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Tahiti - Adventures in Paradise - Part 1

Tahiti - My Adventures in Paradise #frenchpolynesia #tahiti #embracedbymana #lovetahiti

Looking towards Tahiti from Moorea

I know what you’re thinking.

Overwater bungalows, doe-eyed honeymooners and drinks with paper umbrellas. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with that image, but in the pursuit of the tourism dollar, selling paradise has been an easy sell for a long time. It’s a sell that’s deeply rooted in ‘escape to recharge’. But as one who escapes regularly, I can tell you…

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Nemo Tensor 20R Sleeping Mat

Nemo Tensor 20R Sleeping Mat #gearreview #sleepingmat #hikingreview

Sleeping Mat Gear Review

Being comfortable enough (or tired enough) to get a good night’s sleep in the bush is one of the key complaints that people have when thinking about staying out overnight and camping.

Over the years I’ve slept on different types of sleeping mats, mostly from the traditional players in the field, so I was interested to see what was on offer from the relative newcomer, Nemo…

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What's in a hiker's first aid kit?

What's in a hiker's first aid kit? #hiking #bushwalking #firstaid #survival

A bushwalkers first aid kit

To the uninitiated, you could be forgiven for thinking that all first aid kits are created equal. Just grab one off the shelf at your local chemist or from an outdoors shop (hey, it’s from a gear shop so it should be perfect for outdoor adventures, right?), throw it in your pack and you’re ready to go.

But what does it mean to be ‘initiated’? Here’s some things I’ve…

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Penne Puttanesca Pasta

Delicious Penne Puttanesca Pasta Recipe perfect for #hiking #dehydrator #hikingfood

This great dehydrator recipe is from Katherine Hastie, who’s part of the LotsaFreshAir Facebook community. Have you got a fave bushwalking/hiking recipe you’d like to share? Drop me an email!

Serves 2 hungry hikers

Ingredients

250g penne pasta 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 cloves garlic 4 – 6 anchovies 2 tablespoons capers ¼ cup chopped black or kalamata olives 400g tin crushed tomatoes Fresh basil…

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10 Reasons Why Winter is the Best Season for Aussie Hiking

10 Reasons Why Winter is the Best Season for Aussie Hiking #hiking #bushwalk #aussiehiking #outdooradventure

I know you think you’d rather be tucked up warm inside, reading a good book or bingeing on Netflix, but if you do, you’ll be missing out on the best season for Aussie hiking. Here’s why:

Our pioneering bushwalking fore-fathers… (and mothers) – people like Paddy Pallin or the legend, Dot Butler– had a “walking season”. It was Easter to the October Long Weekend. Outside of this they’d go canyoning,…

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Film Review: Takayna/Tarkine

Film Review: @Patagonia #Takayna #Tarkine - A story of peoples, a story of place.

It’s no secret that I love Tasmania.

The tourism images of great food, wine, wild places, strong communities and incredible bushwalking and hiking opportunities, along with thriving arts vibe seem to call to me constantly on social media.

Nicole Anderson trail running in The Tarkine

When (mainlander) bushwalkers and adventurers think of Tassie the first spots that pop to mind are The Overland…

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SPOT vs PLB vs InReach Comparison

SPOT vs PLB vs InReach Comparison. Which is the best emergency beacon or comms for you? #PLB #SPOTTracker #InReach #Hiking

One of the most important pieces of gear you can have in your backpack for remote, bush or wilderness areas is some form of emergency communications device. It’s the piece of gear that you don’t ever want to have to use, but when you do, you need to rely on it.

The tiny RescueMe PLB (116g). One of the smallest options available to adventurers.

Borrowing from a history embedded with EPIRB…

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World's Longest Hiking Trail

The World's longest hiking trail - The Great Trail of Canada. Are you keen for all 24,000kms? Or maybe just some of it? #TheGreatTrail #Canada #thruhiking #hiking

The Great Trail – 24,000kms Canada

The blade cut into the glass of the lake, creating only wake behind us. Gentle, geometric ripples ran out, uninterrupted to the shore, whilst our eager faces acted as figureheads, pushing into a breeze that only we created.

25% of The Great Trail is paddling routes Caleigh Christie of Falcon Trails Lodge walks a section of The Great Trail in Manitoba, Canada.

