Travel Archives - Page 3 of 42 - Destination's Journey

3 October 20245 October 2024

Durras Lake Discovery Trail

Spotted gum forest on the Duras Lake Discovery Trail

Durras Lake Discovery Trail

Although the Durras Lake Discovery trail is only 1.5 km long, it’s a fun walk, taking around 45 minutes, depending on your pace. Located in the Murramarang National Park it’s only a 30 minute drive from Batemans Bay. It is a good idea to check the weather before going, as the road can become very boggy in wet weather.

The Walk

Although graded at level 3 by NSW National Parks and Wildlife, it is steep in places and rough in others. We hiked here after a storm. A large gum tree had fallen over the track and shattered, completely burying the trail. This added some fun to the walk as we picked our way over the smashed timber. Another tree that must have fallen years ago also crosses the trail, but has a gap under it, or a path around.

The vegetation was very dense because rainfall had been heavy in the previous months. Everything was nice and green.

Not long after starting the walk, there is a bridge over a creek, followed by a sign post. This is the point you would take to the Durras Lake Walking Track (8km and 2-4 hours) or stay on the loop track. You will also found a rough wooden gate near the start of the track and another near the end.

Information boards are placed along the trail, describing the plant and animal life.

At the high point of the climb is a bench seat where we stopped and had a snack before descending from there down into the valley and back to the carpark.

This was a great walk and one of our favorites in the Murramarang National Park. Remember that there are park entry fees (we bought the year long pass which works out cheaper if you visit a lot of parks). As it’s a national park, dogs are not allowed.

Ferns and palms Duras Lake Discovery Trail — Lush ferns and palms on the trail

Large tree fallen over the track Duras Lake Discovery Trail — Lush ferns and palms on the trail

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To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

3 October 20243 October 2024

Wineglass Bay Freycinet Peninsula Tasmania

Wineglass Bay

One of Tasmania’s most popular destinations, Wineglass Bay was our first stop on a recent holiday to the Apple Isle. Arriving at Coles Bay early in the evening, we stayed two nights in Coles Bay, giving ourselves the whole of the next day to explore.

Access to the Freycinet National Park is by a Parks Pass, which can be purchased at the Visitor Centre or the carpark. If you decide to ride a bike, rather than drive, access is on a per person basis, rather than per car. A bike rack at the top of the car park shaped like a whale is conveniently placed to leave your bikes.

Rated at Grade 3, the track to the lookout is 2.6km return, with an estimated time of 1 to 1.5 hours to complete.

Whale of a Bike Rack Wineglass Bay — Whale of a Bike Rack

The Track Going Up

Starting as a gravel track the, path winds through beautiful Tasmanian bushland as it goes uphill. Many sections have steep steps to navigate the steepest sections, making the going easier than climbing over rocks. In one place it passes through a narrow gap between two boulders.

Extremely well maintained, you can see where your entry fee is spent, because the upkeep of the track must be huge.

Large visitor numbers in the peak season has resulted in the National Park Authority turning the lower section of the track into a one way loop. Although we went in winter, this was still a great feature, as you don’t meet people coming the other way and have to step off the path to let them pass.

The Views

Although the track is steep, the views make up for it, being amazing even on a cloudy day like we had.

A viewing platform half way up gives views back over Coles Bay.

The main attraction though is the view of Wineglass Bay, which is breathtaking. A one-way metal walkway provides different views of the bay, with several large platforms to look out from.

The views still looked great, even though it was cloudy. The low cloud clinging to the surrounding hills looked really good, adding a great feel to the area.

Cloud Covered Rocks From the Viewing Point — View Looking Back Over Coles Bay

The Track Going Down

The first section of the return walk retraces your steps until you arrives at a junction off to the right. This takes you on the return loop, so that you do not hold up people on the upward leg. Once again there are many steps, although this time you are going down rather than climbing up.

The only wildlife we saw was a small wallaby that jumped off the track before we could take a photo. However, we were lucky, as another decided to visit our accommodation and sit on our veranda.

Two Boulders on The Track Going Back Down

Two Boulders on The Track Going Back Down

Bennett's Wallaby Outside Our Accommodation — Bennett’s Wallaby Outside Our Accommodation

What Did We Think?

This was a great walk, even with the clouds because the views are amazing. Designed for tourists, the path is well maintained, so with plenty of rest stops the climb up is fun. Don’t rush, take breaks and admire the views and surroundings as you go.

2 October 20245 October 2024

Depot Beach Rainforest Walk

Depot Beach Rainforest Walk

The Depot Beach Rainforest Walk is a short easy track that runs through littoral rainforest and down to a beautiful sandy beach. As part of Murramarang National Park, it is maintained by NSW National Parks and Wildlife and was in excellent condition during our visit. Almost the entire track has boardwalk, or is paved, so it very easy to walk. The recommended time is 15 to 45 minutes, and we easily made the lower and of the range. Remember, because this is a national park, no dogs are allowed.

Getting There

Car parking is available at a dedicated spot about 250m from Depot Beach and also has a toilet and information board. Alternately, parking at the beach allows you to start and finish there and not need to move your car if you intend to spend time on the sand. Whichever you choose, the track is a loop, so you will end up back where you started.

The Track

The 400m track runs through spotted gum rainforest with a lush undergrowth consisting of cabbage tree palms, cycads and bracken. Information boards along the track describe the different vegetation and animal life.

When we reached the beach, there were kangaroos sleeping in the shade near the carpark. We had lunch at the beach, we had almost to ourselves, with only two other people there.

A fun easy walk, with a great beach to enjoy as well. From here we went to the Burrawang Walking Track which was only a 2-minute drive away.