ITINERARY

Day 1

To Spicers Mt Mistake Farmhouse

Arrival details:

Meet your guides and fellow walkers at 7:45am at Spicers Hidden Vale located at 617 Grandchester Mount Mort Road Grandchester. Your guides will provide you with a briefing for the day ahead before transferring to the start of the walk which is a 40 minute drive. There is a bathroom at the start of the trail and your luggage will be transferred up to camp as you embark on your first day of walking.

Trail:

Today’s trail is approximately 12km on Grade 4 trails. This walk is suitable for experienced hikers as navigation and technical skills will be required. Trails will be long, rough, and steep in sections. Rock scrambling will be required. We use the natural rock to navigate some sections and your guides safely lead the way. This will be an adventurous day that sees you climb up the Mistake Mountain Range with a 600m ascent. The ecosystem s dry, sclerophyll forest with incredible views afforded throughout the day. A highlight is the 16m rock ladder, which you’ll be safely harnessed to. You will cheer each other on as each group member makes it to the top. We aim to arrive into camp by approximately 3.30pm each day depending on conditions and the pace of the group. When you arrive at camp you will be eagerly awaited by your host. From here the afternoon is at your leisure ahead of your daily briefing in the lounge before a share-style dinner at 6:00pm.

Day 2

Spicers Mt Mistake Farmhouse to Spicers Amphitheatre Ecocamp

If the sky is clear, we highly recommend watching sunrise at Spicers Mt Mistake Farmhouse. Breakfast is served at 7:00am with tea and coffee available earlier. Note: breakfast times may vary depending on the time of year and conditions. After breakfast you will pack your luggage and make your final preparations for the day. Your guides will provide you with your lunches, show you where to refill your water bladders and lead you through some stretches. Depart at 8:00am after saying farewell to your host.

Trail:

Today’s trail is approximately 18km in distance. Most of the trail is Grade 3 - a formed track with some obstacles. The trail may have short, steep hills and steps, with the final hour of the day spent on a Grade 5 unformed track. This part of the walk is likely to be very rough, steep and unmarked.

You’ll start with a meandering climb before entering the Gondwana Rainforest for your first encounter with this natural wonder. You’ll emerge from the rainforest to follow a former logging trail. Some sections aren’t under the shade of the canopy, so in the warmer weather we take plenty of water breaks. In the final section of the day we step deep into the rainforest on a private Grade 5 trail that takes us into camp. At approximately 3.30pm you’ll arrive into camp, greeted by your friendly hosts with afternoon tea and a cool beverage. Your hosts and guides will take you up to your treehouse-like cabin giving you an orientation and briefing for the incredible camp you now find yourself in.

There are two wash pavilions at camp and after a well-earned shower you are welcome to make your way to the lounge to relax. We highly recommend watching the sunset at the viewing deck. Dinner is served at 6:00pm. You may wish to leave the tilt door in your cabin open overnight and enjoy the sounds of the forest.

Day 3

Spicers Amphitheatre Ecocamp to Spicers Timber Getters Ecocamp

Each cabin has a yoga mat, so feel free to roll it out on your private balcony or take it down to the viewing deck and enjoy some morning relaxation and stretching before breakfast. Following our morning routine of breakfast, packing and gathering our gear for the day ahead we say farewell to our host and start our day.

Trail

Today’s walk entails Grade 3, Grade 4 and Grade 5 trails and an approximate distance of 16km. We start the day with a relatively flat warm up as we make our way up the access road, enjoying the sounds of the rainforest birds as we go. This initial track can sometimes get muddy so we may have to skirt our way around some puddles as we make our way through. As we descend into the valley we become enveloped by rainforest.

Half of today is on Grade 5 trail with our guides leading the way on the unmarked trails. We ascend down some rocky boulder sections that will require us to crouch down and go slowly. The pace is slower as we take care with our footing while navigating the tree roots and rocky sections.

The last section of the day offers a climb up to camp where your hosts will be waiting to welcome you to Spicers Timber Getters Ecocamp. Architecturally the camps are the same, however, each has a unique interior and exterior style.

Spicers Timber Getters Ecocamp was formerly a loggers camp. You can view the old tin cabin that once housed the loggers ‘timber getters’ of the era. Gather in the lounge for your daily briefing ahead of dinner at 6:00pm. Enjoy a glass of port or Baileys after dinner before turning in for a restful night sleep.

Day 4

Spicers Timber Getters Ecocamp to Spicers Hidden Peaks Cabins

The birdlife in this area is beautiful, particularly at dawn for the early risers. Following our morning routine of breakfast, packing and gathering our gear for the day, we say farewell to our hosts at 8am and start our day.

Trail

Today’s walk entails Grade 3, Grade 4 and Grade 5 trail and an approximate distance of 16km. We start the day with a heart-warming climb up the fire trail and past an old pine plantation. Once we reach the top, we once again head deep into the rainforest on Grade 5 trail. We come across some huge rainforest trees with buttresses six feet tall. Once again the pace is slower as we all take care with our footing while navigating the tree roots and rocky sections.

Emerge from deep in the rainforest to climb up and over Bare Rock. Marvel at the 360 degree views from the top on a clear day. From here we join the public trails and will often pass fellow walkers, not many of whom will ever venture where you have just been. In the final section of the trail the modern world comes into earshot as we hear trucks carrying goods from the coast to the west. Vehicles will be waiting for you at the end of the trail ready to transfer you to Spicers Hidden Peaks Cabins. The drive is approximately 15 minutes to camp where you will be greeted and shown to your handcrafted log cabin, each with your own ensuite. After you have rested and settled into camp we meet around the fire pit to share stories and your favourite memories from the trip followed by our final dinner together.

Day 5

Final Morning

Breakfast on your final morning will be at a leisurely 8am. Your transfer will depart at 10amback to Spicers Hidden Vale or to Brisbane as prearranged.