Time to Roam Magazine Issue 9 - June/July 2014 | Page 43

|

on the roam our top 5

2
4

3
1

5

Karijini National
Park, WA
This impressively rugged landscape of red ranges
reveals its real magnificence when you come across
incredible gorges that seem to appear from nowhere.
The Fortescue River has eroded deep and steep
sided gorges. The spinifex and ghost gums vegetate
the undulating countryside above, while deep within
shaded gorges are fern-lined pools. This is a place
to explore on foot and take your swimming gear.

Western MacDonnell Ranges, NT
If you have seen an Albert Namatjira painting you will know
the West Macs. West of Alice Springs is a line of ranges
with many highlights. For us as walkers, the Larapinta
Trail is high on the must do list, but for those less active
there is Simpsons Gap, Standley Chasm, Ellery Creek Big
Hole, Serpentine Gorge, Ochre Pits, Ormiston Gorge,
Redbank Gorge, Glen Helen Gorge, Tnorala Gosse
Bluff, Palm Valley, Mount Sonder, Mount Zeil and
Mount Giles. Mount Sonder is the highest mountain
in the Northern Territory. The vistas are iconic
outback Australian and truly the red centre.

Blue Mountains, NSW
The Three Sisters at Katoomba is the iconic view of the
Blue Mountains but once you get away from the tourists
at Echo Point, the magic starts. The network of walking
trails across the top and up and down gorges and heavily
forested valleys keep us busy every time we visit. We
love coming across lyrebirds while hiking along a misty
trail in the early morning. We also love the dense forest
of tree ferns and eucalyptus. Michael loves getting up
early to photograph the mist lifting out of the deep valleys
and the magic light near sunset, illuminating sheer rock
faces in a golden glow. It’s hard to believe that such
an immense wilderness is so close to Sydney.
Issue 09 Jun/Jul 2014

43