Wilderness in Australia!!! ... - Thorn Tree travel forum

Wilderness in Australia!!!

Replies: 14 - Last Post: 06-Aug-2006 19:16 Last Post By: speedyturtle

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Posted
28-Jul-2006 02:52
by: Twiny

Posts: 3
Registered: 20/08/04

Wilderness in Australia!!!

Hello!

My boyfriend would like to go on a tour for approximately
one week in Wilderness somewhere in Australia.
It should be based on trekking and a lot of nature, animals and should be
as much as possible away from towns.
We will be in Australia in August/September-he will go on a tour in September.
Could you recommended some tour based on your own experience!!!!

THANK you!!!
Twiny

Posted
28-Jul-2006 05:13
by: cacycle

Posts: 621
Registered: 31/07/03

1

You're sending your boyfriend into the wilds of Australia without knowing even where is a good place to go? Are you trying to get rid of him?

That time of year, the northern Australia is still good for trekking: north of Cairns in the Cape Tribulation area, and up in the tablelands. Also the parks near Darwin should be nice: Kakadu, Litchfield, Katherine.

You should check on weather that time of year: I've only been to these places in the winter (July/Aug) and weather was perfect. Would be a bit warmer in Sept. Don't know when typhoons are likely to hit the tropical north.

Alternatively there are nice parks around Sydney. It should be warm enough in Sept for good trekking, but you should check. If you're into adventure, try Tasmania.

You could also post in the Australasia & Pacific - Australia, New Zealand & Antarctica branch for more responses.

Posted
28-Jul-2006 06:15
by: fear_of_flying

Posts: 9
Registered: 09/12/03

2

I've got a friend in Perth who has told me about the Kimberleys (in the northwest part ot the country), and from her info, this would seem a destination for your boyfriend to consider.

The good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.

Posted
28-Jul-2006 07:54
by: Twiny

Posts: 3
Registered: 20/08/04

3

Thank you Caycle and Fear of flying for those information.

But Caycle I don't need this cynicism!
I'm not sending my boyfriend into the wilds - he want to go there on his own.
I'm asking because he would like to know (and he don't have time to write in this forum)
which place is the best. Isn't that obviously?

WKR
Twiny

Posted
28-Jul-2006 09:06
by: cacycle

Posts: 621
Registered: 31/07/03

4

I was only being mildly cynical. Solo travel in the Australian wilderness isn't for everyone.

8 of the 10 most venomous snakes are found in Australia. I was once mountain biking up near Cairns when our leader stopped up suddenly. He took us off the trail and around some trees. Afterwards he told us he spotted a tan adder on the trial and didn't want to disturb it. One bite will kill almost anyone. It's known to have a bad disposition and will chase after anything that disturbs it. And this was just 30 minutes from Cairns.

Oh, and don't get me started on spiders.

Posted
28-Jul-2006 10:38
by: Twiny

Posts: 3
Registered: 20/08/04

5

Cycyle I DID NOT MEAN SOLO!!!! IN a group!!!

Posted
28-Jul-2006 11:07
by: cacycle

Posts: 621
Registered: 31/07/03

6

Quote
he want to go there on his own

No need to yell. Just thought that's what you meant.

Posted
29-Jul-2006 14:04
by: MadMolly

Posts: 15
Registered: 12/01/04

7

Could always head over to Tas... Cradle Mountain Trek, awesome.

Go hard, go fast, jus' don't stop.
Mad Molly.

Posted
29-Jul-2006 21:50
by: ngapalibeach

Posts: 1,500
Registered: 15/07/02

8

Cacyle what a load of crap. There is less than one death a year on average from snake and spider deaths. Your more likely to be killed traveling by car and plane to the site of walking than you are to be killed by venome of an animal in Australia. The venom is deadly but the method of delivery is poor.

Twiny, remember that a lot of animals in Australia are nocturnel, so go out at night to try and spot them.
Does he plan to trek for the week or more days walks based in a wilderness situation?

Agree Tassie, Blue Mountains, Cape Tribulation and Kimberlies are good ideas but it will depend on how much walking you are interested in.

Posted
30-Jul-2006 14:27
by: newdawn2001

Posts: 29
Registered: 09/05/03

9

Definately recommend Kimberley, Western Australia as top preference (my favourite place in Australia - a little bias as I am a West Aussie - but have travelled around every state), Kakadu or Arnham Land, Northern Territory as second.

