South West Life

Bushwalking, or hiking, is an "all year round" activity in the south west, but the cooler months are some of the most popular months according many people.

Autumn, winter and spring are popular for bushwalking because the weather is cool, the forest is lush green, and the rivers and waterfalls are at their peak. Add to that a hot thermos flask or campfire, and you've got the makings of a great day out.

The south west is of course littered with hundreds of registered walks and bush tracks, and thousands more unlisted ones. Depending on where you go, the scenery can range from dense forest, to ocean cliffs, to grass plains. They also range from short and easy walks (including many that can be accessed by people with disabilities) right through to steep climbs on rocky hills.

My personal favourites are the tracks that follow a river, passing the odd waterfall or rapids section. Every now and then I'll sit down by a section of the river, and if I've got my fishing rod with me I may even have a quick troll for that elusive trout.

So, where are the best places to go? Well, "best" is a hard one to answer, but some of the more popular locations are as follows:

• Wellington Dam - There are a number of great walks around the Wellington Dam area, including from the dam itself down to the Honeymoon Pool area, passing by "Big Rock", "Little Rock", and the rapids
  
  
• Harvey/Logue Brook Dam - Including Hoffman Mill and other areas in the jarrah forrest east of Harvey.
  
  
• Nanga/Dwellingup - The Murray river here provides some great backdrops to walks around the old Nanga mill site
  
  
• Leeuwin Naturalist National Park - Stunning views all along the limestone coast of this area
  
  
• Valley of the Giants - Possibly the best of all - who could not be in awe of the massive karri trees of the areas around Pemberton, Manjimup, Walpole, and Denmark.

A very comprehensive list of around 50 bushwalks in the south west can be found in a booklet produced by the Department of Conservation and Land Management, called "Bushwalks in the South West". The department's web site is at www.calm.wa.gov.au.

Any what should you take? Here's some points to get you started:

• Walking shoes/boots - this will make all the difference at the end of the day. You'll feel the difference between sandshoes and proper walking boots
  
  
• Water - although you may find water along the way, most people recommend it's boiled before drinking. So take your own, and take enough (at least one or two litres per person).
  
  
• Food - walking makes you hungry! And please, keep your rubbish with you to dispose of properly when you get back.
  
  
• Protective clothing - this depends on the time of year and where you're walking, but you need to think about hats, raincoats, sunscreen, whatever
  
  
• Binoculars - great for getting a closer look at those kangaroos, cockatoos, and other wildlife
  
  
• Fishing Rod - for those of you who are into fishing, there's a number of spots around the south west that are good for freshwater fishing. But, please ensure you have a license, observe the bag and size limits, and only fish in season. Fish for the future!
  
  
• First Aid - a small first aid kit is often a good idea. Include some insect repellant too.
  
  
• Family & Friends - solo bushwalks can be nice sometimes, but you'll often enjoy it more with others. And the kids will love it too.

If you've got a favourite bushwalking spot, or perhaps a story or photo of a south west track, let us know and we'll let everyone in on it.

Really now, why would you be anywhere else?