Australian Hiker

347 Great South West Walk Reality vs Expectations

Tue, 12 May 2026 20:24:34 +1000

In this final episode of our series on my journey on the Great South West Walk we look and at my pre-trip expectations and compare them to the reality of my on-trail experience. In addition will provide recommendations to assist you if you are planning on doing this trip yourself.

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346 Great South West Walk week 2 on trail

Tue, 05 May 2026 17:05:09 +1000

This podcast episode contains a series of recordings on my Great South West Walk starting from my return to the trail after my rest day In Nelson, and finishing on the final day of my trip on my return to Portland.

Podcast episode 347 titled 'expectations vs reality' episode looks at my pre trip exceptions after the trip and compares them to the reality. In addition I offer suggestions on how I could have made this trip better. That episode is due for release on Tuesday 13 June. Enjoy!
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345-Great South West Walk week 1 on trail

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 19:26:44 +1000

This podcast episode contains a series of recordings starting from my travel day prior to my trip to the end of week 1.

For the first two days there are multiple recordings and for the first time on one of our trips we will then be doing a single daily recording.

Week two's episode is due for the second half of the trip is due for release on Tuesday 6 May, followed by our 'expectations vs reality' episode due for release on Tuesday 13 June. Enjoy!
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344 Great South West Walk Expectations

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:30:00 +1000

As this podcast goes to air I am just a few days out from starting my journey on the Great South West Walk in southwest Victoria. In this episode I talk about the trip planning and discuss my pre trip expectations; and hesitations!

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343 Volunteering in the remote Tasmanian coastal wilderness

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 22:37:18 +1000

Throughout Australia much of our wilderness areas and reserves are managed by the relevant government agencies and while to do the best they can with limited resources they also rely on the support of enthusiast volunteer groups and individuals to assist, often undertaking work that government is unable to.

In today’s Episode we catch up with Jon and Justine from the Tasmanian Volunteer group Wilcare SPRATS (“Sea sPurge Remote Area TeamS”), SPRATS for short, who for the past 18 seasons have taken on the responsibility for managing invasive weeds growth on an 850km section of Tasmania’s’ wild and remote southern and Western coastlines which has seen a 98% reduction in the targeted weed species.

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342-I need a bigger bucket!

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 07:40:49 +1100

Recently I’ve come to realise that at some stage I may not be physically able to do every walk on my list and even though the plan is to do 3 long distance walks a year for the foreseeable future at some stage as I get older I’m eventually going to slow down. So quite arbitrarily I estimated that I have about 30 long distance walks left in me in addition to all the short walks. As such I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to start prioritising these walks just in case I don’t get to the end of the ever growing list. But as the title of this podcast says, “I need a bigger bucket as there are too many good walks, and not enough time to do them”!

This podcast discusses what we look at when prioritising our walks and hopefully helps you with your own choices.

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341 - Australian Hiker, an update

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 20:45:00 +1100

On the 2nd March 2026 Australian Hiker has gone through a major change and in this short episode we want to update you, our listeners, with what this change is and where we are heading in the short to medium term. We are also seeking your input about what you would like to see.

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340-Via Transilvanica

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 20:42:35 +1100

When you think about Transylvania the name Dracula comes to mind. But did you know that Transylvania was originally part of Hungry and only incorporated into Romania after World War one. More importantly Romania is home to the Via Transilvanica long distance hiking trail which was officially launched on the 8th of October 2022. At that time the trail was 1400km but at the time of this interview covers just on 1600km in distance. The aim of this trail was to give travellers the chance to discover various parts of Romania in quite a unique way - different regions with their history, people, culture, landmarks, and stories. On launching it was designed to be the trail that unites.

In today’s episode we catch up with Alin, one of the team involved in creating this trail, along with Siobhan and Geoff, two Australian Hikers who undertook this walk to get different perspectives on this relatively unknown trail.

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339-How much should your hiking pack weigh?

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:25:01 +1100

The concept of pack weight for your hiking adventures is one of those topics that has the potential for heated debated when you get a group of hikers together. Everyone will have an opinion but this question is like asking ‘how long is a piece of string’? Which is just a way of saying that the answer is impossible without more specific information.

In this podcast episode we look at the concept of pack weight and discuss considerations for determining what this means for you.

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338-West Highland Way

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 18:39:25 +1100

The 154km West highland way is one of Scotland’s best known hiking trails and in fact is listed as one of Scotland 'Great Trails'. Having said that if you aren’t familiar with hiking in the UK then you may know much about this trail. In this podcast episode we talk with Aussie hiker Susie Ashton-Davies about her 8 day 'end to end' trip undertaken in September of 2025. www.australianhiker.com.au

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337-Hats for Hiking

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 20:27:15 +1100

Australia is a country of sun lovers; if we aren’t at the beach, we’re out bush, if we aren’t out bush, we are usually outside doing something if the weather is warm. As I write this article we are in the middle of a heatwave over much of Australia and with that some intense UV so I’m spending my time indoors, planning for upcoming hikes and putting together podcasts like this one.

If however the conditions are with you and you are getting outside hiking, then you need to put some thought into sun protection, with head protection being on the top of the list. In this podcast episode we look at the main types of head protection available on the market and what you should consider when choosing that perfect hat for your outdoor adventure. www.australianhiker.com.au

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336-Iceland Hidden Trails

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 20:45:51 +1100

Iceland is a destination that you don’t tend to hear too much about when it comes to hiking so when Aussie hiker Sarah Groves contacted me late last year, I was keen to find out more. Over a 12 day period Sarah and her group hiked 160 km on some of Iceland’s Hidden Trails. In this podcast episode we talk with Sarah about her Icelandic adventure. www.australianhiker.com.au

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335-Land snorkelling

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 20:00:00 +1100

In early 2025 I came across the term Land snorkelling and it definitely piqued my curiosity about what it was because as a term its probably one that most hikers aren’t really familiar with, at least by name, even though they may be familiar with the practice. So what is Land snorkelling, what defines it and why should this form part of your hiking practice?

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334-Ladakh Sky Trail

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:15:24 +1100

Over the past 18 months we have caught up with New Zealand Hiker Jonty Crane about several of his adventures, many of which are on trails that fall outside the ‘norm’. This interview is no different as we talk to Jonty about the Ladakh Sky Trail in Northern India, a trail that most people would have never heard of and one that is classed as ‘strenuous’ reaching altitudes over 5000 meters.

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333-Tour du Mont Blanc

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:30:00 +1100

Ask most hikers to name some European hiking trails and the 170km Tour Du Mont Blanc hiking trail will often crop up. This trail includes sections through France, Italy and Switzerland, and circumnavigates western Europe’s highest mountain, Mont Blanc. For most hikers this trail, which starts and finishes in the Chamonix Valley, is undertaken in around 11 days but it can be done in a quicker, or slower fashion depending on the experience you are after.In this podcast episode we talk with hikers Joe and Annie who undertook this well-known European trail in August of 2025. www.australianhiker.com.au

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332-Australian Hiker 9th Birthday

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 20:18:19 +1100

On 11 November 2025 Australian Hiker celebrated its 9th birthday. In this podcast episode we reflect on our past year, and look at where we are heading over the coming year including our long distance hiking plans for 2026.

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331-Christmas gifts for hikers, an alternate view

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 20:48:59 +1100

It’s that time of the year when you start to consider gifts for that special hiker in your life. In previous years we have looked at the full gambit of Christmas gift options covering just about every price range.

In this podcast episode we take a bit of a tongue in cheek view of what you can do for that hiker in your life beyond spending money. www.australianhiker.com.au

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330-Outdoor Retailer Expo 2025

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 21:05:05 +1100

The 2025 Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held on 14-16 October 2025 at EPIC located minuted form the centre off the city. For various reasons the last time that this ‘trade only show’ was held was in 2019 and is a chance for Australia’s outdoor wholesalers and manufacturers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia’s outdoor retailers and allied media and Australian Hiker attended this event as a media representative.

After such a long break this show was smaller than usual but of the two days that we attended we recorded a number of interviews from 6 seperate suppliers, some who look after multiple brands, and also had a chance to catch up with others.

As usual from our discussions with the various suppliers at the show, we will be undertaking a number of gear reviews over the upcoming year that will be of interest to you.

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329-Mount Dromedary (Gulaga)

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:41:35 +1100

Gill and I have been meaning to walk the Mount Dromedary Summit Trail, also know as Gulaga located between the coastal towns of Narooma and Bega. While easy to navigate this walk certainly gets the heart rate pumping being almost all uphill from start to the destination point at the summit before making your way back down. We didn't have any preconceptions about this walk but came away surprised at the solitude we found on this trail even with coming across a number of other hikers.

In this podcast episode we bring you a series of on trail recordings to give you an idea of what to expect and offer suggestions for how to get the best out of this walk.

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328 Dreamtime to Eden

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 20:16:26 +1000

One of the things I love about doing this podcast is hearing about people’s stories. I particularly love hearing about hikers creating a ‘chose your own adventure’ where they cobble together walks or undertake walks in a different way all to keep it interesting. In this podcast episode we talk with “self-proclaimed saunterer”, Greg Keaney, who over the past two years walked along Australia’s east coast from Tweed Heads near the NSW-Queensland border to the township of Eden close to the Victorian border. Instead of doing this walk all in one go, Greg did this walk in one week blocks in between his work commitments. He walked every beach and every headland (almost) over 80 days and 16 one-week stages.

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327-Whippa Packs

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 20:23:30 +1000

In this week’s episode, we catch up with Rob from Australian pack manufacturer, Whippa, to find out all about this uniquely Australian company and some of the great product on offer.

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326-Munjip Trail

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 19:51:07 +1000

Last weekend Gill and I walked the newly opened Munjip Trail, located just south of the NSW coastal town of Batemans Bay. This walk, which ranges between 15-18km can be done in a single day or over a series of days and has now become a firm favourite of ours. I took over 320 photos and videos on our walk, there was just so much to see. In this podcast episode find out all about this walk

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325-Kokoda Track

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 20:24:23 +1000

The Kokoda Track has is a single-file foot thoroughfare that runs 96 kilometres overland through the Owen Stanley Ranges in Papua and New Guinea and due to military action during World War 2, has become part of Australia’s cultural identity. this track is on the must do list for many Australian hikers and while there are much longer tracks available both in Australia and overseas, this is one of the most physically and personally challenging tracks that many hikers attempt.

In this episode, we catch up with New Zealand hiker, Jonty Crane, to find out all about his experience on this well-known track. www.australianhiker.com.au

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324 Australian Walking Track Grading System

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:56:13 +1000

The Australian Walking Track Grading System was endorsed in July 2010 as a voluntary industry standard and is now used almost exclusively throughout Australia having replaced an older system. This grading system provides a readily recognisable standard for walkers to be able to establish the difficulty of a particular walk regardless of where in Australia it is and allows them to determine whether they have the fitness and ability to undertake the walk.

In this podcast episode we discuss the different grades along with the not so obvious quirks.

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323 New Zealand Great Walks

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 20:56:19 +1000

Many hikers have heard of the New Zealand Great Walks and in this episode, we catch up with New Zealand Hiker, Jonty Crane, to find out just what the Great Walks are and to see how he rates them to help if you are considering doing one of these great trails.

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322 Lycian way

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 22:02:29 +1000

Recently we caught up with hikers Natalie and Pete Cornford to talk about their adventure on the 509km Turkish walking trail, the Lycian Way. Located in the northern Mediterranean this trail has a lot to offer including ancient Turkish cities, world heritage sites, and coastal vistas to name a few. In this episode we find out all about this lesser known trail www.australianhiker.com.au

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321- Via Gebennensis (Way of Geneva)

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 21:45:23 +1000

In episode 317 we talked about the Camino del Norte-Camino and the Camino Primitivo but have you ever heard of the 350km Via Gebennensis, also known as the Way of Geneva? I certainly hadn’t. This set me on a mission to find out more about this European hiking trail. The walk was only designed in the 1990s with the aim of guiding walkers from Switzerland, Austria and Germany to le Puy, from where they could set off on the traditional pilgrimage on the Way of Saint James (Camino Frances). In this interview we catch up with hiker Lindy Saler to find out all about her journey on the Via Gebennensis to see what she thought of this trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

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320 - What's it like to run an outdoor Adventure Company?

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 20:49:59 +1000

When we started Australian Hiker in 2016 one of the question’s that we got asked, a lot, was do we run hiking trips? As much as we love hiking and outdoor adventures we’ve been there and done that in the past and prefer to refer people to companies who do this for a living. In this episode we talk with Tom and Maddie about what its like to run an outdoor adventure company, find out some of what they offer, and also find out about some of their own amazing trips and adventures. www.australianhiker.com.au

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319- 2025 Industry Gear Supplier Interviews

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:37:17 +1000

Gill and I were originally heading to the Industry Trade show in March of this year but due to a cyclone that show was cancelled. Over the past 7 weeks we have been catching up with five Australian based suppliers to find out about what gear has been recently released and what we can expect in the coming months.

At the end of these supplier interviews I briefly discuss where I see the outdoor gear industry heading. www.australianhiker.com.au

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318-Fun and Hiking

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +1000

I follow a number of US based podcasts and blogs and one of the things that appears unique to the USA is the discussion on ‘fun’. It’s not that we don’t have fun in Australia but for some reason we just don’t seem to discuss it in the same way and we definitely don’t label it. But should we?

In this podcast episode we discuss the concept of fun as it applies to hiking and outdoor activities. www.australianhiker.com.au

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317-Camino del Norte-Camino Primitivo

Tue, 27 May 2025 20:44:44 +1000

Ask just about anyone who is a non-hiker to name a long distance hiking trail and chances are they will say the ‘Camino’ and by default this means the ‘Camino Frances’. also known as the ‘Way of Saint James’ or the ‘Camino de Santiago’, This well-known pilgrimage trail starts in France, crosses the Pyrenees mountains which straddles the border of France and Spain, and continues into Spain for a total distance of 780km long. This trail which was World Heritage Listed in 1993 takes most people around 35 days to walk. But did you know that there are over 200 ‘Caminos’ with a handful attracting the attention of keen hikers who want a different experience than that on offer via the Camino de Santiago.

In this episode we talk with hiker Sheila Lunter who joined the 828km Camino del Norte (the Northern Way) and the 321km Camino Primitivo (the Original Way) in a ‘choose your own adventure’ option to find out about these ‘lesser known’ Camino's.

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316-Basecamping

Tue, 20 May 2025 22:51:56 +1000

When we think about hiking there are two pictures that typically come to mind. The first is of moving from place to place over multiple days, carrying everything on our backs, sleeping in a small tent, then moving on and repeating the process the next day. The second picture we think about is driving to a nearby destination hiking for part of the day with a ‘smallish’ pack, and then returning to your car before driving home. But why is that?

In this podcast episode we look at 'basecamping' as an alternative to create a different type hiking adventure whereby you hike from and return to a central location. www.australianhiker.com.au

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315-Australian Triple Crown

Tue, 06 May 2025 20:08:41 +1000

I first fell in love with long distance hiking in about 2014 and surprisingly it had nothing to do with the movie ‘Wild’ that was released in the same year.

The more I investigated the concept of long-distance hiking, the more I liked the idea of doing one of the well-known USA Triple Crown trails. The US Triple Crown is a goal that many long distance hikers set themselves and consists of the

Appalachian Trail
Continental Divide Trail, and the
Pacific Crest Trail

You may be surprised to know that Australia has its own Triple Crown trails, even if they aren’t as well known, or for that matter an official thing. In this podcast episode we talk with hiker Kevin Moss to find out all about his experience in completing the Australian Alps walking Track, the Bibbulmun Track, and the Heyson Trail in a single Calendar year. www.australianhiker.com.au

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314-The Snowman Track - Bhutan

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 20:00:00 +1000

In 2012 we hiked in Bhutan and at that time we were trying to decide between two hikes. One of the choices we were looking at was the 350 km Snowman Trek which in the end we didn't end up doing. This trek is one of Bhutan’s and for that matter, one of the world’s, best known treks taking around 24 days to complete the whole hike.

In today’s episode we catch up with hiker Jonty Crane to find out more about his experience on the Snowman Trek. For me this is a bucket list hike and one that I was keen to find out more about! www.australianhiker.com.au

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313-The Ireland Way

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 19:46:41 +1000

In mid 2024 Larissa and her husband Brendan, hiked 1047km along the length of Ireland predominantly on ‘The Ireland Way’. This is a trail that has come across my desk from time to time and when Larissa first contacted us towards the end of last year, this was a great opportunity to find out about Ireland’s long trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 312-Southern Headlands Walk

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 06:18:56 +1100

The new Southern Headlands Walk is a one way, 20km walk between Narrawallee and Burrill Lake located near the southern township of Ulladulla. The new walk combines stunning scenery, beaches, wildflowers, cafes and accommodation options for those who wanted to play and stay! In this episode listen to our on trail recordings to see what we were thinking about this walk in real time and then at the end of the episodse we discuss how to get the best from this walk. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 311-What to do if you become lost while hiking (and what to do to prevent it)

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:40:00 +1100

No one plans to get lost or injured on a hike but every year our state and territory police forces, with support of organisations like the state emergency services, parks services as well as local volunteers, respond to incidents of lost or injured hikers. In many cases the outcomes of these incidents are just a minor inconvenience to all concerned but at the other end of the scale, there is occasionally the unfortunate loss of life.

In addition to the human outcomes, the resources of the organisations providing assistance are often stretched and taken away from other roles they perform. So how can you minimise potential issues on-trail and if you do become lost, what steps should you take to ensure you are found as quickly as possible?

In this podcast episode we discuss this important content with the hope that you will never need to use it!

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310 - Bibbulmun Track Interview with Trudie Marie

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:42:26 +1100

In 2018 Tim hiked the Bibbulmun Track as a solo male hiker, but what’s it like hiking the Bibbulmun as a solo female hiker? In this episode Gill takes control of the microphone and asks Trudie all about her experience on-trail, along with the reasons for undertaking this trip, and what she came away with from this long distance hiking experience. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 309-Headlamps for hiking

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:39:54 +1100

Once you decide to start doing overnight hikes there are additional pieces of gear that you need to consider like a sleeping bag, tent and also some sort of light. By far the most commonly used light for hikers is a headlamp but with so many to choose from how do you decide what to purchase? In this podcast episode we discuss key considerations for choosing a headlamp for hiking but having said that you may find that you end up with more than one! www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 308- Snowies Alpine Walk

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 20:29:05 +1100

In January 2025 over the Australia Day Long weekend Australian Hiker headed up to Kosciuszko National Park to walk the newly opened Snowies Alpine Walk. We, more specifically Gill, completed the whole walk in three days and I played a support role due to injury completing about 18km of the 56km walk.

