CATCH & COOK Bushcraft Adventure - Hiking & Camping in the Australian Wilderness.

Take it back to where it all began. Harvest of night by the sand. The great outdoors. It's a bit of a strange term we've coined up when you really think about it. The great outdoors. Like it's such a pity that we have to be closed in behind these so mentioned doors. That only open and close on special occasions like a long weekend or that little pat on the back at the end of the year where your boss is kind enough to keep depositing a sum of money into your bank account while you're off on some kind of annual adventure to an overcrowded campsite while you cheers with your mates over how much time your new job gives you off over Chrissie. What did we call it before we ever lived in overpopulated suburbs and cities I wonder? I suppose there wasn't a name for it. We did it. There's something about being out here that speaks to me. I come here on my own to hike for hours without passing another person but it's funny because I don't feel alone out here. In fact it's actually the opposite. I return to civilisation and I'm surrounded by people save for a few who I feel don't really have that connection to these places like I do. To them these places are only visited on rare occasions. Work is far more important. Having a big night is far more important. And that is where I feel alone. Surrounded by people. Not here. There's a cockatoo nest right in that branch. Let's dive down here, it's hollow. Well, this surpassed what I expected. We're free now, let's skip some stones, eh? Skipping a bunch of stones can be therapeutic. Maybe it just feels that way because if you have the time to be doing something like this then you're obviously not in a rush to be anywhere anytime soon. I think if I were to trace back every moment in time that I've skipped stones it would mark some of the best stages in my life. There's something about a perfectly skipped stone that says alright mate, you can crack on with your day now. You've done it. It makes no sense to me that, you know, you guys are all at work right now. Five days a week to, you know, buy a loaf of bread and a few beers and have some shelter over your head when this is out here. All the time. Being out here instantly changes your perspective. I feel just as important or maybe insignificant as any of the birds, reptiles or marsupials I see in the bush around me. It feels right. The balance is perfect. We lack balance in society. We aim to win at everything we do and touch. I love being out here. It's like a slap in the face and a welcome home hug all at the same time. It says sit down and learn something. Observe something without necessarily participating. These places always stir up insightful thoughts and philosophical wisdom. It's part of why I enjoy it so damn much. Tell you what, nothing out here is easy. You throw a camera in the mix and you are doing yourself a disservice. I'll tell you that much for free. I cannot explain how good it feels to be out here. You know, lockdown was one thing but then, because I was still working, I'm on the road a lot, so when lockdown started to lift, everybody's out on the road again and, oh, it's just insane out there. And then you come out somewhere like this, just peaceful and quiet. It just hits you different, mate. It just hits you different. Tell you what, a game changer, son. I should just camp here, truly. People don't like to be uncomfortable. I hope to never be that way. I can't think of anything worse than living the rest of my days comfortably. You experience the most growth when you're pushed outside of that comfort zone. I can personally vouch for that. That's when you're living. Maybe a quick fish over in these rapids. Nice big patch of sun to dry the boots and socks out in. Tackle box. It's actually just my little survival tin tackle box. The tin's from Survival Supplies Australia and I got flint and steel with that but I've used this to pop my little lures and stuff in. Let's see how we go. Nearly got away. Time to show you why I earned the trophy for most legendary fishermen in the Southern Hemisphere. Because I'm a natural baby. Everybody knows only cool guys rock telescopic rods so I'll probably shut the bow down. Bloody hell, it's an ordeal just to get the bloody lure in the water. All good things take time though. I've got plenty of that. Fishing is more than catching or not catching a fish. It's about being out by the water. It's soothing. The anticipation that the next cast might be the one I guess goes back to our ancestral roots where that fish could be the difference between eating and starving. There's also not many moments in our lives these days where we have time to listen to our thoughts without distractions. Watching TV or streaming a movie doesn't have the same effect. I really believe there is something in fishing and hunting that connects us to ourselves and to nature in a way that is healthy for us. Just walked up there and I was like, righto boys, gather round. And they just took one look at my biceps. I shouldn't have bought this rod. This is just time wasting. Look at that mess. My regimental friends would not be impressed with the state of this. Let me tell you that. Cooking up a bloody storm. Just wanted to show you that it's not all nice creek walking. Look at this. Look at this business. With a heavy ass bag on back. Pretty knackered already to be honest. To leave the pack here and do a recce further up the creek where it's a lot rockier. I think we'll put the pack on. Cropped over here. Nice sandy bank all the way down. See if we can find something a little bit more hidden. I think it makes the most sense to cross. Okay, let's see if we can get through this. It's pretty deep. It's very deep. Y'all want to see a cool party trick? It's time to test you out mate. It's a super rough version but I think it'll do the trick. These adventures always require me