347 Great South West Walk Reality vs Expectations
Show notes
In this final episode of our series on my journey on the Great South West Walk we look and at my pre-trip expectations and compare them to the reality of my on-trail experience. In addition will provide recommendations to assist you if you are planning on doing this trip yourself.
Podcast Overview
In this episode we look at my pre trip expectations and compare them to the reality of my on trail experiences on th Great South West Walk
- Podcast and Episode introduction (time index 0:01:33)
- Why this episode? (time index 0:01:57)
- Planning (time index 0:02:46)
- Planning phase
- GSWW Website
- Guidebook and Map
- Planning phase
- Transport (time index 0:06:44)
- Was it as complex as we thought it was going to be?
- Bus-Train-Bus to trail head
- Was it as complex as we thought it was going to be?
- Trail head – trail tread (time index 0:011:49)
- Better than we thought
- Single Track trail, beach, and Management Road
- Keep a eye out on tides on the southern ocean walking
- Campsite facilities (time index 0:15:56)
- Overall discussion including
- Toilets
- Toilet paper
- Shelters
- Tables
- Whats with the squares?
- Benches
- Clothes Hooks
- Tables
- Tent surfaces at the various sites
- Tent pads at Mallee Campground
- Natural ground otherwise
- Water Tanks
- Bring a water filter or at the very least something to filter out the solids
- Seats in the odd scenic are here and there but limited
- Toilets
- Overall discussion including
- Mobile and internet reception (time index 0:22:04)
- Good with exceptions (Telstra)
- From day 3 to the middle of day 6 on the northern section of the trail its almost non existent.
- Southern section of the trail is good overall but not all the time
- Scenery (time index 0:26:50)
- Northern section
- Southern Section
- Animal and birdlife (time index 0:31:01)
- Wallabies
- Goats
- Kangaroos
- Snakes 2 in total
- Birdlife – Lots
- 1 x Echidna
- I like the nightlife!
- The little things in life (time index 0:35:02)
- Not so much at this time of the year
- Weather (time index 0:36:31)
- Luck of the draw
- Winter is the rainy season
- Luck of the draw
- Camping gas and outdoor supplies (time index 0:37:34)
- Portland only
- Nelson vs Portland
- Accomodation
- Miscellaneous
- Blow downs
- Overgrown trail in some coastal sections
- Trail signage
- How easy is this walk? (time index 0:42:34)
- So would we recommend it? (time index 0:45:13)
- Definitely, but
- Suggested Itinerary
- My fitness (time index 0:47:33)
- Last but not least my fitness (time index 0:48:54)
- Close (time index 0:48:21)
Resources
Great South West Walk map from the trail website
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Publishing date
12 May 2026