While this walk was designed to be done over four days from a number of hikers that I have both talked to, and seen, do this walk as a 'choose your own adventure' option, and this seems to be how people are approaching it.

This podcast episode includes a series of on trail recordings from our three day trip and at the end of the podcast we provide an overview of what we thought of this trail as well as discussing options to help you make your own journey that much better. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 307-Hiking in Timor Leste

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 20:00:00 +1100

Ask just about any hiker to name some overseas hiking destinations and Timor-Leste is unlikely to be in that list. In fact, most people would probably struggle to place Timor-Leste on the world map. In this week’s episode we catch up with hiker Jonty Crane to find out what’s so special about hiking in Timor-Leste and to find out what we have been missing out on.

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AH 306-Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail revisited

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:00:00 +1100

In late 2017 our friend Kellie, Gill, and I undertook a five day walk on the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail in South Australia and to this day, this walk still ranks as one of our favourite hikes of all time, it was that good. In 2020 major bushfires decimated Kangaroo Island including this trail and much of the Flinders Chase National Park in which it resides. It wasn't until around 2023 that hikers could again do unsupported trips.

In this podcast episode we catch up with hiker Julia Patten, who with a friend recently walked the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail. We’re looking forward to seeing how the trail has recovered since the fires and what sort of experience you can expect if you do this walk. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 305-Sleeping Bag Liners

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 14:00:12 +1100

Sleeping bag liners; what are they used for and why should you consider using them if you are into overnight camping? As the name suggests, their main use is as a liner for sleeping bags but they are so much more and are a very versatile piece of gear that many hikers don’t even consider, but should they?

In this podcast episode we find out more about they types of liners and the uses that they have. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 304-Coast to Coast National Trail UK

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:12:17 +1100

In this podcast we interview Canberra hikers Amanda and Paul about their recent trip on the UK based Coast to Coast Path National Trail. This is one of the UK's best known walks and over recent times has been upgraded to be included in National Trail system. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 303-The Tassie Backbone

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:09:01 +1100

On 21 October 2024 Lauren Thomas and Steph Brake started on their 40 day, 500km journey starting at the northern Tasmanian township of Penguin and finishing at Cockle Bay is the states south to raise awareness and funds, deeply motivated by the desire to make a difference in men's health. They finally achieved their goal on 29 November 2024. www.australianhiker.com.au

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302-Australian Hiker’s Multi-day International Bucket List Hikes

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 20:31:14 +1100

In this podcast episode we talk about our bucket list of overseas (outside Australia) multi-day hikes. Each of these hikes, regardless of their length, has something that resonates with us for one reason or another. However, they may not be your cup of tea, given that most of them are long distance trails ranging from 75 km all the way up to the longest trip on the list at around 3,000 km.

Use these walks as a guide and hopefully it will spark some enthusiasm for you to add one or more of these walks to you bucket list – maybe it will inspire you to try something that you hadn’t thought about! www.australianhiker.com.au

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301-Australian Hiker’s Multi-day Australian Bucket List Hikes

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 20:41:28 +1100

In this podcast episode we talk about our bucket list of Australian-based multi-day hikes. Each of these hikes, regardless of their length, has something that resonates with us (particularly Tim) and while they may not be your cup of tea, they are all on our ‘to do’ list for the coming years. Our bucket list hikes range from 62 km all the way up to the longest trip on the list at around 1200 km.

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300-Episode 300!

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 20:17:29 +1100

There are estimated to be approximately 3,200,000 podcasts in existence however many of these are no longer in production. Many shows start with a flourish but peter out after around seven episodes once their creators realise the amount of work involved in getting an episode to air. Reaching 300 episodes is a rarity, particularly for outdoor podcasts with only a rare handful lasting this long.

In this episode we discuss where the Australian Hiker podcast has come from, where we are heading to, and what we have learned along the way. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 299-The Crux

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 21:45:48 +1000

Mike Railton is becoming a bit of a regular on the Australian Hiker podcast and in this episode, we talk about his hike on the UK walk known as the ‘Crux’. But what is the Crux? Listen to this episode to find out all about it.

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AH 298-K2 Base Camp Trek

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 20:49:51 +1000

For many hikers, a key bucket list hike has been trekking to the Everest Base Camp. However, this trek, along with the world’s tallest mountain has become less unique and more pedestrian. Recently I was contacted by hikers Simon and Cheryl Staddon who undertook the K2 Basecamp Trek, something that I wasn’t even aware was a thing and something that I was keen to find out more about. www.australianhiker.com.au

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297-Yerong Walking Track THE ROCK NSW

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 19:53:29 +1000

The Yerong Walking Track is one of a handful of walking track contained within the Rock Nature Reserve, also known as the Kengal Aboriginal Area not far out of the regional NSW city of Wagga Wagga. This locale is one of those hidden gems that the locals make good use of but in our case we only discovered it when the NSW Parks Service promoted it through their social media feeds. In this podcast episode we talk about this key walk and the reserve in general and hopefully it will encourage you to visit. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 296-Gear Freak!

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 20:20:00 +1000

Gear Freak is a term you will hear associated with many sports and activities, and while I’ve been involved in many gear intensive activities in the past, this term seems to have a special affinity with hikers.

In today’s episode we talk a tongue in cheek look at the various levels of hiking 'gear freaks'. From personal experience there are four different levels of Gear Freak you are likely to come across. Where do you sit? www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 295-Crossing Greenland

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:12:45 +1000

In episode 231 titled ‘Crossing the Tanami’ we interviewed adventurer James McAlloon just as he was about to set off on the final leg of a unique adventure across Australia which would take him 1745km from Alice Springs through to Broome crossing the Tanami Desert in the process.

In today’s episode we catch back up with James about his latest adventure as he and his adventure partner, Henk Morgans, cross Greenland and believe it or not, this is a warm-up to a bigger adventure which we’ll discuss at the end of this episode. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 294-Hiking the PCT with type 1 diabetes

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:06:32 +1000

In the past we have interviewed hikers who have walked the Pacific Crest Trail in the US and while everyone’s experiences are different, Australian Katrina Hemingway has her own story to tell. When Katrina undertook her journey with British hiking partner Helen, apart from being ‘older hikers’ they were both having to manage their type 1 diabetes which added an extra degree of complexity to the planning and management of this hike.

In this podcast episode we listen as Katrina talks us through her epic journey. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 293-Hiking Utensils 101

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 21:45:28 +1000

Eating utensils are one of the most underrated and under-considered piece of hiking gear in our packs. For most hikers what we choose to use is often based around what our fellow hikers are using or what catches our eye in the store but there is so much more to think about when purchasing your eating utensils.

In this podcast episode we look at the considerations for choosing that perfect eating utensil for your outdoor adventures. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 292-Insects and hiking

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 21:34:07 +1000

Hiking is very much an outdoor activity and with that you get both the good and the bad aspects of nature. The beautiful views, the animals, the sense of solitude and oh the insects! Sometimes insects can be so annoying that you feel you have no other choice but to quit your hike, if you can.

In this podcast episode we discuss what you can do to reduce the impacts that insects may have on your hike so you can keep on doing what you enjoy rather than focusing on the negatives. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 291-K’gari Great Walk: Reality vs Expectations

Tue, 21 May 2024 20:25:00 +1000

In this final episode of our series on our recent journey on the K'gari Great Walk we look and at our pre-trip expectations and compare them to the reality of our on-trail experience. In addition will provide recommendations to assist you if you are planning on doing this trip yourself. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 290-K’gari Great Walk-On trail recordings part 2

Tue, 14 May 2024 20:04:35 +1000

In this second on trail episode of this series we bring you final on trail recordings from our recent K'gari Great Walk trip starting from day 4 and bring you the final days on-trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

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289-Kgari Great Walk-On trail recordings part 1

Tue, 07 May 2024 21:10:44 +1000

In this episode we bring you a series of recordings from our recent K'Gari Great walk trip starting from our travel day and taking you through the first 3 days on trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 288-Kgari Great Walk - expectations and hesitations

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 21:09:18 +1000

There’s a well known saying many people would be familiar with and that’s ‘It’s about the journey, not the destination’. But is this the case?

In this podcast episode we discuss this saying and came up with very different answers on what’s important. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 287-It's all about the journey or is it?

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 21:04:07 +1000

There’s a well known saying many people would be familiar with and that’s ‘It’s about the journey, not the destination’. But is this the case?

In this podcast episode we discuss this saying and came up with very different answers on what’s important. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 286-Hexatrek

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 20:49:04 +1100

In 2022 a new long-distance hiking trail opened and for once this wasn’t in the USA. This new track called the Hexatrek, solely based in France, joined up a series of pre-existing tracks and takes in 14 National Parks to create a 3034 km journey through some of the most amazing scenery that France has to offer.

In this podcast episode we catch up with New Zealand hiker Claire McCall who undertook this walk with her husband James just after the track officially opened. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 285 - Adventure Expo 2024 Industry Interviews pt2

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 19:02:21 +1100

This year the Expo was held in Melbourne over two days and provided a chance to catch up with suppliers face to face and to talk about the new gear and get up close and hands on. In addition we also caught up with a number of suppliers remotely as well as attending a travelling road show the week after.

In this our second episode of this series we finish up with our supplier interviews, talk about some great new product that's coming onto the market and then go onto some notable trends in the hiking and outdoor industry.

To get the best from this episode go to the Australian Hiker website on our episode page and go to the show notes to see images of what we are talking about in this podcast. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 284-Adventure Expo 2024 Industry Interviews pt1

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 22:38:31 +1100

To get the best from this episode go to the Australian Hiker website on our episode page and go to the show notes to see images of what we are talking about in this podcast.

In next week's episode, episode 285, we'll bring you the second half of these interviews and also talk about where we see the industry heading. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH-283-Malerweg Hiking trail

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 20:45:00 +1100

The 116km Malerweg Hiking Trail, also known as the “Painters’ Way” is located near Dresden/Pirnain Saxon Switzerland, Germany. In this podcast episode we catch up with hiker Mike Railton who undertook this walk in 2023 to find out about this multi-day European trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 282-Valentines Day Hiking Ideas

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 21:06:43 +1100

Valentine's Day, while once considered just another American holiday, is now firmly entrenched in Australian culture. The day is usually associated with chocolate, flowers and dinner out, but is this just lazy romance? Why not change things up a bit by thinking outside the box and blending hiking with Valentine's Day for a romantic date out bush!

In this podcast episode we look at some of the considerations for combining hiking and romance. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 281-Kiama Coast Walk

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:57:13 +1100

This walk can best be described as an urban coastal walk and one that provides a great overview of the Kiama region of the NSW South Coast inlacing its Indigenous, European and geological history.

While you can do this walk over two days it's best to think of this as a long day walk. Listen to this podcast and follow along in the write up to see how we went on the day.

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AH 280-Assumptions

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 21:53:02 +1100

If you do longer hikes, particularly ones that involve going off marked trails or if you hike in unfamiliar areas, you may be required to make some assumptions. The problem with assuming is you don’t always get it right and as the old saying goes, if you assume you can end up making an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me’.

In this podcast episode we go through a multi-day example and look at the positives and negatives of making assumptions when planning your hikes.

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AH 279 -The Long Way South

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 20:07:46 +1100

In today’s episode, episode 279, we talk with Hannah James about her recent 5,000km journey down the east coast of Australia – a journey that came to be known as the Long Way South. This is one hell of a story so strap yourselves in! www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 278-Staycations and hiking

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 21:03:19 +1100

The term staycation was first is thought to have been coined in 2005 and has now come into common usage and while there are a couple of definitions it essentially means taking a holiday with limited travel and staying close to home.

In this podcast we discuss the concept of taking a hiking 'staycation' in your local area and at what options you have for getting out and about without necessarily having to break the bank. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 277-Shakedown Hikes

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:19:06 +1100

The intent of a shakedown hike is to try out new gear or new processes prior to a trip so you can iron out any bugs, familiarise yourself with new systems, balance your pack so that it’s comfortable, and assess your fitness in terrain similar (or worse) than what you have planned. But how many of us ever do them and should we really bother?

In this podcast episode we look in detail why, and when you should do a shakedown hike. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 276-Turn Left

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 23:18:14 +1100

When we asked our community for some ideas for podcasts and articles one of the innovative topics raised was doing a hike where we only turn in one direction. Recently we put that into practice and while we thought that we would have a bit of fun with this walk we didn't expect to learn some things about ourselves and our hiking skills along the way.

In this podcast episode we lay out the ground rules for this hike, bring you a series of short on trail recordings from the hike, and finish off with a 'Lessons learnt session'. For us this was unique walk and one that we were glad that we did. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 275-Christmas Stocking Stuffers for Hikers 2023

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 21:08:02 +1100

This year for the first time we focus on the lower end of the pricing range with gifts under $100, that fall into the 'stocking stuffer' category with something that everyone can afford. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 274-Australian Hiker 7th Birthday

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 22:08:02 +1100

On 11 November 2023 Australian Hiker celebrated its 7th birthday. In this episode we reflect on our past year, and look at where we are heading over the coming year. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 273-Cute and fluffy thieves!

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 23:36:16 +1100

In this podcast episode we talk about unexpected and sometimes negative interactions with animals on the trail. The focus on this episode isn’t on snakes as people might expect but rather on those animals that are often described a 'cute and fluffy' and use that reputation to steal your food and damage your equipment. At some stage this interaction will impact on all hikers so what do you need to know to minimise this impact? This episode discusses just that.

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AH 272 - Day Trip Melbourne: 52 Nature Adventures

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 20:53:14 +1100

Previously we’ve interviewed authors Andrew Grune and Evi O on their Sydney based books Day Trip Sydney 52 Nature Adventures, and Dog Trip Sydney 52 Dog Friendly Nature Adventures. These guidebooks provided simple and easy to understand guides to their respective walks all with some very great imagery.

In today’s episode we catch back up with Andrew and Evi about the release of their new Melbourne guidebooks, Day Trip Melbourne 52 Nature Adventures, and Dog Trip Melbourne 52 Dog Friendly Nature Adventures that now cater for Victoria’s capital city. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 271-Kokoda Challenge

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:51:53 +1100

In October 2023 Gill and I took part in the Kokoda Challenge at Lake Macquarie, NSW. The aim of the Kokoda Challenge is to raise funds for the Kokoda Youth Foundation’s programs and the great work they do.

This episode consists of three segments with the first being an interview with the Kokoda Youth Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Johllene Elson who shares more about her organisation, the work they do and what the Kokoda Challenge is all about.

The second segment of this episode involves a series of recorded interviews about our experience on the day of our Kokoda Challenge which includes interviews with other participants as well as with an event volunteer to get their perspective.

And finally, Gill and I do a wrap up of the Challenge and talk about how we found the event and the organisation.

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AH 270-Triple Crown

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 21:14:07 +1100

I first fell in love with long distance hiking in about 2014 and surprisingly it had nothing to do with the movie ‘Wild’ that was released in the same year. I’m a goal-oriented person and the whole concept of hiking for multiple weeks or months was something I could aspire to, if I was allowed.

The more I looked into the concept of long-distance hiking, the more I liked the idea of doing one of the well-known Triple Crown trails:

Appalachian Trail
Continental Divide Trail, and the
Pacific Crest Trail

In all honesty I don’t think I will get around to doing all three of these trails, but I can live vicariously through other hikers who have. In this episode we catch up with hiker Simon Morris and get a firsthand introduction to these three trails that make up the US based Triple Crown. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 269-1,000,000 podcast downloads

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 05:29:00 +1000

It's Saturday the 30 September 2023 and earlier this morning the Australian Hiker Podcast reached a major milestone passing the 1,000,000 download mark. Who would have thought when we launched Australian Hiker in November 2016 that we would get to this point?

In this podcast episode we look back over the past crazy seven years and talk about where we're heading into the future.

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AH 268-Hiking in the Australian Alps

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 22:06:30 +1000

Australia is a large continent with just about every type of environment and vegetation you can imagine ranging from coastal, forest, arid to semi-arid; and then there’s our sub alpine and alpine regions which make up less than 1% of the continent. The practice of planning hikes is the same no matter where you are however there are some specific considerations that hiking in Australia Alpine regions of Australia require. In this podcast episode we look at what these are. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 267-Thin Green Line Oceana

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 20:28:06 +1000

The Thin Green Line is a global not for profit organisation that exists to support park and wildlife rangers in their fight for conservation and is solely dedicated to supporting Rangers and their families in what can sometimes present them with life threatening challenges.

In this podcast episode we catch up with Amanda Dudgeon to discuss her journey "Walking the Thin Green line across Oceana" hoping to be a catalyst that initiates meaningful change for Oceana rangers. www.australianhiker.com.au

AH 266-Cape to Cape Track: Reality vs Expectations

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 20:20:24 +1000

In this podcast episode we discuss our pre-trip expectations for the Western Australia Cape to Cape Track and compare them to the reality of the trip itself. This was very much a trip of two halves so we got more of an experience than we expected. In this episode we discuss how the trip panned out and make some recommendations that will help you get the best out of this experience. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 265-Cape To Cape Track, Interviews from the Trail Part 2

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +1000

Back on trail again on the Western Australian Cape to Cape Track. This episode includes recordings from the final 2/3 of this 128.7km trail and provides a real time overview of our on trail experience.

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AH 264- Micro adventures

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 21:38:13 +1000

It’s August and for various reasons we’ve found ourselves having done less hikes than we usually would have so far into the year and believe me its not for lack of trying. While its easy for us to get out bush thats only because we live a few hundred meters away but due to both work and personal reasons we just haven’t had the opportunities to walk and review as many new hikes as we would like.

In this podcast episode we look at what micro adventures are and how they be used to get you out bush even when you don’t think you have the time. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 263- Bathing on trail

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 21:02:37 +1000

If you are hiking for any length of time get used to not being as clean as you usually would like. Having said that you do need a level of cleanliness and while you do need to clean yourself all over from time to time, there is a focus on areas such as hands, the face, armpits and groin are areas that will need more regular cleaning.

In this podcast episode we discuss a simple option for keeping 'cleanish' on trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 262- Arid hiking

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 23:44:44 +1000

Australia is a large continent with just about every type of environment and vegetation you can imagine ranging from coastal, to alpine, to forest; and then there’s our semi arid and arid regions which make up around 70% of the continent. While the practice of planning hikes is the same no matter where you are, there are some specific considerations that hiking in the semi arid and arid regions of Australia require. In this podcast episode we look at what these are. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 261- Best before

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 21:31:50 +1000

Most of us are very used to the concept of 'Use By Dates' or 'Best Before Dates' when we go shopping but many commercial outdoor foods also come with these labels. Due to COVID I ended up with a large number of 'out of date' meals and thought that I'd see how they went. Are these labels just cautionary recommendations or can you just ignore them?

