Bushwalk Australia

Just got back from Archery at Paringa club (Trevalyn) Just to say, there are some 'unusual' things go on every week around tassie that i had never been exposed to. This is a bunch of people (kids to grandparents) lining up to learn, teach or do target archery every saturday. Seem like a laid back bunch just out enjoying the setting and having fun together. Not an overly 'active' pursuit but hey- 'those of larger girth or advancing age' can join in at least. Anyhow, the young fella is hooked so I guess someone (or me) will be heading over there again... I dont get much time to be involved in many of these sorts of things but just think its great to see...

Kayaking is the other big outdoor temptation in my life, other than gardening. I chose bushwalking over kayaking when I moved here, but it does still call... I work with a guy that is a coach for the Aussie Men's Kayaking team, and a mad-keen sea-kayaker. He's been working on me too...

Hi TCP, I was hooked on sea kayaking for many years... building them, long expeditions, talking about them... Probably just a bit softer (and more thoughtful about the perils) than I was. It has been described as 'bushwalking on water' though and this is accurate. It also can be fun off the coast anywhere (no need for a NP). The good thing it has on walking is the amount of fresh food that can be carried (inc. the camp oven ) or sourced if you are a fisher....

I really need more encouragement Nuts .... LOL

I only sea kayaked once, around the coastal islands of Georgia, and it was awesome.

Perhaps I'm not the best person to provide it.....

hmmm... that seems to have put a 'dampener' on things.....?

I went to the archery up in Trevallyn once, and really enjoyed it. I always intended to go back and do it again, but never got around to it.

Apart from bushwalking, my other main outdoor pursuit is sailboarding (AKA, windsurfing). I learnt in late high school when it was the fastest growing sport in Australia, but now I seem to be the only one of the many people I've sailed with that is still doing it. The gear is a lot harder to come by than it used to be, but the online shops have made it feasible still. I live close the the water, so when the wind and tide are right, it's easy to just look out the window and decide to go out on the spur of the moment (maybe that's why I'm the only one of my mates that keeps it up - it's just all too hard for the rest of them to organise it).

Last summer I had no luck though - only got out twice. The first time, the only decent sail I had left tore to shreds in the strong wind (it was getting old) - about 8 or 10 large holes! It took me some time to get two new sails, and then the only time I got to try them, the wind just wasn't enough and I ended up having to swim/wade the entire board and rig back home, which took hours. I'm hoping for a better go this year, like I had the summer before last, as seen in the picture below (actually last weekend looked good, but I had the flu).

Other than bushwalking...
Rock climbing- i like long, easy trad routes.. My boyfriend (who is much more into it) and I spend a fair bit of time at Freycinet doing bits and pieces on the coast but i've done some routes on the Sentinels, the Organ Pipes and at the other Hobart crags.. I guess walking and climbing go pretty well together; we've done a lot of walks with the intention of checking out potential climbs.
Sea kayaking- Some of my most memorable multi day trips have been sea kayaking trips... 3 days on the Gordon and up to Verandah Cliffs on the Franklin and another 3 days across to Maria with a day trip over the neck (I wouldn't wish dragging sea kayaks across the neck on anyone! ) to explore the bays on the eastern side of the island. Most of the sea kayaking I do these days are day trips as part of my guiding job.
Lastly, i love rafting but do this sooo infrequently!! Had a run on the Picton on Sunday but that was the first in a year at least.

One of my most memorable SK trips was around Maria Is. On the south east cliffs we were greeted by a school of dolphins that was so large it took 20/30mins to pass. Did the portage across once to spend a couple of nights camped up in the creek to the north of the bay, it was a great few days diving, playing in the surf, fishing. Magic place.

I tried sail boarding once on Lake Burley Griffin. A mate was pretty good and tried his hardest for me. I just couldnt manage to stay up long enough, looked like fun for him though, ripping along. I have noticed that there are a lot of people into kite surfing now (on the beach) that looks like fun..