to be present in the moment. That's why starting a fire has a certain feel to it. It's a simple task that you can complete and it rewards you not only with a feeling of success but with it's warmth and it's entrancing display of flames and burning embers. We were taught this method of carrying your pack over the water in the military. It's called a mill float. It actually was a pain in the backside because your gear always got wet if you messed it up. It didn't let me down. How did I not see that before? I wonder if you could see them on the camera this whole time. Go out of tracks, I'll show you. He's walking this way. You can see his little claw marks and then his tail and body dragging. He lives up in there somewhere. Seeing rubbish in wild places upsets me for a few reasons. The obvious reasons of pollution and potential harm to wildlife and then a personal reason. I come out here to escape people and then there it is. A sign of our lack of responsibility. Take it in, take it out. Come on lad, crap all around you. Something I didn't expect to see. Right there, your paw print. Anyway, look at this. Okay, so there's definitely bass in here. As soon as I looked over the edge of that big rock there was like three of them just slowly moving away from me. There we go. Let me get my shoes off. My old man used to take me fishing as a kid. Either by means of canoe or winding our way around a trail in the bush somewhere. It always felt like we were on the other side of the earth. A real adventure. I don't know if I've caught a decent fish since those days. Maybe today will be my lucky day. Calm yourself brother. This is an episode of alone. We did it. Well it wasn't getting away, I hooked him with both hooks. Massive. Right, gonna dispatch this fella, have him for dinner. For sure, or even lunch. I'm always grateful for a catch that will feed me. I don't think enough people understand this process. This is the balance of life. Nobody is mad when an animal takes another animal's life in order to survive. But we hate on one another for it. Like being human somehow makes us special. We're not. We're just as much a part of nature as anything else. Time to do some bushcraft. Bushcraft cooking with Matsey. Another goanna track going right to where I put my fish. This isn't the stick that I'm going to use to hold the fish over the fire. I just need to get something to sit it on away from ants and what not. I will laugh if an eagle comes down and takes that. Very well could do. Barker Laplander Saw. This will work perfectly for the base of the fire. Catching fish, no worries, bushcraft master. I've done two courses and I think I'm bloody John Wick in bushcraft. Got a little bit of a sand barrier actually. Walk out from that wind. I've just been in this valley. It's a little bit of a wind tunnel here. Not so bad. Might build it up if I need to. Get my little matchstick sizes. Definitely need more than that. Alright, the moment I've been waiting for. Finally, get to test out my RMK Leatherworks fire kit. Australian leather, Australian made. Boots. So dry. I can't speak highly enough about bushcraft. Now, I know it's not for everyone. But if you're into camping, hiking and all round outdoor adventures. I strongly recommend you jump on a bushcraft survival course. I did my first course with Bushcraft Survival Australia. And I felt like I had robbed myself of 30 years doing this stuff. There's something to be said for mastering the basics. A simple fire. Nothing huge and excessive. But it will offer me warmth, a place to cook. And it will fuel my imagination into the night. As I stare into the flames as if it were a window into my own inner workings. Pondering everything there is to ponder. It doesn't get much more in the moment than catching a fish from the river. And cooking it over a fire you've just made. We all need to do more of this. Slow down time and appreciate what you have in front of you. Well, I was going to save this cold one for later. But I mean, I don't, I don't think it really gets any more dramatic than this. So, I'll just have it now I think. I've got another one there. When it gets a bit darker, they're quite potent. So, maybe I should wait until I get the fish cooked. Double Juicy. Double Juicy? Who am I? Double Juicy IPA Dipper. By Bad Shepherd Brewing Company. Shout out to you boys. Sick looking can. You bloody beauties. Cheers guys. Cheers to catching a fish so quick. Let's see how the boys do. Yeah, it's nice. It's nice. One of the best parts about camping and being outdoors like this is it doesn't matter how much sand you've got in your boots or how wet your underpants are. God, there is a giant something in the water. Holy far out. Oh my god, it's an eel. Tell me you can see that. No. Tell the size of this thing from here. That is, that's over a metre long. What on earth? I was going to go for a swim. I don't even remember what I was saying. That eel just came out of nowhere. This is a wild place. Anyway, yeah, what was I saying before the eel? Oh yeah, I was just saying it doesn't matter how sandy your bloody socks are or how wet your bloody underpants are because out here you're just like that all the time. Am I talking absolute smackery? Maybe I do camp up here tonight. Then I'm safe from whatever's in that swamp. The fire's just died out. It wasn't ready to me. I feel like I'm on a deserted island right now. Thank you, buddy. Now you can just grab on the tail and peel it back basically. Oh, I'll show you. I will show you this. