Well, I did it!
1000 km (600 miles) and 9 sections, I have now officially completed my end-to-end hike of the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia! And that was just a “warm-up” for the PCT. There were of course easy days and hard days but overall it was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget. Western Australia is a beautiful state and quite different than the east coast. The autumn here is optimal for hiking as the summers are too blazing hot and the winters too cold and windy.
In this last and longest section from Dwellingup to Kalamunda, I saw some amazing birdlife. Apart from waking up to the familiar sounds of the laughing kookaburras, I had regular sightings of red-tailed black cockatoos, ringneck parrots, western magpies and blue wrens.
I saw dozens of western brush wallabies in this northern section as well as kangaroos.
The marri (Red Gum) trees were prominent as were the jarrah (eucalyptus marginata) and grass trees (blackboys).
The mozzies (mosquitoes) were not too bad in this section and I saw no snakes this time, only the occasional big spider building its web near the trail to catch its next meal.
I met many more hikers in this stretch including some of the “regulars” who visit the trail quite frequently. Although I don’t have a trail name yet, I think it should have been “TimTam” since I more or less lived on this Australian confection and consumed them like Girl Scout cookies!
All in all, I’m proud of my achievement and this “practice hike” is definitely a confidence-booster for my upcoming PCT thru-hike beginning on May 14th. I hope you’ll follow me!
I’m both grateful and encouraged as the Aussies keep telling me, “goodonya!” (meaning “way to go!”)
Congratulations!!! An adventure with the excitement factor bubbling over the top!!! So happy for you. Enjoy the journey!!!
Hi David. Awesome and congrats on a great walk 🌟🌟🌟 I am in the Bibbulmun Track office tomorrow so would be great to catch up for a coffee. Cheers Isabel
Sounds great! I’ll make sure and see you. I was thinking of heading out to Fremantle by train tomorrow some time or maybe later in the week. I’m scheduled to be going to Rottnest Island on Thursday. My flight back isn’t until the 12th. I guess I get a little vacation for finishing the Bibb early! (36 days)
Well done David! We’ll be following you on the PCT. Best of luck.
Thank you, I look forward to it.
Gday David, Sean here (the goofy looking guy in one of your photos). Glad to see you had a great time in Perth and made it to Rotto. Good luck with your Pacific Crest hike through. Might see you one day on the Larapinta Trail!
Cheers
Great time with you on the Bibb. All the best!
Well done. Great pictures. Looking forward to reading the others this morning. I did get to load some pictures now I just need to get caught up. Enjoy the rest time.