Aussie camino

Anamya · Apr 16, 2019

Has anyone done the Aussie Camino from Portland (VIC) to Penola (SA), in Australia?
Self-guided or tour? What are your thoughts on it?
How much history/pretty landscapes did you see?

Walli Walker · Apr 16, 2019

Hi Anamya, I’m a member of the Sunshine Coast Camino Group in Queensland. Quite a few of our group have done this Camino. Check them out on Facebook. I’m sure that you’ll get lots of help. Jacki.

John Hungerford · Apr 28, 2019

Dear Anamya - A group of us did the Aussie Camino in May 2018. 4 started and 3 finished as one had terrible blisters. The walk is really in commemoration of Sister Mary Mackillop - Australia's only Saint. There's a good website at www.aussiecamino.org. We saw no others on the 10 days that we took - self guided. We stayed in Portland and arranged transport to pick up/deliver us for the first 4 stages to Nelson. Then we stayed in booked accommodation (usually a hotel) at the end of the other stages. All booked before we commenced. Part of it is along the beach (walking into the wind). If you PM me I'll provide more information. Buen Aussie Camino

sharon w · Apr 28, 2019

Anamya said:
Has anyone done the Aussie Camino from Portland (VIC) to Penola (SA), in Australia?
Self-guided or tour? What are your thoughts on it?
How much history/pretty landscapes did you see?

Hi Anamya. I walked this route in April, 2016. There were 9 of us. We organised a friend to drive a rental car as backup between Portland and Nelson. We used Luke Mills’ guidebook, but organised everything ourselves.

sharon w · Apr 28, 2019

sharon w said:
Hi Anamya. I walked this route in April, 2016. There were 9 of us. We organised a friend to drive a rental car as backup between Portland and Nelson. We used Luke Mills’ guidebook, but organised everything ourselves.

The landscape is stunning along the coast. Then, after Port MacDonnell you head north through rolling hills. I thought the walk was beautiful.

sharon w · Apr 30, 2019

sharon w said:
The landscape is stunning along the coast. Then, after Port MacDonnell you head north through rolling hills. I thought the walk was beautiful.

If you are prepared to camp between Cape Bridgewater and Nelson, you won’t need a backup vehicle. There are camping spots with water and toilets. Also, the manager at Cape Bridgewater Lodge will do pick up and drop off if you organise it with him.

Anamya · Apr 30, 2019

sharon w said:
If you are prepared to camp between Cape Bridgewater and Nelson, you won’t need a backup vehicle. There are camping spots with water and toilets. Also, the manager at Cape Bridgewater Lodge will do pick up and drop off if you organise it with him.

I'm usually not a big fan of camping, but this is very good information. I will be in Melbourne for work later this week and will see if I can stop by the Mary McKillop Centre to get one of Luke's guides

Anamya · May 10, 2019

Just got the guidebook ($15) , 2 passports ($5 each) and our first stamps at the Heritage Centre in Melbourne. Very interesting read, it is a strong contender for a next camino

Steven B · May 10, 2019

Anamya said:
Has anyone done the Aussie Camino from Portland (VIC) to Penola (SA), in Australia?
Self-guided or tour? What are your thoughts on it?
How much history/pretty landscapes did you see?

Hi Anamya, I was planning to walk this year. Checked out the beach campsites last week. Surprised to see flushing toilets and water! I live near Penola and have the luxury of walking a Camino that takes me home! The weather has turned cold and wet this week and wet is normal here from autumn to spring. I am planning to walk in a couple of weeks if that does not work out will wait till next year as I will be off to another Camino in France or Spain in August. Cheers Buen Camino.

sharon w · May 16, 2019

Anamya said:
Just got the guidebook ($15) , 2 passports ($5 each) and our first stamps at the Heritage Centre in Melbourne. Very interesting read, it is a strong contender for a next camino

If you do the walk, you receive a certificate like the one in Santiago. We were also given refreshments when we arrived at the centre in Penola.

Anamya · May 16, 2019

Steven B said:
The weather has turned cold and wet this week and wet is normal here from autumn to spring.

Very useful info, thanks!

