Hinterstoder Off The Beaten Path

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After all these lessons we wanted to take the train, that was waiting for us at the entrance of the park. To be honest, it is a very special highlight, because this slow train brought us (free of charge) from the base station through the Deer Park to the Spitznaglalm. From there we had a magnificent view of the Priel group and the massif of Warscheneck. Besides that we saw a great place to grill - just bring your own food and grill and the charcoal is made available by the park itself. How about that!

Going up by the train and downwards we did by foot (I guess a good combination). While we had our way down we were able to see all kinds of animals, like kangaroos and some beautiful deers and we were even able to touch them. And once we were back at the spot where we begun the day we saw a great playground for Iris and Sam. To my dearest it brought fun and variety during this visit as they were able to play with on a trampoline inside some cars and with other attributes. Finally we ended our visit with a simple, but nice lunch at the restaurant which was located at the entrance of the park.

Address: A-4575 Rosslithen bei Windischgarsten

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I parked the car very close to the entrance and saw on the sign that the entrance fee was mild and therefore not a problem to overcome. An adult had to pay EUR8 and my children EUR5 per kid. So for EUR18 we were inside! The brochure we received told us that this particular Wildlife and Adventure was a Zoo with a heart. It has about 400 animals from 62 species and they live on over 20 acres of beautiful sloping land.

We first walked our way to some cages and used our senses to discover this particular wild world. We looked around, we listened out and we even used our sense of smell! We learned quite some things about conservation and the world’s endangered species. We saw a lama, white beer, wild boar, some very rare rabbits, mountain goats and beavers. After having a look at these animals we wanted to know some more about the growth of plants, their ecological and economic importance. We saw and entered the Forest and Mushroom Trail and it informed us in detail about these topics. It was a very nice and funny path to walk and quite unique in its way.

Address: A-4575 Rosslithen bei Windischgarsten

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During the summer of 2009, when I stayed with my two kids in the small village of Hinterstoder I visited the Wild & Erlebnispark Enghagen a bit by accident. On a heavily cloudy day we were not able to visit the swimming pool, a nice mountain lake to swim in or any other outdoor hiking event. So I decided to go the nearby village of Windischgarsten, and I was not sorry for that. It’s only a 15 minute drive in a beautiful scenic setting, because Windischgarsten is surrounded by some impressive mountains: the Haller Mauern in the South, the Sengsengebirge in the North, and the Totes Gebirge in the West.

The reason why I wanted to go to Windischgarsten was rather simple: first of all, it is located near the Kalkalpen National Park, which is a fairly recently founded National Park, and second of all the village of Windischgarsten has was founded between the 2nd and 5th centuries and has Celtic roots. So my conclusion was that there had to be something of interest to see? And indeed there was, for example the Wild & Erlebnispark Enghagen. On our way from Hinterstoder to Windischgarsten we passed the entrance, and of course we had to visit it, as the kids are really fond of animals and playgrounds. So, there we went …

Address: A-4575 Rosslithen bei Windischgarsten

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The lake is set in a mountain valley where the heavily forested dark green mountains seem to shoot straight up from the water's edge, one of the best Alpine settings I guess. It also offers a wide variety of athletic facilities, walking and hiking are popular pastimes around lake Gleinkersee. In addition to the circular walking path around the lake you can explore the surrounding mountain tops (where panoramic views will spread out before your eyes), Alpine huts as well as the Piessling Spring. The name derives from the church Gleink in Steyr, which possessed the lake in 1125. It's only accessible from the south end.

But hanging around, sun bathing and swimming are the most important things to do here of course. Iris was in the lake within a few seconds, Sam was a bit afraid and only paddled his feet. His fear was mainly because of the fish we saw like carp, perch, trout and pike. And whenever you need some refreshments, enjoy the culinary delights at the restaurant Seebacher, situated next to the lake with inviting sun terrace and shady chestnut tree garden.

Address: Edlbach 123, 4580 Windischgarsten.
Directions: A9 Pyhrn motorway, exit Windischgarsten and follow the signs.

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The Gleinkersee is 0.13 km2 (600 meters long and 400 meters wide) and up to 24.5 meters deep, with an exeption at the western part of the lake where it steeply drops to over 120 meters of depth! The water mostly comes from underground sources, but in the rear there are some small inflows visible. The weak flow of fresh water and the sheltered position behind some high mountain peaks, allows a rapid warming of the upper water and therefore high temperatures. This favor not only the swimmers, but also algal to bloom, so be aware.

Like I said before, lake Gleinkersee is a charming small Alpine lake surrounded by green meadows and lush forests. A well groomed lawn swimming pear and children's playground invited us to spend some idyllic and relaxing moments, as being a single parent of two young kids. Boat rides on the lake are available, but be aware that on a busy day the waiting time can be over two hours!

Address: Edlbach 123, 4580 Windischgarsten.
Directions: A9 Pyhrn motorway, exit Windischgarsten and follow the signs.

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About two thirds of Austria is dominated by the Alps and during the last ice-age, mighty glaciers covered essentially all of what Austria is today. When they melted away to some very few areas in high altitudes, the glaciers left a landscape under their weight, like smooth hills, rubble and many lakes. Today, there is a total of more than 300 lakes in Austria. They are a crucial factorin the country's tourism industry and appeal particularly to domestic and Central European tourists who come for water sports, hiking and natural beauty rather than sightseeing Vienna. The largest and probably most famous lake in the area of Hinterstoder is the Gleinkersee and is best accessed from Spital or Windischgarsten, it lies within the Kalkalpen National Park.

At a beautiful day a good activity is to go swimming together of course! For Iris and Sam this is always a favorite summertime activity. Just go splashing, wading and paddling - this always means a great day in the water! Also just playing by a lake like the Gleinkersee can be a real treat on a hot day.

Address: Edlbach 123, 4580 Windischgarsten.
Directions: A9 Pyhrn motorway, exit Windischgarsten and follow the signs.