Thursday, December 22, 2011

Maps Verses GPS

Well, Im going to tell you straight up that my preference is the map.

I admit that the GPS is accurate and has some pretty whiz bang features but like all electronic devises things can go wrong with them, batteries go flat, you drop it, then it does work etc etc...

The map however is pretty straight forward. It doesn't require any batteries and it will keep on working 24/7. All you will need is to learn how to read one and study up on the use of a compass.

With your maps I suggest to get them laminated (sealed in a laminated pouch). It will last much longer (wear & tear) and will be impervious to rain. Most office supply shops provide this service or more popular maps come pre-laminated from specialist map shops.

Oh... I just about forgot to tell you that they weigh a lot less too!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Why you should take a guided walk in Tasmania


By choosing to do a guided walk, your guiding company will handle all of the organizational aspects of the tour and deliver to you, the client a professionally researched and rewarding itinerary.

At Adventure Seekers we operate multiday walks such as the iconic Overland Track, South Coast Track and Walls of Jerusalem to name a few.

This blog talks about what Adventure Seekers offer on their guided walks as opposed to doing the walk independently and arranging the logistics yourself.

Your tour begins and ends with the convenience of the company’s own transportation, which gives us the flexibility of when we start and end the walk and collect you from your accommodation rather than relying on a scheduled service.

Your tour guides are the backbone of the tour. They ensure that your objectives are met and generally look after your wellbeing. Your guides will interpret the landscape, carry all of the group equipment and food thus allowing your own packs to be light and manageable.

The meals that the guides whip up on specialist cooking equipment are hearty and flavorsome. You’ll enjoy dinners such as risottos, beef stews, cereal and fruit for breakfast and gourmet wraps for lunch.

Safety on your tour is taken seriously and each guide is 1st aid qualified and trained in emergency procedures. Guides carry 1st aid kits and emergency equipment that includes an emergency locator beacon and a satellite telephone.
Maps of the track are also carried for guides and clients to reference.

The company also provides your accommodation while on the walk and uses activity specific, 4 - season 2 - person tents.

Organizing your own walk can be quite challenging and specialized equipment can be costly.  A guided walk will ensure your safety, establish new friendships and educate you about the special places that you will visit.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Walker Transport Tasmania


Getting to the start as well as back from many of Tasmania's bushwalking tracks can be quite challenging.

Organising transport should be done in advance before booking your tours, and even if you are self guiding. Some services are limited by their frequency and timing.

Adventure Seekers based in Hobart may be your answer to get you or your group to walks such as the Overland Track, Walls of Jerusalem or Scott's Peak - the start of the Western Arthur Traverse and the Port Davey Track.

Generally if you are a group of at least 3 we can get you to the trailhead and back at a time and day that is convenient for you. A group of 5 or more will attract a discounted rate.

The next time you need bushwalker transport in Tasmania, consider us.

A Day On Maria

A trip to Tasmania wouldn't be complete without doing a day tour to Maria Island.
Maria Island is a National Park and a former probation station. A convict station was first established on the island in 1825 preceding the establishment of Port Arthur.
The convict era buildings are well preserved and were built by the convicts themselves.
Our day tour pieces together the past, talks about the 1st settlers of Maria and takes you to magical places like the Painted Cliffs and Skipping Ridge.
The walking is gentle, you'll see abundant wildlife such as Cape Barren Geese, Native Hens, Forester Kangaroos, Pademelons and Wombats. Tours leave Hobart daily November through to April.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

South Coast Track Guided Walk, Tasmania - 3rd December 2011

Our Par Avion flight from Hobart to Melaleuca was delayed 6 hours due to a slow moving cold front lingering in the west.
Finally after touching down around 4pm we set off on our guided walk towards Cox Bight and Point Eric.
A storm burst followed us into camp, which happened to be the last threat of rain that we would have until the evening of day 8.
The following morning it was a short beach walk to Black Cliff which you need to wade through the surf in order to continue.
It was here at Black Cliff where a sudden gust of wind picked up John's immaculately kept Akubra hat and tossed it into the Southern Ocean, never to be seen again.
Pressing on we soon arrived at the Louisa River camp, our springboard for the next days accent of the Ironbound Range. The formidable Ironbounds took us 12 hours and our views were limited but at least it didn't rain.
Day 4 was a rest day and we did exactly that. Numerous cups of tea, stoking the fire and an afternoon nap were in order.
Later that afternoon a walker rolled into camp after negotiating the Ironbounds. Little did we know but what he pulled out of his pack was the beginning of an amazing reunion for one of our clients.
Surprisingly in his hand was John's Akubra! What was once a well kept hat was now all puckered up and filled with the sands and sea life of Cox's Bight. John immediately washed it in the creek and started to dry it over the open fire then re-shaped it with a smile.
Prion Beach, Surprise Bay and Granite Beach where all picture perfect and the South Cape Range lived up to its reputation as a hard slog at the end of a great walk.
In the early evening of day 8 a stormed rolled into South Cape Rivulet, lightening and thunder cracked directly above us.
Showers continued through to the next morning as we set off through Blowhole Valley and the end of our walk at Cockle Creek.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Overland Track Guided Walk, Tasmania