We are not sure when we are going, probably will have to break it in two trips as we have not much leave left.
If we break it, where is a good point to stop and then restart, in terms of logistics? Nelson? Port MacDonnel?

sharon w said:
If you do the walk, you receive a certificate like the one in Santiago. We were also given refreshments when we arrived at the centre in Penola.

Oohhh, that would be quite adorable

Not that we are seeking certificates, but it is always a nice way to mark a nice experience. In general, did you enjoy it? What were the easiest and hardest aspects of it?

Steven B · Oct 20, 2020

I may be going to do this Camino next week!!

Anamya · Nov 19, 2020

@Steven B

Hey Steven, how did it go? No issue with border closures? Did you do it with a group?

Steven B · Nov 20, 2020

Anamya said:
@Steven B

Hey Steven, how did it go? No issue with border closures? Did you do it with a group?

Hi Anamya,

No problems did it solo and walked all the way including the 50km+ of beach walking. I could cross the border as I live near Penola and have a cross border community permit. I posted each section on my facebook page link below

https://www.facebook.com/steven.bennett.332345/posts/10224730523597122

Anne&Pat · Nov 20, 2020

Steven B said:
Hi Anamya,

No problems did it solo and walked all the way including the 50km+ of beach walking. I could cross the border as I live near Penola and have a cross border community permit. I posted each section on my facebook page link below

https://www.facebook.com/steven.bennett.332345/posts/10224730523597122

Hi Steven,
Only just noticed this thread about the Aussie Camino. Glad you enjoyed it. We did it in April, 2015 and also had a great time. We actually live in Cape Bridgewater, so wish we had known you were going passed the door, you could have given us a shout and dropped in!
Buen Camino,
Anne & Pat

Lexicos · Nov 20, 2020

Blow me down, I didn't know there was an Aussie Camino!
And here I am, trying to create my own ....

....

Steven B · Nov 21, 2020

It would be good to have a longer Australian Camino with towns every 20km or so. Difficult around here. Maybe on the East Coast

Gumba · Nov 21, 2020

Lexicos, there is more than one! The Camino Salvado from Perth, WA (its on my bucket list..

Camino Salvado - A PILGRIMAGE FROM SUBIACO TO NEW NORCIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Camino Salvado

www.caminosalvado.com

Steven B · Nov 21, 2020

I

Gumba said:
Lexicos, there is more than one! The Camino Salvado from Perth, WA (its on my bucket list..

Camino Salvado - A PILGRIMAGE FROM SUBIACO TO NEW NORCIA, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Camino Salvado

www.caminosalvado.com

I will put it on the list!!

Anamya · Nov 24, 2020

Steven B said:
I will put it on the list!!

I was going to walk the Salvado in August ths year, but it got cancelled s so many other plans!
Hopefully I can do the Aussie Camino early next year

Bronte DownUnder · May 8, 2021

Credit must go to Luke Mills for establishing the Aussie Camino. He has worked tirelessly since 2013 to get the route recognised and it certainly should be promoted internationally. I'm not sure if Ivar is familiar with it but Luke would be a fantastic person to interview (if it hasn't already been done) - I'm not on the Forum very often. Luke has also interviewed pilgrims for his Coffee & Camino podcasts which are available online. We had the pleasure of meeting with Luke in Melbourne early last year to record our episode, having walked the French Camino, the Spanish Camino and Portuguese from Porto to Santiago. Though I haven't done the Aussie Camino yet, I've just learned that Luke no longer hosts these walks - the reigns have been handed over to a few trekking/travel groups. If you're not familiar with the Aussie Camino, take a look online at http://www.aussiecamino.org.
Buen Camino from DownUnder

Anne&Pat · May 9, 2021

Bronte DownUnder said:
Credit must go to Luke Mills for establishing the Aussie Camino. He has worked tirelessly since 2013 to get the route recognised and it certainly should be promoted internationally. I'm not sure if Ivar is familiar with it but Luke would be a fantastic person to interview (if it hasn't already been done) - I'm not on the Forum very often. Luke has also interviewed pilgrims for his Coffee & Camino podcasts which are available online. We had the pleasure of meeting with Luke in Melbourne early last year to record our episode, having walked the French Camino, the Spanish Camino and Portuguese from Porto to Santiago. Though I haven't done the Aussie Camino yet, I've just learned that Luke no longer hosts these walks - the reigns have been handed over to a few trekking/travel groups. If you're not familiar with the Aussie Camino, take a look online at http://www.aussiecamino.org.
Buen Camino from DownUnder

