CAMPSITE # 71 - Cheating the Overland Track

Camping Ground Rating : 9 / 20
Facilities : That's right, it seems 3 degrees in a tent the night beforehand took its toll on Mum & she shouted us a night in a Motel in Strahan. Power! Shower! But somehow, with all of these added extras it still only managed to score a 9...


We did the Overland Track!!! Yes, one of the most famous walking tracks in the whole of Australia and we did it! Well, I suppose before I go blowing our trumpet and lying by telling you all that we did the entire 65 km journey from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair... I'll just take a moment to insinuate that that's what we did. And then I'll confess that we actually chickened out and just did a five hour day journey.


Would you believe, the record for completing the entire 65km track is currently held by a 17 year old guy who did it in just 7 hours!! And that's through some seriously rugged terrain that takes even experienced hikers 6 - 8 days to complete. The 5 hours that we walked were from the base at Lake St Clair and up to "Echo Point" where we had a lovely 15minutes ferry ride home, kind of makes it all seem so insignificant when you fly past the last 5 hours of your life on a boat at 60km/hr.


We were passing hikers who were on the very last leg of their journey. Some told us stories of how they were hiking through blizzards for the first two days of their hike. And there we were being pooped after just a few km's. 

The questions guaranteed to be asked by every single passer-by was always "How far is it back to base?" Tom considered playing with their minds a little by telling them "Just another 7 or so hours but I hope you brought your ropes and harnesses as there are some seriously steep rocks to climb just down there". 





All in all, it was a glorious walk through some serious magical rainforest. Tom, the trip photographer managed to score us some really great photos...











1 comment:

Red Nomad OZ said...

Haha! I know that feeling - had a similar experience on the Thorsborne trail on Hinchinbrook Island!!

AND ... head over to my blog for the chance to make yours the star of a round the world adventure!!!