It’s only been a few months since they tied the knot in a fairytale end to The Block Glasshouse, but Maxine and Karstan Smith’s next adventure is already underway – and it’s brought them to Eden.
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The DIY renovators are spending the night at the Twofold Bay Beach Resort as they near the halfway point of a marathon 1200km trek from the glasshouse in Melbourne to their home in Newcastle.
It’s a gruelling trip, but with a goal of raising $120,000 ($100 per km) for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, it’s one the couple have relished.
“We love kids and we wanted to put a smile on some kids’ faces, and the Starlight Foundation fits in perfectly with what we want to achieve,” Maxine said.
“$120,000 would grant 18 children a Starlight wish.”
To add to the challenge, Karstan has been walking in thongs at different intervals.
He said that while fundraising is the primary goal, the chance to take in their coastal surroundings is an added perk for the pair.
“It’s been a long way and it’s crazy – you see a lot more by walking,” he said.
“We drove [from Melbourne to Newcastle] only six weeks ago, but we’ve seen a lot more this time.
“It’s been a great experience so far and tomorrow in Pambula is our halfway point.
“It will hopefully only get easier and I think our bodies are getting used to it now.
“We walk to start the day and then run the rest – that has to be an indication that things are getting better.”
By running the final part of today’s leg, Max and Karstan arrived in Eden at 9.30am, a welcome change from their usual long days that included an 11-hour hike on Tuesday.
Maxine said they were motivated by the chance to experience Eden’s beaches yet again, having stopped by during The Block’s Mighty Aussie Road Trip in September.
“It’s absolutely beautiful – that’s why we were so excited to come to Eden,” she said.
“We ran the last 5km because we remembered how good the beach was and couldn’t wait to get here.
“We’re also looking forward to spending the night here at the Twofold Bay Beach Resort – we’re staying at all the BIG 4 Holiday Parks along the way, and our major sponsor, Jayco, have been fantastic supporters.”
The newlyweds’ big homecoming in Newcastle is planned for Saturday, December 6.
They’ll have the chance to take a well-earned break after a whirlwind year that culminated in their wedding and a third-place finish in The Block Glasshouse.
“You can’t go into these things expecting to win, but having that wedding, for us, was a win,” Karstan said.
“It topped the experience off perfectly, and we still walked away with $40,000, which is an amazing amount of money.”
