Searching for GPS track or route information about Tasmania and other areas in Australia including Hinchinbrook Island, (the Thorsborne Trail) and the Great Ocean Walk?
We often get searches on "Our Hiking Blog" regarding this information, but are rarely contacted, so we decided to post and declare our willingness to share this information with anyone who takes the time to email us.
Erik Charlton trying to get a satellite on his GPS at the North PoleWe have been using a Garmin eTrex Legend Cx GPS for the last few years and have all the track files and waypoints from each walk we have undertaken since that time. You will probably need Mapsource to read the files.
So, if you are planning a walk in any area covered in "Our Hiking Blog", send us an email or read our post Which GPS for Hiking?
Continue Reading ....
It was a late night for the Hiking Bloggers as we tried to listen to the Geelong / Collingwood preliminary final. We had taken a small radio and speakers just for this momentus occasion. Unfortunately the reception was awful and we only heard one minute in ten of the broadcast, the tension was huge as the game was very close and we paced up and down Nina Bay with the radio held in the air trying to pick up a Sydney radio station!! We finally heard the result 10 minutes after the game had finished and going to bed that night, knowing Geelong would be in the Grand Final the following Saturday, topped off our last night on the island. Go Cats!
The track then goes inland through a long section of rain forrest that skirts a large mangrove area. This was very pleasant walking except for a couple of areas where the track markers were not clear and the ground quite boggy. This area would be a challenge in "the Wet" as it is low lying and would have become very muddy. There were two river crossings,while easy for us, would be quite challenging following heavy rainfall. Below is the first river crossing.
Following a short rainforrest section we came across a very small swimming hole and a few of us had a rinse. It was the size of a large spa but, as with all rivers on the Trail, the water was beautifully clear and cooling. Below Clare is catching up with another walker we met. The swimming hole is at the base of the "Falls". We stopped here for lunch and were rewarded with some great wildlife. 
From here we made our way down to Zoe Bay and found the campsite. The camping area here starts in very sheltered rain forest, about 150 meters from the Beach. Try and remember to fill your water containers up at Zoe Falls, as the closest point where you can get fresh water and reach the river is about 3-400 meters inland from the Beach. 
Later in the afternoon a couple of the boys from Maryborough were casting lures into the area just behind the shore break and were able to catch (and release) several salmon. Pretty keen fishermen to carry in their rods as part of their hiking gear, but they were not the only people we saw enjoying a cast and landing a few fish on this trip. keep that in mind any keen anglers out there!
Sunken Island Reef campsite is not the best area on the walk. It is quite a steep "down" to get to the beach from the main track (30 minutes) The track is un-formed and very slippery at times due to loose rock and steep sections. The camp site has a lot of rubbish (either through rubbish being washed up on the beach or junk left around by previous walkers or kayakers) 
