At the end of a short walk on the Badger Beach Lookout Track

Had a lyrebird do a full car alarm and camera shutter impression about two metres off the track last week and it completely stopped me in my tracks. Made me realise how much wildlife you walk straight past without noticing versus the rare moment something decides to perform right in front of you. Keen to hear what's surprised other people out on the trail, good or startling.

Good walk! Did the 17km loop returning via Ogma camp, took 4.5 hours. Track condition mostly very good, some works being done on the way back down via West Spirey Creek. Told the track building crew what legends they are! Not too many flies and lots of kangaroos around, plenty of water in the creeks still.

Some weekends there's time for a proper day walk, but most weeks it's more like an hour or two between everything else. Curious what people's default "not much time but still want to get outside" walk looks like. A local track, a loop you know well, anything that doesn't need much planning. Keen to hear what state or area you're in too, since the options vary so much around the country.

Was very excited to get tickets to Jatbulla this year, we packed our packs and made it all the way to the rangers briefing and decided not to do it though.

We had spent a few months training our four year old up with night bushwalks and overnight walks. We were bringing a carrier as well. What we hadn't trained her for was the heat. We arrived in Katherine and she just wilted, she was slow and lethargic and we were seriously worried about dehydration and overheating.

The temperatures were top of 38 degrees min 20, reaching the 38 degrees by 11am. Went to the ranger briefing and he said it was more like 42 degrees on the walk, he strongly encouraged us not to go and nixed our plan of trying the first day and walking back to the ferry point if it didn't work out - there is no ferry ride back, you only get an (expensive) helicopter ride out.

Didn't get to do the Jatbulla walk, this is a little four km one at the end of the walk to the top of Edith falls, a beautiful place to swim. We turned the bushwalking holiday into a swimming holiday because we've only got one four year old. I really love pushing myself to the limit, this was definitely the best decision for us though, it was simply too hot to walk as a family.

Today's stroll.

Don't worry I didn't disturb anything and approached those flags cautiously and singing.

I've been stopping at either forestry sites or conservation areas over the last couple of weeks, just short walks on my way to work (I drive city > near country), starting to get back to something my Dad, Brother and I used to do when we were young.

Here's a couple of pics.

For a few years as a kid I lived in Central Australia (APY LANDS , top north western corner of S.A) Dad would taken us on multi-day camping trips, following the steps of the first European explorers (he had all the journals and heaps of army survey maps).

Those walks and camping trips were some of the most amazing things I've ever experienced.

These days though I live in the suburbs, but even so for the last 10 years driving the back way to work (I work in the near country) I've been passing by forestry sites and national parks, we'll today I stopped and went for a 1/2 hour walk, I gotta tell you it was amazing.

The photos are just from my phone and not great but it made me want to get a real camera like my old man had and head bush with the kids.

A lovely little eel on a night bushwalk in the Central coast, so beautiful.

https://www.goodarchitect.com.au/tunnel-trail-dog-walk

Hey all, my mates and I are planning to tackle The Castle in a few weeks (my 3rd time and their 1st) and I've read some recent varying reviews on all trails that ropes to get up to the summit have been removed.

Has anyone recently done it and able to confirm this? I understand there are a couple of ways to get to the top and this could be why some people didn't come across them.

Aye, I'm a big puss and want to avoid leechees and ticks even though I could easily get rid of them with a spray and a clipper. If I wanted to go for a multi day hike / camp in the hinterlands, where would be the best place to be in NSW?

One of my favourite walks, such a beautiful day for it.

https://www.goodarchitect.com.au/spion-kop-loop

Does any one remember the size in litres of the "white mountain" brand Bush I dayoack? After 20 years I need to upgrade to a new bag. If I knew the size of my old one it would really help. TIA.

Hi

I was recently bitten by 4 ticks walking in Nadgee NP, and have had some unexpected reactions.

I am doing some research into tick prevention, with the view of creating a science-based educational product.

Please consider completing my survey, it takes 2 mins.

https://forms.gle/wqt3WhCWfH2fRpji7

Posted with admin permission.

Hubby has a good quality, heavy macpack backpack (about 3kg). Any recommendations for a lighter one that is still comfortable?

Have been really enjoying some delicious bunya nuts, sometimes eat wild raspberries.

Don't feel quite confident eating lilli pilly fruit, feel like I need someone to tell me definitively that they are lilly pillys first!

What wild foods is everyone eating and how did you get the confidence level to identify and eat them?

Cotton gets destroyed on longer walks and your feet are cooked by halfway. Switched years ago and never looked back. I like the Injinji and Creepers ones, does anyone else have ones they would recommend?

I have some friends who invited me on an overnight hike from Katoomba to Mount Solitary, into the valley and back. They are suggesting to finish the second day via the blue path, but I would have thought that route would entail a fair bit of road walking, and that maybe the yellow route would be more enjoyable. What are all of your thoughts from those who have don't these routes before? Also, is it worth detouring to the Kedumba River crossing campground and the slab hut? All advice welcome. Thanks in advance for your help.

I'm looking to get some clothes for hiking, but everything feels really plastic-y. I feel that type of material just makes me sweat more. Does anyone know of some good bushwalking clothes that are made of natural materials? Ideally, Australian made.