Mo…

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Hiking in bear country

How to deal with bears when hiking? #hiking #bears #Canada #thegreattrail

Last year I was lucky enough to spend some time on Canada’s amazing Great Trail. I’ve always wanted to do some walking and hiking in Canada, but there’s that thing about hiking in bear country. Us Aussies may have our infamous Drop Bear, along with plenty of other things that can kill you, but none of them are as big, hairy and ferocious as bears.

I had the opportunity to ask an expert ranger in…

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Garmin InReach Explorer+ Review

Need comms when there's no coverage? Check out my @GarminAU #InReach Explorer+ Review

When something goes wrong, one of the biggest issues affecting safety, when bushwalking or hiking in remote areas, is access to reliable communications with the outside world.

Setting off into the remote Kimberley Ranges, WA.

There are countless stories of epic search and rescues from days gone by, where people walked or waited days (even weeks) for help to injured people. Plane crashes, injured…

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Mt Feathertop via Bon Accord Spur

Trip Report: Mt Feathertop via Bon Accord Spur #bushwalking #hiking #Feathertop #victoria #AAWT

Looking to Mt Feathertop from Bon Accord Spur Mount Feathertop (1922m), the second highest peak in Victoria, looms large over nearby Harrietville. As Australian mountains go, having something that actually looks like a mountain worthy of a climb (Mt Kosciuszko, cough) is a nice goal to have. It’s bulking alpine presence, covered white in winter, an experienced backcountry skiers paradise,…

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World's Best Scroggin Recipe

World's Best #scroggin Recipe or is it #trailmix or #gorp?

I’m a sucker for a good Scroggin. I reckon that finding the best Scroggin recipe is about that fine tuned balance of the bits you love (chocolate), the bits you like (cashews) and the bits you tolerate because you know they’ll give you the nutrients you need in the outdoors (sultanas or seeds). On my trip to Tasmania’s epic South Coast Track, one of the guides (the fabulous ‘Nom’) produced what I…

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Blue Mountains Geographical Encyclopaedia: Book Review

Check out my review of the Blue Mountains Geographical Encyclopaedia #Hiking #Bushwalking #BlueMountains #Australia

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.”... or so Juliet said to Romeo in the 1500’s. Jump to today and think about places around you, your town, your favourite lookout, river, ridge or mountain. Just like Shakespeare’s classic tale, there’s a story behind every one. Tales of heroism, mystery, intrigue or politics. Money, betrayal, adventure or…

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Suunto Spartan Baro HR Review

Looking for a smartwatch for outdoors adventure? Checkout my #Suunto Spartan Baro HR Review.

Apart from a map and compass, the most important tool for navigating in the bush is a watch. Just a humble, everyday, bog standard, time telling watch. It helps you work out how fast you’re travelling, how long it will take to get somewhere and offers clues to your location and finding your way. But it will do that too! These days, a watch can be so much more than just a timepiece and like…

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Macpac Duolight 2P Tent Review

New #GearReview #Macpac Duolight 2P Tent. How will it stack up? #HikingGear

As a longtime user of Macpac products**, I’m always interested when they introduce a new product, like their new two person tent, the Macpac Duolight 2P Tent. Macpac Duolight 2P Tent with 55L pack in vestibule For many years, their bombproof (4 season) Microlight 1P tent was the standard for many Aussie bushwalkers and served them very well. I was secretly jealous and always wanted one! But with…

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7 Reasons why first aid training is essential

What happened when my friend broke her wrist in the wilderness? #firstaid #hiking #wilderness #emergency

Billy Buttons dancing near Mt Feathertop * Warning: Cringe-worthy photos of broken bones below – don’t scroll if squeamish! Slip, drop, SNAP! That’s how our fourth day in the stunning Victorian High Country changed its course from one of a simple final descent to the trailhead, to something quite other. After hearing one of my fellow walkers call my name, I looked up to see only Margot’s backpack…

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Great Podcast for Adventurous Women

Great Podcast for Adventurous Women @spartachicks #podcast #adventurepodcast

I love podcasts. It’s like the radio genie heard about my love for the ABC Conversations (and it’s forebear, Margaret Throsby) and decided to open the doors to millions of such great conversations, from all around the world on topics I care about. Now, I can find on demand radio shows, ie. great podcasts, whenever and wherever I want… such as my new poddie love, Sparta Chicks Radio. During last…