Sole Sisters annual New Zealand Great Walk for 2019 was the four-day Tongariro Northern Circuit around Mt Ngauruhoe (2287 m, aka Mt Doom in The Lord of the Rings films), including a section of the Tongariro Alpine Circuit. Ten ladies joined the trip this year including one brave soul new to multi-day hiking…. [Continue reading]
Maria Island
A large group of eleven sole sisters took off in November 2018 to explore Maria Island off the east coast of Tasmania. The Island is located about 60 minutes drive north of Hobart plus a 40 minute ferry ride. It is famous for its convict heritage, abundance of wildlife, pristine beaches, sweeping bays and dramatic cliffs. We decided to stay 4 nights on the island using The Penitentiary as our base…. [Continue reading]
Three Capes Track
Encounters on the Edge
Each day, 48 hikers set off from Port Arthur on this popular four day walk on the Tasman peninsula. The Three Capes Track should be walked slowly with friends or family: resting at the whimsical story seats, admiring the craft of the track makers, immersing your senses in the diversity of flora and dramatic cliff top views across the southern ocean…. [Continue reading]
South Africa – Table Mountain
A group of adventurous Sole Sisters and partners journeyed to South Africa in March 2018 to hike the Northern Drakensberg Traverse. This traverse is considered to be one of the world’s top 10 walks, and we couldn’t wait to get up there. It would be a shame to go all the way from Australia to South Africa without seeing a few more sights though, so we added a week of fun and sightseeing before we tackled the mountains.
South Africa – Northern Drakensberg Traverse
After a touristy week in the Cape, including a warm-up climb of Table Mountain, our group of adventurous Sole Sisters flew to Durban. Our journey to hike the mighty Drakensberg, or uKhahlamba (barrier of spears) as the Zulu call it, had begun.
Bungonia Gorge
It was 10 brave souls who set out on a somewhat chilly Autumn morning in late April to brave the ‘Red Track’ in Bungonia National Park. Trying not to be disheartened by the numerous warnings on the entry sign, we scrambled and slid down the steep goat track that took us down into Slot Canyon, grateful of our poles for support…. [Continue reading]
The Routeburn Track
A group of seven of us ventured to New Zealand for what seems to have become an annual destination to complete one of their Great Walks. After walking the Heaphy Track last year, this time the Routeburn Track was selected. This track is generally a 2 night/3 day tramp and is located in the Fiordland and Mt Aspiring regions, not far from Queenstown. The Routeburn Track is possibly the next most popular walk in New Zealand (after the Milford Track) and it’s stunning scenery deserves such a reputation. It covers 36km of scenic alpine vistas, lush moss and lichen filled forests, spectacular and abundant waterfalls, lakes (in that wonderful azure glacial blue), gorges and mountain views.
Summer Ocean Pool Challenge – Illawarra
Can I swim one more ocean pool pleeease? Our Sydney Summer Ocean pool jaunt had been such fun, we had to head south and do the Illawarra rock pools. The first challenge was figuring out how to cover the distance between 10 pools in a day, a challenge solved by hiring bicycles from South Coast Bike Hire. Then nature delivered another challenge: Cyclone Gita…. [Continue reading]
Summer Ocean Pool Challenge – Cronulla
Summer Ocean Pool Challenge – Coogee to Malabar
At 5am, in bucketing rain, I wonder how many of our walkers today will turn up to the fifth leg of the Summer Ocean Pool Challenge. By 6am, the rain seems to have eased and the forecast is for clear skies after 7am. It is however cold, but this is a welcome relief from the scorching temperatures of Bondi to Coogee last weekend. I pack a rain jacket and head out the door…. [Continue reading]
