Epic Hikes of the World ( PDFDrive )

AAt first all I hear is the leafy shuffle of my feet on the path, but gradually the
quiet of the bush envelops me with rustling and soft calls. And then I hear
something scary…the sound of padding feet and a soft drumming behind me.
Carefully turning around I lock eyes with a tall, elegant and beautifully clad local –
an emu, making a weird noise in its throat! Head cocked to the side, checking me
out, it seems quite unconcerned about sharing the track. So I move on slowly until I
find an open space where I can stand aside, then watch as it saunters slowly by,
giving me a cursory glance as only a real local would. This was just the start of a
walk that would sharpen my senses to the ‘sounds of silence’ and give me time to
reflect on my place in a world that already seemed far away.
The Great South West Walk is a 155-mile (250km) loop in Victoria state’s
southwest corner. It unwinds through breathtaking landscapes of towering gum
trees, a river of untouched beauty, magnificent ocean beaches and cliffs, and a
magical world of flowering native bush. It also offers numerous shorter walks, so
you can walk as little or as much as you like. At a gentle pace, the whole hike takes
between 11 and 14 days, and most of it is easy going.