Light to Light Camps – The best way to do the Light to Light Walk

Light to Light Camps – The best way to do the Light to Light Walk

Australia is a magnificent place. We have some of the most incredible and diverse landscapes filled with unspoilt beauty. It’s no wonder hiking and camping are a favourite past time for many of us. I love the outdoors, and even camping (to some degree), however I’ve never done an overnight hike to truly appreciate it. Why? Well, to be honest, the idea of lugging around heavy backpacks and tents for 30 kilometres only having to set up the tent after a day of walking is about as appealing as watching cricket and changing nappies.

Say hello to Light to Light Camps. Where you can enjoy the best of the Light to Light Walk on the Sapphire Coast, and have all the heavy work done for you. It’s pampered camping, or as I like to call it, Pamping.

Light to Light Walk, Sapphire Coast, NSW

What is the Light to Light Walk?

The Light to Light walk is a stunning 30km hike on the southern east coast of New South Wales, covering a diverse range of scenery, landscapes and nature. It’s often listed in the Top 10 Walks in Australia, and rightfully so, with pristine beaches, rugged bushland, open plains and rock formations estimated to be over 360 million years old! 

The walk starts from Boyds Tower, overlooking the Eden coast. It is a brilliant spot for whale watching between September and November. In fact, if you are a fan of whale watching, Australian Geographic named Eden as the best whale watching destination in Australia. The hike is a great intro hike, with fairly light to moderate sections. Don’t get me wrong, 30kms is still 30kms (and my feet certainly felt it by the end!), but overall, it was a pretty carefree hike. The walk then ends at Green Cape Lighthouse, which was a sight for sore eyes, or more accurately, sore feet!

Green Cape Lighthouse in the distance

How long does does the Light to Light walk take?

The answer really is, how fast can you walk? The Light to Light walk is best done over a few days, so you can truly enjoy the scenery, and there are a number of campsites spotted along the journey to stop along the way. With Light to Light Camps, you can opt to do a 1, 2 or 3 night package, even with the option to stay at the Green Cape Lighthouse! Due to work commitments, we opted for the ‘Quickie’ tour, meaning we could knock the hike out in a weekend and not need to take time off work. The ‘Quickie’ tour is certainly doable, but if you like to stop for photos, take your time and look after your feet, then a 3-day option might be more suitable.

As we did stop to enjoy the scenery, have lunch breaks and take loads of photos, we were probably (most definitely!) a little slower than others. Here’s how our hikes went:

Day 1: 12.4kms = 6.5 hours
We made the mistake of thinking we were ahead of time (we weren’t) and stopped for longer breaks… oops! It pays to read the map!

Day 2: 17.6 kms = 6.25 hours
Paranoid we would have a repeat of Day 1, we walked a lot faster this day and took less breaks!

Feeling pinspired? Hover and click on the images to save them to your Pinterest boards!

Light to Light Camps, Sapphire Coast, Australia
The best way to do the Light to Light Walk

What do you get with Light to Light Camps?

Ok, back to the Pamping. Whilst the Light to Light walk is relatively easy, it’s even more so when you don’t have to carry tents and camping gear like chumps. You simply carry the day pack provided by Jenny and Arthur from Light to Light Camps, filled with all the walking essentials, including an emergency beacon, maps with detailed notes, food and first aid kits. 

Light to Light Camps inclusions
Packed lunch with Light to Light Camps

Our trip starts off nice and early at Jenny & Arthur’s beautiful property, where we leave our car, hand over our overnight bags and get briefed in for the day. Jenny and Arthur are avid walkers and provide everything you need for the hike. We’re then driven to the starting point of the hike and given a great history lesson on Ben Boyd and Eden. Jenny and Arthur are passionate about sharing their love for the region and will happily share stories and local tips about what to see and do in the area. After some last-minute checks to make sure our gear is fitted properly, we say our goodbyes and off we go. 

Words can’t accurately describe how impressive the scenery of this walk is, so we will rely on photos and videos

As we made our way to the camp and meeting point (admittedly a couple of hours late!), we see Arther walking up towards us, walkie talkie in hand reassuring Jenny that we are, in fact, alive. That’s the thing about this couple, they genuinely care about their walkers and will do everything to make sure they are safe and have a great time. We sheepishly rock up to the campsite, and are welcomed with what every weary walker wants to see – comfy camp seats around a roaring fire, sturdy built tents and a platter of tasty nibblies from local suppliers, Sprout Eden and Eden Smokehouse. We stop for a pre-dinner snack, accompanied by drinks and good conversation before heading to the beach for some spectacular sunset shots. One of the things that is striking about this area is that it is untouched. We practically had the beach to ourselves, and it was as good as any Australian beach.

