Save $600 per couple on the Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk

Be quick to snap up one of the remaining places on the Cape to Cape Walk this May & June 2019, and save $300 per solo traveller and $600 per couple!

The 4 day Cape to Cape Walk includes:

• 3 nights luxury pool villa accommodation at Injidup Spa Retreat
• 4 days guided walking on the Cape to Cape Track
• all food and wine including local cheese and wine in your villa
• private chef dinner showcasing local produce and wines
• 4 course lunch with matched wines at award-winning winery, Wills Domain
• dinner with wine at Cape Lodge
• all track/luggage transfers (carry only a daypack)
• return Perth to Margaret River transfers

Be quick to book at the special rate – strictly limited places.

View the departure dates available here NOW

Find out more about the Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk here

 

 

Flush with new fruit and the scents of fermenting wines during harvest… it’s always a great season to go beyond the cellar door.

Heading to Tasmania on a walk? Link it in with some more time in the region and consumption of some of our widely recognised wines, including Australia’s best sparkling whites. Tasmania is also rapidly developing a reputation among the world’s best for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Our walks in Tasmania now include Cradle Mountain Huts Walk and Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, accessed from Launceston in the North; plus Maria Island Walk, Freycinet Experience Walk and Three Capes Lodge Walk, all accessed (with road transfers included) from Hobart.

Back to the wine… Tasmania has seven wine growing areas – in the north the Tamar Valley and the North East areas in the north, the East Coast, the North West and the Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley and Huon/Channel areas in the south.  Tasmanian wineries are eager to share their secrets with visitors and many offer private experiences that combine wine tasting with winery tours, wine education or fine dining.

In Launceston, Josef Chromy Wines cellar door is housed in the original 1880s homestead. Here you can taste a wide variety of award-winning cool climate wines or go beyond the cellar door to enjoy a VIP experience such as a flyfishing tutorial in the beautiful lake with Riverfly 1864 followed by lunch or a fascinating introduction into sparkling wine production on the Art of Sparkling experience.

In Hobart, small quantities of boutique cool-climate wines are produced at Moorilla Estate which shares a site with the infamous and thought-provoking Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).  A variety of experiences are available combining wine, art and food; offering a new and unconventional perspective on all three.

So when planning which Great Walks of Australia experience to do next, make sure you leave a day or two to let your tastebuds explore and unwind in one or a few of these renowned Tasmanian wine regions.

For more itinerary ideas visit www.ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au

 

 

 

There’s an abundance of wonderful wildlife across the Great Walks of Australia. Walkers may sight kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas and a huge variety of birds. Here are a few recently reported sightings that have us all excited about the season ahead…

First Sighting – Brushtail Possum – The Arkaba Walk

In March on The Arkaba Walk, the wildlife viewing hide’s monitoring camera captured a Brushtail Possum coming to drink. Possums became extinct in the Flinders Ranges in the 1940s but following a reintroduction program in Wilpena Pound a couple of years ago, this animal felt safe enough to venture beyond the Pound and is Arkaba’s first recorded sighting. This has only been possible with the feral management programs they have conducted in order to provide a safe environment for native species and to repopulate the landscape. Arkaba is also a member of the Australian Wildlife Journeys collection.

In a wonderful twist, this was a very fitting parting gift that the country provided for Arkaba’s manager, Brendon Bevan, on his final day at Arkaba. Sadly (for the Arkaba team) Brendon and his wife Kat have headed to the Top End to experience another beautiful part of Australia while their children are young. The possum’s reappearance at Arkaba bears testimony to his efforts to bring native species back to the Flinders. Brendon will continue to be involved in Arkaba’s conservation as a consultant. Let’s hope these sightings become more of a regular occurrence. Incredible!

 

Rescued – Western Ringtail Possum – Cape to Cape Walk

 

Did you know that the Cape to Cape Walk by Walk into Luxury is located within a World Biodiversity Hotspot? Much of the plant life and some of the wildlife in this region is not found anywhere else on earth.  The Western Ringtail Possum, pictured here, is endemic to the South-West of Western Australia and is sadly critically endangered. Recently a group of walking guests had the chance to rescue an orphaned ringtail possum they discovered alongside the track. After carrying this cutie back to their accommodation, he was placed into the care of the local wildlife service.  Saving orphaned and injured ringtails is part of the State’s recovery plan for the species. It goes to show that you never know what you’ll become part of on a Great Walks of Australia experience.

 

 

 

Sighted – Koalas – Spicers Scenic Rim Trail

 

As the Spicers Scenic Rim Trail hits the trail for the season, some walkers have been very fortunate to see large koalas, particularly on Day 1 of the walk.  Having the Turner’s Private Nature Refuge now bordering the Main Range National Park has aided the wildlife corridor that the team at Spicers Scenic Rim Trail have been working so hard on. Some of our great walkers will be in for a first-hand experience of these incredible creatures.

 

 

 

If you have photos or first-hand accounts of wildlife experiences on your great walk, we’d love to see/hear about them! Share them by tagging on Facebook and Instagram (#greatwalksofaustralia #mygreatwalk) or email eo@greatwalksofaustralia.com.au anytime.

Not normally a staple in the Pinetrees Lodge menu, a recent wellness week focus resulted in some new thinking (and tasting). This deliciously simple dish based on traditional ayurvedic Indian recipes is truly worthwhile adding to your at home repertoire!

It turns out that, irrespective of the digestive and detox benefits of rice and lentils, kitcheri (kich-ah-ree) dishes are absolutely delicious for lunch. Serve up a bowl of spicy aromatic lentils with grilled trevally, rice and raita. Whatever you do, don’t tell the big bloke with the bottle of red that this food is yoga retreat fare, because he’ll probably – well… thankfully we love our wine on the Great Walks of Australia.

 

TREVALLY KITCHERI

Serves 8 /10 minutes preparation / 30 minutes cooking

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons coconut oil
3 cm piece ginger, grated
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 green chilli, finely chopped
2 teaspoons fenugreek seeds, crushed
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
200 g basmati rice
200 g green lentils
1 carrot, grated
1 zucchini, grated
10 green beans, cut into 1 cm pieces,
1 teaspoon sea salt
8 x 100 g pieces Trevally (white fish)
1 lemon
4 eggs, boiled for 7 minutes, peeled and halved
1 bunch fresh coriander, leaves picked

Raita
200 g plain yoghurt
1/4 cucumber, deseeded and cut into 5 mm dice
1/2 bunch mint, chopped
1 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds, crushed
1/2 teaspoon garam masala

 

METHOD

To make the raita, combine all the listed Raita ingredients and set aside in the fridge.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the coconut oil in a large heavy based saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic and chilli and 1 teaspoon each of the dried spices and fry until aromatic. Take care not to burn as it will leave a bitter taste.

Add the rice and lentils and stir to coat in the spices. Add 600ml of water and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20-25 minutes until almost all the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender.

Add the vegetables and salt and cook for a further 5 minutes. Combine the remaining spices and put in a shallow dish. Add the trevally and toss to coat in the spices. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a large heavy based frying pan. Cook the spiced trevally until golden brown and cooked through and the spices have formed a nice crust.

Serve in a deep bowl with plenty of fresh coriander, squeeze of lemon juice, half a soft egg and a spoonful of raita. Enjoy!

 

Find out what else the Seven Peaks Walk has to offer here. 

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.