This is where you start your 6 day guided walk of the Overland Track with Adventure Seekers - at Ronny Creek and the walker registration hut.
The weather is a bit misty and mysterious as you can see in the picture but we are hoping that it will improve for the guys.
The track snakes its way past Cradle Mountain and highland lakes and over mountainous passes to Lake St Clair and the ferry ride to Cynthia Bay.
You'll have close encounters with wombats, devils and inquisitive possums.

Frenchman's Cap Walk, Tasmania

You may have heard of the Sodden Loddens, if not, this is a minefield of mud that you encounter on you first day into Frenchman's Cap. Actually they weren't that bad!
This tour was our 1st of the season and weather wise we were dead lucky. We had expansive views from the summit of Frenchman's Cap, the track was good and the company great.
During our walk we heard that a large group of walkers (not us) got lost on a day walk to Philps Peak and spent a cold night in a cave before finding their way back to Lake Vera.
Large pockets of winter snow lay around the Cap as you can see in the photo. The picture shows Barren Pass (the narrow saddle) in the background with Philps Peak to the right.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Save the Tasmanian Devil

September 7th is Threatened Species Day and it is your chance to make a difference and organise your own fundraiser or simply just make a donation to help save the Tasmanian Devil.

National Threatened Species Day is held on this date each year to commemorate the loss of the last Tasmanian Tiger that died in captivity in the Hobart Zoo in 1936.

In some ares of Tasmania up to 90% of the Tasmanian Devil Population has been wiped out due to a facial tumor disease (DFTD).

This disease is fatal and it is characterised by cancer growths around the mouth on the face and head. The disease is passed on from one Devil to the other from biting each other. Although the bite itself is quite harmless, the Devils do fight a lot to establish a pecking order as well as they fight over food.

Help a team of scientists find a cure by donating or running a fundraiser on September 7th. Details are available at www.tassiedevil.com.au

Monday, August 22, 2011

Why you should take a guided wilderness walk in Tasmania?

Do we mean as opposed to "walking solo" or because of its natural beauty?

Ok, lets take a look at what Tasmania has to offer.

It is the most mountainous state in Australia. It sits in the pathway of the notorious "Roaring Forties" winds. It has changeable weather, it can snow in any season. It has two of the worlds most venomous snakes, the Tiger Snake and the Copper Head. It has dense cool temperate rain forests and impenetrable horizontal scrub.

However, don't let this put you off. It is this; Tasmania's relatively unspoiled natural environment that attracts thousands of walkers each year. Nothing will make your journey more memorable, safe and informative than sharing it with a local guide (packhorse or not) on a Tasmanian guided walk.



Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Satellite Phones - Keeping in touch

There may come a time that you have a medical emergency or the progression of your bush walk has been hampered by bad weather and you expect to arrive late at your destination.
Whatever the emergency, verbal communication with emergency services is vital to initiate a quick response and to receive needy advice.
Telstra's Next G service doesn't reach the remote areas of Australia therefore a satellite phone is your only alternative.
Satellite phones can be rented for as little as $11.00 a day or you can buy them outright over 2 years on a plan. They sell for around $2000 - $2100 and a service plan will cost you around $30 per month plus calls.
The next time you head off on a remote walk have a communication plan. Does the area have normal phone coverage? If not consider a satellite phone. For emergencies phone 000

South Coast Track Guided Walk - now with "Live Track"

Adventure Seekers South Coast Track Guided Walks now come equipped with "Live Track"

Live Track records your exact position every 10 minutes with a product called SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger. SPOT uses the GPS satellite system (much like in a car) to determine your location.

Family and friends can track your walk progress from the comfort of their home from anywhere in the world in real-time, using Google Maps.

The SPOT leaves a virtual breadcrumb trail of your South Coast Track walk and it's fun for friends to follow your wilderness journey.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Choosing a tent - What to consider.

