Australia Travel Update: Great Walks Of Australia Walks Unaffected; All Walks Continuing As Normal, Fundraising & Travel Alerts
Great Walks Of Australia and all of our walk operators stand in solidarity and with compassion for those affected by the recent Australian bushfires. Our hearts go out, with tremendous sadness for the families, communities, wildlife and nature affected. Their loss has been felt by us all.
We are also grateful and fortunate that our walks have not been impacted.
Like many Australians, our walks have made financial donations and participated in other fundraising activities, such as auctioning walks, for local and state charity organisations, to contribute to recovery efforts.
We would like to make special mention of Tasmanian Walking Company, whose charitable fund will be contributing up to $100,000 to support the ongoing response and recovery efforts.
For every new booking in January 2020, they will match dollar for dollar donations and contribute $250 for every booking made. These include the following Great Walks Of Australia: Cradle Mountain Huts Walk, Bay Of Fires Lodge Walk, Three Capes Lodge Walk, and Twelve Apostles Lodge Walk.
To book any of these Great Walks and particpate in Tasmanian Walking Comany’s fundraising, read more info here
If anyone would also like to donate to the bushfires appeal, we can recommend these as a few helping on the frontline:
Bushfire Appeal Victoria
St Vincent De Paul Appeal NSW
Red Cross
WIRES
RSPCA NSW
Zoos Victoria Appeal
Animal Rescue Collective
If you are preparing for your forthcoming walk, please be assured that all of our walks are remain currently unaffected and significantly distanced from any bushfire activity; the majority of them by hundreds, if not thousands of kilometres.
Further, all of our operators are highly-seasoned and your safety is paramount and our top priority. Should there be the slightest of concern about your walk, the walk operator will be in contact with you immediately to notify you prior to your departure or will advise on your itinerary as needed.
For those traveling to Australia for their Great Walk from international destinations, our friends at Tourism Australia have been working with the State Emergency Services on a great tool to bring you the latest updates on destinations in Australia that may be impacted by various incidents, including bushfires.
Distances in Australia are vast, and the majority of the country remains unaffected, continuing to welcome visitors as normal during our busy summer holiday period.
Updated daily, we recommend our walkers to review this travel alerts page if you are traveling to other destinations in Australia and would like to see the latest activity.
View Tourism Australia Travel Alert Updates
We also encourage you to use the hashtag #holidayherethisyear when travelling to Australia; more than ever, Australia need’s your continued support!
Above all, we look forward to welcoming you on our incredible Great Walks Of Australia, and more than ever, taking quality time to appreciate just how wonderous and precious the natural environment in our beautiful country is.
The gorgeous and fastincating Seven Peaks Walk on Lord Howe Island books fast every year, and walkers will need be even quicker now: Lord Howe has just been announced #5 – Top 10 Regions on Lonely Planet’s Best In Travel 2020 list.
Read Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions – Best In Travel 2020 list
This UNESCO World Heritage Listed natural wonderland is a special place for walkers, with Seven Peaks Walk giving you six nights and five days to traverse the ‘Seven Peaks’ and experience one of the Great Walks Of Australia, secluded on its own island paradise!
Read more about Seven Peaks Walk on Lord Howe Island
Maria Island Walk – renowned for it’s breathtaking secluded beauty through UNESCO World Heritage Listed Maria Island National Park and one of the Great Walks Of Australia – has been named in Flight Centre’s prestigious 2020 WOW list of the Top 50 best travel experiences in the world!
The four day Maria Island Walk is the only Tasmanian experience to be selected on the list and one of only four throughout Australia.
Maria Island Walk owner Ian Johnstone said: “Our walking guides are experts and passionate about Maria and their insightful and caring interpretation of the island’s fascinating Noahs’ Ark of wildlife, its UNESCO listed heritage and spectacular wilderness make for a powerful experience for our guests.”
Small groups of maximum 10 walkers stay in two low environmental footprint wilderness camps and then on the final night they stay in a restored of heritage house in the former convict settlement of Darlington which predates Port Arthur.
Flight Centre WOW 2020 Top 50 Travel Experiences List
The Maria Island Walk was recently awarded Ecotourism Award in the 2019 Tasmanian Tourism Awards and goes to represent the state at the Australian Tourism Awards in Canberra in March 2020.
The Maria Island Walk season is open until May each year.
Book now or view further information on this amazing journey!
Here’s a special last minute deal, perfect if you’re in need of some deep rest and relaxation…
Book now to treat yourself or surprise a loved one with a trip on the extraordinary Freycinet Experience Walk for January 2020 and you’ll enjoy 15% off your booking.
You’ll hike through pristine white sand beaches, climb over Freycinet’s famed pink granite mountains and take a trip by boat to remote Schouten Island for a picnic. Roaming through towering white gums, you and your walking companions (maximum 10 people) will quite likely at times feel like the only souls on Earth! Then return each evening to Freycinet Experience Walk’s award-winning and eco-friendly Friendly Beaches Lodge, nestled in its own secluded sanctuary, where delicious, candle-lit meals, steaming hot showers, deep baths and comfortable beds await.
This great offer is subject to availability, for new bookings only and for a limited time only.
Experience Freycinet from a truly unparalleled perspective!
Book now and get 15% Off January Bookings for Freycinet Experience Walk
View more info about Freycinet Experience Walk
Start planning your next Great Walk with a copy of the latest Great Walks of Australia Brochure.
With everything you need to know to prepare for your next escape, from our comprehensive Seasonality Calendar, to in-depth detail about each of the 12 walks, Signature Experiences of Australia and more, the brochure is your guide to walking in Australia – and the best place to get started.
Get your copy here.
We are proud to announce that Great Walks of Australia is now an official member of the Transformational Travel Council – encouraging intentional travel to stretch, learn and grow into new ways of being and engaging with the world.
Read about our partnership here, remembering that there are usually three parts to a truly life-altering adventure, obtained through travel experiences:
- Travelling with intention, openness, and mindfulness
- Engaging in challenging physical and cultural experiences
- Taking time for personal reflection & meaning-making
Your next life-changing travel journey could be on your next Great Walk, the perfect time for self-reflection, self-discovery, learning and growth.
Embark on your next walking adventure to practice mindfulness and ponder life’s big (or small) questions. You’ll be astounded by what you discover, not only about the world but about yourself along the way.
Start your transformation today, read more about our walks here.