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AH 260-Night Owl or Rooster; what’s your sleeping pattern?

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 20:41:41 +1000

The old saying of ‘early to bed and early to rise’ originated over 6oo years ago at a time where making use of the daylight hours was particularly important in a largely rural society. While this saying is still relevant in agricultural circles today, it’s also applicable to many other aspects of our lives, including hiking.

Our sleep patterns are unique so this podcast episode looks at the are pros and cons to each type of sleep regime from a hiking perspective.

So what are you? Night owl? Rooster? Or a bit of both?

AH 259-Setting up a tent for hiking

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 22:54:41 +1000

When you first start hiking there are so many things to consider and often our focus is around things like gear selection, food or how to go to the toilet on the trail. While these are all important there are a number of other factors like getting a good nights sleep that come into play.

Factors that impact our sleep quality include staying dry, protection from strong winds, and the site itself. Hikers with a lot of experience know what to look for but between spending your first night in a tent that you have put up yourself and gaining all that experience and there are often a lot of bad nights of sleep that everyone goes through to gain that experience. This podcast episode discusses setting up your tent at the end of the day to help with getting the best sleep you possibly can. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 258-Is age a barrier to hiking?

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 19:51:11 +1000

Australian life expectancy has changed over the last century. In 1900 the average life expectancy for an Australian male was around 55 whereas now it's just on 80 years (women enjoy an additional four years). As I get older I’m becoming increasingly annoyed at societal expectations about how I’m supposed to behave. So while aging does impact on our physical endeavours is it a barrier to hiking?

In this podcast episode we discuss the impacts of ageing on hiking. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 257-Murramarang South Coast Walk

Tue, 30 May 2023 23:54:50 +1000

Living in Canberra I have a strong connection to the NSW south coast and since my late teens I have spent a lot of weekends walking along this part of the coastline as well as spending a lot of time both on, and under the water. So, while there is no end of shorter walks available on this part of the coast the newly opened 35km Murramarang South Coast Walking Track was one that just resonated with me, and we couldn’t wait to check it out ourselves to see what sort of experience that it would provide as a multi-day walk.

In the first 1/3 of this podcast episode, we catch up with Tom Pinzone from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to get and introduction to this newly created walk. In the second section of this episode, we bring you a series of on-trail recordings from our recent trip and what we thought as we progressed along the track. followed by our post walk review and what we thought about this trail.

To get the best from this episode follow along with the written version complete with on trail images to provide some context. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 256-Goal setting and hiking

Tue, 16 May 2023 21:40:18 +1000

Over the years I regularly come across hikers who sets themselves a goal(s) around their hiking. Apart from planning and hiking specific trails, the two most common goals I come across include climbing all the local peaks in an area or doing a certain number of hikes over a defined period. In this episode we catch up with hiker Mike Railton to discuss his 2022 goal of doing 100 hikes in a single calendar year to see how he went.

In the second half of this episode we use this interview to discuss goal setting and hiking and the impact that it can have. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 255-Waterproofing your pack

Thu, 11 May 2023 23:17:56 +1000

Hiking is a way to get to get out bush, or for that matter into your local urban area. Unless you are only travelling short distances you will more than likely be carrying a pack on your back. A pack is home to all those pieces of equipment that you may need on your adventure like a thermal jacket, rain gear, camera, phone and of course, water and food. If you’re doing overnight trips it will also hold your tent, sleeping bag, spare clothing and more food. But what happens if it rains? Or maybe you’re crossing an inlet. How then do you keep all your gear dry? In this podcast episode we discuss the options for waterproofing your pack and while its never a guarantee, I can safely say the contents of my pack has never been wet on any hike I have done and this includes some hikes in some pretty horrendous conditions.

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AH 254-Journey towards ultralight hiking - the final chapter

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 20:49:46 +1000

Over the past 7 years I have been focused on reducing the weight I carry on trail, chipping away here and there when I can but recently I have found myself adding gear and not choosing the lightest items. In this podcast episode I revisit my journey to becoming an ultralight hiker to see where I have landed on both my pack weight and my philosophy towards ultralight hiking. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 253-Cape To Cape Track: start stop

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 21:32:38 +1000

In this podcast episode we briefly discuss our short trip on the Cape to Cape Track and why it came to a premature end. www.australianhiker.com.au

AH 252-Cape To Cape Track, Interviews from the Trail Part 1

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 23:28:42 +1000

This podcast episode is the second in the Cape to Cape Track series and includes recordings from the first 1/3 of this 123km trail and provides a real time overview of our on trail experience. We ended up leaving the track prior to finishing and will explain why in the next episode. Never fear we will be back later in 2023 to finish this trail.

We will do a write up of the trip to date which will be available by 17 April 2023 on our websites trail page. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 251-Cape To Cape Track, an introduction

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 20:12:24 +1100

This is the first in a planned series of four podcast episodes in addition to a written trip review to be released over the coming weeks on our upcoming trip on the Western Australian Cape to Cape Track. In this episode we set the scene for our upcoming trip and provide some background on what we expect from our experience. We hope you enjoy.

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AH 250-Adventure Expo 2023; Industry Interviews pt 2

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 22:19:58 +1100

Every year Australian Hiker touches base with suppliers, importers and manufacturers of hiking equipment to find out what new and exciting products are on the market and well as to see how the industry is trending. In this weeks episode, episode 250, we'll bring you the second half of the interviews from our recent trip to Sydney to attend the Australian Outdoor Adventure Expo.

To get the best from this episode go to the Australian Hiker website and on our episode page to the show notes to see images of what we are talking about in this podcast.

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AH 249-Adventure Expo 2023; Industry Interviews pt 1

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 22:11:16 +1100

This year is the first chance we have had since 2019 to catch up with suppliers face to face and get to talk about the new gear face to face and get up close and hands on. to get the best from this episode go to the Australian Hiker website and on our episode page to the show notes to see images of what we are talking about in this podcast.

In next weeks episode, episode 250, we'll bring you the second half of the interviews.

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AH 248-Changing tastes in trail food

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 21:39:10 +1100

I've been hiking and camping for many years and I've found that my tastes in food have slowly but steadily evolved, changing bit by bit which is to be expected. Recently however my on-trail diet has gone through a revolution rather than evolution which has changed the way that I hike. In this podcast episode we look at what's changed in my diet and the impact this has had.

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AH 247-Musicians on the Te Araroa part 2

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 20:56:11 +1100

In late 2019 in episode 124 we interviewed musicians Mickey and Michelle just before they set out on their 3,000km adventure on the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand. Their experience was a bit different than most as they planned to continue working as musicians as they went. COVID interrupted their trip and now a little over three years later they have finally completed their trip. In this episode we catch up with them to find out about their experience and what they thought of New Zealand’s longest trail.

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AH 246-Cascade Hut Trail

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 20:45:44 +1100

The 19.8km Cascade Hut Trail in Kosciusko National Park makes for an excellent longish day walk or a great overnight camping adventure. In this podcast episode you'll hear our on trail experiences as well as our recommendations for this hike to help make your experience better. This trail is also a great option for bikepacking as well.

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AH 245-Dog Trip Sydney Guidebook: interview with the authors

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 20:18:55 +1100

Previously, in episode 204, we touched base with authors Andrew Grune and Evi O, authors of the Book Day Trip Sydney - 52 Nature Adventures. In this episode we catch back up with them about their newest book Dog Trip Sydney - 52 Dog Friendly Nature Adventures to find out about dog friendly walks in the Sydney region.

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AH 244-Boots vs Trail Runners

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 20:49:55 +1100

Without a doubt one of the the most common discussions I hear in hiking circles both on-trail as well as in online forums is what type of footwear should I be wearing?

In this podcast episode we look at options for hiking footwear to try to help narrow this debate and hopefully provide s starting point in particular for newer hikers.

So what type of footwear should you be wearing?

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AH 243-Gaiters for hiking

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 21:57:50 +1100

When you start hiking you tend to have a picture in your mind about what a ‘hiker’ looks like. For many, the stereotype includes a broad brimmed hat, boots, kaki clothing, big pack, and of course, gaiters. By why do hikers use gaiters? They do more than just the obvious of 'snake protection'!

In this podcast episode we look at the types of gaiters available to hikers today and provide guidance on when you should consider wearing them.

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AH 242-South Coast Track: Expectations versus Reality

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 02:00:00 +1100

In this podcast episode we discuss our pre-trip expectations for the Tasmanian based, 85 km South Coast Track and compare them to reality. While I had certain expectations of the trip, some of which panned out as expected, there were things that ended up going very differently. In this episode we discuss how the trip went and make some recommendations that will help you get the best out of this experience. www.australianhiker.com.au

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Ah 241-South Coast Track; Interviews from the trail-part 2

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 04:21:44 +1100

In this episode we bring you the 2nd episode of our on trail recordings from Tim's 2022 journey on the Tasmanian based, 85km South Coast Track. In this episode we bring you a series of recordings from the second half of the trip.

In our next episode, episode 242 will then discuss reality vs expectations and make recommendations based on what we found on trail to help plan your adventure. In addition the write up of this trail will be released very shortly (prior to Christmas 2022). www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 240-South Coast Track; Interviews from the trail-part 1

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 21:07:19 +1100

In this episode we bring you a series of on trail recordings as well as some interviews with other hikers from Tim's 2022 journey on the Tasmanian based, 85km South Coast Track. In this episode we bring you a series of recordings from the first half of the trip with next weeks episode bringing you the second half of the trip in episode 241.

Episode 242 will then discuss reality vs expectations and make recommendations based on what we found on trail to help plan your adventure. In addition the write up of this trail will be released very shortly (prior to Christmas 2022). www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 239-South Coast Track, an introduction

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 21:11:57 +1100

This is the first in a planned series of four podcast episodes in addition to a full trip review to be released over the coming weeks on my upcoming trip on the Tasmanian South Coast Track. In this episode we set the scene for my upcoming trip and provide some background on what I expect from this trip. We hope you enjoy. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 238-Guthega to Charlotte Pass walk

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 22:07:19 +1100

For the past few years, I have been keenly following the creation of the 55-kilometre, 4-day Snowies Alpine Walk in Kosciuszko National Park in Monero Ngarigo Country.When it fully opens sometime in 2023, it will deliver a world-class, multi-day walk across the alpine roof of Australia

In this week’s episode we catch up with Maggie Sutcliffe from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to talk about the recent opening of one of the sections, Guthega to Charlotte Pass Walk, and find out about the creation of this trail.

In the second half of this episode, we bring you a series of on-trail recordings from our recent walk on the Guthega to Charlotte Pass Walk. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 237-Choosing rain gear for hiking

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 22:04:19 +1100

This podcast episode covers the key aspects of choosing rain gear for hiking. We deliberately haven’t gotten too carried away with the technical aspects because in all honesty, there’s so much technical information that you just don't need to know! So what do you need to know when choosing rain gear? Listen to find out

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AH 236-Australian Hiker 6th Birthday

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 22:22:50 +1100

On 11 November 2022 Australian Hiker celebrated its 6th birthday. For many of us the past few years has been one of disruption and as an overactive planner this has driven me up the wall sometimes. In this episode we reflect on our past year, and look at where we are heading over the coming year. www.australianhiker.com.au

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235-Christmas Gifts for Hikers 2022

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 21:20:27 +1100

It’s that time of the year again when you start to consider gifts for the special hiker in your life. In this podcast episode we talk generally about gift options for that hiker in your life and identify some key options to consider including spending nothing at all! www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 234-Best Walks of NSW MID NORTH COAST guidebook-Interview with the Author

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 20:05:30 +1100

The NSW mid north coast is a bit of an unknown for us and we are hoping to get up that way over the next 12 months to do some hiking and wanted to do a bit of preplanning. This newly released guidebook, Best Walks of NSW MID NORTH COAST, by author Yvonne Everett is just the ticket providing an overview of some great hiking options in this region. In today’s episode we catch up with Yvonne and talk with her about hiking on the mid North NSW coast and her new guidebook. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 233-Beach hiking

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 22:56:35 +1100

This may seem like a strange topic for a hiking blog but there are a number of walks both in Australia and overseas that involve close contact with the ocean. Recently we did the Great Ocean Walk on the Victorian coastline and discovered that practices we take for granted in walking along beaches and rock platforms, as well as crossing inlets, aren't always widely known.

In this podcast episode we discuss considerations for hiking on the coast to help keep you safe as well as helping you enjoy your hike. To get the best from this episode follow along with the written version of this podcast for images, videos, and diagrams that will help put images to the words at https://australianhiker.com.au/advice/beach-hiking/

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AH 232-Ottie Merino

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:22:34 +1100

Ottie Merino is a relatively new Australian outdoor clothing company and, as the name suggests, specialises in Merino garments which have been designed by hikers, for hikers. In this episode we catch up with Paul, one of the founders of Ottie Merino, to find out more about what makes this Australian adventure company worth looking at. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 231-Crossing the Tanami

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 19:44:25 +1000

A few months ago, I was contacted by adventurer James MacAlloon as he was just about to set off on the final leg of a unique adventure across Australia.

The last section of his journey would take him 1745km from Alice Springs through to Broome crossing the Tanami Desert in the process. In today’s episode we talk with James about the larger trip and in particular this last segment that, for many people, will be hard to grasp let alone contemplate. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 230-Great Ocean Walk: Reality vs Expectations

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 22:38:09 +1000

In this podcast episode we discuss our pre-trip expectations for the Great Ocean Walk and compare them to the reality of the trip itself. In many cases the trip panned out as expected but as with any outdoor adventure there are always things that end up going differently than expected. In this episode we discuss how the trip panned out and make some recommendations that will help you get the best out of this experience. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 229-Great Ocean Walk; Interviews from the trail-part 2

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 19:20:11 +1000

This is the second of our two on-trail episodes from our recent 100km Great Ocean Walk in southern Victoria. In this episode we bring you a series of recordings from the second half of the trip, starting on day 4, which follows on from the last episode, episode 228, that brought recordings from the first half of the trip. We also had the opportunity to record a short interview with a Belgium hiker who we met up with on this trip to get her feedback.

In episode 230 will then discuss reality vs our expectation and make recommendations based on what we found on trail to help plan your adventure. In addition the write up of this trail will be released very shortly. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 228-Great Ocean Walk; Interviews from the trail-part 1

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 16:42:30 +1000

This is the first of our two planned 'on trail' episodes from our recent 100km Great Ocean Walk in southern Victoria. In this episode we bring you a series of recordings from the first half of the trip with next weeks episode bringing you the second half of the trip in episode 229. Episode 230 will then discuss reality vs our expectation and make recommendations based on what we found on trail to help plan your adventure. In addition the write up of this trail will be released very shortly. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 227-Great Ocean Walk, an introduction

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 21:33:21 +1000

This is the first in a planned series of four podcast episodes and a full trip review to be released over the coming weeks on our upcoming trip on the 100km Victorian Great Ocean Walk. In this episode we set the scene for our upcoming trip and provide some background on what we expect from this trip. We hope you enjoy.

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AH 226-When times get tough; motivation on the trail

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 20:52:52 +1000

While many hikers worry about the physical aspects of longer multi-day/multi-week hikes perhaps the biggest issue for many is the mental aspect. Time with other hikers can be challenging let alone travelling by yourself and sometimes it's a struggle to maintain a degree of motivation that allows you to keep on hiking on those days when you just don't feel like it. So, how can you maintain a degree of motivation when you feel like calling it quits?

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AH 225-Industry Interviews July 2022

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 00:56:40 +1000

Every year Australian Hiker touches base with suppliers, importers and manufacture of hiking equipment to find out what new and exciting products are on the market and well as to see how the industry is trending. In this years episode the pandemic is supposedly over but we are still doing these interviews virtually as we catch up with 4 of these suppliers.

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AH 224-Wild camping for hikers

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 21:01:02 +1000

For many hikers and campers when we first start out it's common to go with an organised groups or club, or with a more experienced friend who can show you the ropes. Typically if there are any campsite bookings required these will often be done for you, magically happening in the background, and unless you look in more detail you can be forgiven for thinking that you can camp anywhere you like. However this is not always the case with Australia's various states and territories each having their own rules and regulations on where you can and can't camp and because they vary its hard to keep track of all the rule and regulations that apply to each state and territory particularly because there are always exceptions.

While I've been camping as a hiker for many years and know the rules for my local area I often find that when I travel interstate I find my knowledge lacking and potentially I'm opening myself to a fine or to being moved on. The rules and regulations that apply in each state have been developed for good reasons, usually based around protection of the environment. In this podcast episode we provide a brief overview of the various state and territory rules and regulations to help with planning your overnight adventures. www.australianhker.com.au

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AH 223-Hiking in the cold

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 20:44:01 +1000

When I think of hiking in Australia and build a mental picture of what that looks like one factor that always comes to mind is the heat. While a bit of warmth can make a hike enjoyable too much can reduce this enjoyment and even impact on our safety. Having said that it's not just the heat that we need to think about but rather all the weather extremes including the cold. While cold weather hiking is something we tend to associate with Europe or the USA, it is also something we need to consider in Australia. In this podcast episode we look at hiking in cold conditions, what we can do to avoid it, and in the event that we do get cold what we should do to keep warm. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 222-East Gippsland Rail Trail reality vs expectations

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:35:23 +1000

In this podcast episode I discuss my pre trip expectations for the East Gippsland Rail Trail versus the reality of the trip itself. In many cases the trip panned out as expected but with any outdoor adventure there are always things that ended up going differently than expected. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 221-East Gippsland Rail Trail Interviews from the trail

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 05:09:40 +1000

In this podcast episode I bring you a series of on trail recordings from my four day trip on the East Gippsland Rail Trail. These recordings will provide you with an overview of my trip, how I was feeling and the things that I was seeing in real time as I progressed which will hopefully provide some insight into this very different hiking adventure. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 220-East Gippsland Rail Trail here I come!

Tue, 31 May 2022 21:27:45 +1000

In mid 2022 when I found my chosen hiking trail for my mid year trip ended up being closed for longer than was planned I needed to pivot and find a new adventure. I was looking for a roughly 4-5 day, 100k trip and also one that I could get to without it being a travel nightmare. Rail Trails have always been on my bucket list but after spending a bit of time searching for a replacement trip I came up with the East Gippsland Rail Trail in eastern Victoria to suit my needs.