There are four main things to consider when buying your next tent. They are size, use, waterproofness and lastly free-standing verses non free-standing. This blog focuses on tents that are suitable overnight or extended walking.
Size - The first thing to think about is the size of your tent followed by what season / s that you will be using it in. For bushwalking around Australia a 1 person tent will suffice if you are going solo or a 2 person tent if you have a walking partner. Make sure that the tent has a vestibule, so that you can store your pack in. Most 2 person tents now have twin vestibules so that each person can access their own side of the tent and store their gear separately.
The next consideration is - use. Where are you going to use it? and for what season of the year? Tent options range from summer weight tents all the way to 4 season tents. Will you only use it below the snow line? Use generally goes hand in hand with waterproofness so you will need to choose a tent that will also suit the weather extremes of the areas in which you will visit.
The waterproofness of a material is rated in millimetres and generally a material (nylon or polyester) that is rated from 1000mm is waterproof.
10,000 mm is the highest value you can get. The higher the value means the more waterproof coating, more weight and more cost.
For commercial purposes I tend to choose a tent that is more durable and waterproof. I look for a tent with a floor of 10,000mm and fly of 4000mm + as well as being UV resistant. For personal use and depending on how often you may use it a tent with a 5000mm floor and 3000mm fly may suffice; this will save you on weight and cost.
Lastly free-standing verses non free-standing. A free-standing tent is a tent that supports itself. By placing the poles into eyelets in each corner of the tent and then clipping the roof of the inner tent to the poles, this will tension the poles and the tent will stand erect. Free standing tents are good for wooden tent platforms like which you will find on the Overland Track in Tasmania, they are easier to set up, a bit lighter and easier to stake out. However non free-standing tents are generally stronger.
On the other hand you can always own a range of tents to suit the different locations and conditions.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Overland Track Walk - Now with "Live Track"

Adventure Seekers Overland Track Guided Walks now come equipped with "Live Track"

Live Track records your exact position every 10 minutes with a product called SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger. SPOT uses the GPS satellite system (much like in a car) to determine your location.

Family and friends can track your walk progress from the comfort of their home from anywhere in the world in real-time, using Google Maps.

The SPOT leaves a virtual breadcrumb trail of your Overland Track walk and it's fun for friends to follow your wilderness journey.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Landscape Photography Tips

I have put together a few basic tips that you should apply to your landscape photography and by applying them it should help you to capture the scenery at its best.

1. Where possible use a tripod as this will ensure sharpness of the image
2. Use the rule of thirds. Place the horizon a third of the way down
3. Place the centre of interest (unusual rock, stream, cabin) a little bit off - centre
4. A foreground image will help frame the scene but ensure that you have your depth of field set correctly.
5. Check through your viewfinder that there are no un-natural objects in your shot (telephone boxes, power lines etc)
6. Never use your cameras flash
7. Try and keep your image horizontal
8. Be patient and stick around for a while when capturing a scene. Morning and evening light can bring change quickly and make your shot more interesting.

In the picture above, by placing an object in the foreground, it gives you the impression of three - dimensionality.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Hiking in Australia - World's Best Ridge Walk

The Western Arthur Range in Tasmania, Australia is considered the best ridge walk in Australia, if not the world. It is generally walked over 10 days and it is completed as a 85 km circuit.

The peaks, ridges and lakes of the Western Arthur Range are named after the planets, stars and constellations of the night sky. 


The total GPS recorded ascent for the whole walk is 4800 metres. It is a challenging walk but very rewarding and the views are breathtaking. 


Guided groups hike the range from November through to April.

A Guides Life - Lake Oberon Day 2 (Part 2)

From the summit of Mount Hayes you get commanding views of the range and the South West National Park.
Today's journey is full of ascents, descents, negotiating scree slopes, scrambling and "views". I may seem to go on about the views but we are lucky to get good weather up here, sometimes it can be a bit of a lottery.
Square Lake was a welcome site and a timely stop for lunch. The smoked chicken, avacado and salad wraps were divine!
After a well earned rest it was, (you guessed it) climb time! Up the slopes of Square Lake to the ridge top, around a huge buttress to a small saddle and then before us was the classic view of Lake Oberon.

A Guides Life - Lake Oberon Day 2 (Part 1)

The peaks, ridges and lakes of the Western Arthur Range are named after the planets, stars and constellations of the night sky. The range poses a challenge for walkers given its altitude, ruggedness and exposure to extreme weather.

Morning on day 2 dawned fine, which is a relief. I assembled the trangia and set about preparing breaky for the guys. Hot porridge was on the menu this morning followed by a cup of tea for all, a good warm me up as we won't see the sun until we climb up to the ridge crest from our camp deep in the cirque of Lake Cygnus.

Packs packed, shoulders and hips a bit tender from the weight of our packs we climbed up out of Lake Cygnus and headed for Mount Hayes.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

A Guides Life - Western Arthurs Day 1

A 6:30am start from Hobart gets us to Scott's Peak Dam at 09:15 and we're ripping to go. I pull on the trusty boots and do a final gear check.

"Anybody want some power gels, you might need them we have a big day ahead" They were gone in a flash! Lake Cygnus here we come. We were blessed with a perfect day as we set off trudging through the mud towards Junction Creek.