We returned to the campsite and had hot showers waiting for us, followed by a delicious dinner of salads and barbequed meat. To this day, Guy and I still go on about how it was the most tender chicken we’ve ever had and how nice the meal was – definitely the best camp meal we’ve ever had! We spent the rest of the evening chatting and laughing with Jenny and Arthur around the campsite. It felt like we were all old friends catching up. Like us, they are keen travellers and had plenty of stories to share. After a night full of travel tales and laughter, we retired to bed, ready for the big day ahead. Thankfully, breakfast and freshly brewed coffee was ready for us first thing!

Camp all set up

How much does it cost?

The Light to Light Camps start from $650pp, which includes EVERYTHING you need (just bring your clothes, shoes and PJs!), including food, drinks and the campsite set-up. It’s the perfect option if you enjoy camping, but don’t have the gear, or prefer to travel light and have everything done for you.

So to recap, this is what you get with Light to Light Camps:

  • Day packs, filled with essentials, and then some
  • Walking poles
  • Breathtaking scenery
  • Maps with plenty of guided notes
  • Drinks and nibblies on arrival
  • Roaring campfire
  • A HOT SHOWER!
  • Pre-erected tents with comfy stretchers
  • Home-cooked dinner & dessert
  • Breakfast and freshly brewed coffee
  • Transport back to your car
  • Friends for life

Spending time at the campsite with Jenny and Arthur felt like spending time with family and friends. Not only were they great company, they were wonderful and gracious hosts, leaving us not wanting for anything. If you are thinking about doing the Light to Light walk, but don’t want the hassle of carrying and setting up tents and food, we highly recommend getting pampered by Jenny and Arthur from Light to Light Camps.

It’s a great weekend getaway for people located in Canberra who like to lead an active lifestyle and enjoy the outdoors. It’s less than a three hour drive to Eden, and if you are looking for somewhere to stay in Eden the night before, we recommend staying at Heritage House Eden, making the early start on Saturday easy. The location is great, offering stunning views of the ocean, the rooms are spacious and Michelle is a lovely and accommodating host.

Heritage House, Eden

If you are thinking of doing the Light to Light Walk and take on the ‘Pamping’ option, get in touch with Light to Light Camps. If you are after a trusty guide who knows all about the local wildlife and attractions, Jenny and Arther are the ones to see. They take groups of 2 – 4 people and also offer scenic kayak tours in the region. They will also be offering a special Light to Light Camp Whale Watch Walk during whale watching season, which will make the walk even more breathtaking. 

The impressive coastline of NSW

Reckon ‘Pamping’ is the way to go, or do you prefer to ‘rough it’ and do the Light to Light on your own? Give us your hiking tips below!

We were spoilt guests of Light to Light Camps, but all opinions remain our own.

 

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Unique Australian Romantic Getaways – Part 1

We might be biased, but Australia is the land of plenty. There are a variety of gorgeous landscapes from red deserts, pristine beaches, luscious rainforests and bustling urban centres. So we thought we would put together our romantic getaway wishlist of the most unique and exciting accommodation around Australia.

We feel very spoilt to live here and try to take mini romantic getaways when we can, particularly looking for something unique and a little different. If there’s a quirky room, an option for glamping or a unique experience to have, we are there!

I’m always trawling the internet to find something a little special and different for our romantic escapes, so we thought, why not share some of our picks with you! To kick the series off, we’ve picked one from each state! Some of these places we’ve had the pleasure of staying in and the others are on our wish list!

Photo courtesy of Thorngrove Manor

Photo courtesy of Jamala Wildlife Lodge

Nestled in luxurious rainforest in northern New South Wales, Mt Warning Rainforest Retreat offer three types of accommodation; each one individually unique. The ‘Air’ option is a handbuilt yurt nestled in the side of a secluded hill, the ‘Water’ cabin is Asian/Balinese themed and overlooks a serene pond with numerous wildlife, and the ‘Earth’ cabin is a secluded cave built into the side of a hill.  

We opted for the Air cabin and absolutely loved it. In fact, Guy went away convinced that we need to move to the rainforest and build our very own yurt. Fully self-contained, with the wonderful aromas of polished timber and slow-burning logs on the fire, fused with the fresh crisp air of the surrounding rainforest, this cabin was the perfect haven to unwind and relax. The outdoor spa bath and hammock on the deck were also a nice touch, and if you are a little adventurous, you can even take an outdoor shower amongst nature.

Rating: Highly recommended. $$$

 Imagine glamping in trendy Melbourne with a view like this!

Like the idea of a glamorous safari tent, but can’t quite get over the fear of creepy crawlies in the night? Then, St Jeromes is the answer. Set in the heart of Melbourne, St Jeromes have rooftop glamping, complete with a breakfast hamper and freshly brewed coffee from an onsite barista. Inside your safari tent, you can feel a world away from everything, but if you still want the connection to wi-fi and a bustling city, then all you need to do is step outside. This is glamping for the millennial digital nomad.

