Sydney - Melbourne Walk?

[jeremy089786]

Hi Guys,

I heard a rumour that a group may be trying to construct a walk from Sydney to Melbourne.

Does anybody have any more information about this?

Looking at google maps there is a continous line of national parks from Royal until the Suburbs of Melbourne, so I imagine this would be a spectacular walk - if it is actually indeed being planned.

Thanks,

Jeremy.

[Lindsay]

The only thing I can think of is the Hume and Hovell track, which runs for 400ks between Yass and Albury. I dont kmow if there are plans to extend it all the way between Sydney and Melbourne, but I suppose you could make up your own walk to cover the remaining sections.

http://www.lpma.nsw.gov.au/about_recrea ... king_track

[wildwalks]

A true rumour

Hume and Hovell is not a bad link to help on the way.
There is also the existing Australian Bicentennial National Trail (BNT) which links Cooktown in North Queensland to Healesville a 5,330 kilometre multi-use trail (Mountain bike, walking and horses). But as it passes Sydney it does on the far side of the Blue Mountains, Crossing the Six Foot track.
http://www.nationaltrail.com.au/

But finally the rumour you probably heard about is a plan to link Sydney’s Coastal Path to the Illawarra Escarpment track then Two Rivers Track where you then head south west to Canberra. Here You can then link into the National Trail’s Alpine towards Melbourne, then fill a bit of a gap to Melbourne. The working title of this northern section is "The Illawarra Way" (Originally Federation track). Mostly on existing tracks/trails, but not officially recognised or signposted - but very walkable. Garry McDougall of the GNW fame is running with this project some info here
http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/utravel/federation.html

Hope that helps, sounds like a great walk but I have not done it.

Matt

[jeremy089786]

Thanks alot for your quick replies Matt and Lindsay.

I am pretty sure the rumour I heard relates to the Illawarra escarpment trail as it came from my Gran who lives just below the escarpment in Bulli.

It does indeed sound like these trails could be a lot of fun to walk. Has anybody walked this section of the bicentennial national trail? I have heard it is not particularly well suited for walking, but more for horse riding, but I guess this depends on which section of the trail you are on?

If only someone could link up the string of national parks running along the south coast, rather than going through canberra it would make for an amazing walk. Maybe someday.

Thanks again guys,

Jeremy.

[clarence]

I used to work for NPWS on the Illawarra Escarpment. It has taken ten years to build the section from Maddens Plains to Bulli Tops, so at that rate it will take till the 22nd century for a formal track to be made from Sydney to Canberra. The restrictions of Sydney Water/Catchment Authority don't make it promising either. When I was last associated with the project in about 2000, there weren't many people "championing" it, especially not councils.

Interestingly, back in about 1992 there was a group from Melbourne Uni Mountaineering Club, including a fellow called Anton Weller, who did walk from Melbourne to Sydney I believe. A pair of ex Outward Bound emloyees (Kate Smith and Andrew Rotherdam) did Parliament House to Flinders St station in 1993-4, and used formed trails at either end of the AWT to do it. I would reckon others have probaby repeated the section from Canberra to Melbourne.

Clarence

[jeremy089786]

Hi Clarence,

Thanks for the detailed reply. Indeed based on that level of progress it is not sounding encouraging!!

I'm super looking forward to getting up to that new section of track though. Does it link directly to the coast walk?

Cheers,

Jeremy.

[wildwalks]

Hi Ya

Garry Mcdougal (the guy who put together the Great North Walk and) is working on this federation way track, will be talking at my GNW book launch on Friday Night (hornsby). He plans to talk about the progress and plans for Federation way. So if you are into this idea maybe come along and chat with him.
(free tickets - but you need a ticket and numbers are limted - dinner and some drinks provided)
http://wildwalks.eventbrite.com/

Matt

[clarence]

I think the Federation track is a great idea, despite its woefully slow progress. I was in the Illawarra for a few weeks recently but didn't get up that part of the escarpment behind Wollongong.
I have walked that area many times (in various sections) and know it pretty well. I used to walk it even before the Forest Path was put in, and it was one of my favourite spots.
As far as joining up with the Royal National Park I posted a fairly detailed description in another thread entitled "South of Royal National Park" in May this year.
In short, yes it is possible, and there are a few options depending on what you prefer. The low level coastal traverse (from Werrong or Bulga to Stanwell Park beach) is the most impressive, provided you are prepared to negotiate the rock cleft over the ocean. The most direct link does involve walking along the road past Stony Batter Hill then descending Bald Hill (there used to be a rough track down from the lookout) then ascending again on the south side of Stanwell Park via the Wodi Wodi track or direct via the long obvious spur on the south of the valley.
Clarence