By Junction Creek spirits were still high, we lunched then set off for Moraine A. Moraine A is the approach to top of the northern end of the Western Arthur Range and the beginning of Australia's best ridge walk.

I took up my usual role as tail end Charlie and started attacking the accent. The guys ahead of me stirred up a wasps nest and as I passed through that spot they took to me stinging my legs. Shit it hurt!

My head guide and 2 clients were off like a flash and weren't to be seen again until we reached the top of the range. I followed our 3rd client, who was suffering from extreme cramping. Not a nice start to his 10 day walk.

We re-grouped at the top of the range, took some pics then headed off along the range to Lake Cygnus. The sun was still shinning on the eastern side of the cirque as we descended down to the lake and our campsite. A tent pitching demonstration was my first task followed by swinging the billy for a hot cuppa.

Dinner was a Tomato and Basil Risotto with more hot drinks and a early night.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Bushwalker Transport Tasmania

Getting to the start as well as back form many of Tasmania's bushwalking tracks can be quite challenging.

Organising transport should be done in advance before booking your tours, and even if you are self guiding. Some services are limited by their frequency and timing.

Adventure Seekers, based in Hobart may be your answer to get you or your group to walks such as the Overland Track and Scott's Peak - the start of the Western Arthur Traverse and the Port Davey Track.

Generally if you are a group of at least 3 we can get you to the trailhead and back at a time and day that is convenient for you. A group of 5 or more will attract a discounted rate.

The next time you need bushwalker transport in Tasmania, consider us.

A Guides Life - The Meet & Greet, Please take a seat!

Dawn on day 1 and the weather is what it is. It is just a good feeling to get out into the bush again and introduce our guests to our backyard.

Vehicle inspection, check! passenger list, check! and Im heading off to pick up my fellow guide.

This particular tour is the Western Arthur Range in the South West National Park of Tasmania and is over 10 days and 86km.

One by one we pull into our clients accommodation and do the introductions. Everyone is dressed in their bushwalking finest, some are dressed head to toe in one brand, some are not so loyal and are wearing a mixture of brands, new and clean.....for now!

The drive to Scott's Peak Dam is about 2 hours and 20 minutes from Hobart; a great opportunity for us to get to know our guests and our guests each other.

Adventure Race Australia


Sunday 24th July 2011 

Nanga Bush Camp, Dwellingup, WA was home to the 2011 Adventure Race Australia. 80 teams of solos, 2 and 3 competitors navigated their way through the beautiful Jarrah Forest by means of mountain bike, raft and on foot.

Additional challenges were a 18 metre abseil and sprint rogaining legs. The race was 1 in a series of races held nationally and run by In2Adventure

The next event is in Adelaide on Sunday 7th August. Hope you can make it!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Lamington National Park: Beauty & Intrigue

Lamington & Springbrook National Parks in South East Queensland are mecca's for bushwalkers and have over 200km of walking tracks.

The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk joins these two parks and this walk has outstanding natural and cultural attractions.

On this Great Walk you will trek through lush temperate and sub-tropical rainforest, you'll see evidence of early settler occupation and hear stories of courage and hope.

One such story, in February 1937, a Stinson Airliner, VH-UHH went missing on a flight from Brisbane to Lismore.

The airliner crashed into the dense rainforest on the Lamington Plateau. Initially it was thought that the airliner was never in the area until local farmer Bernard O'Reilly had a hunch and went in search for the wreckage.

Five men died in the crash but remarkably 2 men survived. They were found deep in the rainforest by Bernard O'Reilly 10 days after the crash.



Thursday, April 21, 2011

South Coast Track: A walk on the wild side.

The sound of your guide assembling the trangia stove each morning is your cue to get out of your tent.

What's stopping you is the thought of putting on your wet socks and your damp clothes but your guide shouting "cuppa" is enough incentive to get you moving each day.

With a coffee in hand its' just a stroll from your bush camp to one of many secluded beaches that you camp beside on Tasmania's South Coast Track.

The South Coast Track is one of Tasmania's greatest guided walks. You'll encounter very few people and see amazing landscapes and wildlife.





Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Wombats: Close Encounters!

How cute is this little guy?

He is one of hundreds of wombats that run wild on Maria Island, Tasmania.

Maria Island is a National Park off the East Coast of Tasmania and you can arrange a guided tour of the island to uncover its history and meet its amazing inhabitants.

Close encounters with the wildlife are numerous on Maria Island.

Wombats generally don't come out during the heat of the day, so late afternoons /early evenings are the best time to go wombat spotting. You can generally get pretty close to them as they have trouble seeing you until you're pretty much on top of them.

When they do see you, they sometimes stand really still and pretend that you can't see them!

You've got to love them!