In this podcast episode, the first of three for this trail, we look at my expectations for this trip and discuss logistical issues prior to starting. Episode 221 will then bring you interviews from the trail and finally episode 222 with provide a final wrap up to see how my pre trip expectations and the actually reality of this trip matched up. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 219-Rail Trails

Tue, 24 May 2022 19:32:00 +1000

I recently had to reschedule a multi-day hike for logistical reasons and after spending some time looking for a replacement trail, I decided to do one of Australia’s many Rails Trail. In this episode we catch up with Damian McCrohan from Rail Trails Australia to find out what you have been missing if you don’t consider these as part of your hiking adventures. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 218-Socks for hiking

Wed, 18 May 2022 00:13:39 +1000

Socks are one of the smallest items of hiking clothing but just as important as the bigger more obvious pieces of equipment. Many people will use any pair of old socks they have in their sock drawer when they head out bush. If you put some thought into the decision about the socks you'll wear, will ensure a more comfortable and less problematic hike. In this episode we talk everything socks to help you choose the ones that will suit your individual needs. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 217-Choosing a jacket for hiking

Wed, 04 May 2022 00:16:43 +1000

In every hobby or activity we do there is always an ‘unofficial uniform’ and with hiking it’s the down jacket. But did you know that sometimes the ‘down’ jackets we see, while looking very similar, are made with other materials, sometimes natural alternatives like wool and sometimes synthetic materials; which is why these jackets are often known generically as ‘puffy/puffer jackets’. In this podcast episode we look at the pros and cons of the different insulation options on offer when choosing a jacket for warmth and hopefully provide a bit more clarity in helping you choose a jacket. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH Episode 216-Canberra Summits Walk

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 20:04:25 +1000

It's Easter 2022 and I was supposed to be finishing off the remaining section of the Hume and Hovell Track but things didn't go to plan. I discovered too late that a large number of Australians were travelling after three interrupted years due to bushfires and COVID and as such many of the campsites that I needed to use were booked out so a change of plan was required. Typically I like to do hikes that are a bit more secluded or at least not so crowded so I opted to swap my planned hike with a long distance urban hike that I had originally intended on doing in May.

This hike falls into two categories. Firstly, this is an urban hike taking in my hometown city of Canberra. Secondly this hike is very much a Choose your Own Adventure rather than a formal trail. While I have been thinking about this walk for around 12 years for a number of reasons, I’ve never got around to it. After a prompt by another Canberra based hiker who undertook a similar journey and the desire to do something just that little bit different this was the year and after a couple of months planning I decided to put to together a 3 day, 82km peak bagging trip taking in the key mountains and hills in the central Canberra region averaging around 27km each day. I ended up developing a route that hit 12 peaks, that could be connected in a logical sequence, and wasn't camping based. In this podcast episode we bring you a series of recordings from our three-day adventure and towards the end of the episode discuss logistical considerations as well as what we learnt on the way. To get the best from this walk follow along with the written article at here

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215-Nordic Walking

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 20:30:25 +1000

I first came across Nordic walking around 7 years ago and thought ‘what the hell is that’? This was also the same reaction I had when I first came across trekking poles over 15 years ago. Being an avid hiker, I saw the similarities, but also the differences between the two types of pole useage. When one of our followers suggested we look further into Nordic walking so I decided it was time to touch base with the Canberra Nordic walking community to find out more. In today’s episode we talk with with Kristen Pratt, the owner and lead instructor of Capital Nordic Walking to find out what’s involved. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH Episode 214-Wharf to Wharf Walk (NSW)

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 22:33:59 +1100

Located on the far southern coast of NSW the 27 km Wharf to Wharf Walk which officially opened in mid 2021 is one that is still relatively unknown and undiscovered by many. Over the weekend just gone we chose to do this amazing walk in a single day but for most people a 2-3 day version is the norm. In this episode you can hear our on trail recordings of how our day went and at the end of the podcast we discuss logistical issues surrounding transport and accomodation and make recommendations on options that will suit all levels of hikers.

We recommend that as you listen to this podcast you follow along with the written version of this walk that contains plenty of images of what we are seeing. The written version of this walk can be found here.

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AH Episode 213-Pillows and hiking

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 22:50:54 +1100

For many people transitioning to overnight hiking or camping brings a lot of new considerations. Where do you go to the toilet? What do you eat? What additional gear do you need? While we will usually think about the big items like packs, tents and sleeping bags (the Big 3), the ancillary items like pillows often tend to be an afterthought. For many hikers, pillows tend to be considered a luxury but the ability to get a good night sleep depends on a number of factors and comfort is a big one. These days there are many pillow options available to us – which one you use is really going to depend on your desired level of comfort. In this podcast episode we take a beginners look at pillow options for hiking and camping. www.australianhiker.com.au

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212-Hammock Camping; from the trail

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 22:13:44 +1100

If you want an expert opinion on hammock camping then this episode isn't it! We've been playing with hammock gear for a couple of months and while we used them during the daytime for one reason or another we just couldn't get out and spend a night hanging from a tree.

There are plenty of converts out there who have lots of experience in hammock camping but this episode has been deliberately recorded as a 'first timers' experience of what its like to spend a night in a hammock and for many people who try hammocks without a more experienced partner to show them the ropes this is how its done, the good and the bad. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 211-Hammock Camping; an introduction

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 22:52:23 +1100

As hikers grow in their knowledge and ability they will often transition to overnight trips and the default setting for nearly all of us is tent camping. Tents just seem to be the easy option and for many of us it harks back to family trips or play as children; it's just something that we understand and seems easy. While tents are the most common camping option for hikers another alternative that is slowly gaining ground is hammock camping. Hammocks provide a degree of versatility over and above tents and while they won't suit all circumstances it may be a viable option for your outdoor adventures. In this podcast episode we look at what's involved in hammock camping including the pros and cons, the gear basics, and basic hammock practice to help you decide if this is an option for you.

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AH 210-Food on the trail; a detailed look

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 23:34:28 +1100

When overnight hiking you have lots of additional things to consider; where to camp, when to camp, where to go to the toilet and what to eat are just some of them. Once you start doing multi-day and multi-week hikes these considerations multiply (no pun intended). Food is a big consideration in this planning process particularly because it often requires planning ahead weeks in advance and really thinking about what you may want to eat. In this article we discuss food requirements for multi-day and multi-week hikes that can also easily be used for shorter hikes. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 209-Bikepacking; interviews from the trail

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 21:30:24 +1100

In this episode we bring you a series of recordings from a recent overnight trip on the Canberra Centenary Trail. While i've done plenty of one day trips this was my first overnight backpacking trip and one with some sharp learning curves that will make me rethink the way I not just ride in the future but also hike.

At the end of this episode we discuss what I learnt on this trip and what I'd do differently next time I head out on two wheels. to get the best from this episode go to the Australian Hiker website and look at the show notes for episode 209 to see some on trail images www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 208-Bikepacking

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 22:41:33 +1100

Bikepacking can best be considered as an allied form of backpacking and instead of walking your chosen route on foot you undertake your journey with the aid of a bike, travelling at a different speed, seeing the landscape in a different way. In this episode we provide an introduction to bikepacking and the opportunities it affords. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 207-Three Capes Track; Expectations vs reality

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 21:31:24 +1100

This is the third and final podcast episode in the series of 3 on the Tasmanian Three Capes Track. In this episode we compare our pre trip expectations to the reality of the journey and based on our experiences make recommendations as to how to get the best from this trip.

To get the best from this episode we recommend that you follow along with the written review if this trail that includes images and resources to help you out at Three Cape Trail Write Up

AH Episode 206-Three Capes Track, interviews from the trail

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 20:12:43 +1100

This is the second episode in the series of 3 on the Tasmanian Three Capes Track. This episode consists of a series of on-trail recordings from Gill and I as we progress along the trail as well as interviews with other hikers who share their views.

In our third episode next week we compare our pre-trip expectations to the on-trail reality and based on our on-trail experiences, make recommendations on how to get the best from this trip.

AH Episode 205-Three Capes Track, an introduction

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 22:13:24 +1100

This is the first in a planned series of 3 podcasts to be released over the next 3 weeks. In today’s episode we set the scene for our upcoming trip and provide some background on what we expect from this trip. We hope you enjoy. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH Episode 204-Day Trip Sydney Guidebook: interview with the authors

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 21:25:00 +1100

Like most guidebooks Day Trip Sydney 52 Nature Adventures provides you with the basics you need to do these walking adventures but where it stands out is by not assuming the participants are keen hikers. In addition, the images used to highlight each adventure can best be described as hero shots that just invite you to visit. In today’s episode, episode 204, we catch up Andrew Grune and Evi O authors of the Book Day Trip Sydney 52 Nature Adventures to find out more about this book. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 203-Getting back into hiking after lockdown, Interview with Joe Bonington

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 19:56:14 +1100

Joe Bonington is the creator of Joe's Basecamp gym, Sydney’s Premier adventure training facility and over the past few years he has transitioned his training delivery into an online model and now has clients across Australia and New Zealand, Asia, and even back in his place of origin the UK. Joe developed his program to provide the inspiration, training, and support to help his clients achieve their bucket list goals, outdoor adventure and wilderness sports and activities. Joe doesn’t just talk training he is highly experienced in the fields that they train for with his main goal is to get people ‘out there and getting amongst it; to live large and tear chunks out of life’. We first caught up with Joe Bonington in episode 32 in July of 2017 to talk about what you need to do to prepare for your hikes and other outdoor adventures from a fitness perspective. Today we catch back up to talk about getting back on trail after the long periods of inactivity that many of us have been forced into. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 202-Australian Hiker 5th Birthday

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 21:38:33 +1100

On 11 November 2021 Australian Hiker celebrated its 5th birthday. When we started in 2016 we had no idea where we would be today. In this episode we reflect on our past year, and look at where we are heading over the coming year. We close this episode by answering the often asked question about how we got into hiking. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 201-Christmas gift ideas for hikers 2021

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 23:18:37 +1100

It’s that time of the year again when you start to consider gifts for the special hiker in your life. In this podcast episode we focus on the best and brightest products including those released over the past year. Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean you have to spend up big, in fact you may not even have to spend any money at all.

In this podcast episode we discuss gift ideas in price categories with something to suit all budgets ranging from not spending money at all through to some big ticket items. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 200-Episode 200!

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 20:35:52 +1100

There are estimated to be approximately 2,000,000 podcasts in existence however many of these are no longer in production. Many shows start with a flourish but peter out after around 7 episodes once their creators realise the amount of work involved in getting an episode to air. Reaching 200 episodes is a rarity, particularly for outdoor podcasts with only a rare handful lasting this long.

In this episode we discuss where the Australian Hiker podcast has come from, where we are heading to, and what we have learned along the way.

Both Gill and I would like to thank everyone for their support in making this podcast a long term success and look forward to the next 200 episodes! www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 199-Hiking and Plane Travel

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 21:42:17 +1100

For many hikers getting to the start of a hike typically requires a car ride either in your own vehicle that you return back to at the end of a hike, or a drop-off and pick up by friends or family. Other forms of public transport such as buses and trains may fit the bill depending on the options of getting to a trailhead. But what about when you travel interstate or overseas and need to transport yourself, and all your hiking gear, on a plane?

Travelling by plane creates a whole new set of logistical issues that you need to consider to get both you and your luggage to the trailhead with a minimum of fuss. In this podcast episode we discuss considerations for hikes that require plane travel and provide tips to help you get the best out of not just your hike but the journey as well. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 198-Tent pegs for hiking

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 22:08:42 +1100

Unless you camp in exactly the same location, with the same soils, and the same environmental conditions, it’s unlikely that you’ll get away with one particular type of tent peg for all your hiking needs. Choosing the right pegs and your tent should stay put in almost any conditions, chose the wrong pegs and you may find yourself shelterless at the most inconvenient times.

In this podcast episode we look at a range of different tent pegs types used for hiking tents, talk about when to use them, and make suggestions based on what we use. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 197-Urban Hiking

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 22:02:15 +1000

Urban hiking is a self explanatory term which implies that instead of hiking in remote, or not so remote, bushland you instead take the opportunity to hike through your local urban areas. Depending on where you live this may be through totally built-up town or city infrastructure with hardly a tree or shrub in sight through to areas that include local parkland or if you are lucky enough, through areas that include adjacent bushland.

But is this ‘real’ hiking or just a poor alternative? In this podcast we discuss some key considerations of urban hiking as well as identifying how to get the best out of your urban experience. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH196-Bondi to Manly Walk Guidebook: interview with the author

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:27:54 +1000

The 80km Bondi to Manly Walk is one of Sydney's hidden gems that many people don't even know exist. In today's episode we catch up with author Tara Wells to chat about her new guidebook for this amazing trail The Bondi to Manly Walk : The Definitive Guidebook. This book will help those who are keen to plan and complete this walk. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 195-Tim‘s hiking podcast listening list

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 20:57:03 +1000

The Australian Hiker podcast turns five years old at the end of 2021 and is Australia's longest running and most downloaded hiking podcast. But what hiking and outdoor related podcasts does Australian Hiker listen to? In this episode we provide a brief overview of what's on Tim's podcast listening queue that covers a range of different styles. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 194-Tasmanian Trail: a wrap up

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 20:56:46 +1000

In this podcast episode we wrap up Tim's 2021 Tasmanian Trail trip and while it ended prematurely it provided me with a great overview of what's on offer outside of the very well known Tasmanian National Parks. In this episode we provide a wrap up of this trip and provide some suggestions about logistics and timing if you are keen to do this walk.

To get the best out of this episode, follow along with our write up of the Tasmanian Trail to see images as well as detailed information.

AH193-Tasmanian Trail: week 2 on the trail

Mon, 09 Aug 2021 20:19:35 +1000

This podcast episode consists of a series of recordings from Tim in his second week on the Tasmanian Trail. In addition to his on trail recordings Tim also discuss Trail towns.This podcast episode consists of a series of recordings from Tim in his second week on the Tasmanian Trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

AH 192-Tasmanian Trail: week 1 on the trail

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 16:03:39 +1000

This podcast episode consists of a series of recordings from Tim in his first week of the Tasmanian Trail. It’s been an interesting and challenging week that has forced some route changes to due environmental conditions. Www.australianhiker.com.au

AH191-Tasmanian Trail here I come

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 22:12:04 +1000

In February of this year I decided that my long distance hike for 2021 was going to be the 1200km south Australian Heysen Trail and part of my decision for bringing this trail forward a year was that I wanted a trail that was based in a single state and unlikely to be impacted my COVID related issues. It didn’t quite work out that was and as a result I had to pivot to another trail and my choice became the 480km Tasmanian trail. In this episode we discuss the trail itself, and my upcoming trip including my concerns and expectations. If everything goes to plan this will be the first in a series of 5 episodes including this episode, 3 from on trail, and 1 post trail episode. www.australianhiker.com.au

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AH 190-In the Footsteps of the Cannibal Convict

Tue, 20 Jul 2021 22:02:26 +1000

In 1820 Irish thief, Alexander Pearce, was sent to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) to serve a seven year sentence for stealing shoes and if the story ended here, it wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy, but rather than just one of many similar stories. Where is becomes interesting is in 1822 when Pearce and seven other convicts escaped from their penal colony in western Tasmania and made their way eastwards across some of the most rugged and inhospitable terrain in Tasmania in a break for freedom. Starvation pressed the party into a series of grim decisions including cannibalism with Pearce being the sole survivor of the group.

In 2008, 6 hikers recreated this walk, covering 170km in 23 days on an amazing journey. This trip from Coal Head in Macquarie Harbour to Ouse, closely retraced the 1822 footsteps of Alexander Pearce across what is now the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. In today’s episode we catch up with one of those hikers, Paul Le Fevre, to find out about this unique journey and why he and his friends chose to undertake this trip. This really is a choose your own adventure.

To get the best out of this trip go to our show notes for episode 190 to see images, map, and elevation chart to show you just how difficult and how amazing this trip was.

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Episode 189-Interview with the author-A Book of Australian Trees

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 20:36:45 +1000

In today’s episode we talk with author Inga Simpson about her latest book and first children's book, The Book of Australian Trees. Trees tell stories about places and Australia has some of the tallest, oldest, fattest and most unusual trees in the world. As hikers, trees are our constant companions on many of our hikes. While this book is aimed at children, it will also please adults as well and makes a great coffee table book. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 188-Industry Interviews June 2021

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 22:31:40 +1000

For a second year in a row I was due to attend the Australian Outdoor Retailer Show in Melbourne only to have it cancelled by COVID. I still managed to catch up with a number of suppliers and manufacturers and in this podcast episode we find out about some new and exciting equipment releases as well as how Australian outdoor industry is going. www.australianhiker.com.au

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Episode 187-Trail Volunteering

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 22:26:22 +1000

Whether you walk trails only a few kilometres long or are into big trails many hundreds of kilometres in distance the next time you put feet to the ground spare a thought for how the trail gets there and manages to stay in such good condition. While the state governments play a role in both the construction and maintenance of trails much of the work is done by volunteers; those unsung hero's who quietly get on with the job so that we who hike them, can do so in a comfortable fashion.

In this episode we talk to two trail volunteer groups about the role they play in proposing, building, and maintaining their respective trails. www.australianhiker.com.au

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Australian Hiker is a labour of love for Gill and Tim Savage and any money earned goes straight back into helping to make this blog better. Any support that you provide is greatly appreciated! If you wish to support us, even in some small way, it would be greatly appreciated. So why not buy us a coffee? Support Us

Episode 186-Hiking and epilepsy

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 22:23:50 +1000

In episode 163 and 164 we discussed hiking with Injuries and disabilities but where does epilepsy fit into the mix given that around 3.5% of Australians will experience epilepsy at some point in their lives.

In today’s episode we talk to Carol Ireland, the CEO of Epilepsy Action Australia about her organisation, the impact that epilepsy has on activities like hiking, and provide an overview of their upcoming fundraising hike on the Larapinta Trail that will take place from 16-22 August 2021.

In addition, we will also be catching up with Nicole who participated in the Great Wall of China Hike for Epilepsy Action Australia in 2014. As someone with Epilepsy Nicole will be able to give us an upfront and personal insight of the considerations and management involved when undertaking a physical challenge such as hiking. www.australianhiker.com.au

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Episode 185-Whats in a name?

Tue, 25 May 2021 22:17:00 +1000

Backpacking, bushwalking, hiking, tramping, trekking, thru hiking, rambling… So many terms are used to describe getting outside with a pack on your back. Also, is it a track or is it a trail? Do you have tracking poles or trekking poles?

