A Southern Highlands adventurer and environmentalist has been honoured with his first Australian Geographic Society Award, the Spirit of Adventure gong for his recent 14,000 km circumnavigation of the Mediterranean Sea by foot, kayak, ocean rowboat and bike.
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Huw Kingston of Bundanoon completed the 12 month journey in April this year, also fundraising for the Save the Children Australia charity - becoming the organisation’s most successful individual campaigner ever.
The AGS awards acknowledge remarkable Australians in the fields of adventure and conservation, and those who not only have a lifelong commitment to their chosen field but who have given back to the nation and who have inspired countless other Australians.
“It was [a surprise],” he said. “I’ve done a lot of interesting adventures, these sort of things are very welcome … and they are the premier adventure awards in the country so it’s a nice thing to have.”
His recent human-powered trek was a round trip to Gallipoli through 17 countries, commemorating the Anzac Centenary and finished two days before April 25th.
“I wanted to raise money for the most innocent victims of war … children,” he said. “Specifically the money for children affected by war and conflict and indeed for the conflict and the terrible situation that’s occurring in Syria.”
Previously Kingston has traveled 25,000 km around Australia in a project he tagged as City2City joining all of the country’s capital cities, he completed the longest ski traverse in the world at the time he traveled through the Himalaya’s, and even convinced his home of Bundanoon to ban the sale of bottled water - the world’s first town to do so.
Kingston’s top spots for local adventures:
- Sea kayak down the coast from Kiama to Gerroa; a classic paddle past cliffs, beaches and headlands with good coffee at start and finsh!
- Mountain Bike from Fitzroy Falls across to and down, down, down from Meryla Pass to Yarrunga Creek and out into Kangaroo Valley. Either finish there or if feeling fit, ride back up, up, up Macphails Fire Trail to Fitzroy Falls.
- Walk down into the Shoalhaven Gorge from Long Point Lookout near Tallong and follow river upstream to Bungonia Creek. Follow track up Bungonia Creek into Bungonia Gorge then climb up out of Gorge.
- Canoe up Shoalhaven Gorge on Lake Yarrunga starting atTallowa Dam in Kangaroo Valley. Go as far as where the river flow into the Lake begins. Best experienced with an overnight camp in the gorge on one of a number of sandy beaches.
Other AGS award recipients include Eric Phillips from Melbourne for the Lifetime of Adventure award. Sydney-born businessman Robert Purves for Lifetime of Conservation. Adventurer of the Year went to John Jacoby, Chris Porter, Andrew Maffett and Jim Burcide who circumnavigated Antactic Island, South Georgia with kayaks.
Tim Faulkner from the Australian Reptile Park picked up Conservationist of the Year. Young Adventurer of the year went to Danielle Murdoch for riding her motorcycle across 27 countries. Young Conservationist of the Year went to the 21 year old founder of SEED, Amelia Telford,
