Category: coastal

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Top 10 Coastal Hikes ➙ South Coast Track, Tasmania

South Coast Track in Australia is one of our top 10 coastal hikes in the world.

BUT — it’s a challenging walk in a region of Tasmania exposed to harsh weather conditions. There are no huts along the track. Track conditions are often difficult. Walkers must be fully self-sufficient, well-equipped and experienced.

Hire a guide if this worries you.

Why?

  • surreal, unique Tasmanian seascapes
  • entirely within Southwest National Park
  • flying in, walking out, the standard route is 82km (51mi)
  • 6-8 days Melaleuca to Cockle Creek
  • best months December to March
  • wild, inspiring, rugged
  • World Heritage wilderness
  • “alpine peaks, pristine beaches, alpine meadows, dense rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, dune communities, dry coastal forest and more”
  • no booking required
  • no quotas on numbers of bushwalkers
  • chance to see some of the weird and wonderful — sometimes dangerous — Aussie wildlife

Click PLAY or watch a Tasmanian Expeditions promo video on YouTube.

For details, click over to our South Coast Track information page.

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Vancouver Island Dawn Beach Photos

by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

When I’m visiting Parksville on Vancouver Island — my parent’s home — most mornings I pick up coffee and head to Rathtrevor Beach, my favourite on Vancouver Island.

Walk with coffee.

Most mornings I take some wonderful photos.

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Backpacking on Vancouver Island, Canada

Backpacking on Vancouver Island: The Essential Guide to the Best Multi-Day Trips and Day Hikes, was selected top guidebook at the 2024 Banff Mountain Book Competition.

Author Taryn Eyton.

I’m spending most of the year on Vancouver Island myself and can heartily recommend the destination and this guidebook.

In fact, the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island is our #1 hike in the world.




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Faroe Islands in 90 Seconds

The Faroe Islands are one of the most scenic places I’ve ever hiked. No place is more than 5km from the sea. 

I was there for 12 days summer 2024, arriving by ferry from Denmark en route to Iceland.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

Here’s my advice for Cycling / Hiking the Faroe Islands.

This edit was Inspired by Experience the John Muir Trail in Just 2 Minutes.

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Hiking Lake Sørvágsvatn, Faroe Islands

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

Almost every tourist to the Faroe Islands goes to see the lake hanging over the ocean. Unique and spectacular.

Sørvágsvatn is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands. 

… surface is about 40 m (130 ft) above the level of the sea.

It is surrounded by a higher cliff which prevents it from emptying fully into the ocean, the waterfall Bøsdalafossur being the outlet.

The greater height of the cliffs on either side of Bøsdalafossur can give the illusion from certain perspectives that the lake is higher above sea level than it is.

The waterfall vista is great. But personally I liked even better walking the Trælanípan cliff — aka the ‘Slave Cliff’. Supposedly where slaves were pushed to their deaths.

There are many, many birds nesting on those vertical sides.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

In 2024 the hiking fee was 450 kr (USD $42) / adult (ages 15+) for a guided walk. 200 kr (USD $20) / adult (ages 15+) to hike on your own, as I did.

Price is $teep. And has been going up in recent years. Know that there are other great cliff walks free in the Faroe Islands. 😀

official website – tralanipan.fo

related – Moon and Honey – Lake Sørvágsvatn (Floating Lake above the Ocean) and the Trælanípa Hike, Faroe Islands

Moon and Honey – entrance

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British Columbia Marine Trails Code

I spend a lot of time on the B.C. coast. Love it.

Our #1 hike in the world is the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island.

Often I’m on First Nations Traditional Land. And I want to be respectful of each First Nations rules.

Here’s the Marine Trails Code Of Conduct.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.