Each term has its own connotation and depending on which country you come from (or which part of the country) you will find yourself gravitating more towards one term over another to describe what you are doing when you head out into nature. In this podcast episode we look more closely at the terms used to describe what we do when we head out in to nature and whether one term makes more sense than others. Does it really matter?www.australianhiker.com.au

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Episode 184- Australian huts and hiking

Tue, 11 May 2021 20:20:30 +1000

Australia's alpine national parks consist of a series of eight National parks that run from the outskirts of Canberra in the north through NSW, and down into Victoria not far from the outskirts of Melbourne in the south. Most of these parks are physically connected and form a continuous pathway that the Australian Alps Walking Track runs through highlighting the best of what these parks have on offer. If you have spent much time wandering this alpine region then you will have come across one or more of the approximately 200 huts that dot the landscape and while the Australian Alps is home to this high concentration of huts other Australian states and territories also boast a range of these relicts from the past. In addition to the older huts there are now a range of newer, often ultra modern versions, cropping up in some of our best known outdoor recreation areas.

In this podcast episode we look at the reason these huts came into existence, the function that they now serve, and importantly the etiquette involved in putting them to use. www.australianhker.com.au

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Episode 183-Powering your hike

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 23:40:58 +1000

For many hikers getting out bush and going off grid is a means to get away from all the technology and the constant pinging of your mobile phone. If you aren’t connected for a few days does it really matter? If however you need to power various electronic devices on the trail the type and quantity of your power recharge needs is dictated by whether you can get away with just a single charge, a single set of batteries, or whether you need to have a back up option. In this podcast episode we provide a basic introduction into powering your hike as a hiker (as opposed to a car camper), and look at the pros and cons of the available options. www.australianhiker.com.au

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Episode 182-A day in the life of a long distance hiker

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 22:12:55 +1000

I’m a bit of an obsessive about some things and one of those is what a typical day on a multi-day hike looks like. In this episode we break it down from waking up at the start of the day to going to sleep and the days end. While the overall structure of a day will be similar for everyone the specifics will be unique to each of us. Knowing what a typical day looks like will make each day easier to plan an easier to walk. So, what does a typical long distance hiking day look like for me? www.australianhiker.com.au

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Episode 181-Westward ho!

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 21:39:04 +1000

Over Easter 2021 Gill and I headed out towards the Broken Hill region in far western NSW to hike some of the more remote National Parks. Over a period of seven days we drove over 2000km, visited Mutawintji and Mungo National Parks, and did some hikes that we weren't expecting to be as good as they were; there really are some hidden gems if you know where to look. This episode consists of a series of recordings undertaken both 'on road' and 'on trail' as well as our summation of the overall trip. Over the coming weeks we will be releasing several trail reviews so keep and eye out for some doozys!

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Episode 180-Choose your own adventure

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 23:32:04 +1100

There are literally thousands of marked or signposted hiking trails across every state and territory of Australia and even the keenest hiker is unlikely to ever hike them all. Having said that sometimes you just want to do something that is just a little bit different. In my case when recently doing a local walk I realised that by being creative I was able to combine two seperate walks into one, creating the opportunity for a different experience that the individual walks didn't provide individually.

In this episode we look at simple opportunities for creating your own hiking adventure that with a bit of basic knowledge and planning almost anyone can do.

To get the best from this podcast allow along on written article of this podcast that contains maps and images of what we are talking about here.

Episode 179-Are equipment manufacturers missing the mark?

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 22:30:54 +1100

Being a relatively small country on the world stage Australia often punches above its own weight in so many areas. One area where we under perform is the product range available in retail stores and this includes hiking gear. Is this because the product doesn't exist or are manufacturers and importers missing the mark? In this episode we discuss possible reasons for this apparent mis-step. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 178-Luxury items and hiking

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 23:14:27 +1100

Whenever we go hiking we make decisions about the equipment we carry. These gear choices can be broken into two broad categories; those pieces of gear that we need from a safety perspective (i.e. the necessities) and those that aren’t really necessary but we want to carry (i.e. luxury items). In this episode we discuss the key luxury items that I see on the trail but having said that this category is endless. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 177-Operation Flinders

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 20:58:59 +1100

Operation Flinders is an Australian organisation that exists to provide young men and women who have been identified as being at risk, with demanding outdoor challenges and support. The aim of this organisation is to help participants develop their personal attitudes, self-esteem, motivation, teamwork and responsibility, so they may grow as valued members of the community. In today’s episode we talk to Brendan Raets about the Operation Flinders organisation and the programs that they run. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 176-Considerations for choosing a hike

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 20:54:46 +1100

Whether you are new to hiking or have been doing it for years, deciding on what walk you are going to do will depend on a number of factors. Surprisingly the answer you get when you work through these factors may differ each time you have to make this choice. While some of these factors cross over with general hiking planning there are also a number that are purely subjective. In this podcast episode we look at seven main factors to consider when choosing a hike to get the best outcome for all concerned. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 175- Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail: Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 20:47:08 +1100

In this episode we interview author Paul Barach about his epic journey on the 1200 km Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail in Japan. This was a trail I hadn't heard of until talking with Paul and reviewing his book Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains : Misadventures on a Buddhist Pilgrimage but now it’s firmly on my to-do list. This is a great episode that showcases this Japanese pilgrimage trail and provides an insight into Paul’s adventure that is both informative and amusing. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 174-Schlink Hut Walking Track

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 22:01:05 +1100

The walk to Schlink Hut in Kosciuszko National Park (NSW) starts at the Guthega Power Station visitor car park. This is a great day walk or as an overnight option and because it contains a series of three alpine huts, you have the option of 'choosing your own adventure' to suit your skills and ability.

This episode consists of a series of on-trail reviews recorded on our recent two day trip. To get the most out of this episode, open our written trail review here for more details and images.

Episode 173-Hiking with animals

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 22:00:19 +1100

The human connection with animals is timeless. First as food, then as working partners that carried our loads, helped us hunt or managed and protected our herds, and then evolved into companions. Animals have become an integral part of our lives in one way or another so it’s not surprising many of us want to include them in our hiking activities. While taking domestic animals on hikes is much more common in the USA, this is also starting to become more common in Australia. In this podcast episode we look at the options for taking animals on the trail from an Australian perspective. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode172-Guided hikes

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 21:41:46 +1100

When it comes to hiking there really is no ‘one way’ to get involved. Some people stick to shorter hikes that can be completed in a day or less. For others it may mean hiking that includes day hikes that expands out to those lasting multiple days, weeks or even months either as a solo or group activity. Even then there is a decision to make about whether you are doing all the organisation and logistics yourself or taking part in a guided hike. In this podcast episode we look at being part of a guided hike including the pros and cons to help you to determine if this is an option for you. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 171-Social media and hiking

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 00:10:53 +1100

Everyone has their own reason(s) for hiking; exercise, solitude and scenic views are just some.For many people photography also forms a key part of getting out bush. Sometimes this will be the main reason with the focus being to take photos of wildlife and sunrises. At other times it may be a minor reason with the odd photo being taken as a means of remembering the trip but for many its the lure of social media. In this episode we look at the negative impacts of social media and discuss ways in which we can minimise this. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 170-Finding water on a hike

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 01:23:52 +1100

At home we tend to take the availability of water for granted, we walk to the tap, the fridge, or if we are out and about the store, and drink as we need. When we are hiking, particularly in remote areas the availability of water becomes a more complex issue. For short hikes we may just carry a water bottle or we may wait until we get back to the car or trailhead to rehydrate. For overnight hikes we can often carry what we need. The problem arises when we start to do multi-day hikes and it becomes impossible to carry all the water we need for multiple days because of the weight and the bulk. It’s at this stage we need to top up on water as we walk. This requires us to know how to find water which may not always be easy. In this episode we discuss hydration as hikers and then look at sourcing water when we are out hiking. www.australianhiker.com.au

169-Great North Walk; a Failed thru Hike

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:26:54 +1100

In November of 2020 Tim commenced his journey on the 260 km Great North Walk which runs between the Australian east coast cities of Newcastle and Sydney. This journey ended up being a very short walk as he pulled the pin on this hike just prior to lunch on day 2 for reasons he discusses in this podcast episode.

In this episode we provide an introduction to this trail, bring you recordings made on 1.5 days on the trail before discussing reasons for halting this hike. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 168-Australian Hiker 4th Birthday

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 23:37:50 +1100

On 11 November 2020 Australian Hiker celebrated its fourth birthday on what has been a difficult year. In this episode we reflect on our past year, a difficult one, and where we are heading into the future. www.australianhiker.com.au

Episode 167-Christmas Gifts for Hikers 2020

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 01:09:56 +1100

It’s that time of the year again when you start to consider gifts for the special hiker in your life. In this article we focus on the best and brightest products including those released over the past year. Just because it’s Christmas doesn’t mean you have to spend up big, in fact you may not even have to spend any money at all. It’s best to avoid grand gestures unless the gift receiver has been really specific with their request. Think of this from your perspective of getting an expensive gift you don’t really want. If you’re not sure, stick to small presents, or give gift vouchers.

In the following podcast episode we discuss gift ideas in price categories with something to suit all budgets ranging from not spending money at all through to some big ticket items.

To get the most from this podcast go to https://australianhiker.com.au/advice/christmas-gift-ideas-for-hikers/ to see images and the links to the full reviews on the product that we have discussed.

Episode 166-Take a Hike

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 23:13:33 +1100

In 2016 well known research company, Roy Morgan, undertook a study on hiking (bushwalking) and unsurprisingly found that the proportions of Australians who participate on a regular basis was on the increase and in 2015 accounted for 27.3% of the population (more than 5.3 million Australians). From my perspective these figure are backed up by the increased number of people that we are seeing on the trail and while many of the people may only hike every now and again this is definitely the Australian pastime, and one that people do throughout their lives.

This podcast episode is aimed fairly and squarely at new hikers and is designed to provide a simple overview of the considerations to get 'out bush', in a manner that will hopefully increase your enjoyment, as well as reduce any anxiety/fears that you may have. www.australianhiker.com.au

165-Plan N

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 23:25:31 +1100

2020 is likely to be a memorable for so many reasons! I had planned to be walking the Australian Alps Walking Track in mid November but between the fires and COVID, this track is off the menu and likely to be so for the next few months. The term 'flogging a dead horse' comes to mind in my attempt to do this walk. As this podcast goes to air it's one month out and it's time to make a decision. In this podcast episode we discuss the planning process for this walk, what I have decided to do and why, and what my November adventure now looks like. I am not alone in this process with so many hikers around Australia going through a similar experience. Is this you? www.australianhiker.com.au

164-Hiking with a disability

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 23:34:12 +1100

Most hikers will have an injury or two that they have collected over their lifetimes but when this goes beyond being just a minor issue and becomes a permanent disability the ability to continue hiking can be greatly impacted, or in some cases not even an option. In this week’s episode we interview hiker Jenny Woodhouse who talks about hiking whilst managing permanent spinal disability. www.australianhiker.com.au

163-Hiking with Injuries

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 01:19:17 +1000

Most of us we start life reasonably fit and healthy and as we get older we start to collect various injuries and illnesses along the way. In most cases we aren’t talking about major medical problems that are going to stop us from hiking altogether but rather issues that may only be minor niggles but either in isolation, or in combination, they injuries can become more of an issue making life just that bit more difficult. In addition to these pre-existing issues we can also collect new ones when we hike. Dealing with these injuries can be a real learning curve but it’s worth being aware of what they are and how best to manage them, otherwise your enjoyment level will be greatly impacted.

In this podcast episode we discuss the key considerations for hiking with pre-existing injuries as well as managing any new ones you pick up on the trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

162-Soldier On

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 20:55:46 +1000

If you are in the armed services, you will be familiar with the Soldier On organisation. However, if you’ve never had family or friends in the military you may never have heard of them. Soldier On’s mission is to enable veterans and their families to thrive and they do this by offering a holistic and integrated set of services to Defence personnel, veterans and their families.

While this may seem to be an odd interview for a hiking podcast, you may be surprised to learn that one of the programs offered by Soldier On, March On, is all about doing hikes of varying lengths.

In this week’s episode we catch up with Soldier On CEO, Ivan Slavich to find out about this organisation and their March On program. www.australianhiker.com.au

161-Hiking and camping styles

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 23:40:33 +1000

When we think about hiking we create a picture in our mind of what the day looks like and if there is an overnight stay involved the camp forms part of the picture. The thing we need to remember is that hiking is different for everyone and there is no right view of the image we create. How we come to hiking and camping will generate this mental picture. Are we life long hiking enthusiasts that started as part of a family activity? Are we new hikers who have only just started? Are we the occasional hiker who does an adventure every so often and wants to just turn up rather than doing any of the organising or planning? Or maybe we don’t fit into a single style of hiking and will choose our own adventure based on what we feel like.

In this podcast we discuss what the common types of hiking/camping styles. Where do you fit? www.australianhiker.com.au

160-Perfect Motion

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 21:14:04 +1000

Australian Hiker is all about walking and when Jono Lineen, author of the book Perfect Motion, contacted me a few months ago to talk to talk about doing a review for his book ‘Perfect Motion’ it not only made sense to review the book but also to interview him for the podcast as well.

As a keen long distance hiker this book resonated with me in so many ways, particularly in the way that I feel when doing my big hikes. Perfect Motion was the culmination of his journey that was set in motion with the death of his younger brother, Gareth, eventually resulted in a 2700-kilometre solo trek across the Himalayas.

In this episode we talk to Jono about the impacts of walking and find out more about his amazing background, his trip though the Himalayas, as well as discussing his book Perfect Motion. www.australianhiker.com.au

159-Back country touring

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 22:48:46 +1000

In our last podcast episode, episode 158, we talked about snowshoeing in the Australian Alps. But for those that want to go a step further there are other options including skiing and snow camping. In this episode we catch up with Gary Tischer and find out about options for skiing, and snow camping away from the resorts. We talk about safety and logistics in the back country in general, including more than you every wanted to now about what to do with toilet waste in the snow! To round off this episode we catch back up with Bruce Easton from Wilderness Sports about options for getting a taster in backcountry. www.australianhiker.com.au

158-Snowshoeing in Australia

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 01:00:46 +1000

Hiking, bushwalking, whatever you want to call it is all about hiking outdoors in nature. While Australia doesn’t have the same sort of extreme winters as Europe and North America the Australian Alps are usually covered in snow and for many of us it means some of our favourite hiking destinations have gone to sleep and we need to look for other options. Buy why is that? Recently we tried snowshoeing to see if this ‘walking option’ provided an alternative to hibernation for accessing the alpine regions during the colder months.

This three part episode consists of a discussion on the basics of snowshoeing, a series of recordings we made on the day of our snowshoe tour, and finally an interview with Bruce Easton, owner of Wilderness Sports in Jindabyne. For more information read our write up here.

157- Pack Training

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 22:41:38 +1000

Physical preparation is a part of getting ready for any hike. For shorter easier hikes the training may be almost non existent while for longer and or more complex hikes you may spend weeks if not months preparing. Training for longer hikes involves many different physical aspects including cardio and weight training, as well as lots of walking/hiking both with and without a pack. In this podcast we talk about the do’s and dont's of pack training to help you get the most out of your hike. www.australianhiker.com.au

156-Industry Interviews August 2020 Part 2

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 21:00:59 +1000

Over the past three years Australian Hiker has attended the annual Outdoor Retailer Australia Show. This show is a chance for Australia’s outdoor wholesalers and manufacturers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia’s outdoor retailers and allied media. Due to the pandemic, the show was cancelled for 2020 but rather than let the opportunity pass us by we managed to catch up with a number of suppliers for an update.

This is the second episode in this series in which we bring you a further three interviews. As a follow up to our discussions with the various suppliers, in the coming year we will be reviewing that will be of interest to you. The first episode in this series, episode 155, was released last week. www.australianhiker.com.au

155-Industry Interviews July 2020 Part 1

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 23:36:18 +1000

Over the past three years Australian Hiker has attended the annual Outdoor Retailer Australia Show. This show is a chance for Australia’s outdoor wholesalers and manufacturers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia’s outdoor retailers and allied media. Due to the pandemic the show was cancelled for 2020 but rather than let the opportunity pass us by we managed to catch up with a number of suppliers for an update. In this, the first of two episodes in this series, we bring you two interviews.

In our next episode, episode 156, to be released next week, we will bring you our remaining interviews. As a follow up to our discussions with the various suppliers, in the coming year we will be undertaking a number of gear reviews that will be of interest to you. www.australianhiker.com.au

154 - Bushwalks of Bungonia National Park-Red Track

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 21:51:08 +1000

Bungonia National Park is located in southern NSW near the inland city of Goulburn and is an easily accessible drive from both Sydney and Canberra. There are five main designated walking tracks located within the park and they all start from the short spine road that runs from the visitor centre, all within minutes of each other.

This podcast episode consists of a series of recordings taken on the Red Track which as a walk under 6 km, ranks as one of the most physically demanding I have ever done; I've had 40 km days that have been easier. We talk about things to consider when hiking the Red Track before briefly touching on the other walks within the park. Read our written write ups on the Walks of Bungonia National Park Here

153-Peak Bagging: the what and why

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 21:49:22 +1000

Peak bagging is the practice of climbing to the summit of a hill or mountain in an attempt to collect peaks in a particular region. I must admit that from my perspective the whole concept is just plain strange. My view on hiking is that I will follow the designated trail and if the trail goes over a summit, I will follow it but if it doesn’t, then there needs to be a really good reason to head up hill. In this podcast episode we look at the concept of peak bagging and discuss some Australian options for those of you who are into peak bagging. www.australianhiker.com.au

152-Contributing to Australian Outdoor Magazines

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 21:08:35 +1000

In episode 138 we talked with Craig Sheather who writes hiking guide books and in episode 135 we caught up with adventure photographer Danyal Taylor. In this week’s episode we continue the theme and talk with Gary Tischer about what it takes to be a contributor of both photography and written articles to the Australian outdoor magazines.

Gary has been contributing to some of Australia’s best known outdoor magazines for nearly 40 years and while you may not know his name, chances are you have read his articles over the years. Today we find out how he became involved in writing and photographing for outdoor magazines, and how the needs of magazines have evolved over the years. www.australianhiker.com.au

151-Stepping out again

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 22:15:56 +1000

It's now mid-June 2020 and at long last the restrictions around coronavirus are easing, seemingly at a rapid rate. Pending a second wave of the virus, the ability to travel, while not yet back to normal, has been greatly relaxed and we can now travel further afield and do some longer and more complex hiking. In episode 145 we discussed things we can do when we can’t hike, or our hiking has been greatly curtailed for any reason, but what should we be doing now we can get out and about? In today’s episode we discuss things to consider as you get back into some more serious hiking to ensure you enjoy yourself and stay safe. www.australianhiker.com.au

150-Donkeys on the Bicentennial National Trail

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 20:40:29 +1000

In 2004 Liz Byron undertook a 2,500 km journey on the 5,300 km Bicentennial National Trail. As Australia’s longest designated shared trail, her story would not be too unusual until you realise she did her trip with the assistance of two donkeys, Grace and Charley, who acted as her pack animals and her companions. In this podcast episode we catch up with Liz not long after the release of her book, The Only Way Home, that details her amazing journey.

