Horton Plains National Park on a Wednesday morning. We must have been two of only ten visitors that weekday, but it felt like we had the whole wilderness to ourselves for my son and me. The landscape looked almost prehistoric—tall grasses, mountain forests, and flora that could have easily belonged to the Ice Age. We wandered through this prehistoric world for four hours, armed with a bottle of water, sunshine, and chills. I realised—afterwards—that we could have been better prepared than one bottle of water between us. But hey, what’s an adventure without a bit of hindsight wisdom?
Our journey began at the ranger’s office, where they confiscated anything remotely plastic—including the wrappers from our so-called protein bars (which, if we’re being honest, were more like chocolate bars disguised as “fuel”). After that, it was just us and the wilderness.
We soon approached Baker’s Falls ( Named after Samuel Baker – An English Officer, naturalist, and oh big game hunter). Navigating a beautiful forest path, the sound of the falls called out to us as we descended toward them. Despite the temptation, a swim was out of the question—thankfully! I’ve heard freezing water is excellent for recovery, but I was more inclined to keep all my warmth intact for the trek ahead.
As we continued, the tall grass stretched around us like a sea of green. My son, Ryan, half-jokingly compared it to a scene from Jurassic Park. I laughed, but deep down, I hoped it wouldn’t turn into that kind of adventure. I’m brave enough to lug my extra-large frame through the wilderness, but running from prehistoric creatures? Not on my itinerary, thank you very much.
Then came the highlight—World’s End. We were blessed with a crystal-clear day, the kind where you can see the horizon stretch endlessly. It’s funny how you expect things to be like you remember them from your youth, but sometimes they turn out even better. We sat silently, watching the natural world go by, grateful for the serenity and the view. It was perfect.
The final stretch was what I lovingly call “The Walk on the Moon.” The last 2 kilometres of our trek took us across a slightly elevated path of hard clay and rock. While it wasn’t the easiest terrain, it was certainly rewarding. We slowed our pace and were lucky enough to spot a couple of bear monkeys and the tiniest horned lizard, which Ryan found endlessly fascinating.
In the end, the trek was more than just a walk through Horton Plains—it was a journey through time, nature, and memories that will stay with us forever.
