Profile for Vonsnrub - Aussie Bushwalking

This Year

Number of Walks Ticked

306.3km

Total Distance Ticked

All Time

193

Number of Walks Ticked

1,830.7km

Total Distance Ticked

Ticks

Name	Date	Difficulty	Distance/Duration
Passage Peak (Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday)	16 Apr, 2021	Medium	5km return 2 hrs
A nice easy walk along a very well maintainted track with lots of little lookouts and picnic areas along the way. It is quite a gradual ascent with some stairs and no scrambling sections. The view at the top is absolutely fantastic, possibly even better than Whitsunday Peak because you can see out in every direction. It is a very popular hike so expect to see a lot of people.
Mt Dalrymple (Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday)	15 Apr, 2021	Hard	10.8km return 7 hrs
This walk was very reminiscent of Mt Bartle Frere, similiar duration, similar intensity, similar weather, and similar number of leeches (i.e. HEAPS). I was expecting it to be a bit easier considering the elevation gain from start to finish isn't really that crazy, however you spend most of the walk climbing then descending over and over again. The rainforest was spectacular and the river crossings were fantastic, was never bored during this walk. The only animal we ran into was a massive wild boar, fortunately he ran in the opposite direction. I would say overall the track was quite well marked, however there were a few times we had to refer to the GPS, so would probably recommend taking one if you have one.
Kenilworth Bluff - Wilcox Family Park Trail (Sunshine Coast)	9 Apr, 2021	Hard	6km return 4.5 hrs
Took us a little while to find the start of the walk because the sign has been knocked down and the track in looks more like a driveway. This walk incorporates a lot of steep ascents and descents so it takes quite a while to gain any real elevation. You will climb up a very steep stairway to a delipidated picnic area, then make a steep descent to a river, then make a steep ascent to the bottom of the cliffline, then a slow descent to the other side of the bluff, then another steep climb up to the top of the bluff. There are some moderately good views right near the top, but very limited views at the summit. After getting to the top of climb you'll find (as others have mentioned) that it is vast trackless bush devoid of anything interesting. I still enjoyed the walk as a fitness challenge, however don't be expecting grand amazing views. Would recommend bringing a GPS as the track can be a bit vague in parts.
Mount Bruce (Karijini National Park)	30 Mar, 2021	Hard	10km return 4 hrs
Saved the best for last, this mountain is so much fun! It is a long hike because not only are you gaining a lot of vertical distance, but you are gaining a lot of horizontal distance as well. The climbing section about midway through is definitely the most challenging part of the walk. In saying that it is no more difficult that anything you would find on Mt Tibrogargan. The views from the top are excellent, truly the best in the state! 360 degrees as far as the eye can see. Even doing this walk with no breaks takes quite a while. I power walked down non stop and it took just under an hour and a half, so I think 4hrs return is about the smallest amount of time you want to allow to do it.
Mt Meharry (Karijini National Park)	29 Mar, 2021	Medium	10km return 3 hrs
From Newman you drive along the Great Northern Highway looking out for a dirt road on your left. There are no signs for the road so it is much easier to look out for a right turn to Coondewanna Airport which is only 100m or so past the left turn to Meharry. The road in gets progressively rougher (especially passing the turn off to the mine) and I would definitely recommend a 4wd. I was driving a Mitsubishi Outlander that was probably a little inadequete. It bottomed out on one part, and just before the railway there were heaps of flooded sections (due to rain in the past week). I was quite nervous I would get bogged but fortunately I kept up momentum and made it past the railway crossing. Eventually you get to a point where it is clear you won't get any further unless you have better clearance so you park your car and start walking. The walk itself is actually quite easy, just following a 4wd track up the mountain. It is a pretty steady incline for an extended period of time but the views get better and better the higher you climb. At the top you are greeted by a sign and a massive monument along with some very nice views of the surrounding desert. Mt Bruce is a far superior mountain in my opinion but it was nice to knock off the highest in the state. Didn't see any other people from the time I turned off the highway to the time I got back on it, so probably a good idea to invest in a PLB and bring lots of water because it's 39km from the top of the peak to the highway with a whole lot of desert in between.