This is a great episode and one that provides an unique alternative on the traditional human powered hike. www.australianhiker.com.au

149-Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail

Tue, 19 May 2020 22:49:01 +1000

In today’s episode we discuss the Japanese Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail. This trail, which was included on the World Heritage list in 2004, is a network of several ancient pilgrimage routes that converge on Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, in the mountainous heart of Wakayama Prefecture. Apart from the shrines, the landscape itself is one of the key highlights that everyone talks about.

In today’s episode we combine a series of three interviews and each of our interviewees provide a different perspective on this amazing trail system. We hope you enjoy! www.australianhiker.com.au

148-Australian Bush Legends and Myths

Tue, 12 May 2020 23:05:07 +1000

Australia like most countries, has a series of legends and myths that form part of our cultural identity. While some of these are based on fact, and others have at least some basis of truth, there are a number that are just downright fabrications. Whatever degree of truth is involved is doesn’t stop us from talking about them and where possible, having fun at the expense of gullible people, mainly overseas tourists The following myths and legends are Australia’s best known although I’m sure there will be some that you may never have heard of. www.australianhiker.com.au

147-Things that go bump in the night: getting a good night's sleep

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 22:33:52 +1000

One of the most common complaints I hear from hikers who camp overnight is the inability to get a good night's sleep. And while some of this can be put down to gear related issues, more often than not it can be a state of mind. The first time you camp in the bush, in particular by yourself, every little sound is magnified. The slithering or crunching just outside your tent, the movement of your tent when there is no wind, can all combine to make hikers a bit agitated.

In this episode we discuss those issues that impact on our sleep on the trail, focusing on the non equipment related ones, and look at what we can do to get a better nights sleep. www.australianhiker.com.au

146-An update in strange times

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 21:55:11 +1000

It's mid April 2020 and already this has been the the strangest year that we have had in a long time and we still have most of the year to go. In this episode we just wanted to provide a bit of an update as Covid 19 is in full swing about how some of the people we have been following, along with the outdoor industry in general, is going. www.australianhiker.com.au

145-Things to do when you can't hike

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 23:24:41 +1100

It’s early 2020 and Australia has had a hell of a start to the year. First we had a summer full of bushfires that have impacted much of the country, destroying large sections of the bushland that we as hikers spend so much of our time exploring. If that wasn’t enough just as the opportunity to return to the bush presented itself we have the Coronavirus and with it, the ability to access many of our walks has again been curtailed but clearly for a different reason.

There are so many other more mundane reasons within our day to day lives that prevent us from hiking. So when you find yourself unable to hike, what can you do to keep yourself engaged with the outdoors? Let’s look at some options. www.australianhiker.com.au

144-Bondi to Manly Walk

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 21:30:56 +1100

The Bondi to Manly Walk was officially opened in December 2019, formalising a pre-existing route into a standalone walk. It showcases Sydney Harbour and includes water views, bushland, residential cut-throughs, historic and Aboriginal heritage, and beach sections. This is truly one of the worlds great urban walks, all within the city confines.

How you choose to walk this trail is up to you and it is very much a ‘choose your own adventure'; you can take as long as you like. This episode discusses my three day trip, day by day, and to get the best from this podcast follow along with the written review here.

143-Te Araroa Trail, a catch up

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 23:13:25 +1100

In this episode we catch catch up with musicians Mickey and Michelle who are currently hiking the 3,000km New Zealand Te Araroa Trail, playing gigs as they go. When we first caught up with them in episode 124 they were just about to start this amazing trail and now around five months later they have completed just over 2,200km with around 750 km left. Find out about the trail, the highs and lows, the scenery, and the people as they head towards the finish line. www.australianhiker.com.au

142-What to pack for a day hike

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 22:59:08 +1100

It's Saturday morning and the weather is perfect so you decide to head off to a local National Park with friends to do a hike. Nothing complex, but it's more than just a 20 minute walk and you may or may not have a phone signal so you start thinking about what you will take with you. This hike won't require any overnight equipment such as a tent or sleeping bag but you're not really sure what you should take. This is where it can get confusing - take too little or take the wrong things and you may not be comfortable. Take too much and the result is the same.

So what should you take on a day hike?

www.australianhiker.com.au

141-Catching up with Tangles and Tail: February 2020

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 20:49:45 +1100

In this episode we catch up with Lucy Barnard and Wombat from Tangles and Tail as they make their way from the bottom of South America to the top of North America. This 30,000 km journey will take Lucy around 5-6 years to complete and if successful, she will be the first women to do so.

The last time we caught up with Lucy and Wombat was in September 2019 when they were just about to enter Ecuador. So it's been four months since our last chat with Lucy and she has now completed just on 10,000 km. Today we catch up with her in Tulcan, Ecuador in early March 2020 prior to her last leg in South America before entering Colombia and progressing on to Central America.

You can listen to our previous episodes with Lucy here:

108-Tangles and tail: an interview with Lucy Barnard May 2019

126-Catching up with Tangles and Tail: September 2019

140-Everest Base Camp

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:07:41 +1100

In this week's episode we catch up with Annie Connor who is a keen Canberra-based hiker and who has spent over 20 years hiking throughout Australia, New Zealand and overseas including treks such the Larapinta Trail and the Annapurna Base Camp. Towards the end of 2019, Annie completed the Everest Base Camp Trek and as this trek sits on many people’s bucket lists, we wanted to catch up with Annie to find out all about her experience. www.australianhiker.com.au

139-Games on the trail

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 00:19:57 +1100

If you hike with children or are just into board and card games then this is the episode for you. There are literally hundreds of choices available for playing games when out hiking and in this weeks podcast episode we look at some options that wont weight you down and are simple to learn and to play. While you wont necessarily take all of these with you on a single hike having one or two of them in your pack may save your sanity if you are tent bound for an extended period due to bad weather. www.australianhiker.com.au

138-So you want to be a Travel Writer

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 20:41:06 +1100

In episode 135 we discussed what the life of an adventure photographer/videographer was like. In this weeks episode we talk to Craig Sheather about about being a travel and guide book writer including what's involved with getting articles and books to print, and how he got into this field. Www.Australianhiker.com.au

137-What's up in 2020?

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 23:04:32 +1100

In this our first episode for 2020 we take a look at the impacts that the current bushfires gripping many parts of Australia at the time of this podcast are having on hiking and what this may mean for the longer term. In addition, hiking is receiving a boost from state governments so we review proposed walking trails due to open later in 2020 as well as others scheduled for future years and discuss why the NSW Government in particular, is investing in these new trails. www.australianhiker.com.au

136-Apps for Hiking

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 23:29:20 +1100

Mobile apps have become such a familiar part of life that there is an app for just about everything. And hiking is no exception. In this episode we have collected together a range of apps for hikers to make your life easier. Our list isn’t exhaustive by any means with the options only limited by your imagination! Listen to our episode to find out more. www.australianhiker.com.au

135-So you want to be an adventure photographer?

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 19:42:05 +1100

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a professional adventure videographer and photographer? To wander the world and be paid to video and photograph some amazing scenery and individuals doing some amazing things. In this episode we talk to Danyal Taylor whose job is just that and find out a bit of what his life is like and what it takes to do his job. www.australianhiker.com.au

134-Choosing a Sleeping Bag

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 00:19:06 +1100

The problem when choosing a sleeping bag is the huge range of choice we have available on the market. There are hundreds of bags available in the retail stores and online. When choosing a sleeping bag there are some key considerations that come into the mix and in this episode we discuss what to look for in selecting a sleeping bag for your camping needs. www.australianhiker.com.au

133-Light to Light Walk

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 22:28:02 +1100

Located on the far southern coast of NSW the 31 km Light to Light Walk is one that while well known by many, still remains a bit of a hidden gem. Over the weekend just gone we chose to do this amazing walk in a single day but for most people a 2-3 day version is the norm. In this episode you can hear our on trail recordings of how our day went and at the end of the podcast we discuss logistical issues surrounding transport and accomodation and make recommendations on options that will suit all levels of hikers.

We recommend that as you listen to this podcast you follow along with the written version of this walk that contains plenty of images of what we are seeing. The written version complete with images of this walk can be found here.

132-Outward Bound

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 21:03:02 +1100

If you have been involved in the outdoors for any length of time then chances are you have heard of Outward Bound. Outward Bound has been providing eduction in the outdoors for over 70 years and they don't just teach you about being outdoors, they also help you learn more about yourself as an individual. In this episode we talk to Helen at the National headquarters in Tharwa, on the Southern edge of Canberra city about what they do and the services they offer. www.australianhiker.com.au

131-Australian Hiker 3rd Birthday

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 23:59:05 +1100

On 11 November 2019 Australian Hiker celebrated its third birthday. In this episode we reflect on our past year and where we are heading into the future. As the request of our listeners we also provide an overview of some key aspects in getting the Australian Hiker podcast to air. www.australianhiker.com.au

130-Christmas Gifts for Hikers 2019

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 01:07:01 +1100

It’s that time of the year again when you start to look for presents for that hiking fanatic in your life; maybe it's you?

In this episode we focus on the best and brightest that has been released over the past year and those iconic status items that all hikers would be pleased to own ranging from the inexpensive to the grand gesture. Have a listen to see if you can pick up any ideas. www.australianhiker.com.au

129-Going to the toilet on the trail

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 00:08:25 +1100

When you start hiking and camping there is so much to learn. What gear do you buy, how do you deal with food, where are the good walks to do and last but not least how do I go to the toilet in the bush?

In this episode we discuss going to toilet on a hike, the process and the do's and don'ts (pun intended) to hopefully give you a bit of peace of mind if you haven't needed to consider this basic function before. www.australianhiker.com.au

128-Book and Movie Review 2019

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 22:45:04 +1100

In this episode we review a series of hiking and outdoor movies that we have watched over 2019 as well as some outdoor based books that we have read. If you are into the outdoors and are looking something to do on those non hiking days then consider these options. Leading up into Christmas these books and videos make great options for the hiker in your family even if thats you! www.australianhiker.com.au

127-Dehydrated Food on the Trail

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 23:43:25 +1100

Start talking about food options for hiking and it’s amazing how quickly the conversation becomes heated as individuals passionately defend their preferred meal options and tell you why your choices are wrong. This is definitely a topic I try to avoid when at camp in the evening.

Having said that I do have my preferences and as much as I like cooking and eating well when I’m at home, I prefer to keep things simple when I’m on the trail. While my main meals tend to be freeze dried I also integrate dehydrated food into the mix.

This podcast discusses the pros and cons of using dehydrated food and provides a few suggestions for dehydrating. www.australianhiker.com.au

126-Catching up with Tangles and Tail: September 2019

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 19:56:42 +1100

In this episode we catch up with Lucy Barnard from Tangles and Tail who is walking the length of the world from the bottom of South America to the top of North America. This 30,000 km journey will take her around 5-6 years to complete. It's been over four months since we last talked with Lucy and we catch up with her in San Ignacio, Peru where she has a two day journey before she leaves Peru and enters Ecuador. www.australianhiker.com.au

125-Choosing what to bring on a hike

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 23:08:54 +1000

If you're anything like me then you have more hiking gear the you are ever likely to use so how then do you decide what to bring on a hike? In many cases there is no one right answer when assembling a set of gear for your upcoming adventure and this this episode we look at considerations for making your choice. www.australianhiker.com.au

124-Musicians on the Te Araroa

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 22:22:41 +1000

In this week’s episode we have something slightly different for you as we interview Mickey and Michelle about their upcoming journey on the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand. This is one of the world’s premier long distance hiking trails starting at the top of the north island and finishing at the bottom of the South Island for a total distance of 3,000km.

In itself this is a big trip that presents many challenges and will take a number of months to complete but if that wasn't enough they have a few other complications to make this trip more difficult. Michelle is only 29 and suffers from Osteoporosis. In addition they are both musicians and deciding that they didn’t want to have such a long period away from music they will be doing a series of concerts along the way as a means of funding their trip and to help raise awareness of Osteoporosis which affects 1 in 3 women and one in 5 men (over the age of 50).

In this episode we provide a brief overview of the Te Araroa trail before talking to Mickey and Michelle about their upcoming journey.

123-Hume and Hovell Track-a premature end to a thruhike

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 22:49:20 +1000

What started out as a 19 day thru-hike has now been turned in to a section hike due to injury after completing 310km of this 426km trip. In this episode we discuss our last few days on the Hume and Hovell Track, our reasons for cutting the hike short, and where we go to from here. Rest assured there are plans in place to finish this trip off! www.australianhiker.com.au

122-Hume and Hovell Track Week 2

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 23:10:10 +1000

In this weeks episode we continue our on trail episodes from our Hume and Hovell Track adventure this time with recordings from day4-9. www.australianhiker.com.au

121-Hume and Hovell Track Week 1

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 21:04:16 +1000

In this weeks episode we listen to our on trail recordings of our first three days on the 426km Hume and Hovell Track. We will post over the next three weeks from the trail as signal availability allows.

120-Choosing a camping site

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 00:12:39 +1000

I have memories of camping dating back over 40 years and in many cases these memories were positive ones that consisted of some amazing experiences shared with friends and family. On the other end of the scale there were also trips where things went horribly wrong because we chose bad sites to camp. In this episode we discuss things to consider when choosing a place to put you tent to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable nights sleep. www.australianhiker.com.au

119-The John Muir Trail; an Australian perspective.mp3

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 23:03:15 +1000

In this week’s episode we talk with Blair Woodcock who recently completed a thru-hike of the 211 mile (340 km) USA based John Muir Trail. Many backpackers say this trail contains the finest mountain scenery in the United States, and runs (mostly in conjunction with the PCT) from Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney, in California. In this episode we provide an overview of one of the world’s most spectacular trails and hear a firsthand overview of what a thru hike was like. www.australianhiker.com.au

118-Zen and the Art of Hiking

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 22:43:28 +1000

There are any number of reasons why we enjoy hiking; the flora and fauna, the majestic views, the little stuff, the big stuff. While there might be some common themes we all enjoy, there will also be some unique reasons for each of us which are likely to be different. In episode 010 we provided a broad overview of some of these reasons and this week in episode 118 we look at some of the more 'spiritual reason' (for want of a better phrase) behind why we hike.

www.australianhiker.com.au

117-Hume and Hovell Track: in the footsteps of explorers

Tue, 06 Aug 2019 21:19:49 +1000

Over the next month Gill and Tim from Australian Hiker will commence their end to end on the Hume and Hovell Track. This track, in the state of New South Wales (NSW), travels between the towns of Yass to the north and Albury to the south, for a distance of 426 km.

In this episode we provide some background to one of Australia's lesser known long distance trails, talk about some of the logistics involved, as well as our expectations for this trip.

Once we commence this trip we will be releasing regular social media posts as well as podcasts from the trail. To follow our regular written posts go to https://australianhiker.com.au/journeys/

116-Choosing a Sleeping Mat

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 22:57:36 +1000

Choosing the right sleeping pad/mat can be the difference between a bad night’s sleep and a great night’s sleep. But it is not as easy as grabbing the first pad you see. Navigating the range of brands and models can be confusing. In this episode we look at the things to consider in selecting a sleeping mat. www.australianhiker.com.au

115-Outdoor Retailer Australia Show July 2019 Part 2

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 21:41:06 +1000

This episode is the second in this two part series from the 2019 Outdoor Retailer Australia Show which was held on 14-16 July 2019 at the Flemington Exhibition Pavilion at the Melbourne Showgrounds. In this episode we talk with a further six companies on new and upcoming product. You can also listen to the previous episode, 114, in this series here.

114-Outdoor Retailer Australia Show July 2019 Part 1

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 01:14:24 +1000

The 2019 Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held on 14-16 July 2019 at the Flemington Exhibition Pavillon at the Melbourne Showgrounds. This annual show is a chance for Australia’s outdoor wholesalers and manufacturers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia’s outdoor retailers and allied media. This is the third year that Australian Hiker has attended this ‘trade only show’ as a media representative.

This year has been our biggest yet and we recorded 13 seperate interviews over the 2.5 days of the exhibition with the first seven of these interviews contained in this episode with the remainder to be released in episode 115 to be released in the following week.

From our discussions with the various suppliers at the show we will be undertaking a number of gear reviews over the upcoming year that will be of interest to you. For pictures associated with this episode go to here

113-European Peace Walk-interview with Lexi Connors

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 22:13:14 +1000

In this weeks episode we talk to traveller and avid hiker Lexi Connors about her recent trip on the European Peace Walk Trail. This trail is relatively unknown but provides and alternative to the heavily used Camino trails. In this episode we discuss the logistics, the ups and downs, and the highlights of this unique trail. www.australianhiker.com.au

112-When is it time to quit a hike?

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 23:10:48 +1000

As a hiking blogger who is also interested in long distance hiking, quitting a hiker is always something in the back of my mind. However quitting a hike is not confined to long distance trails and can be a consideration on any hike. Sometimes calling it quits on a hike is just the sensible thing to do. In this podcast we discuss some of the reasons that we may pull the pin on hike.

www.australianhiker.com.au

111-Freeze Dried Meals

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +1000

Talking about hiking food can get you into a lot of trouble; everyone knows best, and their view is always the correct one! Its not quite in the same category as talking politics over Christmas lunch but it sometimes comes close. Everyone has their food preference and ours is freeze-dried food. In this podcast episode we’re going to discuss why that is.

110-Boots McFarland Interview

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +1000

The Boots McFarland hiking cartoon is the brainchild of Geolyn Carvin. In this episode we get a bit of background on Geolyn and 'Boots' and discuss how the creative process for this wonderful hiking cartoon comes about.

109-Environmentally Friendly Hiking

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode we discuss options for waste reduction and how we can care for the environment as hikers. Now before you switch off thinking we are going to take the moral high ground, be warned that while we are all about minimising our impact on the environment, it’s not as simple as it sounds.

108 Tangles and Tail; and interview with Lucy Barnard

Wed, 29 May 2019 10:00:00 +1000

In this week's episode we interview Lucy Barnard from Tangles and Tail as she attempts her journey from the southern-most point of South America to the northern-most point in Alaska. This is an epic journey, almost solely by foot, covering around 30,000 km in distance. In this episode, we find out a bit about Lucy (Tangles) and Wombat - the ‘Tail’ member of her team, the reason behind her trip, the logistical issues surrounding such a massive undertaking, and how her journey has gone so far. This is an episode not to miss!

107-Fire and Hiking

Wed, 22 May 2019 10:00:00 +1000

Fire is one of those things to which we all seem to be drawn. It warms us when we’re cold, it was the main method of cooking since cooking began and for whatever reason it creates an emotive reaction in most of us - we can just sit and watch it for hours on end. On the flip side fire can be extremely dangerous causing massive damage to the environment, to property and occasionally loss of life. In this episode we discuss fire and hiking looking at the do’s and don’ts to help you create the best experience when dealing with fire on the trail.

