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There's loads of excellent hiking close to home, but nothing in the same category that I'm aware of. Hiking wise some at home (or, for that matter, in Aus - although it's about 30 years since I last hiked in Australia!) are superior however I can't think of any long distance trails that have the infrastructure. Which means carrying camping gear, food, etc. That pretty much doubles my pack weight.
Do you fly into Madrid or Paris?
Never a bad idea to add an extra day upon arrival, I’ve fortunately never suffered from jet lag but my wife always did. The return home is nowhere near as bad. Overnight in whatever European city you’re landing in.
) there is much less comradery.
There is also the Way of St James, Cygnet in Tasmania that has a similar religious motivation that is run annually. Camino Salvado is run as an organised activity run twice a year in August and September. It might be possible to craft an independent walk with the right support.
This seems a bit remote from Australia and Aotearoa/New Zeialand, the subject of this thread, to be really relevant, nice as these walks might be.
Sorry, @dougfitz, I got a bit carried away reading and forgot the thread was exclusively about Aussies and Kiwis.
Den, how’s the infrastructure on the Hysen trail? And the rail trail’s?
www.sydney.com
Hi from Taranaki, 6 camino’s so far and we just bought new boots to head back 2024!
Hi Peter. Hysen Trail is a mix of everything with big sections through farmers paddocks(with steps set up over fences), road walking and outback bush and scrub. It goes through our rural town and we once stopped and had a chat with a young bloke mid 20's
Fifth Camino done this summer. And because we’re here in NZ it seemed to take us much longer to return to Europe after covid. I remember reading all the posts of folks who just kept on walking and travelling…and wondered if we’d ever get to the place of being able to travel again. But, it did happen! We felt so grateful to be walking again.
- thinking about ‘where next’ keeps the dream alive.
Fully agree! Also the cost of doing anything in Aus is huge! 6 day walking with bed, meals on the Great Ocean Road quote for a single $4500... self managed and taxis still $2700 ish, despite the airfares, those dollars go a long way in Spain... I'm up to about 8, 2 each the last 2 years others pre covid.... oh and I love Spain and her peopleThere's loads of excellent hiking close to home, but nothing in the same category that I'm aware of. Hiking wise some at home (or, for that matter, in Aus - although it's about 30 years since I last hiked in Australia!) are superior however I can't think of any long distance trails that have the infrastructure. Which means carrying camping gear, food, etc. That pretty much doubles my pack weight.
On Camino I carry a 32 litre backpack with around 7 kg, including a couple of comfort items. My pack for 'backwoods' hiking is 65 liters and I typically carried around 12 to 15 kgs depending on how long before I could resupply. (Although newer gear is more lightweight, so I could probably improve somewhat on that). Not only that but my footwear changed to proper hiking boots regardless of the weather.
The other things I love about the Camino:
-Social aspect - something very new to me! I often used to hike solo for days on end, and only occasionally come across other hiker's. Although that's changed over the years as hiking has become more popular.
- No real climbs. A few steep ascents certainly, but never anything that's had me on all fours.
- the ability to literally step in out of the rain.
-Hot showers at the end of every day
- a bed at the end of every day.
- no need to set up /breakdown my tent
- the ability to wash and (normally) dry my clothing at the end of every day = Fresh clean clothing every morning!!
-The ability to stop for a coffee at an open bar or café
- access to fresh bread, fruit and/or vegetables practically daily
-no need to carry a full medical kit, the next pharmacy is only ever a few hours (a day at most)away.
- no need to carry/use your PBL in order to access medical assistance.
- the knowledge that I can post any excess items home; or buy something new if I have a gear failure or realise I need something else.
- the cultural aspects
- the architecture
- the history!!
- I'd better stop, I'm kinda off topic.....
I visited Australia for a few weeks in 2019. As a Brit I found some things expensive but others seemed a very good deal. Perhaps because I was mostly moving in backpacker circles despite rapidly approaching 60 at the time. Sticking out like a sore thumb most of the time!
The Greyhound bus pass and the backpacker 4WD camping tours of Kakadu, Litchfield and Uluru struck me as an especially good bargain.
