Australia and New Zealand, for most people, are far away countries, the kind of place that you dream of visiting or make it there just for a once in a lifetime opportunity. For both countries, their natural beauty is a big draw card and getting out into nature on a hike is an attractive activity for plenty of travelers. But a couple of stories in the headlines this week serve as a big reminder that hiking is only fun if you are well educated and well prepared, and don’t end up needing to be rescued by the local emergency services.
Romanian Hiker Lost Near Uluru
Way out in the middle of the Australian outback is the famous monolith Uluru (formerly known as Ayers Rock). This enormous “red rock” is an attraction that many foreign visitors visit, but most arrive by air, spend as much of the trip as possible inside air-conditioned hotel rooms and vehicles, and then fly out again. It’s a hot and unwelcoming place in some ways, yet there are some travelers who want to experience that outback desert feel more closely.
This week a Romanian hiker left Yulara, the township near Uluru, to take a 28 mile hike. Unfortunately, not only did he not take enough water, he also ended up getting lost. He had a cell phone with him, but in most of the desert of Australia there is little or no cell phone coverage. After six days, he wandered into an area where his cell phone finally worked, and he called his family back in Romania. They in turn contacted Australian police and he was soon found by rescue helicopter.
He was the lucky one – Australian police reports say that three other hikers have gone missing in the same area in recent years, but have not been found.
Australian Hiker Unprepared in New Zealand
A similar case, and also with a happy ending, happened in New Zealand on the South Island near Wanaka on the Motatapu Track. An Australian woman who soon realized she was unfit and underprepared for the difficult hike, and who was too afraid to try to hike back out of the area, ending up staying for nine days in an isolated hut, eating only muesli bars and breakfast cereal. Eventually, another hiker notified rescuers who also picked her up by helicopter.
Take Care in the Bush
While Australia and New Zealand are fully developed Western countries, they both have elements of nature which can provide a high level of danger for tourists. Take precautions seriously and try to hike with at least two other people, and you will minimize the risk.
photo credit: Richard.Fisher
Subscribe
Delicious
Stumbleupon
Twitter
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
MixxTags: australia, new zealand, Travel News
Categories: Travel News
{ 2 comments }
Great article and very good advice! Fortunately, the modern world is full or devices that allow us to connect with others, almost instantly. Had the hiker not had a mobile phone, this could have been a very unhappy story. Thanks!
Very interesting cases. There are a lot of people who don’t realize how easy it is to get lost. Even if one is just going for a day-hike, one needs to be prepared. You never know what can happen. I once went on a very short hike and twisted my ankle right in the middle of it. Luckily I was not alone! Also when hiking with other people, you have more resources with you. You can pool them if something happens.
Comments on this entry are closed.