Rating: This is still on our wish list

Longitude 131 by Roderick Eime via Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Uluru is one of Australia’s greatest icons. So it should come as no surprise that we had to include Longitude 131, set right at its base, as a must-stay for a romantic escape. You can’t go wrong between the Dune Pavillion (think upmarket desert glamping) or the Luxury Tent (which is more of a cabin) and the location is superb. If you can drag yourself away from the room, there are plenty of activities such as camel riding, tours of local cultural sites and visits to the nearby gorges.

Rating: This is still on our wish list

Photo courtesy of Sal Salis

If Australia is famous for one thing, it would have to be the perfect beaches. We’ve been blessed to grow up on the east coast and explore the beaches that stretch along Queensland and New South Wales during many a family getaway. The east coast gets a pretty good wrap for its beaches, but don’t let that fool you; the west coast also has some of the greatest beaches and scenery Australia has to offer. Sal Salis offers luxurious glamping in safari tents set right on a beautifully pristine beach. When you feel like it, simply walk out of the tent onto the beach and explore the superb snorkelling in Ningaloo Reef right from the shore – no boats required!

Rating: This is still on our wish list

Photo courtesy of Jamala Wildlife Lodge

Canberra is widely known as the place of politicians, and sadly, not much more. In fact, when we were travelling overseas, 90% of the people we met didn’t even realise Canberra was the capital of Australia. But, as our (current) hometown, we believe it deserves a bit more credit.

Canberra is not the sad, boring place you probably remember it to be. I mean, where else can you feed giraffes from the balcony of your accommodation?Or have you ever dreamed of waking up next to lions? Believe it or not, you don’t have to travel all the way to South Africa for that unique experience, as Jamala Wildlife Lodge in Canberra offers some incredible accommodation options where you do all the above and more!

You’ve got three options for accommodation: the giraffe treehouses, a jungle bungalow (where only a pane of glass will separate you from bears, lions, or cheetahs!) and a seven room lodge with a variety of ‘get-close-to-wildlife’ opportunities. Our pick is the treehouse or the jungle bungalow.

Rating: This is still on our wish list

When I hear the word ‘Glamping’, my ears instantly prick up and I’m at full attention. Glamping, or Glamorous camping for the uninitiated, is the perfect balance of luxury and nature. I love the idea of escaping everyday life and getting in touch with nature, but the idea of putting up my own tent to sleep on a slowly-deflating airbed on uneven ground is not my idea of a good time.

So when you get the benefits of beautiful secluded surroundings AND your own shower and comfy bed in an already-erected safari tent, well where do I sign? We are big followers of the Glamping movement, and plan to explore different glamping options all around the world! But why go overseas, when there are plenty of glamping options in the best settings of Australia?

Nightfall Wilderness Camp is located in the Lamington National Park of the Gold Coast Hinterland and really puts the Glam in Glamping. You’ve got an opulent safari tent set amongst beautiful rainforest, complete with a heavenly bed, relaxing bathtub and shower, kitchen, fireplace and even fluffy robes. If you really want to splurge, Nightfall also offer delicious organic meals, cooked by the fire and set up by the relaxing sounds of the rippling creek, by the fire tepee or the comforts of your own tent. You will feel so at peace here, you won’t even remember to check your Facebook feed….

Rating: Highly recommended $$$ – Check out our review of 5 Activities for Adventure and Beauty on the Gold Coast

Photo courtesy of Thorngrove Manor Hotel

I love castles, and even after having visited many during our travels in Europe (and even staying in one!), I still am not ‘castled out’. So when I came across Thorngrove Manor Hotel, I couldn’t help but put this place on our romantic escape wish list. Located in South Australia’s oldest wine producing region, Thorngrove Manor looks like something out of a fairytale. This place screams opulence, luxury and romance. And within an easy drive from the centre of Adelaide as well!

Rating: This is still on our wish list

 Pumphouse Point by Shaun Versey via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Tasmania, in general, has been on our travel wish list for some time now. Luscious scenery paired with delicious food is a winning combination. We’ve actually found a few places we would love to stay when we eventually get down to Tassie, but a luxurious standout would have to be Pumphouse Point. Looming over Lake St Clair is the Pumphouse building. It screams industrial opulence and provides the perfect escape from a hectic life. With large windows boasting views of the lake it sits on, this place really lets the stunning scenery in, without compromising comfort.

Rating: This is still on our wish list

If you live in Australia, or are planning to visit, we hope you get a chance to try one of these places for a quick romantic getaway. These places are just the start of a list we have been compiling for Australian romantic escapes, with plenty more to talk about in a follow-up. There’s plenty more ‘glamp sites’ and special rooms to mention, so I think this will be an always-evolving series!

Have you stayed in any of these places? Know of any others to add to our list for Part Two? Comment below!

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