Mt Nameless (aka Jarndunmunha) (Karijini National Park)	29 Mar, 2021	Medium	4.5km return 2.5 hrs
If you are in Tom price this is a must do! Best views of the town and all the surrounding mines, especially during the sunset! The walk is pretty exhausting, probably moreso than Mt Meharry which i did earlier in the day. The track can be a bit vague but as long as you keep the cliffs on your direct left you will make it to the top quite easily. There are two lookouts, one with a little sundial, the other just above the telephone towers (which is technically the highest point). The sign at the top says it's the highest road in WA which I found a bit confusing as Mt Meharry also has a 4wd track to the top and it is significantly higher, perhaps they built the sign before the road to Meharry was constructed?
Mt Hassell (Stirling Range National Park)	27 Mar, 2021	Hard	3km return 2.5 hrs
I really enjoyed this walk! It is very steep but has views pretty much the whole way up. The scrambling section wasn't overly difficult and the track was very easy to follow. The Stirling Ranges are a bit like the Glasshouse Mountains of the West. A small range with high peaks surrounded by flat country which means excellent views.
Castle Rock and the Granite Skywalk (Western Australia)	27 Mar, 2021	Medium	4.4km return 2 hrs
I did this walk on a Saturday and judging by the popularity it would appear this place is not a secret. I really enjoyed the trip particularly the scrambling/ladder part. The views are exceptional, the skywalk wraps right around the summit boulder so you get a wide range of views - all the way from the Stirling Range to the ocean. There is a smaller outlook below the skywalk for those with a crippling fear of heights.
Marmabup Rock Summit via the Devils Slide (Western Australia)	27 Mar, 2021	Medium	7km return 3 hrs
Really well spent morning, did this right after the Castle Rock Skywalk. I found it super similar to the Mt Norman hike in Giraween except this one is possibly a little more scenic given the greater elevation over the surrounding area. The walk to Marmabup Rock was really fun, I would have definitely regretted doing the circuit and not doing the Rock as well. The views up there are certainly the highlight of the walk. There are heaps of signs suggesting Marmabup Rock is significantly more difficult than the rest of the walk but I would say it's quite achievable for just about anyone. Despite how intimidating it looks when viewing it from afar, it's actually a fairly straight forward walk to the summit with only a bit of mild rock scrambling.
Mt Trio (Stirling Range National Park)	26 Mar, 2021	Medium	3.5km return 2.5 hrs
Great hike, no scrambling or exposure to worry about. There are good views all the way up but obviously the best views are at the very top. The staircase feels like its never ending but the payoff is worth the effort!
Mt Toolbrunup (Stirling Range National Park)	26 Mar, 2021	Hard	4km return 3 hrs
This for me was the highlight of the Stirling Range. I found it quite similar to the summit ascent of Cradle Mountain. Scree fields, boulder fields and a magnificent view from the top. The scrambling wasn't all that difficult, no harder than anything you would find on Flinders Peak in QLD.
Talyuberlup Peak (Stirling Range National Park)	26 Mar, 2021	Hard	2.6km return 2 hrs
Not sure if it's because this was my third mountain of the day, but I did find this one unexpectedly exhausting. It is relentlessly steep the entire way. There are no views until you are nearly at the top but once you make it all your effort is very worthwhile. Check out the cave near the top which allows you to see through the mountain (not allowed in it due to risk of rock fall, but you can see through from the outside). Probably the most challenging scrambling section of any of the Stirling Range mountains I did - but in saying that it's not any harder than anything you would find on Mt Barney.
Mt Magog (Stirling Range National Park)	26 Mar, 2021	Hard	7km return 3 hrs
My 4th and final mountain for the day. The walk in doesn't gain much elevation but once you start making your way up the mountain you gain elevation fast. There are a few nice views on the way but unlike other Stirling Mountains you have to wait til you get to the top before you get a really good photo opportunity. The track is easy enough to follow but it is probably the least travelled of the mountains I did while I was there (was the only one I did where I encountered no other hikers). The scrambling isn't too bad, no harder than Flinders Peak. Saw a friendly Tiger Snake on the way up.
