We've just got back to my parents place in Armidale, Australia, after a fabulous couple of days on our honeymoon in the outback.
The Warrumbungles are a landscape of volcanic remnants that rise abrubtly from a vast expanse of plains, roughly 450km inland from the east coast of Australia. The view from Whitegum Lookout (above) is spectacular and shows the running we did over 2 days, the first including Bluff Mountain (1202m), the largest lump to the left, and the second day taking in the the highest peak, Mt Exmouth (1206m), a spectacular mountain that is well worth the sweat drenching, heart pounding run up.
Iain found a great place for us to stay, a wee mud cottage in the middle of the bush with no electricity but wonderfully cosy and a great BBQ. The outdoor dunny (photo above) took a while for him to get used to though!
It was dry and hot. 30+ degrees. If you planned your run on being able to fill your water bottle at the creeks you'd be in trouble. The dust on the creek bed looked as thirsty as we were.
You'd sweat so much there was no way you could keep replacing enough water back into your system. There are a few water tanks along the trails, but they are few and far between... and don't think you'll be able to refill at Burbie Camp - maybe if you were desperate you'd guzzle down the brown chunky liquid that comes from the spring fed tap but we weren't that desperate.
On the ascent towards the 'high tops'
You see an amazing array of wildlife in the Australian bush - in a few days running we saw Emus (above), Kangaroos, a Pretty-faced Wallaby, Echidnas, countless parrots and cockatoos, Wedge-tailed eagles... and more. I'd have to say of the all the trails we've run in the world, the Australian bush is the best place for seeing such a variety of unique and plentiful wildlife.
Grey Kangaroo
View west from Bluff Mountain
The Breadknife - 100m high and less than 2m wide at the top.
Running up to Mt Exmouth, with 'Black Boys' in the foreground.
The views from Mt Exmouth (1206m)
Running log:
Day 1 - 2hr 30min, 17km, 890m ascent
Day 2 - 3hr, 24km, 980m ascent
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