Charles Thompson managing director of Park Trek Walking Holidays takes five with Great Walks.
My earliest memories of bushwalking are with my dad on the Main Range near Perisher, NSW. He loved the High Country and was a keen artist with a particular passion for nature and photographing and painting our stunning snow gums. This pursuit saw us regularly wandering the Main Range and other beautiful landscapes, creating many special and fond memories.
I’ve always loved time in nature, whether it be hiking, fishing, camping or any combination. It makes me feel great and its benefits are enduring. So, after more than 25 years in law, consulting and corporate, in 2021 I made the decision – perhaps wacky to some – to buy a small business and apply my corporate nous to something I was passionate about. That business was Park Trek Walking Holidays Australia, founded in 2000 with a strong brand and reputation. The team and I are now writing the next chapters in Park Trek’s story.
We operate small-group, day pack only, multi-day guided tours in most states and territories of Australia. However, our business tends to focus on iconic walks in Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. These walks include the Three Capes, Larapuna / Bay of Fires, Cradle Mountain, Bruny Island, Takayna / Tarkine, Gariwerd / Grampians, the Great Ocean Walk and the Vic Alps, Mount Kosciuszko, the Sapphire Coast Light-to-light and the stunning Ikara / Flinders Ranges.
Invariably our guests love being in nature, ditching the tech, and connecting with country and likeminded walkers. However, it’s also the personal growth and development I love seeing. Doing things a little more challenging than what they thought they could, or simply experiencing or learning new things from our guides. It’s really inspiring, it’s the Five Ways of Wellbeing in practice – connecting, learning, being mindful, being healthy, and doing something to protect / respect our planet.
I love Australian landscapes, and more so I love the fact Australia is the oldest continent on earth, with the oldest continuous living culture on earth. So that means everywhere we wander has a story that goes back many thousands of years, and I love to hear those geological and cultural stories, and of course some of the more recent ones. They give the landscapes we wander so much context and meaning.
Why should someone book a Park Trek tour with rather than DIY? Because of our guides, and our approach. Our guides uncover the hidden gems and the highlights of the places we wander - they will share stories, knowledge and insights that enlighten and inspire our guests with enduring memories. More generally our team of professionals are passionate in their approach to sustainable travel, working with and supporting local communities and Traditional Owners where we walk, and creating authentic, memorable and down-to-earth experiences that are most of all Fun!
Need to know
parktrek.com.au