Adventures on the Great North Walk

I did the Great North Walk (in reverse) from Newcastle to Sydney over 10 days, starting on New Year's Eve 2022. It was an incredible journey through national parks, conservation areas and state forests.

[@DanielVerberne]

09:24 - those raised wooden walkways over swampy land remind me of times I'd go hiking with my late father. We did this great trek when we were younger, to the lighthouse at the tip of Wilson's Promontory in Victoria. It was epic. Stayed overnight at the lighthouse before trekking back. I remember jumping over a 'stick' in the track at one point and mid-stride realising it was a snake.

[@tennilletobin7823]

I did part of the great north walk (four day hike from Sumersby to Quorabolong/Heaton lookout) with Venturers when I was a teenager. Some of my most cherished memories!!

[@tracegezzelig]

The leeches!! And suss camping spots. Wowsers, you really are amazing!

[@jocee569]

Great vid. You are so wonderful - thanks for sharing this adventure!

[@desertoak]

I really enjoyed your journey Ruby! You have inspired me to keep going with some things I'm finding tough atm. Thank you 🙏 Anth

[@jim22512251]

I love your positivity!

[@SHARRONWRAY]

I didn't realise you were a news rep on ABC I thought you were an adventurer because all I watch is camping/ hiking vids and you popped up on KZbin but then I was at my daughter's and saw you reading the news and loved your quirky sense of humor on bibby track

[@CG.45]

7 days before opting for a pub room, most impressive. Looks an awesome walk

[@mtalbert33]

Great story Ruby.

[@camino06]

You enjoyed that walk so much I think you would love walking the Camino in Portugal along the coast from Porto to Santiago de Compostela. Just planting the seed!

[@pbdownunder]

Congratulations on your fabulous achievement, Ruby, and thank you for inspiring all of us to get outside and chase our own adventures! 🤗

[@unlimitedcosmicspeed]

I know this video has aged a little but you have introduced me to something new. I didn't realize this was/is an activity in Australia, my bad. I have been too consumed with high octane activities and then felt a little empty once done. I think this is what I have been looking for. I can't wait to do some of these walks myself when I move back to Australia. Thank you :)

[@guycaffeinated]

The positive attitude is amazing!

[@matt_levinson]

Love the absolute rollercoaster of emotions of a great hike. Great video!

[@RobertTonkli]

Awesome walk and video. Very joyful. Thanks for sharing. You should try the Camino in Spain next. Guaranteed fewer leeches!

[@KapitaalKapers]

Great story ! Thanks for sharing your adventure. You’ve inspired me.

[@DorisHikingAdventures]

Beautiful! This has been on my list for a while 😊

[@gregb5493]

Well done Rubes!! You don’t cease to amaze me!

[@tonywright560]

Thanks so much Ruby! I've often wondered what the Great North Walk is like. I don't want to do it, especially after seeing the leech fest, but getting a guided tour from someone as nice as you was wonderful. I also enjoy pretty much everything I see from you on the ABC. Best wishes to you!

[@outandabout_oz]

brilliant walk, brilliant adventure, brilliant attitude, made my afternoon watching this, kudos. Good luck in your next adventures, subscribed ✌🏻

[@outandabout_oz]

....and Paul Kelly ✌🏻

[@amandadaisydogwanderings]

that was so fantastic and fun to watch!

[@garathjacob526]

Thanks for sharing, that was awesome, Well done!

[@joshuab873]

Well done, and great video! Captures so many beautiful spots so close to Sydney, and the delights of the smaller things...

[@zaheerd21]

Awesome, congrats. Thanks for sharing :)

[@ericajacobson1156]

Brilliant! I love long walking holidays. Beautiful NSW bush. Looks blissful. Thanks Ruby! ❤

[@thorproductionstv]

This was very special to watch. Thank you for sharing it. A very brave thing to do and the video is wonderfully narrated.

[@xorising]

Excellent video, makes me want to get out there. Good that you're keeping your sense of humour when things got tough.

[@ColinSkittlesByrne]

This was so good. The end was amazing and so lovely. Well done and congratulations.

[@ArcticExploring]

What an amazing hiking trip you have done there 😊

[@mikewhelan897]

Thanks so much for sharing your journey Ruby - was so lovely seeing you being greeted by your ‘fam’!

[@barefootgeek]

Greatly enjoyed your journey Ruby - thanks for sharing it with us. I've subbed to see what you do next :)

[@hoadie]

That was great to watch, thank you! There’s so much beauty in our backyard. Really glad you got your hot chips too

[@marksilvasilva]

Great inspiration, thats it I'm doing it 😊 Well done and thanks!

