- Start date: 1 August 1999
- Age When Completed: 57
- Direction Walked: Sectional
General Comments
Except for occasional litter, the Track was well maintained with good facilities at camp sites. Disappointed with the lack of floor covering in the shelters along the south coast (eg bark/chips/gravel) it would have been a relief to get out of the dirty sand after a day of trudging over dunes and along beaches.
Food/Supplies Comments
Used spartan rations high in carbohydrates and protein. Although my ration weight was about 0.5 kg/day. I maintained original levels of energy, fitness and enthusiasm. Found the stores well stocked with rations along the way.
Favourite Section
I appreciated them all for their own characteristics.
Highlights
May, the panoramas of the south coast to dazzling white spider orchids, tiger snakes and mountain ducks.
Personal Reactions
A wonderful experience, but still feel a stranger out there, need to learn more about the flora, fauna & geography. Interpretive signs would have helped me. There were some long, overgrown stretches where one could walk for sometime without seeing anything but the track. I was looking forward to walking along the Warren River, but was disappointed to find it screened by dense undergrowth.
Wildlife
Apart from anonymous birds, sparse with only occasional sightings. I did see a wide variety overall but not a lot in context with the distance travelled. Between Walpole & Northcliffe I did record sightings of nearly 30 species of birds. The wild flowers are a delight, especially in the open forests and wetlands.
Your Best Equipment
My pack with a cover and my Trangia. I need to find a good sized light weight pillow. Wine cask bladders are too short.
Your Worst Equipment
Boots, although I had them resoled twice and used them for the whole journey. Perhaps I should have worn my army boots.
Advice for Others
Based on comments in the registers and my own observations of other travellers, make sure that the pack is properly fitted and balanced.
A poorly fitted pack can really cause a miserable trip.