Trip Inspiration

Why you should go walking in Austria?

Find out about the wonders of hiking in Austria, where to go, what to take, where to get further info..

Bogong staffer Mark heads south in search of adventure, tackling the popular Overland Track in Tasmania with the added challenge of winter conditions.

It was not an auspicious beginning: Before I had even begun the Overland Track, I was taking my boots off to wade through shin-deep water; the jetty at Narcissus Hut was submerged. No matter, I was soon off into the journey, with 10 or so cm of snow from the morning, and a light drizzle to soften it up so it could get into my boots.

Back in 2010 I had an epic cycle tour across Vietnam, so when a group of friends started talking about a similar trip to Indonesia I was instantly interested. The plan was to fly in to Jakarta and then somehow make it across Java to Bali, taking in as many volcanoes and back roads as we could.

Java is renowned for its volcanoes, so naturally the route was planned to cross as many as possible. It wasn't until we started on our way up to Dieng Plateau that we started to comprehend what this really meant!

Images from Bogong staffer Paz's hiking trip in the Cordillera Huayhuash Peru.

Tasmania's Western Arthurs are not the first choice for a bushwalk in June. The short days and frequent snowstorms see almost all walkers opting (perhaps sensibly) for the Larapinta Trail, North Queensland or the doona cover. Not everyone is sensible though. Curious to see just how bad it could be, Andrew Peters, Bogong staffers Jack Chenoweth and David Blundy and Wilderness Shop staffer Tim Blundy packed their woollies, headed south and attempted a winter traverse of the Western Arthurs in June 2012.

‘The Western Arthur Range is subject to some of the worst weather in Tasmania,’ warned the guidebook. ‘Violent storms and snowfall occur every summer’. ‘That’s lucky’ we thought – we were going in winter.