106-How much does it cost to hike?

Wed, 08 May 2019 10:00:00 +1000

Pick any activity that you do and no matter what it is there are costs associated with it; hiking is no different. Costs for gearing up and for undertaking trips can be almost negligible but at the opposite end of the scale they can also add up costing many thousands of dollars. In this episode we discuss options for getting on the trail and look at where you should be targeting your funds to get the best bang for your buck.

105-Kiandra to Tharwa; a taste of the Australian Alps

Wed, 01 May 2019 10:00:00 +1000

Over three days in Easter 2019 I walked the 112km from Kiandra in the Snowy Mountains to Tharwa (a section of the Australian Alps Walking Track). Doing an extreme walk is one of the annual challenges I set myself and this one was also a learning opportunity to do some pre-planning for a planned thru hike of this alpine trail. This podcast contains a series of recordings over the three days and describes what I was seeing and how I was feeling; I learnt some hard lessons on this hike!

104-The History of Australian National Parks

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +1000

If you live in Australia, or for that matter many other countries in the world, then you will be familiar with with the concept of National Parks. In fact many of the walks that we do as hikers around this country are to be found in National Parks. But what are they and how did they come about? In this podcast we provide a brief overview of the history of National Parks what they mean from an Australian perspective.

103-One Man's Climb; interview with Adrian Hayes

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode we go beyond the realms of this hiking podcast and are talking with British adventurer, and author, Adrian Hayes about his latest book ‘One Man’s Climb’ which details his account of his first unsuccessful attempt to summit k2, the worlds second highest mountain, also known as the ‘mountaineers mountain’, or the 'Savage mountain' in 2013 and his subsequent successful attempt in 2014. You may never aspire to summiting K2 but Adrian has some key takeaways that are applicable to anyone who is thinking of putting themselves outside their comfort zone to achieve there goals.

102-Mind, Body, and Soul; the health benefits of hiking

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 10:00:00 +1000

As long as the humans have been around we have been looking at ways of improving our lives. But with this improved lifestyle we are progressively becoming a less fit, fatter, more sedentary population, that spends little time exerting any energy. So while our average lifespan is now at its longest our fitness hasn't necessarily improved and this is where hiking comes in. Hiking gets us into the bush and has many positive impacts; physical ,emotional, and mental, and that's what we will be discussing in todays episode.

101-Packing Your Fears

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 11:00:00 +1100

'Packing your fears' is a way of saying you are carrying items in your pack based on your worries or fears; your worst case scenario. In today's episode we discuss how to overcome these this tendency to overpack.

100-Trail Design

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 11:00:00 +1100

Have you ever thought about how the trails that we know and love so much come to be? The design and construction of modern day hiking trails is a complex and time consuming process and if done right the trail will appear as if it's always existed.In this episode we interview the Project Manager, and the Architect, for the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail to find out what's involved in bringing a new trail online.

099-Altitude and Hiking

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 11:00:00 +1100

Ever wanted to hike Kilimanjaro, the Himalayas, or the Andes? One of the major considerations on these hikes is the impact of Altitude Sickness which can become very serious; in fact it can sometimes have lethal impacts. In this episode we discuss ways of mitigating the impacts of high altitude on hikes to ensure that we get the best out of our experience.

098-Coffee on the Trail

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +1100

Drinking coffee when you're out hiking is a quandary. Do you put up with bad coffee just because you're away from your fancy machine, or do you give it up until you are back home? Well maybe you don't have too. This episode discusses options for making coffee on the trail from the 'just Ok' to the 'this is pretty dam good'. We also discuss coffee alternatives if you want your caffeine fix without the hassle of making coffee.

097-Q & A (Hiker Questions)

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +1100

We thought that we would try something a bit different and in this episode we are answering a series of questions asked by our listeners.

096-Aussie 10 Walk

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 11:00:00 +1100

Each year over the Christmas holidays Gill and I undertake a multi-day walk. Over Christmas in 2018 we decided to do the Aussie 10 Walk. This walk, located in the Australian Alps in the state of New South Wales, takes in Australia's 10 highest peaks. This isn't a formal trail but rather a route based on the well known Main Range Track. This episode consists of a series of recordings undertaken over our 2.5 day journey.

095-Transitioning to multiday hiking

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 11:00:00 +1100

One of the biggest transitions that most hikers make is shifting from day hiking to overnight hiking. Transitioning from just a night or two to multi-day trips brings a whole new set of considerations that can seems just as daunting. This podcasts discusses the main considerations for multi-day hiking and hopefully will provide you with some background if you are considering taking this next step.

094-Night Hiking

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 11:00:00 +1100

So, you’ve been hiking for a while and are looking for something a bit different to mix it up a bit; maybe a new trail, or a new location. But what if instead all you need is a new way to view that tired old trail you’ve been hiking for a while? And that’s where night hiking comes in. This podcast discusses the pros and cons of hiking at night as well as the factors that need to be considered to ensure we do it as safely as possible.

093-First Hike Project

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 11:00:00 +1100

The First Hike Project is an organisation that takes newly arrived immigrant and refugee kids and introduces them to the Australian Bush. Originally the First Hike Project originated in Perth and has now spread to a number of cities around Australia. In this episode we talk to the Coordinator of the Canberra chapter of the First Hike Project as well as one of the participants about their experiences.

092-Media Review

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 11:00:00 +1100

This podcast episode reviews some of the most well known hiking/outdoor movies of all time and where available compares them the books. If you are into the outdoors and haven't seen these movies then add them to your must see list.

091-Impacts of Long Distance Hiking

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 11:00:00 +1100

Thinking of doing a long distance multi-week hike? This podcast episode discusses the physical and mental impacts of undertaking a thru hike including some considerations that you may not have even thought of.

090-Big Agnes Tents

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 11:00:00 +1100

In this weeks episode we talk to the store manager at well known southern Queensland outdoor store,Wild Earth, on Big Agnes tents. The episode showcases three of the newer tents in the range.

089-Eye Care and Hiking

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 02:13:00 +1100

If you ask most people what is their most important sense 'sight' is usually the one that they will name. But just how much thought do we put into looking after our eyes when we head out on the trail? This episode discusses the basics of eye care and what we should be doing to care for our eyes out on the trail.

088-The Great South Coast Walk

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 11:00:00 +1100

The Great South Coast Walk can best be described as Australia's greatest coastal walk that very few people have heard of. This walk starts on the outskirts of Sydney at Bundeena, NSW, and winds its way south finishing 660km later in the Victorian town of Mallacoota. In this episode we interview David Briese, one of the instigators of this walk and find out what's so special.

087-Christmas Gifts for Hikers 2018

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 11:00:00 +1100

It's that time of the year again when you start to look for presents for that hiking fanatic in your life; or maybe its you. Shhhh we won’t tell anyone. Last year in episode 47 we discussed alternative hiking gifts that carry a lot more sentiment without the commercial crassness as well as identifying some commercial options. This year we focus on the best and brightest that most hikers would be glad to find under the tree ranging from the inexpensive to the grand gesture. Have a listen to see if you can pick up any ideas.

086-Australian Hiker 2nd Birthday

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 11:00:00 +1100

On 11 November 2018 Australian Hiker celebrated its second birthday. Over the past year we have been building up our online resources to help us make Australian Hiker your 'Go to Hiking Resource'. We realise that we still have a long way to go. This episode is a reflection on our past year and where we are heading into the future. Gill and I would like to thank all our friends and supporters for helping us to greatly exceeded our expectations; we couldn't have done so without you.

085-Australia's Iconic Hiking Trails

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 11:00:00 +1100

This podcast discusses seven Iconic Australian hiking trails under 150km in length that have so much to offer that they are known world wide. Whether it's the desert, mountains, lush foliage, or views there's just something about them that sets them apart, giving them an Iconic status.

084-Hiking in hot weather

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 11:00:00 +1100

084-Hiking in hot weather by Gill & Tim Savage

083-Care and Maintenance of Hiking Equipment

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 11:00:00 +1100

For many hikers care and maintenance of their equipment is limited to the occasional clean and maybe some hole patching but we can be doing so much more to extend the life of our gear and in the process making our hikes that much more enjoyable. This podcast discusses the basics of gear care and maintenance including how often we should be maintaining our gear.

082-Bibbulmun Track gear wrap up

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode we briefly discuss the key pieces of equipment that I used on my recent Bibbulmun Track Journey and provide a broad overview of my reasons for choosing it. A downloadable list of my multi-day hiking equipment is now available on the show notes for this podcast (episode 82)on the Australian Hiker website.

081-Bibbulmun Track Reality vs Expectations

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode we review Tim's recent Bibbulmun Track hike showcased in episodes 76-80 to discuss how the reality of the hike compared to the expectations prior to starting.

080 - Week 5 Bibbulmun Track 2018

Fri, 14 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +1000

This is the final episode of ontrail podcasts on Tim’s 2018 Bibbulmun Track hike. Listen to this podcast as Tim travels from Dwellingup to Kalamunda to complete his 36 day, 1000km trip. Over the next two weeks I will be releasing two final podcasts to wrap up this trip as well as uploading two written articles so keep an eye out!

079 - Week 4 Bibbulmun Track 2018

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +1000

Week four is now over, just a short one with a four day trip from Collie to Dwellingup. In this episode we discuss peoples perceptions on the trail and how this will differ depending on the context. We then go on to briefly discuss the trail amenities prior to our regular recordings and on trail interviews.

078 - Week 3 Bibbulmun Track 2018

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +1000

Week three of my Bibbulmun Track journey and our longest ever podcast due to 8 days worth of podcasting as I undertake the biggest week of the trip. In this episode I discuss my typical days and how I make decisions about what I will be doing as well as a series of recordings including interviews of my trip over this period between Pemberton and Collie covering a distance of approximately 250km.

077 - Week 2 Bibbulmun Track 2018

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +1000

At the end of the second week I have reached Pemberton which means that 40% of the trail is done. I’m actually a day ahead of schedule but am not taking that for granted and now have seven days up my sleeve. In this episode I discuss the camp infrastructure as well as my journey from Walpole to Pemberton.

076 - Bibbulmun Track Week 1 2018

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +1000

On 9 August 2018 I started my journey on one of Australia’s premiere long distance hiking trails, the Bibbulmun Track. Travelling 1000km between Albany and Perth. This podcast provides an overview of a typical week on the trail completing 210km and travelling between Albany and Walpole. Listen to what I and other hikers go through in what has been some extremely taxing conditions. Over the next 4-5 weeks I will focus on different aspects of this journey to provide you with an overview on what to expect and to hopefully encourage you to consider hiking this amazing trail.

075-Bibbulmun Track here I come

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode we will be discussing my expectations, my apprehensions, and my hopes for my upcoming Bibbulmun Track thru hike which I start on 9 August 2018 in what is forecast to be heavy rains. Tomorrow I spend the day on planes heading to the trail head in Western Australia. Over the coming weeks I will be walking my way back to Perth and as part of the experience I will be recoding a weekly podcast. I will also be interviewing other hikers doing the track as a thru hike, known as an ‘end to end’ on the Bibbulmun, as well as those doing shorter sections to hear how they are going and what they think of the track. So if you thinking about doing this walk listen over the next 6+ weeks to the 'on trail episodes' as well as the round up episodes at the end once I am home.

074-An interview with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +1000

The Bibbulmun Track is one of Australia’s premiere long trails stretching 1000km (621miles) from Kalamunda on the outskirts of Perth to Albany on the southern western Australian coast. Given the distance covered there is a wide variety of ecosystems represented on the trail from coastal sections in the south through constantly changing forests that highlight some of Australia’s most spectacular flora and fauna. In this episode we will be talking to Steve Sertis from the Bibbulmun Track Foundation about how the track came about, the role of the Foundation, and some key takeaways on hiking this spectacular trail.

073-A journey towards ultralight revisited

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +1000

In episode 002 of the Australian Hiker podcast we discussed the concept of ultralight hiking and my goal to greatly lighten my load from my 'traditional' heavy gear. It's now been 18 months since we released that podcast and in this episode we revisit this journey just prior to me commencing a 1000km/ 5-6 week hike on the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia to see how I have gone.

072-Getting fit for hiking

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +1000

Whatever type of hiking that you do being fit will ensure that you enjoy what you are doing in addition to keeping happy and healthy on the trail. But what does being fit for hiking mean? This episode provides a brief introduction to hiking fitness and identifies the key aspects that you need to consider.

071-Planning a long distance hike

Wed, 04 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +1000

Planning a long distance hike is really no difference from a shorter hike, isn’t it? In theory the concepts are the same but in reality there are a number of other factors that come into consideration. In this episode I will use my upcoming thru hike of the Bibbulmun Track (1,000km) in Western Australia to provide a broad guide to what you should consider when planning a long distance hike. Once I have finished my journey towards the end of September I will report back on how I went including how well my planning did, or didn’t, pay off.

070-Outdoor Retailer show 2018 part 2

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +1000

On 17-19 June 2018 the Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held at the Moore Park Exhibition Centre in Sydney. This annual show is a chance for Australia’s outdoor wholesalers and manufacturers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia’s outdoor retailers and allied media. This podcast is the second recorded at this show and contains a further 6 interviews. If you want to hear the first series of interviews go to episode 069.

069-Outdoor Retailer Show 2018 part 1

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +1000

The 2018 Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held on 17-19 June 2018 at the Moore Park Exhibition Centre in Sydney. This annual show is a chance for Australia’s outdoor wholesalers and manufacturers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia’s outdoor retailers and allied media. This is the first of two episodes.

068- Weather and hiking

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +1000

Every time we head out into the bush for the day the one factor that we must deal with on every hike is the weather. Good or bad, the weather can make or break a hike and if we fail to pay attention to extreme weather conditions it can also present safety concerns. This podcast discusses factors to consider when planning your hike as well as what to look for during the hike itself.

067-Hike your own hike

Wed, 23 May 2018 10:00:00 +1000

In episode 067 of the Australian Hiker podcast we discuss the concept of Hike Your Own Hike (HYOH). Each of us enjoys hiking in a way that is unique to us and when we vary from this pattern the enjoyment can drop off. What does HYOH mean for you?

066-Technology on the trail-staying in touch with family and friends

Wed, 09 May 2018 10:00:00 +1000

In episode 066 of the Australian Hiker podcast we discussTechnology on the Trail, specifically options for staying in touch with family and friends at home while on a hike. This topic is one that I have been thinking on for well over a year as I decide what I will use for my own Bibbulmun Track though hike later this year when I will be out of cellular range on a number of days on my 5-6 week hike.

065-99 days to go....

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:00:00 +1000

In this episode I announce announce my first long distance Australian thru hike, and also first thru hike and provide an overview on : * My reasons for doing a long distance multi week hike; * Why I picked the trail that I did; and * An overview of my logistics and what I need to consider before I go. Over the coming weeks I will be releasing further podcasts on my upcoming trip as well as episodes released on the trail. I looking forward to sharing this journey with you.

064-Australia's Long Distance Hiking Trails

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +1000

While many hikers, and non hikers may be aware of trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail in the USA, or the Camino de Santiago in Spain you may not be aware that Australia has its own long trails and while they may not have the same international media profile (yet) they are progressively making a name for themselves and gaining in popularity. This podcast episode provides an overview of some of Australia’s better known long distance hiking and multi-use trails (cyclists, horse riders and hikers) over 200km in length.

063-Physical maintenance on the trail

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +1000

This week we will be talking to Jacqui Ambrus-Bonazzi from Canberra Fitness Centre about the physical maintenance that we as hikers SHOULD be doing each day on the trail to ensure we maintain our fitness and reduce injuries, something that many hikers take for granted at best, or more typically don’t do at all.

062-Personal safety on the trail

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 10:00:00 +1000

For new hikers it seems like there is so much to worry about. Getting lost, snakes and will you be warm enough are just some of the issues that can all be managed reasonably easily with a bit of practice and development of on-trail skills. For many new hikers their biggest concern is one of personal safety. How safe will you be when out hiking and do I have to worry about my car at the trail head. This episode discusses these issues and offers some suggestions for minimising personal safety risks on the trail.

061-Hygiene and hiking

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 11:00:00 +1100

Personal hygiene is one of those practices that we are all taught early in life; wash your hands, bathe on a regular basis, and always wear clean underwear. We are used to doing these things in our day to day life and the same rules apply in the bush that apply at home surrounding personal hygiene if we want to ensure that we have a trouble free adventure. However when we go bush we loose all the modern conveniences and with them the flexibility we have at home and have to adjust how we do things. Most practices that relate to hygiene are based around common sense but why then do so many people ignore them when they hike? This article discusses the hygiene basics nessesary to ensure that we have a healthy enjoyable hike. Alternatively you can read the written version of this podcast here.

060-Happy feet

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 11:00:00 +1100

Issues with feet and lower limbs tend to be a problem that plagues all hikers at one time or another. These issues can be relatively minor and annoying on short hikes and crippling on longer more difficult hikers. Either way they stop us from enjoying our outdoor adventures. In this podcast episode I talk with Canberra based Podiatrist Matthew Hotchkis from Podiatry Professionals about some of the more common lower limb issues that can cause problems for hikers and discuss ways to minimise their impact as well as prevention and treatment.

059-Geocaching

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 11:00:00 +1100

The best way to describe Geocaching is as treasure hunting with a GPS/smartphone. Sometimes the kids, or you for that matter, just need that extra little incentive to get outdoors and go hiking and what better incentive than to go treasure hunting! This podcast provides a basic overview to help get you into Geocaching and hopefully outside more often if you really need an excuse.

058-Navigation on the trail: an introduction to maps and compasses

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 11:00:00 +1100

The level of navigation skills that you will need as a hiker will vary with the complexity of the walks that you do. If you never leave well marked trails the skill requirement you need, may, but not necessarily, be minimal. The advent of mobile phone apps, as well as the availability of high quality consumer level GPS including some watches has changed hiking forever. Gone are the days when you had no choice but to use a map and compass however having a good grounding in their use should be something we all aspire to. This podcast episode provides a basic overview of map and compass use that will hopefully add your you kill level as a hiker and inspire you to learn more. To get the most out of this podcast follow along with the written version which has the related images.

057 Nutritition on the Trail

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 11:00:00 +1100

For most hikers feeding themselves on short camping and hiking trips, even for a few days, is something that we can easily manage without too much problem. But what happens when we undertake big excursions ranging from strenuous single day trips to multi-week trips. In this podcast episode I talk with Canberra based nutritionist and dietician, Lisa Donaldson from FEED Inc about nutrition on the trail and what we can do to look after ourselves.

