Hiking can be a daunting task, especially when you're new – maybe you'll go the wrong way, take too long, or the terrain is too rough. Recently we set out to hike the Minyon Falls in Byron Bay , New South Wales. But that actually turned into a plan to hike to Goonengerry Falls instead.
And we'll explain why in a moment. After flying into Gold Coast Airport, Wayne from Byron Bay Coastal Transfers delivered us to the Hinterlands. The bus was available for our group the whole trip.
READ MORE: These are the most stressful airports in Australia according to new study First stop was Soma Retreat, one of the most comfortable stays in the area. Big rooms, a massive living area, ice bath and sauna all included. Then it was time to explore the area.
Of course, as it goes with the Byron Bay Hinterlands, sometimes there is too much rain. Dangerous mud seems fun, but whether it's practical is a whole other issue. Thankfully, there's more than one trail to choose from so Goonengerry was the answer.
The South Boundary Trail via Garrong Road Loop was our choice. The route we took to get there was along Garrong Road – one of charm and intrigue. The mailboxes were microwaves.
The potholes were full. The bus driver was a Rabbitohs fan. Backyards and front yards were green and luscious.
And then the bus arrived at this hidden gem that is the Goonengerry National Park. There was a crunch of rock, asphalt and scattered leaves. Three scents stood out; bug spray, sunscreen and fresh air.
Together they combined and we'd officially made it to the great outdoors. READ MORE: Why unpacking straight away might not be the best idea - according to a doctor With a track being so unfamiliar there was a bit of a fear creeping in - could it lead to getting lost? Not when there's now a handy tool that has logged 400,000 trails across the world. That tool was AllTrails.
And its best feature should stop anyone getting lost. Whether that's in the Blue Mountains, Byron Bay or even Mount Tibidabo in Barcelona. Back to that later.
Live Share provides real-time location sharing so members can stay connected with friends and family when they hit the trail. So when you plan a hike and a family member wants to know your whereabouts, for the worst cased scenario, the solution is easy. They can see the route information, progress, expected return time and importantly their last recorded location.
Even the member's battery life can be tracked. Luckily, hiking to Goonengerry Falls with a group meant I didn't have to use it. But the app was a must.
The full trail was loaded up and when we went off course, the phone pinged and so did my watch, helping us get back on track. Leeches, fallen logs and some overgrown shrub made for an interesting walk. The hike started with a crunch of leaves but also featured a little slide and slush.
Given that it was an unfamiliar track, I'm unsure I would've found the running waterfall at the end without the app. Eventually though, water rushed in the distance. And after two hours, steel signage provides a big welcome.
DANGER. Cliff edge. Slippery surface.
The water flowed beautifully. And it was impossible to tell how far the water fell. A worthy finish to a great trail.
The app came in handy a few weeks later when I was hiking Mount Tibidabo in Spain. Cue the Joey Tribbiani Europe story. One conversation with a group of travellers at a Barcelona nightclub turned into an idea to hike the famous hill.
Where all good ideas happen, right? Nursing a slight hangover, we might have cheated. Getting a lift to the top where the amusement park lies was easy. So we attempted the hike down instead.
There's a number of ways down we learned. An intercom at a random driveway was avoided. Then the app came into play and the route lit up with the signature green line.
Down we went, and off to the next adventure. The writer was a guest of AllTrails..