[@draino2593]

Epic effort matey 👌

[@markthomson2514]

Nice to follow your journey on this one Ruby! Well done!

[@Ian_macl]

Loved the video. You're an inspiration! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@fredjlavels4130]

Great story and vid

[@faultflow]

Great story and great motivation to do the walk

[@speedbumpize]

Great work Ruby! That was so much fun to watch. I did the walk going the other way, and I don't think I encountered the problems you did. You're an inspiration.

[@patloria1]

Well done Ruby!

[@damienpigott1720]

Great video - some beaut parts of NSW we often drive by…

[@squiddyowlbairn1028]

I'm prepping to do this at the end of the month. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@k.whiking4372]

First time I've heard of this walk, looks interesting and, diverse, one for the must do list.

[@DMcK1971]

Congratulations Ruby. Thanks for sharing your video diary.

[@liamd2290]

MEGAcongrats - got emotional for you in the phone booth… mega kudos for doing what many just talk about doing.

[@pcapicchiano]

good effort doing all that walking and video recording - it was an enjoyable watch

[@threeormorecharact3rs]

Tackling it in summer is some possessed level energy! The interwebz is telling me to do it in winter. How did you figure out where to stay, did you plan each day to get to a campsite, or kind of wing it? Some places seem...less than ideal

[@alexjohnson4778]

Thank you for this, I enjoyed it greatly, and it was a nice break from the tragic events going on in the world at the moment. I have been to many of these places, but i have never done a continuous walk over so many days. If you have not done it yet, I would recommend walking in Tasmania.

[@tomasryan3840]

Looks awesome, congratulations. I'm going to try the same walk next month.

[@geoffreymartin3520]

great to see and put a face to your name afterlistening to your weekly friday limericks all last year. well done with the walk.

[@RobVanElven]

This must now be a distant memory.. but I only saw this now, so congrats on the achievement and a great video. I really enjoyed watching it and recognised some local bush! 💪🥾

[@eduardwilliams1245]

Huge effort. Congratulations are in order.

[@Sideshowbob007]

Just found your channel and am bingeing on content. Love your work Ruby. P.s Leave the ABC before indoctrination takes hold, invaluable place to learn your trade but stay too long at any gov job and you become lazy complacent and unappreciated.

[@TankEngine15]

Great Vid. I live near the GNW so have done some short lengths. This has inspired me for the whole thing.

[@steadyfilms]

Fantastic Video Ruby! I've recently moved back to Canberra, and after watching your video I can't wait to get back up into the Brindabellas.

[@Earlofmar1]

Great stuff. I've spent years training and walking on the GNW, but only did the full thing last year. It was a great adventure, but it's not easy that is for sure. I gave myself plenty of time to get to Little Wobby, but still missed the first ferry. I got the next one and stayed at the same pub, even had a resupply sent there.

[@bryceoneill2355]

That was awesome! I could feel your sorrow when Somersby Shop was shut & you couldn’t get those hot chips. I probably would have called it quits right there!

[@johnnyg6380]

You done well 👍

[@TVR808]

You’re great Ruby.. Gonna have to do some of that walk at some point..

[@williampower9583]

Great watch! I would've been filthy about missing the hot chips and all those leeches. I take a cork massage ball for any soreness, light and works wonders. Looking forward to seeing your next adventure!

[@timwilson5206]

Amazing effort. I can't tell you how many times I've been driving south on the M1 and wondered what that small pointy peak was in the distance as you round the bend before the Gosford turn-off. And now I know! Mt Wandabyne.

[@jmackb650]

That was great Ruby, thanks for sharing, I'd like to do something lie that.

[@grantvando]

Great video and great effort. Often wondered what that walk would be like and how long it would take. Now I know!

[@ZakariKha]

Got yourself a new sub!

[@ncf1]

Noooooooo! You threw that hot fresh full-sized potato cake into the circle of birds -- I would have dove right in and grabbed it before it hit the ground!! :D

[@KateGrarock]

Congratulations such a great achievement. I know those low points, rain rain rain and the ultimate: imagined junk food that doesn’t happen. I cried once on trail when I had to take a 5km detour to get my hamburger 😂😂😂

[@andrewtomlinson7760]

Am thinking about doing this walk. Your post gives me a insight into this. Am interested into other walks that you have done

[@kia3d]

You rock, I was thinking I should do this and then I saw you did it. Well done and good on you. Would be good if you share some information on how to do this and what are the issues we might face

[@brianAUS65]

Terrific video and pretty inspiring (except maybe the leeches???)…and you have already had more views than many programs on Channel 10 😊 Congrats all around!

