle with toasted almonds and orange rind to garnish.

Then sit back and enjoy… and if this dish has you wanting more, take a further look at walking the Murray River Walk in 2019.

Also look out for our new recipe series kicking off in the first edition of News from the Trails in 2019. 

Updated December 13 – new dates announced.

The Freycinet Experience Walk has just announced an exclusive opportunity to book a private walk for you and four or more of your family or friends to walk in January or February 2019.

The departure is valid for the 11 January 2019 and 1 February 2019 departures only for five or more people.  This very limited offer is for the lucky walkers who are first to book! And if hiking this iconic part of Australia with just your nearest and dearest and an expert guide isn’t enough, we’ll tempt you that little bit more with a few words from our recent great walkers…

The best trip I have done in Australia, maybe anywhere.
Gwelodude, November, 2018, Trip Advisor

The Freycinet Peninsula is a beautiful, unspoilt part of Tasmania & being able to see this area from the water & also to access the remoter parts of this area has been an amazing experience. To see the sea life, birds, flora & footprints of wildlife has allowed me to really immerse myself in the National Park. The Lodge team Dan, Jemma, Dan & Hector are a wonderful team working hard to produce the delicious food  & at the same time being passionate about the global environment & the surrounding area.

I leave Tasmania today feeling very privileged to have been able to share in a special experience & the memory of the trip will remain with me. Sally Hughes, 11 November 2018, via email

So what are you waiting for – book your trip of a lifetime today – Call (03) 6223 7565

Congratulations to the team at Murray River Walk who are elated to have again won the highly contested Ecotourism category at the 2018 South Australian Tourism Awards. This award comes at the end of their second full year of business operations, no small feat for a small business.

The award acknowledges the importance of nature-based tourism and the phenomenal growth in Riverland tourism.

Driven by the “Millennium drought” and the need to diversify the Riverland economy, Managing Director of Murray River Walk, Tony Sharley, sought to turn the most spectacular and vulnerable river landscapes into a walking and cruising discovery of nature, wildlife, innovative winemaking, sustainable farming and new stewardship of environmental water.

The award recognises the outstanding this incredible creation as well as the guiding team whose passion for the Murray River is shared with guests throughout the 4 day journey.

The Murray River Walk team are so thankful to everyone who has enabled their early business success and are looking forward to contesting their 2018 silver award in the category of ‘Best Ecotourism experiences in Australia’ at the Australian Tourism Awards in Launceston, Tasmania in February 2019.

Find out more about the Murray River Walk here 

Wills Domain, the location for a final lunch on the Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk, took out Best Restaurant of the Year again,  in the 2018 Good Food Guide Awards.

Superb cooking and Indigenous ingredients are on show at this popular winery and restaurant visited on day four of this stunning coastal and forest walk.

Guests enjoy an 8 km walk to the Willyabrup Sea Cliffs in the morning, before heading for lunch with matched wines at the now multi-award-winning local winery, Wills Domain.

One great walker recently remarked that this lunch was the “best meal he had ever eaten”. And with the quality of fine local cuisine on offer through this remarkable 4-day walk, this is truly a statement worth taking note of!

Find out more & book the Margaret River to Cape to Cape Walk now