Most tourist do the Eastern States ant trail thing - not that it isn't good, but I do believe these two give you a deeply Australian experience. Of course, it would be better as always if he could go for longer, but if it is his preference it is possible to do both in a week eg three days, Kakadu - travel to Kunnunurra - a few days around there on tour.

As always, heaps of tours to choose from, all can be booked in Darwin or Kunnunurra, definately cheapest itf you book there but have to give yourself a little space ie the tour you want may only depart once or twice a week.

My advise reseach the areas your interested on the net, particularly regarding specific sights / places you want to see, maybe have a tour company in mind as a back up and if you have a weeks lee-way book when you get there. About wildlife in Australia, except in waterhole areas eg yellow waters, kakadu, it is not easy to come across in a natural setting due to camoflage / their nature - in my opinion for the best wildlife experience, try to pick a tour that has an Aboriginal guide or at least vehicle driver. I had one that just spotted and grabbed a frill necked lizard off a tree that none of us could even see at first. Also formost consider distances when planning anything in Australia, especially in the outback!!

I know that it will be a wonderful experience. Have fun!!

"...but I, I took the road less travelled by ... that has made all the difference..." Robert Frost

Posted
31-Jul-2006 12:22
by: cacycle

Posts: 621
Registered: 31/07/03

10

Quote
The venom is deadly but the method of delivery is poor.

Yeah, so you've survived bites from these snakes? If not then I suggest you're full of crap.

BTW, this site disagrees with your estimation of less than one death per year from snake bites. They seem to think over 200 people are killed by snake bites each year...but I'm sure they are wrong, and you, of course, are right.

Posted
31-Jul-2006 22:29
by: ngapalibeach

Posts: 1,500
Registered: 15/07/02

11

Cacycle, there are two delivery methods of snake bite. They may injected through the centre of the fang or have it drip down a groove, that may be enclosed but opens before the end. Australian snakes use the second method, which is a lot less efficient in injecting into the wound, so the venom needs to be stronger to cause death. The fangs of Australian snakes normally are smaller than snakes like Cobras so do not penetrate as well.

The link you refers to talks about deaths in Oceania not in Australia as 200. If you read the original source, it talks of a mortality rate of 0.03 per 100 000 annualy in Australia. With a population of 20 000 000, that is 6 people not 200. The highest estimate I have heard reported within Australia is 3 by the poviders of antivenom. Most refer to less than 1.

Read stats but at least check them out, so you know wwhat they mean before quoting them to back an arguement. Still way less then deaths from car accidents or bee stings, an average of 10 a year in Australia.

Yes, you need to take care of snakes but there is no need to become paranoid. There are reasons to hike in at least a pair but that is general bushwalking safety not because of the dangers or likeliehood of being bitten by a snake.

Posted
31-Jul-2006 22:42
by: ngapalibeach

Posts: 1,500
Registered: 15/07/02

12

Gets better, the article by Sutherland that the WHO used to obtain its data said their had been 6 deaths from 1992-1994 or 2 a year, so it seems that they have taken the three year period and made it an annual section. His previous data show 18 deaths in the ten years to 1991. The thing the 6 cases had in common was they did not treat the bite with first aid, which is a compression bandage and immobilisation.

Posted
03-Aug-2006 21:58
by: Babyroo

Posts: 1
Registered: 03/08/06

13

Whilst the north of WA is beautiful and has many national parks as mentioned there are also long walking trails such as the Biddilum trail which goes from Perth to Albany on the South West coast. If he is doing it on his own it may be preferable to a total wildness experience and there will stops on route for water etc. It is a beautiful part of WA and takes in the massive forests, some of the coast and would be very remote much of the time giving him the 'wilderness' he is after.

Posted
06-Aug-2006 19:16
by: speedyturtle

Posts: 397
Registered: 09/02/05

14

hmmmm.....I'm an Aussie and spend an awful lot of time in rural areas. I've never heard of a "tan adder" - perhaps your guide meant a brown snake? The Eastern Brown or King Brown is quite venomous and can also be fractious.

The chances of actually encountering snakes are grossly overestimated. My brother teaches outback survival skills and often complains of how hard it is to find snakes, they are one of his favourite bush foods and he actively searches for them to eat.

Leave 'em alone and they'll leave you alone. The greater percentage of people who get bitten by snakes were actually trying to catch and / or kill the snake at the time.

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