The backpacker infrastructure in both New Zealand and Australia is excellent. Not as good as it was in its heydays of the late 80s through the 90s but still way better than here in Europe. The problem is in most cases (there are a handful) they're not too close to any decent trails..... .I visited Australia for a few weeks in 2019. As a Brit I found some things expensive but others seemed a very good deal. Perhaps because I was mostly moving in backpacker circles despite rapidly approaching 60 at the time. Sticking out like a sore thumb most of the time!
Your enthusiasm is to be admired.Sorry, @dougfitz, I got a bit carried away reading and forgot the thread was exclusively about Aussies and Kiwis.
I was mostly travelling by long distance Greyhound bus but I did get a couple of 3 day walks in with camping overnight. On the Larapinta Trail from Alice Springs and on the southern trails in the Nitmiluk National Park near Katherine. In the local winter but more than warm enough for me!
Hi, Sarah.
You will really enjoy that combo Camino! Did it in April/May this year. Wasn’t keen on the Madrid at times but in retrospect it was great and the exercise got me ready for the next 2
And just about as expensive, airfares to Japan are not cheap. But the Kumano Kodo is definitely worth the effort and expense.
Nearly 2,500 return!
I also enjoy the hut to hut walks in NZ and Aus ( Tassie) for the camaraderie with both local and international people, although not pilgrimmages they do give you that feeling of moving along the trail together for a few days or so. Queen Charlotte Track has more upmarket accommodation and pack transfer by boat if you wish although we did it as a family independantly carrying our tents. The Larapinta Trail (×2 thru hikes) although rugged was also enjoyable for camaraderie and shared endeavour. Linda
I left Taranaki many years ago and I have got addicted to the caminos (20). Everyone will have there own thoughts on boots - but I have never needed them I just get runners with lots of cushioning and a wide toe box - As much as I love Spain, Sydney is fabulous if I can saty away from the traffic.
One cold and wet afternoon on the Routeburn track I walked past one of these private tour 'huts'. Looking in through the large picture windows at warm, dry and clean people sitting round a blazing fire sipping wine and beer and eating canapes made me a little envious.....
And Dublin?
I hiked the Routeburn in 1977. Just the other day I watched a video of the hike. There's lots more people, more, fancier and bigger huts and also a bus to the trailhead. What made me envious though was seeing that landscape again.
I never start walking straight away. I spend 2-3 days playing tourist first. First time I flew down to Sevilla from Barcelona and spent a couple of days there. Once I finished the VDLP and Fisterra I flew to Barcelona to play tourist and then Paris.
Been there, and have nearly always done that!And Dublin?
BCN??
Barcelona.
Its the airport code for Barcelona. Why anyone would spend three days in an airport has me puzzled!
You are not a fan of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks then?
Hi Sarah. I have recently returned from the whole CF. 4K sounds very high. What are your arrival and departure points? Did you book through Webjet? St Jean Pied de Port is a delightful medieval town and needs a minimum of two nights. Don't attempt Roncesvalles in one day. Use Express Bourricot's shuttle service. Day 1 to the Virgin, and day 2 from the same on to Roncesvalles. Unless of course you have a bed in Orisson or Borda, both nearly impossible.
That price is consistent with bookings I have recently made with Qantas for the middle of 2024. Shifting flights a couple of days made a considerable difference. I tried finding similar flights on Webjet, but they were over $500 more. It is worth checking - I don't think they offer consistently good value.
Yes Australia is far away from Perth Caminos are addictive I have done 8 and I am sure more to come it’s not possible to replace it with a walk here in Australia I have walked in Nepal India Japan South America but it’s not the same Buen Camino
I love those huge G&Ts. An Israeli pilgrim once told me that the quinine in the tonic is great for leg cramps so of course I have to have one at the end of each day just to make sure I don’t get any.I walked my first camino in 2013 and my 9th in September this year. It is absolutely addictive for me and despite other walks around the world there is nothing with the same mix of walking, accommodation, hospitality and variety of fabulous people and sights. Not to mention those huge G&Ts at the end of the day
I have invested in learning Spanish which allows me to have conversations with locals along the way, especially in the small pueblos. I am always blown away by their patience and generosity of spirit as they try valiantly to decode my attempts and share willingly of themselves.
The airfares are my indulgence.
Buen camino.
