Hey readers – so I just found this post sitting in my “drafts” folder. My apologies that I’m only getting around to posting it now.
So we’ve actually managed to get out and about here in OZ already. We’ve got some friends who are just as keen to get out amongst it as we are, so we’ve already started exploring our new corner of the world.
Given our new location, we decided to hit up the Grampians which is a classic Victoria trip, especially in winter (in summer it is apparently ridiculously hot and dry).
Day 1 consisted primarily of walking along what we would ordinarily consider a road, but was actually a track! This would be a great “intro to tramping” track. Nothing too technical or scary. That also meant we were a teensy bit bored with the walk and scenery… It’s possible that New Zealand has ruined us for all other scenery and we’ve become tramping snobs.
However, we still want to explore our new landscape, spend time with our friends here, and keep up our pack fitness.
What Australia considers a track to be
I was very excited to spot some Australian fungus. This one I’ve identified as Tremella mesenterica or literally “Yellow Brain”.
Tremella mesenterica
We also took in an absolutely incredible sunset from the top of Mt. Thackeray. Definitely the highlight of the trip for me. Mt. Thackeray is about a 1km 1 way trip which involved some actual navigation and rock scrambling (a welcome change at this point after road walking all day), and took us roughly an hour. Well worth it.
Sunset from Mt. Thackeray
Can’t help but love this shot
Sunday we had a bit of a sleep in and late start. The track was much more varied and interesting (more like a tramping track). I enjoyed going past the fortress. We also came across this fabulous campsite, literally called “bush oasis”. It would be a very pleasant stay in autumn or spring, I think!
Bush oasis campsite
And finally, yes, we literally saw Kangaroos everywhere when we were walking.
Of course, one of the main differences between Australia and NZ tramping (apart from lack of Mountains and lack of water), is the wildlife. There were literally kangaroos jumping through our campsite at night. Yes, we continue to encounter wildlife wherever we go.
Happy tramping – er, or is it bushwalking now?
Backcountry Hijinks 