About an hour and a half from Hervey Bay, or 15 minutes from Biggenden is Mt Walsh National Park. Here is one of the sketchy-est and most fun hikes that can be found in the area.
Following the National Park Rd you wind your way through farm land and curious cows. This is a dirt road and that dust finds its way in everywhere. This is an area that you can camp in, but need to check in with the rangers to find where you can set up. Arriving at the car park there is plenty of space. There are also covered picnic tables and toilet facilities available.
This hike is about 3.5km out and back and certainly throws a few challenges at you. For those who are fit, you’re looking at about 2.5 hours there and back. If, like me, it’s been a hot minute since you did a hike, allow yourself a fair bit more time.
Tip: go early to avoid the heat. This is tough enough without having to try battle through heat and dehydration too. There’s not a lot of shade on this track so in the summer definitely go early.
This is a very steep track. Once you cross the creek from the car park it’s basically upwards from there. The track can be slippery when wet, but it can also be slippery when dry. The combination of dust and loose rock makes some sections a bit tricky. As previously mentioned, there’s not much shade. This is an area where burn-backs are done, so you also need to make sure that you check park alerts to make sure that the track is,open.
As you push yourself up the side of the hill there is plenty to look at. There are plenty of locals to see, in fact there were a few wallaby who hopped by me, making me feel well inferior in climbing comparison! There is also plenty of bird life complete with an eagle that tends to circle the top. This is a popular track so you are likely to meet some fellow hikers along the way.
Three quarters of the way up the bush gives way and it seems that the track has disappeared. This is the section where dust gives way to rock and twigs gets sketchy pretty quickly. Here you start rock climbing, literally. This track really is for experienced hikers, and you want to make sure that you have shoes with really good grip too as this is the last place that you want to slip. The scrabble up the rocks in places is vertical and not for the faint hearted. Ironically, this section is easier than the dusty track and it feels like you conquer it a lot faster than the track.
Tip: AllTrails is an app I like to use when hiking tracks like this. The track is already mapped out and if you are having trouble finding it, you can check on the map. You can also time the track and find more information about the tracks you’re doing on there.
Emerging from the bush at the top it’s fair to say that all the pain, sweat, mental barraging you had to do is totally worth it for the view. At the summit you are 703m up and the vistas are stunning.
What goes up must come down, and this is where even more caution is needed. Going down certainly gives those legs a solid workout and can be very slippery. If you’re after a track that will push you and is something a bit different, then this is certainly a good option for you.
If you have time, the Utopia falls track is a more sedate walk that takes you past the Utopia falls. This is a short drive around to another section of the National park, takes about and hour to complete and is worth it for a look-see.
Hiking Mount Walsh may seem tough, but for keen hikers it’s a good one to add to the list!
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