056-How to pack a backpack: a beginners guide

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 11:00:00 +1100

Whether your a day hiker or are into extended multi night hikes ensuring that you have correctly assembled all your gear into some sort of order in your pack will make your trip run just that much smoother. But what it the right order? Is there such a thing? This episode looks at packing your backpack and discusses developing a systematic approach to our packing that will ensure you always know where that bit of gear or food is.

055-A weekend on the Main Range

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:00:00 +1100

In January 2018 I spent two days in the Kosciuszko National Park (NSW) hiking the Main Range Walk as well as undertaking the Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk, both starting at Charlotte Pass. These two days of hiking also involved a nights camping on Mt Kosciuszko. This Episode is designed to give you an idea of what to expect when hiking in this amazing area.

054-The future of hiking

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 11:00:00 +1100

In this episode we look at where the future of hiking appears to be heading. We discuss trends as they relate to hikers, changes we are likely to see in trail design and use, the impacts of social media on the trail, notable gear trends and the use of technology on the trail, both good and bad.

053-Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail-Expectations vs reality

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 11:00:00 +1100

Our final episodes in our Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail series. In this episode we revisit our initial expectations of this trip and compare them to the reality of the trail. In addition we discuss the good and bad points of the trail and make some suggestions for those of you looking at doing this trip.

052-Kangaroo Island Wilderness trail; Interviews from the Trail

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 11:00:00 +1100

This is the second of our 'on trail' podcasts recorded while undertaking our recent Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail (KIWT) trip. This episode consists of four interviews with hikers, service providers, and the Southern Australian Parks Service and is designed to provide a different perspective on this wonderful trail.

051-Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail-A day on the trail

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 11:00:00 +1100

This is the first of three podcast episodes on the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail and consists of a series of recordings done over a single day to give you an idea of what to expect from a typical day on the trail. Our next two episode 053 and 054 will provide additional information on this great trail.

050-Food on the trail, a beginners guide

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 11:00:00 +1100

When you first start doing longer hikes its not just the gear that you have to think about.What about the food! This episode is aimed at providing an introduction to food considerations for newer hikers who just want to make things easy.

049-Kangaroo Island here we come; an overview

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 11:00:00 +1100

Gill and I have a break between Christmas and New Year and along with our friend Kelly we will be hiking the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail which is located not far from the mainland in South Australia. This five day, four night trip is approximately 61km (without any add ons). We tried to do this trail earlier this year and didn't book early enough.Lesson learnt. This episode is an overview of what we are expecting but no doubt reality will be different. As usual we will be recording on the trail and publishing out trip podcasts in January 2018.

048-Choosing a tent for hiking

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 11:00:00 +1100

If you belong to just about any online hiking forum one of the most commonly discussed topics that you will see posted is ‘what sort of tent should I buy?’ Unfortunately there is no one answer to this question and really what you end up choosing will depend on a range of factors that is most cases are unique to you. This episode discusses the key considerations in choosing a tent for hiking.

047-Christmas gift ideas for hikers

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 11:00:00 +1100

With Christmas approaching it is an ideal time to buy new gear with many manufacturers clearing soon to be superseded products in anticipation of the release of new models. It's also a great time to convince family members and loved ones of the benefits of hiking and start leaving gear brochures turned to the right page in strategic places around the house. If you are buying presents for a hiking fanatic then here are some options worth considering.

046-Australian Hiker 1st Birthday

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 11:00:00 +1100

On 11 November 2017 Australian Hiker celebrated its first birthday. This episode is a reflection on our past year and where we are heading over the next 12 months.

045-Women in hiking; interviews

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:00:00 +1100

In this episode we interview two female hikers, one younger, one older, who share their experiences and tips on hiking from a womens perspective.

044-Women in hiking

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:00:00 +1100

A lot is written about the different needs of women and men but when it comes to hiking, are the considerations for women that different to those of men? This podcast episode discusses issues relevant to women on the trail and offers hints, tips and suggestions that will hopefully help to answer questions that you may have.

043 Choosing and fitting a backpack

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +1100

After footwear, the backpack is one of the most crucial pieces of equipment that most outdoor enthusiasts will own. I mean you can’t even discuss hiking without talking about a backpack. Choosing the correct backpack to suit your needs is just one half of the equation. You also need to make sure that your pack is fitted correctly. This podcast episode discusses considerations for choosing an appropriate pack as well as goes though the correct footing process.

042-Snakes, ticks and spiders on the trail

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +1100

This episode discusses snakes ticks and spiders on the trail including how to interact with them, avoid them, and if necessary how to treat any injuries created by these creatures.

041-Hiking with Children interviews from the trail

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +1100

In this second episode on hiking with children we are take our niece and her two oldest sons aged 6 and 9 year on their first overnight hiking and camping trip. During the hike we get to hear their views on their first overnight trip. This episode is linked to episode 040 where we talk about considerations for hiking with children prior to hitting the trail.

040-Hiking with Children-part 1

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Hiking is a fantastic past time and one that can be enjoyed by all ages and fitness levels. Those of you who have lots of hiking experience will no doubt want your younger family members to enjoy the same experiences you have when out on the trail. This episode discusses tips to get kids out on the trail and get them hooked on hiking.

039 - Bushwalk the Gong Interview

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

In this September 2017, Australian Hiker Bonus episode we interview Jenae from Bushwalk the 'Gong, an Australian blog centred around the Illawarra region of the southern NSW coast. Jenae is passionate about hiking and through Bushwalk the 'Gong offers an excellent online resource for hiking that includes trail overviews and awe-inspiring photos. In addition Bushwalkers the 'Gong runs regular guided walks to help get people out into the spectacular natural environment that is on offer in the Illawarra region.

038-The 10 Essentials: How relevant are they?

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 10:00:00 +1000

This episode looks at the 10 Essentials. What they are, whether they are applicable to Australian conditions, and discusses if we should take a more tailored approach? Finally, I will share my 10 essentials list with you to give you an idea of what I carry.

037-10 tips for beginners

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +1000

So you've been thinking about getting into hiking but are confused by the mass of gear available or don't know where to start. This podcast episode is aimed at beginner hikers to provide a basic overview on what you need to start hiking. Be warned the learning never stops and hiking can become addictive!

036-The Hiking Society Interview

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +1000

In this August 2017 Australian Hiker Bonus episode we interview John Feeney, founder and creator of the Melbourne based Hiking Society. The Hiking Society is a blog that provides hikers with up-to-date information and tips on hiking and camping, showcases trails and camping spots in Australia, and provides hiking opportunities through their meet up groups.

035-Which Light for Hiking?

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +1000

At some stage many of us will choose to transition from day hiking to overnight hiking and apart from considerations such as weather, food and site selection, we also need to consider equipment aspects including some form of lighting otherwise we are going to be travelling in the dark....literally. So what to choose? Handheld, head torch or lantern? this episode discusses these various options.

034-10 Tips for Hiking in the Rain

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 10:00:00 +1000

When most of us first started hiking the common factor as a newbie, almost without fail, was we usually only hiked in good weather. Hiking in wet or rainy conditions is a skill that we progressively learn and often come to relish when the conditions are right and we have planned appropriately. This episode discuss 10 tips for hiking in the rain that can make your wet weather experience much more enjoyable

033-First Aid on the Trail

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Worrying about accidents or safety is not something we really want to do every time we go hiking but it is crucial to ‘Plan for the worst and hope for the best’ to keep ourself safe on the trail. In this episode we discuss the best way to prevent accidents, provide an example of a typical first aid kit for hiking, and discuss the skills needed to keep us safe on the trail.

032-Interview with Fitness Guru Joe Bonington from Joes Basecamp

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +1000

In this July bonus episode we talk to Joe Bonington, from Joe's Basecamp in Sydney. Hiking is not just about equipment, you also require a degree of fitness to ensure you get the best out of your planned adventure. We were lucky enough to interview Joe and talk on what you need to do to prepare from a fitness perspective for your hikes and other outdoor adventures. You can easily hear Joe's passion for helping his clients come though in the interview and we both left his facility feeling invigorated and we didn't even do any exercise!

031-Water on the Trail Part 2-Filtration

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +1000

In episode 029 we talked about carrying water on the trail but sometimes that's just not enough; we also need to think about the quality of what we are drinking. At best poor quality water will taste revolting, at worst it can cause a range of both minor and major waterborne ailments that can range from the uncomfortable to the life threatening. Do you filter your water?

030 - Australian Outdoor Retailer Show 2017

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +1000

The 2017 Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held on 18-20 June at the Moore Park Exhibition Centre in Sydney. This annual show is a chance for Australia's outdoor wholesalers to showcase their new and existing products to Australia's outdoor retailers and allied media. Australian Hiker was lucky enough to attend this show and to interview some gear manufactures and distributors so that we can showcase some new and upcoming gear as well as equipment and trends that you may not have been aware of.

029 - Water On The Trail Part 1

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Regardless of the gear we do or don’t carry and the passionate arguments about which is the best thingamajig, the one thing that you can guarantee is in every hiker’s pack is water. Water is essential to our wellbeing and without it we can’t survive. This episode looks at how much water you should carry and the options for carrying it.

028 - Layering For Comfort

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 10:00:00 +1000

As we grow in experience as hikers we start to gain an understanding of our equipment, how it works, or how it doesn’t, and this includes our hiking clothing. Over a series of hikes you’ll learn to read your body’s requirements and which pieces of clothing go together to form a ‘layering system’ that will keep you comfortable no matter what the conditions. This podcast starts by looking at what a layering system is, discusses the common layers, and looks at what goes into making up a layering system using examples from our own experience based on three season hiking.

026 - Transitioning To Overnight Hiking - Step By Step

Wed, 24 May 2017 10:00:00 +1000

So you’ve been doing day walks for a while now, you enjoy them but you feel that you are missing out. Your friend’s keep on raving about longer trips that they’ve done but you’re not sure you’re up for the change to overnight trips. This podcast episode is aimed at hikers making the transition to overnight hikes from day hikes. This podcast is linked to the written article with images, as well as to Australian Hiker Podcast episode #27 where we talk you through a trip suitable for first timers in real time by using the Northern Campground Trail review as an example.

027 - Transitioning To Overnight Hiking - On The Trail

Wed, 24 May 2017 10:00:00 +1000

This podcast episode follows on from episode 26 which provided a step by step guide to your first overnight hike and provides a real time example of an overnight trip and what to expect by using the Northern Campground Trail review as an example. While this is a Canberra based site this information in this podcast and its associated links can be transferred to your location so use it as a guide.This podcast episode is aimed at hikers making the transition to overnight hikes from day hikes.

025- Which Backpacking Stove

Wed, 10 May 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Sometimes on overnight trips and longer day trips you just want a hot meal or drink to warm you up. With so many options available to us this episode looks at the types of stoves suitable for backpacking, discusses the pros and cons of each type before suggesting what to consider in choosing the right stove to suit your needs.

024 - Technology On The Trail- PLB's

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +1000

The use of technology on the trail is a controversial topic that can generate heated conversations over the advantages and disadvantages of different technology as well as the impact on the hiking experience in general. This episode looks at the use of Personal Locator Beacons on the trail and reviews one of Australia's most popular devices currently available.

023 - Trail Etiquette

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +1000

Like any pastime there are a number of rules of behaviour (etiquette)that help to make the experience better for all participants. Unlike driving on the road these rules aren't taught in any formal manner rather new hikers are somehow expected to absorb them from the ether. This works well if they are hiking in groups and can observe them from other more experienced hikers but this is not always the case. This episode discusses the commonly accepted 'rules of the road' for hiking to help you get the best out of your time on the trail.

022 - The Overland Track - Interviews From The Trail

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 10:00:00 +1000

This episode includes a series of interviews we did with other hikers on the Overland Track that provides a diverse perspective of what the track is like. If you are interested in listening to the full set of Overland Track Podcasts listen to Episode 018 – The Overland Track – Expectations vs Reality Episode 020 – The Overland Track – A Day on the Trail You can also read the trail review which has additional information at the Overland Track.

021 - Trekking Poles- Are They Worth It?

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 11:00:00 +1100

Love them or hate them trekking poles now form part of many hikers equipment collection. In this weeks episode we will look at: The benefits of using trekking poles; The downside of using trekking poles; We will discuss how to identify the correct tracking pole length; Look at choosing a tracking pole; and Briefly discuss pole maintenance.

020 - The Overland Track - A Day On The Trail

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 11:00:00 +1100

Have you ever wondered what a typical day on the Overland Track is like? In this second of three podcasts on the Overland Track we share a series of recordings from a typical day on the trail, providing additional commentary as we go on the things that we are seeing and doing. If you are interested in listening to the full set of podcasts on th Overland Track start with episode 018-The Overland Track-elity vs Expectations

019 - The Sleep System; getting a good nights sleep

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 11:00:00 +1100

In this week's episode we focus on the sleep system needed for a good nights sleep on the trail. Choose the correct system and you'll have a warm comfortable sleep, night after night. Choose the wrong system and you will be miserable at best and at worst it may be dangerous depending on the conditions.

018 - The Overland Track-Expectations vs Reality

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 018. Part 1 of 3- In this episode we provide an introduction into the Overland Track located in a World Heritage area in Tasmania. The track is considered one of the worlds best tracks and it very popular amongst Australian as well as overseas hikers. We will discuss our expectations prior to the trip and compare that the the reality we experienced on the trail

017 - Solo Hiking; Is 1 Better Than 2

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 11:00:00 +1100

In this episode we discuss solo hiking. We will look at the differences between solo and group hiking, the pros and cons of hiking by yourself and what additional skills you need when traveling solo. We will also also discuss times when you shouldn’t solo hike.

016 - The Canberra Centennial Trail - Bonus Episode Part 2 Of 2

Wed, 22 Feb 2017 11:00:00 +1100

This is part 2 of the Canberra Centennial Trail on trail bonus episode for February 2017. To get the most benefit out of this episode listen to episode 15, part 1 first.

015 - The Canberra Centenary Trail - Bonus Episode Part 1 of 2

Wed, 15 Feb 2017 11:00:00 +1100

This is the first episode of a two part series on my recent three day walk on the 145km (90 mile) Canberra Centenary Trail. Usually undertaken in seven days this greatly condensed walk was undertaken as a training exercise to find my limits as part of my planning for a 1000km walk I will be doing towards the end of 2018.

014 - Photography And Hiking - Camera Basics

Sat, 04 Feb 2017 11:00:00 +1100

This is the second episode in our series on photography. While our first episode discussed basic skills for improving photography this episode looks as some basic camera accessories that will contribute to improving your on trail photography. In our second segment of todays show we review the Power Traveller Powermonkey Explorer 2 portable battery charger. This charger will fulfil a number of functions including charging your rechargeable camera battery.

013 - Photography And Hiking - The Basics

Wed, 25 Jan 2017 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 013 - In the first segment of this episode we discuss 10 tips to improve your photography on the trail. We then review two pieces of photography equipment; the Sony RX100 mark 1 compact camera, and the Stick Pic Selfie adaptor that allows you to turn your trekking poles into a selfie stick.

012 - Mt Bimberi - From The Trail - Bonus Episode

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 05:48:00 +1100

The second episode for the year and our bonus episode for January 2017. This episode is a series of recordings from a one day, 53km hike that I did just before Christmas 2016 to Mt Bimberi, located just south of Canberra. For me this hike was mainly about testing my limits and abilities to aid is some planning for both short term and long hiking plans that I have over the next few years. This hike is extreme for most people listen so listen to this as a 'three day hike' and it will provide an overview of one of Canberras most rewarding multiday hikes. Enjoy

011 - When Couples Hike

Wed, 11 Jan 2017 05:48:00 +1100

In the first segment of this weeks episode we will be discussing the benefits, and the pitfalls, of hiking as a couple. In the second segment we will review what I consider to be one of Australias best beef jerkys

010 - Why do we Hike?

Wed, 28 Dec 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 010 In todays episode we discuss some of the more common reasons for why we hike as well as some of the more extreme reasons. In the second half of the episode we review the Campers Pantry freeze dried vegetables that now provide Australian hikers with a greatly increase choice for their hiking adventures.

009 - Spit Bridge To Manly; Sydney's Hidden Walk

Wed, 21 Dec 2016 11:00:00 +1100

This is the bonus episode from the trail for December 2016. In todays episode we review the Spit Bridge to Manly walk in Sydney, New South Wales. This walk, located within the city is one of Sydney's best kept secrets with many locals being unaware of its existence. This episode is a series of recordings along the trail designed to give you an idea of what the trail is like.

008 - Choosing Hiking Shoes A Bigfoots View

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 06:41:00 +1100

As the proud owner of size 14US feet I struggle to find a good selection go hiking shoes. This episode goes through 14 considerations for buying hiking footwear. In addition we review the Superfeet Premium Insoles and my hiking shoe of Choice the Salomon XA Pro 3D hiking shoe.

007 - Leave Only Footprints

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 007 - Discussion on the concept of 'Take only memories, leave only footprints' and how to minimise your impact on the environment as a hiker.

006 - Larapinta Trail Round Up

Fri, 11 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 006 - Final thoughts on their recent Larapinta Trail Hike. This episode looks back at our thoughts before we commenced our walk and compare them to the reality of the trail.

005 - Hiker Interviews On The Larapinta Trail

Thu, 10 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 005 - A series of interviews with hikers from the Larapinta Trail. Listen to a range of people describe their experiences on the trail.

004 - A day on the Larapinta Trail

Wed, 09 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 004- In todays episode we are listening to a series of recordings on a typical day on the trail starting from waking up in the morning and finishing at the end of the day at bedtime.

003 - 10 Steps To Planning A Safe Hike

Tue, 08 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 003 - Today we discuss the 10 steps to planning a safe hike and then we review one of Australia's best known trails, the Lapainta Trail located in Australias north.

002 - Journey Towards Ultralight Hiking

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

In this episode we discuss the concept of ultralight hiking and my journey towards becoming an ultralight hiker. Gear review - Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 tent

001 - How Do You Select Hiking Equipment. A Guide For Beginners.

Sun, 06 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

A beginners guide to choosing hiking equipment Osprey Exos 48 pack review Overnight Oates recipe website www.australianhiker.com.au

000 - Australian Hiker - An Introduction

Sat, 05 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Episode 000-This episode is a brief introduction to the Australian Hiker podcast and website. Australian Hiker launched on 11 November 2016 and is aimed at providing a resource on hiking in Australia as well as providing a southern hemisphere view on hiking overseas. Podcasts will be normally be released every two weeks with additional bonus episode from the trail as they occur. Join us as we create this resource. Please let us know if you if there is anything that you would like to see discussed on either the podcast or website. www.australianhiker.com.au