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Home  >  Articles by: greatwalks

Spicers Scenic Rim Trail evolves – join us on this new two night walk experience

The transition of this walk from three to two days allows guests to escape from Friday to Sunday, weekly from May to November.

This itinerary showcases all the spectacular scenery of the Main Range National Park, Queensland, with fewer kilometres on foot.

On the first day, great walkers will hike up to the twin peaks of Mount Mitchell’s summit and enjoy amazing views to the coast, before descending into Spicers Canopy in time for a gourmet dinner and local wines.

The second day will be a little more challenging with a hike through various types of terrain including the dense Gondwana rainforest of Spicers Peak complete with giant ferns, grass trees and 1,000-year-old hoop pines. This is a truly spectacular and rewarding day of hiking. Arriving at Spicers Peak Lodge in the afternoon, walkers are warmly welcomed by the friendly staff with refreshing beverages and afternoon tea.

For both nights, guests will stay at the private glamping site, Spicers Canopy that sits on top of a grass-covered hill and enjoys stunning views towards Mount Mitchell, Spicers Peak and Mount Cordeaux. This lodge-based style walk means walkers only unpack once. Accommodation is in luxurious tents and a warm plunge pool awaits too.

On the final morning (day 3) you will wake to a beautiful breakfast and then return to Brisbane. There is no walking on this day – you’ll still be on a high from the achievement of the walk the day before!

So with all this on offer in just a couple of days, whether you’re looking for a longer holiday around Australia or just a weekend escape, be sure you to make time to enjoy the fabulous Spicers Scenic Rim Trail next year. Prices start from $1490 per person, twin share. Transfers from Brisbane (private, by road) are additional or guests can self-drive to the hiking hub.

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Australia’s only adventure lifestyle mag for women is offering an exclusive deal of 25% off for the Great Walks of Australia community, plus get 2-4-1 as well!
A discount for you and a free gift for one of your adventure loving friends.

Packed full of great ideas, adventure stories and inspiring articles, the magazine team has a mission to build, empower & inspire a healthy, active community of women from all walks of life with a passion to dream big, challenge themselves and expand their horizons no matter what their preferred choice of “adventure”. They believe that women of all body shapes, sizes, fitness levels and age can embrace their desire to live a full and abundant life.

The membership offer includes magazine subscription and qualification to enter competitions, plus other member discounts such as tickets to events. As a bonus you’ll also get 2-4-1 with this Great Walks exclusive deal so… you’ll not only get a discount for you but you’ll get another membership for free, for a friend. There’s a Merry Christmas present if we’ve ever seen one!

Don’t forget to use the code Great Walks of Australia subscriber code to get 25% off at checkout. Offer valid online until 31 December 2018 only. Offer code is: GWOA. 

BUY YOUR 25% OFF PLUS 2-4-1 OFFER ON MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION NOW

The team at Travel Play Live look forward to welcoming you to their Tribe.

We’re kicking off a new series of chats with some of our Great Walks of Australia guides. You’ll meet a new guide in each edition of our newsletter. Maybe you’ll meet them on the trail one day too…

Introducing…
GUIDE: ALICE
WALK: CLASSIC LARAPINTA TREK IN COMFORT, NORTHERN TERRITORY

Where are you from?
I was born in Launceston, Tasmania.

What’s your background – studies? work?
Customer service, hospitality and tourism.

What led you to become a guide?
A desire to see more of the world, hike, meet awesome people and be able to roll all those things into a job.

Do you guide anywhere else?
Tasmania mainly but worked the 2017/18 summer in New Zealand for Adventure South.

What are your areas of interest/passion that you love to share with guests?
I have a passion for cooking. Being able to cook over a campfire in the middle of Australia for hungry hikers is always a pleasure. Using local ingredients and sharing information on bush foods really adds value to our guests trip.

What’s your favourite part of the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort experience?
Arriving to the top of Mount Sonder for sunrise. It can be challenging for some, wind and freezing temperatures do not help, but the feeling of accomplishment and seeing how happy everyone is, that’s the good stuff.

Any advice for someone coming on a guided walk for the first time?
Get ready to make fast friends! Apart from the hiking (and eating), these trips are extremely social. You will meet people from all over Australia, and the world, all with different backgrounds, stories and personalities. Also, ensure you have a reasonably high level of fitness. You will get so much more out of your holiday if you don’t have to focus on puffing up the hills.

If you could do one of the other great walks next, which one would it be and why?
I’d love to do the Seven Peaks walk. Lord Howe Island has been on my radar for a while now… the landscape looks stunning and walking through that Jurassic Park style environment would be exciting!

If Alice has inspired you – find out more about the Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort by Australian Walking Holidays right here

In our first two editions for 2019 you’ll meet guides from The Arkaba Walk and Murray River Walk, both in South Australia.

The Arkaba Walk has partnered with Paddy Pallin, the adventure travel gear experts to share their love of nature & heart for protecting it.  

On every Wild Bush Luxury experience you give back to wildlife through helping to support Arkaba’s conservancy program. Through every donation to the Paddy Pallin Foundation you’re helping to preserve nature in Australia. 

To celebrate this alliance, The Arkaba Walk and Paddy Pallin are giving you a chance to WIN the holiday of a lifetime, The Arkaba Walk for two people – valued at $7300.

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The Arkaba Walk is a 4 day/3 night experience in the heart of Australia’s Flinders Ranges. The edge of the Australian outback located in South Australia. Transfers from Adelaide are included (fly from Adelaide to Hawker, return to Adelaide via private road transfer with lunch in the Clare Valley wine region). This walk is operated by Wild Bush Luxury.

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.