Getting back into overnight bushwalking after a 20 year hiatus. As such I'm consuming a lot of YouTube videos on hiking.

A lot of (American) YouTubers talk about packing camp shoes.

I've never heard of this as a concept. Never have I ever packed extra shoes for wearing around camp.

What's the r/bushwalking consensus on camp shoes?

Hi All,

Coming down to Kosi NP from QLD at the start of April (expected highs of 20C) for a 3-4 day hike leaving Guthega to Charlotte Pass and then Aus 15 peaks circuit. Currently don't own a long sleeve shirt but am thinking of picking one up due to constant exposure for a few days, is this something that people prefer, or just slip slop slap will do?

Usually my multi day hikes up in SE qld are less exposed going through rainforest or decent scrub vegetation.

What are the tradeoffs between shot sleeve, long sleeve, or a sun hoodie? I tend to run quite hot and sweaty so am a little concerned of that despite the reduction in temp coming down south.

Any advice is much appreciated!

Hi - I’m looking to take my 9yo son on an overnight hike.

We are based in Sydney. I was thinking of doing the Mt solitary track, because I’ve done it before, but feel it is a bit too long for someone of his (in)experience.

Any recommendations?

Next Tuesday I'll be at Mount Hotham by early afternoon. I could just wander around the village, walk up the summit, but I'm thinking that I'd like to walk to Feathertop. I haven't done that walk in twenty years, I don't remember the trail conditions or levels, so I just want opinions about feasibility. It's 11km, zero navigation skills required. I'll be correctly prepared and equipped for the environment, I know that alpine weather can change quickly, and I'm reasonably fit. Without running, still actually walking, can one maintain a pace of 5kph? So I could crack it return in five hours without killing myself?

If it gets too hairy, if I'm late or the weather is no good I'll simply turn around, that's no issue, I don't need to tick the peak off, really just want to know if the trail is fast, middling or slow I guess.

Hi all. I want to spend some time bushwalking but none of my friends are interested. Is there any group in melbourne i could join? Or anyone who might be interested in coming with me? I don’t know victoria very well so would be great to explore with others. I am 49F. Fit (but not superwoman so <15k walks probs ideal).

(Maps that are downloaded or printed.)

Only if there's no mobile phone reception in the area you're visiting?

Working out the walking or driving distance between the location of each/various walking trail/s in a national park?

To ascertain if any hills, valleys, cliffs are along the walking route?

For accurate walking trail distances and durations, are national parks websites or the All Trails website/app more accurate?

One problem with All Trails, is that you can only use downloaded maps whilst a subscribed member of their app.

Today, for the first time, I went bushwalking. I was with my 10 year old and we went to Glenbrook easy walk to Elizabeth lookout in Knapsack Reserve. There my son pointed me to a “landmine” in the ground. Its deffo not that but a NSW marker. Does anyone know what these are for and what value / information these provide? See picture.

Hi all, long time bushwalker here. Grew up on paper maps and compass, very comfortable with them. They're the only navigation equipment I bring along on a walk, apart from the phone with spends most it's time switched off or on flight mode. Only just recently I bought a garmin running watch for training at home. It's one of the cheeper models that has basic GPs navigation, but it's piqued my interest now.

I'd be interested to carry a GPs device on walks and learn so that I have the option to not carry paper maps, say on very long multi-week thru hikes. I mean, there's nothing wrong with including maps in my resupplies and I'm not looking to totally move away from them, but I would like the option.

I have noticed that all trails has GPs route data, and I've tried to download it and send it to my garmin watch via the app, but it doesn't come up on my watch and I think I'm missing something on the user interface. I don't want to take the garmin watch bushwalking anyway, but I just want to know the process of finding route GPs data, sending it to a GPs device. I don't want to shell out for a hand held GPs device to get stuck with a bad user interface.

I'm just so overwhelmed with it all and don't know where to begin, and kinda need a teacher.

When planning a bushwalk in Australia, where do you source the GPs data for the trail? Is there a website repository? If I wanted to make up my own intended route at home based on research and experience of an area, is there a software I can use to draw that route? Any way to download route data from all trails onto the device to avoid using my phone? (I.e. Using a desktop software and not an app interface) What device should I buy? How to I load the route onto the device?

Any experience with using a GPs device when lost in the bush? I'm guessing it will help me navigate back to a marked trail on the map if I have satellite signal?

