There are only so many books one can read during this time of isolation, so I've taken a break from reading about the exploits of others and have started compiling a bucket list of places I plan to revisit when we can all get out and about again.
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I figure travel will be restricted, so the planned overseas trip has been put on the back-burner.
Instead, I've been reviewing some of the multi-day hikes I've enjoyed closer to home and here's what I've come up with so far.
Great Ocean Walk While tourists drive between Aireys Inlet and the Twelve Apostles, this is a slower route traversing cliff tops and beaches, allowing hikers time to experience breathtaking coastal views, stroll across long, sweeping beaches, tackle the rugged headlands and stroll through ancient forests. If you're keen, you can even take a dip in the Southern Ocean.
Wilson's Promontory NP There's something pretty special about stepping out of the coastal scrubland onto the beach at Sealer's Cove, pulling off one's boots and letting the pure white sands caress your aching feet. Then there's the added bonus of the sapphire waters, not to mention the solitude and the serenity of this magic place.
Cobberas Wilderness Area In the remote north-east of Victoria, just south of the NSW border, this place requires a bit of grunt to get to, but it's well worth it. This is fair dinkum wilderness; a place of wild, untamed beauty with its signature imprint - a spine of magnificently rugged peaks rising above the surrounding bush land.
Victoria's High Plains There are plenty of hiking tracks on the nearby High Plains and many of them lead to old cattleman's huts that echo a bygone era. Some, such as Cope and Wallace's Hut are a short stroll from the car; others involve a full day's hike. As soon as I can, I'll be heading out to Youngs Hut or Edmondson Hut to camp overnight and self isolate all over again.
Gundabooka NP You'll find this hidden gem 10 hour's drive north of Albury and 100 kms beyond Cobar. According to Aboriginal legend, Goanna created the imposing sandstone range and when he finished, lay down to sleep. It isn't hard to imagine the sleeping form of a giant lizard that makes up this crescent-shaped outcrop rising above the surrounding plains. Steeped in indigenous folklore, Gundabooka is imbued with a real outback flavor.
That's just the start of my bucket list. As I pore over maps, read tent-bound scribbles in my trip notebooks, and scroll through umpteen files of photos I almost believe I'm back out there with the currawongs calling, my boots scrunching on the track and the breeze on my back - wild and free.
So, why don't you start compiling your own bucket list of places to visit when we're all finally let off our leashes?
