“Sometimes the things we dream about for years quietly wait for us to be ready. Here’s my story of how I stepped into something I once only imagined, and what I discovered along the way.”
- Margaret B

For the past six years I had an image on my vision board. A woman mid‑stride on a hiking trail. She looked strong, capable and completely at ease in the outdoors. For a long time she felt like someone else.

Life moved, as it does. Busy, full and often predictable. Every now and then I would catch a glimpse of her and feel something stir, until one day I ran into Jenny, who I had lost contact with many years earlier. With her enthusiasm, something shifted. I realised that woman on the vision board was not out of reach. She could be me.

Fast forward ten months from my very first tentative “hike lite” experience and I found myself preparing for something I never thought possible. A five day trek on Kangaroo Island, hiking the Wilderness Trail. Five days. Sixty six kilometres. Twelve incredible women.

Along the way something unexpected happened. The incredible Diamond women came into my life. Strong, generous and endlessly encouraging. They showed up at just the right time, offering laughter, advice, and the kind of support that quietly builds confidence step by step.

This adventure was full of firsts for me.

My first multi‑day hike.
My first time sleeping in a tent.
My first bush wee.
My first time not showering for five days.

Things I once would have said “I could never do that”, but I did. Each first stopped being about what I had not done before and started becoming proof of what I could do.

The trail gave me exactly what I did not know I needed. Space, challenge, laughter and connection. Each day had its own rhythm and its own kind of magic.

Mornings were simple. Rolling up sleeping bags, packing tents, sharing coffee and checking in on each other. It did not take long to realise that when you live outdoors together something shifts. Walls come down. Conversations flow more easily. Stories of family, challenges and dreams are shared.

Now back home, with boots cleaned and packs unpacked, I know it is not just the trail I will remember. It is the laughter, the shared moments, the friendships formed along the way, and the version of myself I met out there.

I am no longer the woman looking at my vision board.
I am the woman in it.

Shine Bright like a Diamond.

Margaret B

The Trail, Day by Day

Day One: Stepping into the wilderness

The adventure began in Flinders Chase National Park, where the first kilometres of the Wilderness Trail led straight into rejuvenating mallee eucalypt woodlands alive with fresh green growth. The track wound through quiet bushland, setting the tone for the days ahead. Camp that night was nestled among tall gums, where tents went up, packs were unpacked, and excitement grew with an unexpected echidna sighting wandering through camp, a perfect welcome to our first night in the wilderness.

Day Two: Rivers, beaches and long coastal miles

Following Rocky River toward the Southern Ocean, the landscape shifted dramatically as expansive clifftop views opened up. Descents onto bone‑white beaches were followed by long, sun‑exposed stretches of trail that truly tested everyone.

It was here that we caught our first glimpse of a very playful and inquisitive fur seal, keenly observing our odd crew of hikers paused on the sand. A late afternoon side trip took us to Admirals Arch, where we watched fur seals frolicking below, before stopping by Cape du Couedic Lighthouse as the light softened. We spent the night at Hakea Campsite, where a few lucky campers enjoyed some spectacular stargazing before we all fell asleep to the sound of crashing waves after our demanding day.

Day Three: Icons and encounters

This day delivered one of Kangaroo Island’s most iconic landscapes, with a side trip to the sculpted granite formations of the Remarkable Rocks, balanced improbably against the skyline. Along the way the wildlife encounters continued, with a large group of young fur seals spotted not only by us but also by a circling shark, all topped off with a sea eagle soaring past overhead.

The trail continued along dramatic coastline before settling into Banksia campsite, where another delicious dinner was shared as tired legs finally rested.

Day Four: Coastlines, forests and sea lions

The fourth day combined magnificent coastal trekking with sweeping ocean views before the landscape softened as we entered taller mallee and tea tree. Reaching the South West River, we enjoyed a short punt ride to cross the water, a novel experience for all and a highlight in itself.

From here, the day culminated with a guided visit to Seal Bay. Walking quietly among Australian sea lions in their natural habitat was a deeply moving experience and a standout moment of the entire journey.

Day Five: Wetlands and island exploration

The final day brought another change of scenery, with the trail passing through wetlands, recovering woodlands, and freshwater lagoons as we completed the Wilderness Trail. After finishing the hike, we embraced full tourist mode and explored more of what Kangaroo Island has to offer.

Highlights included a visit to the Raptor Domain, where a free‑flight Birds of Prey show gave a lucky few the chance for close‑up encounters with black cockatoos, masked owls, and wedge‑tailed eagles. The adventure wrapped up with a little retail therapy at the Eucalyptus Oil Distillery and Clifford’s Ligurian Bee honey farm, home to the world’s last remaining pure population of Ligurian bees.