Thank you all.

Inspired by Alone Australia, I tried sawing a dead tree to craft something. The tree split up the middle as it felt after being sawed, ruining what could have been a piece of 'timber'. Why and how do I prevent this?

Sorry if its a dumb question

Hay team,

I have a question about the name of a clip on my pack.

My pack has an adjustable chest strap, it can be adjusted up and down by a plastic clip on a rail. What is the name of the clip and how can I replace it? Also are there any other clips that can go on tbag rail.

Cheers

Hi, I’m training up for an overnight event and am looking for recommendations of good trails around Sydney (particularly south) that would be suitable for middle of the night training? Ideally looking for 15-25km and not too technical, just to adjust to night walking and test out the lights etc.

Thanks

A few days ago, I did a 12 km walk at Jervis Bay that I enjoy -- it's the third time I've done it. There is a section that requires the tide to be low (it was around 0.5 m at the time but a little higher would be OK), and it looks best on a sunny day. There is some hill climbing on the way back but nothing too extreme.

Start from Steamers Beach car park and walk 3 km to Blacks Waterhole. Alternately you can go via the St Georges Head track, but that's a little longer (from memory there is a path down to Kittys Beach a little way down the Corangamite Track).

After a couple of kilometres there is a signpost to a side track down to Kittys Beach, which is another 0.9 km along a narrow track. It's a beautiful area with very clear water, and I was amazed to find a seal on the rocks at the south end of the beach.

From Kittys Beach, walk north along the rocks. There are a couple of small climbs up or down the rocks, but it's generally straightforward. It can be a little tricky near Black Harbour if the water is high.

Continue along the rocks to Whiting Beach, which is nice and sheltered with low waves if you feel like paddling. There is a path here back up to the main track.

It seems the previous moderator for r/bushwalking forgot their PLB... It's Reddit policy to lock-down/ban subs without one, and even though I'm 7 months into an around-Australia trip (on a small motorbike) I've put my hand up to keep it available for us ambulatory explorers.

(And if anyone would care to be a co-moderator to clean up after those who don't take their trash out with them, message me. I'm traveling at the moment and only have Internet access every few days.)

As title states, looking into getting into more serious trails with my girlfriend. Wondering were to begin in terms of gear/ essential knowledge.

I’m Australia NSW Sydney. So likely doing trails roughly in this area. Eventually wanting to do multi day trips however, that’s a long way away. (Do not have a outdoor background, most I’ve done is camping here and there)

I'm just thinking about the amount of closures in NSW National Parks on the guise of "safety". These are generally the result of weather causing damage to tracks - perhaps washouts, could be fallen trees, very occasionally a landslide. My whole walking life I have traversed eroded tracks, clambered over / around trees and re-routed walks around landslips or other major obstacles. It's what bushwalkers do.

The NPWS seem to only think about the tourist. If it's not safe for them, they might hurt themselves, then they might sue us. This thinking has resulted in walkers loosing access to many places until their very slow repairs get made (often years).

Would you sign a waiver that essentially says I'm entering this park under my own steam, I take full responsibility for my safety (including all equipment / beacons etc.) and I will not sue the NSW Government if I hurt myself?

The other option would be for the specific legislation to be altered to prevent litigation occurring. (I think this is the New Zealand system)

And yet the other option is to simply ignore their rules, climb over their fence and have a very peaceful and quiet bushwalk all on your own.

Looking for advice: Want to do an overnight or two night bushwalk nearish Sydney, preferably in the Blue Mountains. Was looking into a few; blackheath to acacia flats or mt solitary circuit. Unfortuntately it seems like parts of those tracks are closed. Don't have enough local knowledge to wing it and the NSW parks website is a pain to navigate to cobble something together. I've also looked at the coast track and the light to light track but both seem to be impacted by track closures. Experience wise: have done solo 5 night bushwalking's before. Happy to hear suggestions.

I have just been looking at getting back into hiking and am a pretty big guy (3XL) and I am finding it literally impossible to find woolen clothing in Australia. Everything appears to be nylon or cotton and built for male supermodels.

I really want a good pair of woolen hiking pants for big guys with proper pockets and belt. I have found a few woolen tracky-dacks but other than that it appears military surplus is the only option.

Has anyone found a brand/store that actually sells woolen pants for a human adult male?