RECENTLY we put up a post on the Great Walks Facebook page (facebook.com/GreatWalksmag) asking people what they thought were Australia’s toughest day walks and the response was overwhelming. Seems like a lot of people like to get their heart rate up on a bushwalk! Here are some of our favourite suggestions.
Mount Bruce, WA’s 2nd highest peak is a great walk to get a sweat up and there are a couple of hairy turns when you might not want to look down. – Clive Phillips
Great Walks did this late last year as part of Life's An Adventure's 7-day Karijini National Park and Ningaloo Reef pack-free guided walk (lifesanadventure.com.au) (see Surf and Turf, GRW Dec-Jan 2024). We can attest it offers an exhilarating physical challenge and stunning views. The 9km return Mount Bruce Summit Trail is located the Karijini NP and allows great opportunities to view the surrounding Hamersley Range and Marandoo mining operations. This Grade 5 moderately steep trail follows a clearly marked path along the ridge of the mountain with a couple of challenging rocky climbs to negotiate. When Great Walks did it, several people turned around at the halfway point when things got steep, and even though they thoroughly enjoyed the walk up to that point the rest of the trail was a bit out of their comfort zone. As for the rest of us, it was one awesome day walk!
Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island, NSW, 100% worth the blood, sweat and tears for the view at the top! – Naomi Rawlins
Not for the faint-hearted, this
