STEP OUTSIDE

WHETHER IT’S JUST A DAY OR MORE THAN A WEEK, WHAT CAN GROUND YOU IN THE MOMENT BETTER THAN WALKING FOR THE SAKE OF WALKING? PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER ON THESE FIVE CHALLENGING BUT EXTRAORDINARY TRAILS AROUND THE COUNTRY. BY

Karijini National Park & Ningaloo Reef Adventure

THE BUCKET LIST (10 days, nine nights)

Ten days of walking, driving, wildlife spotting and swimming with whale sharks, the gentle giants of the sea, this adventure in the Pilbara is like no other (australianwalkingholidays.com.au). Beginning deep in the Karijini National Park, you’ll trek for nine days, plus some 4WDing, to reach the Exmouth Coast. There’s sacred significance to this majestic country, from the serene Fern Pool (Jubara), the resting place of the Rainbow Serpent according to Dreamtime legend, to the towering cliffs of the inland gorges and canyons. And you’ll never forget the crimson-gold sunset over Ningaloo Reef and the Cape Range National Park from the edge of the world at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse.

The 101

Each day’s walk varies between five and 10 kilometres. The terrain is considered moderate to challenging, with a fair bit of rocky clambering and scrambling, so it’s expected that participants will have a good level of fitness. Accommodation is simple – camping, caravan parks and outback homesteads – but comfortable (you’ll never go without a daily hot shower). The whale shark swim is an extra cost but you won’t want to miss this once-ina-lifetime experience.

The moment

The classic water-meets-sand image of Western Australia’s Coral Coast is something to behold but there’s equally dazzling natural architecture a short way inland. “Charles Knife Canyon is such a special place because it’s unexpected,” says guide Isabelle Hardinge. “I expected beautiful beaches and snorkelling in this area but I never realised how stunning the inland gorges and canyons are. Joffre [Jijingunha] and Hancock [Bilungunha] gorges are my favourites. They’re so all-encompassing when you’re inside them, surrounded by huge red cliff faces and beautiful clear water.”