We agree with you Bronte. We did the Aussie Camino in 2015 under the auspices of Luke Mills.
He has done an amazing job establishing it and in some ways we are a bit sad that he’s no longer running it. But completely understand why. A group organised by a Ballarat travel company has just finished in Penola yesterday. We had one of the group stay with us in Cape Bridgewater ( which is on the Aussie Camino as well as the Great South West Walk)for three nights at the start of the walk from Portland, Victoria.
We have also done Coffee & Camino with Luke and look forward to hearing yours Bronte when it’s uploaded later this year.
If you decide to do the Aussie Camino, you must look us up in Cape Bridgewater when you are here.

Buen Camino
Anne & Pat

Bronte DownUnder · May 9, 2021

Anne&Pat said:
We agree with you Bronte. We did the Aussie Camino in 2015 under the auspices of Luke Mills.
He has done an amazing job establishing it and in some ways we are a bit sad that he’s no longer running it. But completely understand why. A group organised by a Ballarat travel company has just finished in Penola yesterday. We had one of the group stay with us in Cape Bridgewater ( which is on the Aussie Camino as well as the Great South West Walk)for three nights at the start of the walk from Portland, Victoria.
We have also done Coffee & Camino with Luke and look forward to hearing yours Bronte when it’s uploaded later this year.
If you decide to do the Aussie Camino, you must look us up in Cape Bridgewater when you are here.
Buen Camino
Anne & Pat

Thanks for the offer Anne & Pat - I'll have to Google where Cape Bridgewater is. I'll keep an eye/ear out for your Coffee & Camino podcast. Ours has already been uploaded as Episode 6 - it was wonderful reliving our walks with Luke.
Buen Camino

Anne&Pat · May 9, 2021

Bronte DownUnder said:
Thanks for the offer Anne & Pat - I'll have to Google where Cape Bridgewater is. I'll keep an eye/ear out for your Coffee & Camino podcast. Ours has already been uploaded as Episode 6 - it was wonderful reliving our walks with Luke.
Buen Camino

Ours is actually Episode 4. We have actually listened to yours but didn’t realise it was you.

Episode 5 is with a Camino friend of ours, who we first met at Sobrado dos Monxes towards the end of our Camino del Norte in 2018. She has visited us here in Australia since then.
Buen Camino

Bronte DownUnder · May 9, 2021

Anne&Pat said:
Ours is actually Episode 4. We have actually listened to yours but didn’t realise it was you.
Episode 5 is with a Camino friend of ours, who we first met at Sobrado dos Monxes towards the end of our Camino del Norte in 2018. She has visited us here in Australia since then.
Buen Camino

Thank you for letting me know. I will definitely listen to your podcast ... and the others as well. It is wonderful that Luke makes the time to record these. I am keeping the Aussie Camino on my list and have even considered the one in WA. Did you walk the Aussie Camino with Luke as your guide? I'm getting the impression from what I've read recently, that you can do it as a self-guided walk but I haven't really looked at the details. I know Luke's costings were based on Melbourne departures and as we live in SA, we would like to begin at Portland, making our own way there. I'll definitely check it out.
Yes, firm friends made on these walks.
Buen Camino

chinalil · Jan 13, 2022

Steven B said:
Hi Anamya,

No problems did it solo and walked all the way including the 50km+ of beach walking. I could cross the border as I live near Penola and have a cross border community permit. I posted each section on my facebook page link below

https://www.facebook.com/steven.bennett.332345/posts/10224730523597122

Hi Steve, from Kyogle....am planning walking the Aussie Camino end Jan/early Feb....I am not a fan of sand walking so was wondering how it would be if I omitted the section from Swan Lake Camp to Monibeong Camp? Also, are all the stage track heads/ends accessible to a shuttle. I have just found this forum and checked out your pics which are delightful. Thanks, Marg