The Archery (up near Trevallyn dam) is open to anyone (from 9yo i think?) to come and try every Saturday morning 9-12. Cost $10 each for gear and a coach. You just show up for those that ever want to give it a go... Its pretty amazing to watch also, some of them can put one arrow after another into a apple size bullseye out to 50,60,70m Just out of interest one of the Paringa members is a world record holder (pretty impressive when it is a national sport in some asian and european countries)

Mountain Biking
Kayaking - whitewater is better!
Rafting.
Rock Climbing.
Orienteering

wouldnt mind trying out an Adventure Race or two

Bushwalking is the best but there is plenty of other outdoor adventure stuff that i love.

Does motorbike (road) riding count? Just came back from a great ride, other than my gear lever falling off, out towards Mt Roland and back through the peaceful countryside through Nook. What else would I like to do though? Rogaining, caving, climbing.

I was a member of a bushfire brigade in the blue mountains in the 90's. It was a good activity for fitness. It was great way to see some parts of the Blue Mountains. We even did a night walk to the head of the Grose Valley as a training activity.

I used to dive for a while but I have let that slip for about 10 years, so I really need to re-qualify if I want to get back into it. It's a great experience however it does take some organisation and I just lost the motivation.....Perhaps I will find it again one day

Taurë-rana wrote:Does motorbike (road) riding count? Just came back from a great ride, other than my gear lever falling off, out towards Mt Roland and back through the peaceful countryside through Nook.

me too

& touring/sea kayaking, touring cycling

A little caving, diving, slouching around on beaches . . . canoeing/kayaking is what I want to get into next. I love the bits of paddling I've done so far.

Does caving qualify as 'outdoor'. You have a roof overhead, after all.

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if caving counts as outdoors, i've just joined a club over in the UK while i'm here for 6 months and have been a few times. So much fun. Does anyone know if there are any active clubs/groups that cave in the Launnie area?

Hi Erica,
There's one at Mole Creek which I've been meaning to join for about 6 years...
http://mole.org.au/

TR

I love my Packraft and my fishing and they work soooo well with bushwalking! Walk into remote river or estuary system, inflate packraft, go fishing deflate raft walk out....



Steve

Cycling. in all forms - road, track/fixie, mtb, touring road, touring mtb, cyclocross. More than a bakers dozen bikes to choose from, cycling is a real gear freaks heaven. Combine remote area riding trips as often as time allows, even take our pet monkey on multi-day daddy-daughter trips.

Waveski and longboarding. Not enough time now, but do miss carving up on my goatboat.

Four wheel driving.

Iv'e seen those rafts mentioned in a few places. They do look interesting!
Is that an 'alpaca'? ( https://www.alpackaraft.com/store/index ... &do=detail ) Steve?
Very light (though the size is a bit bigger than 'a small two man tent')...

Yeh i've also been interested in these.I would like to know how strong they are. Would it be possible to raft say... the Franklin in one? Or is that asking for trouble in an inflating kind of way??

I imagine care would be needed, ripping them could be pretty dramatic. That said, an ol mate once rafted solo in a kmart style 2 man. He had some close calls apparently, more to do with loosing the raft

i used to do a fair bit of whitewater kayaking and mt biking.

these days, its a bit of whitewater rafting, caving at every chance (usually only about 4 or 5 times a year tho ), 4wding, abseiling, taking the scouts/venturers camping. play hockey most weekends also.

Taurë-rana wrote:Hi Erica,
There's one at Mole Creek which I've been meaning to join for about 6 years...
http://mole.org.au/
TR

My kind of people. From the website: " We enjoy introducing beginners gently to Tasmanian caving, and tend to like chocolate."

Not for me, but this is really interesting, especially the video.
Storm surfers

I found the link from this site, also very worthwhile.

michael_p wrote:Weapon of choice.

Makes my budget hardtail look sick

Mountain running and Vets bike racing.

Crossing the line in the 2009 ACT vets mountain running champs (3rd M50 2009, in the 2010 vets champs I came 4th M55, the first 3 M55 beat the first M50 and me by a lot)


2009 ACT Vets Cylcling Club Iron Mike handicap (just after the finish)

michael_p wrote:Weapon of choice.

reign? 08 model maybe? latest model has an updated rear shock i think... but cant be certain...