192 pages, 96 colour photographs, 51 colour
topographic maps, ISBN 0 9596129 6 3, Recommended Price A$32.95
(inc GST).
Currently the book is
sold out Most shops have sold out so it is becoming difficult to
find a
copy - none of my distributors have copies. Due to the February
2009 fires we
will hold back the next edition until some areas reopen for walking in
early 2010 - the update page
lists the fire effected walks. Currently I have no seconds (books
with either a bent
corner or slightly damaged cover). We are working on the new edition
and plan to have it on sale in late-2010. We have clear
plastic protective covers for $3 each (postage included).
Describes 50 walking areas around Victoria with a total of 96 walks. For each walking area, one walk is described in detail and a series of variations based on the main walk are also given if appropriate. Areas covered range from Portland, Grampians, Enfield Forest, Mt Cole and Buangor State Forests, Cape Otway, Aireys Inlet, Angelsea, Daylesford, Swan Bay, Point Cooke, Gellibrand Hill, Mt Macedon, Brisbane Ranges, Lysterfield & Churchill Parks, Dandenongs, Cape Schanck, Phillip Island, French Island, Strath Creek, Murrindindi, Mt St Leonard, Ada Valley, Lake Mountain, Fraser National Park, Mt Samaria, Tyers River, Mt Baw Baw, Alpine National Park and others. For those based in Melbourne, 27 of the walking areas are within day walk distance of Melbourne.
Walks range from 4 to 22km in length. Of the 96 variations, there are 39 from 4 to 10km, 34 from 10 to 15km, 17 from 15 to 20 km and 6 walks of over 20km. Grades range from Easy to Hard and the grading is similar to that used by most walking clubs in Victoria hence there is something for everybody. While many of the Easy walks are suitable for families, at the other end of difficulty some of the Hard walks include off-track sections and are intended for experienced walkers.
The book is a full colour production with colour topographic maps. Map sizes range from half page to 1 and a half pages for each walk and standard metric scales are used, mainly 1:25,000 or 1:50,000. The guide also includes a 2 page key map of Victoria and a 6 page Walk Index designed to assist with selecting a walk.One innovation over earlier books are the inclusion of gradient
profiles showing climbs and descents - other publishers have since
copied the idea. All profiles are the same
scale throughout the book enabling easy comparison between different
walks.