Gheerulla Valley Circuit (Mapleton National Park)	14 Mar, 2021	Hard	22km 6 hrs
I did the smaller 10km circuit starting at Sam Kelly Road using old forestry tracks then re-intercepting the main track around Thilba Thalba campsite. The mountain is a bit of a plateau with a relatively steep ascent and descent . There are a couple of nice viewing points, one at the summit of Mt Thilba Thalba and the other near the campsite.
Gibraltar Peak (Australian Capital Territory)	12 Feb, 2021	Medium	7.7km 3 hrs
Really nice gradual hike followed by some very light scrambling along the giant boulders on the top of the mountain. The views are excellent, can see all the way to Canberra! Weather was a bit poor on the day I went but I did enjoy the gail force winds on the summit. Very similar to the walks in Giraween!
Camels Hump (Australian Capital Territory)	12 Feb, 2021	Hard	11.6km 4 hrs
Did this straight after Gibraltar Peak. For the most part it is just a gradual walk up a fireroad until the very last section. Climbing up the peak is quite similar to the final section of Flinders Peak. View from the top is insanely good! I would have done the neighboring Johns Peak if not for the weather closing in. It took me 90 minutes to get from the carpark to the summit.
Mt Bimberi (Namadgi National Park)	11 Feb, 2021	Hard	23km return 8 hrs
What an adventure! I camped the night before at Old Snowy Campground which is large, peaceful and filled with grazing Brumbies and Kangaroos. The fireroad has a fairly gentle - moderate incline and could easily be driven by any non 4x4 car up until you get to the hut had there not been a locked gate. From there it starts to get pretty overgrown which slowed my pace a fair bit because I was pretty careful not to step on any snakes. Getting to the valley between Mt Murray and Mt Bimberi I was surprised to find less of a valley and more a bog filled with high grass. I have seen blogs from people who have camped there in the past, and I can assure you there is no way I would camp there now. Hopefully NSW National Parks will do some work on that area because it is a snake pit currently. I bushbashed my way up the side of the mountain relying heavily on my GPS until I started to find a very faint track and piles of rocks that became more obvious as the track went on. Getting closer to the top the views are fantastic, makes the whole trip worthwhile. I attempted to climb Mt Murray afterwards but made a pact to myself that if I saw one snake I would turn back. After some fairly heavy bushbashing, no sign of any track, and almost stepping on a red belly black snake I decided to call it a day. Oh and one other thing, I recommend starting early if you do it in summer, gets you the maximum amount of Fly free time.
Mt. Mathieson Circuit (Main Range National Park)	5 Feb, 2021	Medium	10.5km 3 hrs
Didn't expect much from this hike but was pleasantly surprised. The track is a bit overgrown since after all the rain but still very easy to follow. Although the view from the top of the mountain is a bit obstructed the other views along the way make up for it. The walk has a lot of variety and even some very light scrambling.
Mt Merino Lookout (Lamington National Park)	27 Jan, 2021	Medium	22km 7 hrs
Really impressed by this walk!! It's long but totally worth the effort. The waterfalls are sensational, there's roughly 5 continuous kms of waterfalls and river crossings on the way there. Heaps of water at the moment but didn't see a single leech. I did trip over a snake at one point but i think he got just as big a fright as I did. After the Coomera circuit it's a pretty short walk up the border trail to Mt Merino and the view there is fantastic. It's a sheer drop from the lookout into the Numinbah Valley. Way better view than Wagawn or Hobwee! I would say this walk is most similar to the Warrie Circuit/Springbrook Pinacle walk except in my opinion this one was even better.
Piper Comanche Wreck (D'Aguilar National Park)	18 Jan, 2021	Hard	7.5km return 2 hrs
Surprisingly this track is really well marked with heaps of pink ribbon and piles of rocks. I remember doing it years and years ago and it was a bush bash most of the way. Not much left of the plane, looks like just the tail section and someone pinched the ATSB report that used to be attached to the wreckage. Also went to Mt D'aguilar which is only probably a 10 minute diversion. Not much to see there but was nice to tick it off. Saw wallabies, a goanna, a massive skink and many many MANY leeches.