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Time to eat. It doesn't get any better than fresh caught fish. In fresh water like this. Just waiting for a guy to come up and try and spot me for it. I'll win. Have you ever tried fish cheek? If you crisp it up enough like this, it actually tastes like pork crackling. I kid you not. Pork crackling. I was about to say it's funny. Where I first walked down, so many large birds. So many noisy large birds. Then I got further up here, and there aren't so many, but the fish are bigger. Birds don't know, don't tell them. Bloody Bear Grylls, eat your heart out, son. Come to Australia, mate, I'll knock you out. I don't have a fancy job that pays loads, and I don't work from home. The only reason I'm able to come out here and make these videos is because I make the time. I wanted to put being outdoors, enjoying life at the top of my priorities list. Nobody is going to give you this time back. You need to take it now. I suppose some people might say sacrifice, but I really don't see it that way. Being in a place like this is priceless. We all get old eventually and you can't take that money with you. You need to make every moment count. I'm not waiting around to retire on my hard earned dollars to see these places. I'd rather cook over an open fire and listen to the birds than sit at a fancy table in a nice restaurant. Even TV is a bit like a distraction. It's like a running wheel in a mouse cage. You've got to make it your priority to get out here. I can still see plenty of fish down there, hey. I was going to start telling you guys where I'm at with these locations I go to, which I do want to do, as long as I'm not going to cause overcrowding or something. But this spot I can't. I don't think I can, hey. It's too good. And there's fish. I'll think about it. My good mate Craig from Mackenzie's Meats sent through some lamb cutlets, which I'm going to cook up tonight. Just got some broccolini and some asparagus to go with it. I think it's time. Smells good, even just raw like that. Smells so good. Just got three of these and some of that bacon for the morning as well. Good thing about these is they don't take too long. That's how I do around here, fire and everything. Like that. Yes. Veggies are cooked perfect, that's good. That's a good start. Mate, these are unreal. So damn good. I'm not just saying you have to, you have to try Mackenzie's Meats out. Hormone free, pasture raised, all that good stuff. There goes that eel again. Alright team, I'm bloody knackered. I've jumped in the tent. Last hurrah of fire out there. Anyway, I'll see yous in the morning for a cook up. It's about quarter to seven now. Loads of fish jumping out there. So before I start the fire and make brekkie I might go have another fish. Mornings out in the bush are the best. It's still and calm. You really get that feeling that a brand new day has just begun. We're a little bit robbed of this feeling when we wake up inside the walls of a house. Anyone who gets up early to go for a run, a surf or train outside before heading to work will tell you that it's their favourite time of the day. There's a feeling in the crisp morning air and something about the sun slowly making its way up into the sky that makes you feel positive about the day. Hey, come up and down this sand dune a couple of times in the morning. You're not cold anymore. Cheers guys, and cheers to Dog and Garn and Coffee Company for giving me life on this beautiful day. Just knocked an ant in it. Not what I wanted. Oh, cracked egg in there mate. Too easy. A couple of cherry tomatoes. Salt and pepper. Don't worry about him. It's like a good bit. Getting bloody hot out there now. Super sunny. Anyway, I'm going to tuck into this somehow. It's been a great trip, hey. A couple of fish. Awesome spot. Just so happy to be out here. I was at the tip the other day and just had this random thought of when did this start? When did we start just digging a massive hole and putting all our crap in it? I just can't imagine that would have been a big group decision to be made to go yeah, no, well, absolutely, let's just dig a hole and put all our crap in it. At what stage were we building things or buying products like furniture and whatnot that we're going to stay in the family for a lifetime or even be passed down to the next generation? Yeah, at what point did we go from that to just every time you move houses you've got to redecorate and sell your old couch and get a new one or all these Ikea flat packs and the furniture lasts like two years and then the legs are wobbling off it. I imagine that had a lot to do with it. What's the end game there? What's the end game with a tip? There's a few places along the shore here where people have camped under their fires which is all good but then they've just left these big black scars where they've been camping which is really obvious and just ruins the atmosphere, if you ask me. Leave no trace, fire's gone, bedding area's sorted no trash. Let's go! There's always mixed emotions when I've packed up camp and I'm heading back to the vehicle to make my way home. A bit disappointed that I have to leave so soon and say goodbye to this peaceful environment to go navigate my way through incompetent drivers and multiple school zones that were an obvious afterthought given the amount of traffic they caused. But I also feel ready. Ready to see my partner and give her a big hug and a kiss put my feet up and have a cuppa while we catch up over the last couple of days. What I learn most about my time out in the bush is that there needs to be a stronger balance. There are many wonderful modern things we have in this world but we seldom have time to enjoy the natural wonders. It's out there that we recharge. We reflect. We simplify and find the ability to look at things from another perspective. We become present. Look at the size of that boy. The surface of night by the sand pulled me close and talked about the sky and all of this stuff between you and I I just can't cook and leave a trail of mess The way you hang your clothes don't make any sense You'd like to stay and cozy up with a tea But one day I will, is that torture for me yet? I don't want to run away this time The birds are on the ground around our washing line You watch me with a quiet confidence I love the way we talk