The cover for the Great Walks June-July issue has been revealed and it shows a hiker admiring a massive waterfall in NZ’s Fiordland National Park, a part of the South Island featured heavily in the issue.
We showcase the country’s 11 Great Walks including the iconic Milford Track and describe the highlights of each walk before heading to the top of the South Island to try out the lesser-known Old Ghost Road.
Our writer found this multi-day hike quite the challenge. “The 85km Old Ghost Road traverses majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys but it’s not for the fainthearted! Walking the Old Ghost Road, there’s the potential to worry a lot. Suicide slips. Earthquakes. Manic mountain bikers. Sandflies and high wind,” writes Mathea Roorda.
“But this wouldn’t deter my hiking buddy Jenny and I as we left the Lyell carpark and began climbing 875m over 18km to our first hut. It was raining steadily. While somewhat protected by a dense beech canopy, there was no denying we were wet.”
We also profile a bunch of excellent tour operators who specialise in NZ and go behind the scenes to set what it takes to run a remote, luxury lodge.
Back in Oz we head to Maria Island to spot some wildlife and enjoy the island’s coastal walks before heading to the beautiful Shoalhaven region, two hours south of Sydney for some walking and wellness.
Home to 100 beaches, our writer was thrilled by what she experienced including the walk up Pigeon House Mountain.
“A series of steel stairs, ladders and platforms takes you the remainder of the way to the summit. The angle of these steps makes the ascent quite steep. It’s advised to face the stairs when ascending and descending; it’s exposed and can get windy at this height. The view is breathtaking. You can’t help but stop midway along each section to take in the scenery.”
Other walks include WA’s Cape to Cape Walk and Scotland’s West Highland Way. Och aye!
Our Walksmart section is all about boots – the best on the market, how to clean them and why you must get them dirty!
The Great Walks June-July issue is out next week. Not a subscriber? Never miss an issue of your favourite walking magazine and click here.