Mount Emei (Golden Summit)

Mount Emei (Emeishan) is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and a UNESCO World Heritage site (alongside the Leshan Giant Buddha). Rising steadily from the Sichuan basin to 3,099 meters at the Golden Summit (Jinding), hiking Emei is an endurance trek with deep cultural roots. The full hike from the base usually takes 2 to 3 days, involving a relentless ascent up tens of thousands of carved stone steps. The trail weaves through dense forests, passing numerous active Buddhist temples where hikers can rest, eat vegetarian meals, and sleep. The mountain is famously inhabited by Tibetan macaques. The major reward is reaching the Golden Summit, home to a towering, multi-faced golden statue of Samantabhadra, often standing above the 'Sea of Clouds'.

The Wilderness Coast Walk is a remote, point-to-point coastal trek of roughly 100 km, linking the Merrica River trailhead in South East NSW (Nadgee Nature Reserve) to Mallacoota Inlet in Gippsland, Victoria (Croajingolong National Park). The route traverses expansive sand dunes, sandstone headlands, and coastal heathlands along the Tasman Sea, with optional extensions to Green Cape. Navigation relies on tidal windows and topographic cues, as much of the track is unmarked. The walk passes through critical habitats for species such as the White-bellied Sea Eagle. Permits are required from NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service and Parks Victoria.