Save up and repeat
Have done two Caminos from Australia. Yes the flights are horrendous but once you have arrived... ah it is amazing,. Will be doing a third some time soon. There was a big improvement in the coffee from 2019 to 2023 too
Exactly my reasoning too LouI love those huge G&Ts. An Israeli pilgrim once told me that the quinine in the tonic is great for leg cramps so of course I have to have one at the end of each day just to make sure I don’t get any.
I suspect the high prices to Europe next year are due to the Olympics. We have booked another trip to the UK and the prices are horrible.
Yes, that is the way to enhance the experience which in itself is amazing - a trip to Italy, a few bonus days in Barcelona. I just love Spain and Portugal - so much history to absorb. There is an ache in my heart to return soon
Personally, I always try and avoid Paris anyway (what are the odds that some part of your journey through France will be impacted by some kind of strike or another) and head to Spain. I hear there are lots of other good options in Europe as economical entry points too…. This year it was way more expensive for me to fly to Madrid than Barcelona, and easy to get from Barcelona to SJPdP.
that is a route I have considered too - prefer April May when not too hot(generally) or wet(maybe)
I agree with @Robo . Nothing compares. #4 for me too ( to be continued )
Kia ora, @dreaming and welcome home.
Interesting, thank you. I did not say so in my first comment, but I booked through an American site called CheapOAir (worth a checkout). They found me an Auckland to Paris amazing deal that worked well. My return via spending time in Israel, was destroyed by the war. Too complicated for here, but eventually, thanks to Emirates, I got home to Waihi!
We are flying Perth to Heathrow directly via Qantas.
That's a great flight, Donna.
As another South Australian, I must point out the correct spelling of the HEYSEN Trail (named for the artist Hans Heysen), which runs through much of the beautiful Adelaide Hills, so beautifully depicted in his landscapes. I noticed your spelling error being duplicated in all the responses to your original comments and it is too much for me. Visit/walk the Trail around Hahndorf and you can visit the Heysen Museum.
Did you consider transiting via Shanghai? I realise that this won't give you your Perth stopover and is more a comment on your initial search strategy.
Apologies and if you look a bit closer maybe some more spell errors. Have visited the museum a couple of times, well worth the visit.
@dreaming, hi again
Hi @KiwiRon. I'm guessing a greater part of my expense is starting from Invercargill. Regional flights are a killer. My flights are $4,300 to be exact, including a night in Dubai and travel insurance (which are only small factors). I'm flying all the way to Biarritz, and then out of Madrid on the return leg. I intend to book Borda if I get half a chance, then the next day hop slightly past Roncesvalles. I don't want to stay at Roncesvalles really.
Wow that's quite a lot of travelling! I might have a different background perhaps in that I need to come back to family responsibilities, otherwise I would be a lot more leisurely, and go for 6-8 weeks, like my travels when I was younger. However, I have built in an extra six days for my trip - these can be used if I walk slower than expected, need rest days, if I want to play tourist, or carry on walking to the coast.
Hi Sarah. Yes, from the deep south is a problem. I am a drivable distance from Auckland. The lovely Alsa coach from Santiago to Madrid is daily, and for 660 kms, well priced at about €65. Just make sure you get off in Madrd at the 2nd stop, not Atocha! Because Roncesvalles has only a municiple albergue (not bookable) I also hiked about 3 kms further to a booking.com place. It was a long day, but with my pack on the transport, quite doable. Just as well because the huge Roncesvalles albergue was totally full by the time arrived about 4 pm.
Yeah something about Roncesvalles puts me off. It's a bit of a bottleneck I guess, from what I can see. Others will have their opinions. If I can start the second day from Borda/Orrison then I should be able to skip past Roncesvalles reasonably easily.
Pom here. Not seen any mention of the Bibbulmun Track https://www.bibbulmuntrack.org.au/
It is bookable. https://alberguederoncesvalles.com/en/book-your-bed/
I´ve just done it. It is a great walk, 1000km of bush. It takes a little bit of preparation and planning, not to mention time. The main problem is that there are times of year when it is just not feasible, in particular summer. It is getting better known though. West Australia is expensive to get to as well from other parts of Oz. Flights to New Zealand are cheaper for most of us (not that this is necessarily a problem).
I stand corrected! I could not about five months ago, but if it can be booked now that is good news.
