Sleeping Mat Gear Review Being comfortable enough (or tired enough) to get a good night’s sleep in the bush is one of the key complaints that people have when thinking about staying out overnight and camping. Over the years I’ve slept on different types of sleeping mats, mostly from the traditional players in the field, … Read more
I know you think you’d rather be tucked up warm inside, reading a good book or bingeing on Netflix, but if you do, you’ll be missing out on the best season for hiking in Australia. Here’s why: Our pioneering bushwalking fore-fathers… (and mothers) – people like Paddy Pallin or the legend, Dot Butler – had … Read more
Apart from a map and compass, the most important tool for navigating in the bush is a watch. Just a humble, everyday, bog standard, time telling watch. It helps you work out how fast you’re travelling, how long it will take to get somewhere and offers clues to your location and finding your way. These … Read more
Last Updated Dec 21, 2020 I get it. It’s summer, you’re on holidays and you’ve finally got the time to go out on your bucket list bushwalking adventure. We may even feel it’s our right to reward ourselves at this time of year by throwing on our backpack, stepping away from urban life and embracing … Read more
Thanks to everyone who tuned (and called!) in to the segment on ABC Radio yesterday with the lovely Jen Fleming (filling in for Simon Marnie) on Weekends, where I was joined by Matt from Wildwalks and chatted through some ideas for bushwalking and camping over the Summer holidays. We had so much material that we … Read more
To enter a canyon is to enter another world. The canyons of the Blue Mountains in Australia, carved over millions of years through sandstone, are home to myriad of creatures and unique plants. Ferns, mosses, lichen, fungus, yabbies, water spiders and frogs, all washed by the waters that continue to move, carve, tickle and dance … Read more
Last Updated Jun 1, 2022 Macpac Alpine Cocoon Gear Review When it comes to sheltering from the elements in our amazing outdoors, there are many options available to us and one of the most minimalist types is a Bivvy Bag. The obvious and most common solution is a tent, but it’s good to know that … Read more
For many of us outdoor lovers, the thought of taking the step from day walks to overnight hiking (ie. camping out) with everything on our backs, can sometimes feel more like a bungee jump, than a single step. The truth is, with the right knowledge and some practice, it can simply be a matter of … Read more
Is that really my alarm going off at 3.15am? I confess that I’ve always had an aversion to commercial guides who insist on waking you up for an early start, but in this case, I’m happy to let my circadian rhythms crash out of any sense of timing and drag myself towards breakfast at stupid … Read more
Last Updated Aug 20, 2020 Here in Australia, we are acutely aware of the devastating effect of Bushfires. By their very nature, fires generally happen in wilderness and national parks – the very places we love to spend time in. So what are the key tips on bushfire safety for hikers and bushwalkers? There’s a … Read more
Yes, I know. Surely it can’t be time to think about Christmas gifts already. Wasn’t it only last month that we packed down the Christmas tree and re-gifted Uncle Fred’s fondue set and Cousin Thelma’s car wash kit? Fear not my intrepid friends. I come with gift ideas (of the literary type) to inspire and to … Read more
Part 1 – How to Read a Topographic Map One of the major excuses I hear from people (mostly women) not wanting to step up and lead hikes or outdoor adventure trips is their lack of navigation skills. I feel that like so many other things in life, although some people may demonstrate a natural ability with directions … Read more