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Photo by Andrew Grune
November 13 | 3 minute read
Words by Lisa Marie Corso
While Evi is practically oozing photosynthetic energy these days, researching walks across the nation for her book series Day Trip, she describes herself as a late bloomer to the nature scene having taken up bushwalking in her late twenties.
Growing up in the “very urban” town of Surabaya, Indonesia, Evi always romanticised the natural world. “I was so removed from nature but I always wondered about it,” she says. “This must sound weird, as I know nature is rather ingrained if you grew up in Australia.”
Moving to Sydney for university before becoming a multi-awarding winning book designer and fine artist – while running her design studio Evi-O.Studio – she now feels “most at home” in the great outdoors.
Racking up a lot of steps in the process (we’re not sure any pedometer could keep up with Evi’s step count!), it was actually a Tinder love story that led Evi to start Day Trip with her partner, photographer, Andrew Grune.
“Andrew and I started dating before lockdown and since all the saucy restaurants were closed, we started going on road trips,” explains Evi. “For those who are in early dating days, road trips can either be intense or intimate, depending on how compatible you are with your date. I highly recommend judging each other’s playlists!”
Love blossomed and kilometres were trekked, eventually culminating in the book Day Trip Sydney, offering 52 nature walks (one for every weekend!). Following this, the series now spans Day Trip Melbourne, Dog Trip Melbourne, and the newly released Day Trip Tasmania.
Here, Evi shares with us her three favourite nature walks in Australia and the essentials she brings with her.
Day Trip 1
Location: Figure Eight Pools, Royal National Park, NSW
Best time to visit: spring
“This walk is epic! It takes you down the coastal bushlands to a vast field of rocky plains with sculptural giant stones carved by the sea waves,” says Evi. “You will then arrive at a bed of shallow water pools that are a natural wonder themselves.” She recommends visiting this site during spring as the wildflowers are in bloom and, if you’re lucky, schools of dolphins and migrating whales are hanging about.
Evi's Essentials
MECCA COSMETICA To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen
Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
Salomon Speedcross shoes
Snacks! Nuts! More snacks!
Photo by Andrew Grune
Day Trip 2
Location: Hanging Rock, Woodend, Victoria
Best time to visit: year-round, particularly spring and autumn
“Hanging Rock is a dose of nature and culture in one,” says Evi, who also recommends watching Peter Weir’s film Picnic at Hanging Rock prior to the walk to enhance your experience (and let your imagination run free). “This site was also once occupied by the Woi Wurrung (Wurundjeri), the Djaara and the Taungurung people, and you can time-travel back to imagine a different kind of living – living with nature.”
Evi's Essentials
MECCA COSMETICA To Save Body SPF50+ Hydrating Sunscreen
Go-To Lips!
North Face Route Rocket 16 backpack
Fuji XT-5 Camera
Photo by Andrew Grune
Day Trip 3
Location: Trowutta Arch, Tasmania
Best time to visit: year-round
“Trowutta Arch, located in the Tarkine rainforest, holds some of the most ancient rainforest ecosystems in the world… and sadly only 10 percent of it is currently protected from human interventions,” explains Evi. “The official Tarkine route will take you to witness wild waters (there’s a destination called Edge of the World), traces of ancient petroglyphs, scenic rivers, unusual sinkholes and verdant forests with ancient trees and ferns.”
For those with limited time, Evi suggests focusing on the Trowutta Arch walk, which will lead you to “a very dramatic sinkhole that’s a rare natural phenomenon caused by a collapsed cave back in the day!”
Evi's Essentials
Nécessaire The Deodorant Gel Eucalyptus
kit: Urban Hand Salve
Personal locator beacon
1L Nalgene bottle
Photo by Andrew Grune
