Della’s New Camera:
‘Trying out my new camera today in the gloriously warm autumn light. Thank you Steve Jones for the great Mother’s Day gift, and for allowing me to play with it ahead of time! The first pic was snapped on auto … Continued
A Blast of a Pack:
I borrowed my son-in-law Matts’s Zpacks Arc Zip just so I could try it out. I loaded it up with about 10kg of stuff I would usually carry for a trip of about a week I guess and went for … Continued
The South Coast Track, Fiordland NZ:
Posted this day in 2014. (Oh, I wish I were there again. I am going to miss Fiordland this year. Hopefully I enjoy Scotland as much!) ‘The Fiordland South Coast Track is so much better than the similarly named South … Continued
Somewear a 3 Ounce Satellite Messenger:
These clever folk have rethought the Epirb and Sat communicator with this lightweight device. It functions as a PLB with the touch of an SOS button but it can also send and receive SMS/email messages (up to 160 characters each). … Continued
Waratah Bay
posted in: Australia, Backpacking, Coastal Areas of Victoria, Gippsland, Hiking, Uncategorized, Victoria, Wilsons Prom |
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You can walk practically the entire Gippsland Coast from Phillip Island to NSW. After you have walked along Venus Bay Beach, (there is a path inland) past the Arch Rocks and rounded Cape Liptrap, if you have managed to make … Continued
Powerfilm Lightsaver:
I am looking to upgrade my solar charging ability. I have the Powerfilm USB + AA Charger at 1.5 watts which I have found adequate for myself. But we now have more rechargeable devices some having larg(er) wattage capacities so … Continued
Ultralight Cups
It’s surprising how much weight you can save in small ways. For example, my improved Fancy Feast Stove created a simmer stove which weighs under 15 grams. This shaved 30 grams off my stove weight. Using small aluminum containers to … Continued
Liptrap
posted in: Australia, Backpacking, Coastal Areas of Victoria, Gippsland, Hiking, Uncategorized, Victoria |
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(Cover Photo: Water Sprite). Cape Liptrap at the Western end of Venus Bay beach in South Gippsland is a scenic extravaganza as you walk the Victorian coastline perhaps beginning at Phillip Island and ending in Eden NSW, a journey which … Continued
Budget Pack Mods
Recently I bought a couple of cheap approx 40 litre packs from Amazon for less than US20 each. I thought these would be a good recommendation to someone who wanted to begin hiking on a small budget. The first thing … Continued
Hiking Tarka Dal
This continues a series of recipes on simple Dals which you can make quickly from dried ingredients for hiking. Each of these dals has its own unique taste so that you will not tire of them (at least so long … Continued
Cheap Insulated Inflatable Pad:
Klymit’s Ultralight V Sleeping Pad is on Massdrop this morning for US63.74 delivered to Australia ($64.34 delivered to USA address). They have an R rating of 4.4 – enough for the coldest night. You can also pick up one of … Continued
K-Mono Cut
I am looking for new lightweight raincoats for each of us. I came across this wonderful innovative cut on Montbell’s Versalite rain jacket (Womens Medium 142 grams, Mens 168 grams A$190). This is a really genius idea. ‘Cut from a single … Continued
Nitecore Continues to Push the Boundaries:
They have a variety of ultralight rechargeable torches, as well as this excellent charger/powerbank which is all you need to charge them (and anything else!) I already wrote about their remarkable Tube torch here and here. Now they have much … Continued
The Five Mile
posted in: Australia, Backpacking, Camping, Coastal Areas of Victoria, Gippsland, Hiking, Victoria |
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One of Gippsland’s ‘hidden gems’. This sand track lets you access Venus Bay Beach about 8 km out from Tarwin Lower on the Walkerville Rd. You have to be really looking out for it, or you will miss it. At … Continued
DIY Simple Hearing Aid Safety Clip
This is the simplest and cheapest way to make sure you don’t lose your hearing aids on a hiking or canoeing trip (such as this). Works with any BTE (Behind the ear) type hearing aid. Bulldog clip, (dyneema) string, two … Continued
The Lure of the Moose:
posted in: Backpacking, Dusky Sound, Dusky Track, Fiordland, Hiking, Hunting, Lake Roe, Loch Marie, New Zealand, South Coast Track (Fiordland), Uncategorized |
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O, the enchantments of Fiordland: Time and again I have been drawn back to this lush green Eden questing for one of these surviving prehistoric giants, which though sundered from their ancient homeland in the vast boreal forests of the … Continued
New Fancy Feast Stove
‘Zelph’ is clearly a genius (like Jim Woods who made the original of the Super Cat Stove – if you have not made one yet, do so today!). He has taken the ‘Super Cat’ to a whole new level – … Continued
Three Stags
I just love living at Jeeralang. Every day there is something new or wonderful to see, sometimes several. On our evening walks we often see some deer. Usually I only have my phone, so I have lots of lousy shots … Continued
Ultralight Hiking on a Budget
posted in: Backpacking, Equipment, Hiking, Hunting, Packs, Shelter, Uncategorized, Waterproof / Rain Gear |
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The ‘Big Five’ for less than $100 and under 3 kg! I recently posted about this 362 grams cheap 40 litre pack which you can buy from Amazon for US$20. I bought one just to see and found it very … Continued