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LIVEABOARD BOAT TO ORANGUTANS!
 There are several places to visit Orangutans in there natural environment. One of the most popular is in Malaysia where tourism infrastructure is excellent and hoards of tourists are bused off to rehabilitation camps to see this wonderful creature.
It is for this reason that No Roads does not offer this trip. We would much prefer to take you to southern Borneo. There we will see the Orangutan in its natural habitat in one of the world's best national parks, Tanjung Puting. We will board our klotok, a local river boat, and motor into the jungle along small streams that weave their way through the park. Along the way we will see Proboscis, Ebony and Grey Macaque Monkeys as well as the mighty Orangutan.
The klotok will be our home for 3 days. We will eat and sleep aboard, absorbing the sounds and smells of the jungle. We will visit Camp Leakey one of the leading rehabilitating facilities in the world. And if we are lucky, we will come across one of the few dominant male Orangutans, a sight that will never be forgotten.
This is truly a marvelous expedition to one of the must see destinations on the planet. No Roads will donate $250 of your expedition fee to either BOS or OFI, two organizations chartered with protecting the habitat of the Orangutan. Check out our Save the Orangutan Expedition. |
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NO ROADS FILM AND INFO NIGHTS START MAY
 There is one thing we love doing at No Roads is documenting our expeditions on film. We take a camcorder everywhere and in many cases a proper outdoor video camera and tripod. As such we have a great library of videos and photos to call on and so we thought we would share them with you throughout the year. Each month from May 2008, we will be holding a film and info night at our humble office in Sandringham. We will plough you with alcohol (only a little really) and some snacks and show a short film, some maps and itineraries etc of some of the best adventure holidays around.
The yearly program goes like this:
May : Kayaking in Indonesia and Fiji
June : Exploration XPDs for 2009
July : Kilimanjaro and other African Adventures
August : Kokoda and PNG
September : Save the Orangutans
October : Adventures in Nepal
Dates etc can be found on our website under "Info Nights"
Want to know more? |
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MOUNT VICTORIA - PNG - BE THE FIRST!  We have been told that white men will turn to mud and black fellas will die if they reach the summit of Mt Victoria. So we have decided to check it out for ourselves.
In 2007 we scoped the trip and got within a day of climbing Mt Victoria's southern slope, PNG's 3rd highest peak. No European has trekked up Victoria's southern slope. In July 2008 we will be taking 10 adventurous trekkers to her summit.
The track itself is for the most part non-existent and thus a great deal of scrambling and chopping is required. Once the 14000 ft summit is attained we will retrace our footsteps and spend the last day of the expedition floating down the Brown River, replete with crocodiles and large tree snakes.
If true adventure is what you are looking for then Mt Victoria is awaiting you.
Keep an eye out on our home page for the new Mt Victoria Exploration page. |
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DO YOU KNOW HOW TO CROSS A RAPID RIVER?
 You've been walking for hours through the jungle and you are only a short distance from civilization when without warning a large river stops you in your tracks. "This is not on the map" you think to yourself. Oh well there is only one thing standing between you and a nice cold beer, and the river is not going to stop you. How do you cross a fast running river or stream?
To ford a swift, treacherous stream, apply the following steps:
- Remove your pants and shirt to lessen the water's pull on you. Keep your footgear on to protect your feet and ankles from rocks. It will also provide you with firmer footing.
- Tie your pants and other articles to the top of your rucksack or in a bundle, if you have no pack. This way, if you have to release your equipment, all your articles will be together. It is easier to find one large pack than to find several small items.
- Carry your pack well up on your shoulders and be sure you can easily remove it, if necessary. Not being able to get a pack off quickly enough can drag even the strongest swimmers under.
- Find a strong pole about 7.5 centimeters in diameter and 2.1 to 2.4 meters long to help you ford the stream. Grasp the pole and plant it firmly on your upstream side to break the current. Plant your feet firmly with each step, and move the pole forward a little downstream from its previous position, but still upstream from you. With your next step, place your foot below the pole. Keep the pole well slanted so that the force of the current keeps the pole against your shoulder.
- Cross the stream so that you will cross the downstream current at a 45-degree angle.
Want to know how to swim across a larger river? |
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GUNUNG RINJANI SEASON OPENED. 
On March 23rd the Gunung Rinjani National Park Board officially opened the Park to tourists for the 2008 trekking season.
And what a season it is going to be. We have several trips booked for the Sacred Mountain Track and we will be installing caving ladders along the Jati Track ready for the 2009 season.
We are also scoping the rim for a first ever expedition that will circumnavigate the entire rim of the mountain. This will cover most of the peaks that have never been climbed before. Involved will be rock climbing and abseiling, but we will have 2 professional Australian ropes guides to lead the way. Keep an eye out for that one in 2009.
Rinjani is simply the best short adventure from Australia. You won't believe the challenge nor the view from her 4000m summit.
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COMPETITION WINNER  Congratulation to Michael Ovens who correctly told us that we use 3 types of boats on our Indonesian Sailing expeditions. They are our local, traditional and luxury boats. Well done Michael!
This month, to promote our Save the Orangutans expedition, we are giving away another fantastic No Roads Black t-shirt. To win all you need to tell us is how heavy does a male Orangutan grow to? Is it:
a/ 110 pounds?
b/ 150 pounds?
c/ 180 pounds?, or
d/ 200 pounds?
The answer can be found in the trip dossier on the Save the Orangutans web page. Good luck and hope to hear from you all soon.
Check out our website at www.noroads.com.au. | |
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Sparrow Force XPD Selling Fast!
Our team has just returned from East Timor after checking out some of the terrain that will be covered during the Sparrow Force XPD in July. To say it si stunnigly rugged would be an understatement. Year of neglect has left East Timor with a pathetic road system but an exstensive trail system to every corner of the nation. The only way to get anywhere is by feet and for those going on this historic journey, they will be visiting villages remote from towns and cities. For many of these villages, we will be the first Westerner they would have seen for years, if ever.
Want to know more? |
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Guide of the Month
 The only reason Dave Collins has been nominated Guide of the Month is because he just kept bothering us with "How do I become Guide of the month?" or "What do I have to do to get in the newsletter?" We couldn't take it any more and so here you are Dave, "Guide of the Month". Dave is a great story teller and is ready for a yarn. His memory when it comes to songs is phenomenal and if you are lucky he may render a Johnnie Cash song for you while in the remote.
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Mera Peak Team Leaves For Nepal.
 As you read this e-newsletter a team of 5 trekkers/climbers is heading towards Mera Peak in the Everest region of Nepal. Mera peak stands at 6654m a.s.l and is considered one of the highest "trekking peaks" on the planet. From her summit you will have spectacular views of Lhotse, Nuptse and Everest. But it is the journey that makes Mera so special, as you are taken from the main valley that leads to Everest into a far more remote one. The sense of isolation is a rarity where you become one with the Himalayas. Good luck to our team in Nepal. Want to know more about Mera Peak? |
Another Outsports Buy Night for No Roads Trekkers!
Outsports in Moorabin has another fantastic No Roads Buy Night on the 18th April from 6pm - 8pm. You will receive 20% off pretty much everything and better than that, you will get some of the best equipment advise available. Don't miss out and remember the 18th April. Click here for Voucher. | |
