Meet our 2024 Adventure Grant Winner Caz

Caz is an active member of the social media group @tassiegirlsoutside, a community where women and non-binary adventurers come together to explore the great outdoors. For her chosen adventure, she wanted to take a fellow member on a three-day trek through Tasmania’s breathtaking Walls of Jerusalem. She chose Annisa, someone she’d never met and who had never experienced overnight hiking, to join her on this incredible adventure.
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I’m Caz—a keen Tasmanian outdoors-goer, occasional adventure organiser, and lover of wild places. I was fortunate enough to win Amble Outdoors’ Adventure Grant and used it to take on the Walls of Jerusalem, a breathtaking alpine hike in Tasmania’s wilderness. Here’s a recap of the three-day journey I shared with my brand new hiking buddy, Annisa.
Day One
We started the hike under the full force of the summer sun, making our way up the initially steep track to Trappers Hut for lunch. With blue skies overhead, it was clear early on that this hike was going to be thoroughly rewarding. After lunch, we powered on to Wild Dog Campsite, where the landscape opened into sweeping alpine vistas. The campsite had brand new possum-proof food boxes—essential in these parts, unless you want to share your supplies with the wildlife.
After setting up camp, we embarked on the first side quest: The Temple. Along the way, we walked through thickets of Richea scoparia, whose nectar tastes like alpine honey and quickly became a snack obsession.
The track work to the summit was awe-inspiring—perfectly placed stone steps that made the climb feel like a journey through history. Reaching the summit was like stepping into a postcard: the late afternoon light bathed the valley below, with tiny lakes reflecting the sky.
Returning to camp, we hungrily dug into our freeze-dried meals and made grateful conversation with fellow hikers before bundling up against the sudden, biting cold. Alpine nights are no joke—even in summer. I ended up sleeping in my waterproof gear to stay warm. Lesson re-learned: never underestimate Tasmanian weather.
Day Two
We set out early for the short walk to our second campsite, choosing a spot with views of a lake and an ancient pencil pine guarding the tents. After setting up, we tackled our second side quest: Solomon’s Throne and King David’s Peak.
The climb began with spectacular views—our campsite a speck in the valley below. The trail wound through massive stone pillars before opening onto a plateau with panoramic vistas. Lunch here was unforgettable: lizards darted among the rocks while wedge-tailed eagles circled above, locked in a skirmish with currawongs defending their nests.
We made an attempt at King David’s Peak, boulder-hopping across the plateau, but the summit never seemed to get any closer. Deciding to conserve energy for the return, we turned back, taking time to admire the otherworldly landscapes and the delicate dance of finding the sometimes-hidden trail.
Back at camp, I tried to nap under the shade of the ancient trees, but was thwarted by persistent march flies. Annisa explored the lake with her analog camera, capturing the golden light of the evening. We turned in early, ready for a sunrise ascent of Mount Jerusalem.
Day Three
Our alarms buzzed at 0400, and we groggily pulled on our gear, stepping out into the still, predawn air. Wallabies greeted us along the trail, their dark shapes munching breakfast under the stars.
We reached the base of Mount Jerusalem just as the sky began to lighten, and the climb quickly became magical. The lakes mirrored the pinks and oranges of the morning sky, and we pushed to the summit in time for the sun’s first appearance. Watching the sun break over the distant hills, the landscape glowed with a fleeting, fiery brilliance. It was one of those rare moments when you feel utterly connected to the earth.
Descending, we were treated to an encore: dramatic lighting cast long mountain shadows across the valley, and the peaks around us were painted in deep, glowing reds. We stumbled across a baby eastern spotted quoll—an unexpected delight—and a few currawongs scouring the tarns for breakfast.
Back at camp, we packed up and began the final leg of our journey. The weather turned briefly as rain swept through, reminding us once again of how quickly conditions can change. Annisa unfortunately rolled her ankle on the descent but still powered through like a champion, and soon enough, we were back at the car park, exhilarated and exhausted.
Why the Outdoors?
Spending time outdoors is grounding in a way little else is. Hiking clears my mind, reconnects me with nature, and fills me with a sense of purpose. Being in wild spaces teaches resilience, patience, and gratitude for life’s simple pleasures—like the nectar of a Richea scoparia or the spark of a borrowed lighter to light our camping stoves on a cold night.
Winning the Amble Adventure Grant gave me the push I needed to step up as an organiser and guide. I’m passionate about creating opportunities for people other than cis-men to experience these moments, which is why I’m part of Tassie Girls Outside, where people are constantly making new friends to enjoy the outdoors with. Representation in outdoor spaces matters because it shows that adventure is for everyone. We need to keep breaking down barriers and making the wilderness more accessible to all.
How Did We Get Here?
After winning this grant by entering saying I’d take a random person from the internet group Tassie Girls Outside on their first overnight hike, I then had the actual job of choosing one person. Which turned out to be an almost impossible task. So in the end, I made two Walls hikes—one with a group of keen newbies to overnighters, one one just with my chosen “winner.” I chose Annisa because she’d purchased all the gear and was ready to go, but hadn’t found any pals to take her out into the wilds overnight yet. The group hike happened first and was just as stunning, with different conditions and a variation on the route, which was then adjusted for Annisa’s adventure. There were so many people who couldn’t make this date, so perhaps there'll be more trips on the cards in the future.
A final note: If you’re thinking of tackling the Walls of Jerusalem Circuit, or any high altitude Tasmanian hike, remember: alpine conditions demand respect. Prepare for every scenario, carry a map, compass, and personal locator beacon, and never underestimate the gear you’ll need. The effort is worth it—this wild place has beauty beyond words.
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What an epic adventure Caz and Annisa had in the Walls of Jerusalem. It’s so awesome to see how the Adventure Grant brought them together and inspired such a memorable experience. Follow Caz's adventures over at @caztheturtle. If you missed last year’s winner Ariel’s climbing trip, check it out for some more adventure inspo.
Once again, we'd like to give a massive thank you to all of our sponsors, Will & Bear, Hipcamp, Osprey, Wandering Folk, NEMO, Paire, Sunbutter Skincare and Pargo for supporting our second Adventure Grant. We can't wait to open up applications for our next Adventure Grant in the second half of this year and hear all about your dream adventures.
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