[@louisesimon3106]

Loved watching the vid, looks amazing (except all those leeches … ugh (shivers in revolt))

[@carltonfitzroy39]

You should do more of these.

[@ruby.j.cornish]

Ok lemme walk another few hundred kilometres first!

[@user-ks5tt1nm4l]

Hi Ruby. Loved watching your Great North Walk video. Interested to know what you used for navigation. Did you take hard copy maps? GPS? Just a phone?

[@henrycepeda9601]

😍

[@shakenbake1869]

Great video! and good dedication to the portrait shot. Is the Pacific Crest Trail next?...

[@ruby.j.cornish]

On the list for sure!

[@grevious01]

Well done! Good to see that you enjoyed the challenge. Do you plan to do any hiking trails in Scotland such as the West Highland Way?

[@jaymiiknierum4014]

Thank you for sharing! I am a NSW gal looking to do some training hikes before I complete (🤞🏻) the second half of the Bib track in WA. Any chance of you sharing some of your gear? Parts of the hike you think would make a good section hike? Parts with good facilities etc.?

[@Redskies453]

So you can camp and run a stove there in summer? What are the fire season regs? I'm in SA and it's campgrounds only, 4 metre clearance to run a jetboil.

[@fantasticini]

Fantastic work! Congratulations. How much of it could be ridden by mountain bike, do you think?

[@trav17n]

For the Bibbulmun Track film it in landscape

[@rizvaldo]

An enjoyable watch. Must get out of the house more....I'm curious, did you run into many other people whilst walking?

[@ruby.j.cornish]

No, not many! From Heaton Lookout to the end of the Watagans, I saw very few people on the trail (which, to be honest, is exactly how I like it)

[@alanh69100]

I walk because I can...

[@TroopyLife]

Hi Ruby, considering doing this in the opposite direction.. Trying to gather as much info as I can.. Was there anywhere to restock food along the way? Ps 4wds aren’t all bad 😊

[@sllalomcoach]

What a great walk. Now you are a paid up dirtbag thru hiker will you keep going and do the Bibbulmun, even the PCT? Thanks for sharing the fun and misery and some inspiration for a local hike.

[@ruby.j.cornish]

Yes the Bibbulmun is at the top of my list!! One day I want to do the Appalachian too.

[@sllalomcoach]

@@ruby.j.cornish I did the Bibb in 21, so much fun, just did the PCT in 22 and it was incredible. I had set my expectation very high but it still completely surpassed them. Truly the adventure of a life time. Good luck on your next adventure.

[@retchy6994]

Hey ruby loved the video!! Do you remember how long it took you roughly from mount wondabyne to little wobby? Planning on doing the walk soon. Thanks

[@ruby.j.cornish]

That was THE most hectic section of the walk! Don’t do what I did and attempt it in torrential rain! Once you turn off the fire trail there is hardly a path, you’re essentially bush bashing along a creekbed for the second half of that walk from Wondabyne to Wobby. So with that caveat… it took me around 3 hours :)

[@retchy6994]

@@ruby.j.cornish Yeh it looked nuts haha. Ok thanks congrats on finishing it as well. Any tips for someone that’s about to attempt it?

[@ruby.j.cornish]

@@retchy6994 Take purification tablets and insect repellent, remember to check incline as well as distance when timing it out, and stomp as heavily as you can because there are plenty of snakes around.

[@zaheerd21]

Very inspiring. Thinking of doing the same in April. Did you use a special GPS or just like a paper map? Thanks 🙏🏻 :)

[@ruby.j.cornish]

I used the AllTrails map on my phone, and had a back-up paper map (the entire Australian Geographic GNW handbook actually! Which is informative but quite heavy)

[@zaheerd21]

Awesome, thanks!

[@swamidasdalvi4845]

Doing this solo takes some guts especially for a beautiful woman as yourself. How did u stay safe from the Ivan Milats along the way?😜 God bless dear!

[@stephenbedford1395]

I often wonder how the old aboriginal people fared living in the bush 24/7... it would have been a tough existence but I guess they were used to it.

[@robby6733]

I am very impresses. You are a woman of true grit. Not often “ much” do I find a woman like you. Congratulations Ruby for who you are. If I was younger I would chance you down as a perfect wife. Watched you on the news today. You are a perfect presenter . Robby K.!!

[@jamincottle9252]

Bro

[@dickfister5081]

Great video and congrats on the walk! Those leeches... yikes!