Great North Walk – Intermediate hiking

Feel like a hike to celebrate the end of semester or avoid your responsibilities? Well, join me on a short cruise of the Great North Walk. This splendid 250km (ish) hike spans from Sydney to Newcastle. Now, we will be hiking this trail in 2 sections. First off we will do a 3 day, 100km section between the Macquarie Obelisk and Wondabyne station. Later on in the season we’ll do the remaining 150ish kms, perhaps at a slightly faster pace.

On our way we will pass great river systems, beaches and hidden gems of nature tucked into the outskirts of Sydney and the Central Coast. Now if that doesn’t tempt you, how about the prospect of well deserved nightly campfires with perfectly cooked marshmallows sound (fire bans permitting)? The great thing about this adventure is that you are always only a pinch away from civilisation. These frequent resupplies making your packs luxuriously light. Not tempted? Well, to top it all off we don’t need a car, the whole thing is train accessible! 

This trip is open to any current club members. You do not necessarily need multi-day hiking experience and I am willing to assist in advice for gear and resupply. However, this trip will require a general level of fitness, endurance and navigation skills. It is expected that you are self-sufficient, I won’t be waiting for you. In return, if you wish to carry on ahead, you are welcome to do so. We will have preset campsites and lunch locations to meet and reconvene each day.

So, for some specifics:

• Meet at the Macquarie Obelisk at 7am (this is only a short walk from Circular Quay station)

• Day 1 ~ 35km:
  • You will only need to bring snacks and dinner for this day. There is a cafe that we can stop at for lunch to make our packs lighter!
  • We will camp at “the Jungo” campsite. There is fresh water at this site.

• Day 2 ~ 44km:
  • Camp at Brooklyn Dam campsite, there is fresh water here.

• Day 3 ~ 23km
  • There are cafe options for breakfast.
  • Hop on the train at wondabyne station.. (shorter day so we don’t miss the train home!)

General idea of what to pack:

• Pack**
• Shelter system**
• Sleep system**
• Cook/soak system**
• Walking clothes
• Warm layers
• Rain protection
• First aid kit and toiletries
• Water storage
• Food
• Sun protection
• Cat hole digging utensil
• Maps and compass** (I will help source maps)
• Water treatment system**
• Footwear (whatever you like to hike in, but no bare feet please!)
• Opal card

** Can be borrowed from unswoc

Please include your experience level and a fun fact about you in the comments when you sign up!

Also, feel free to join for just a day or two if you don’t have the time to do the whole thing! Specify this in the “comment” option and I will contact you to give you more specific time windows on when and where to meet.

Get keen, hiker beans!