Australian Hiker is Australia’s premier hiking podcast as well as providing a southern hemisphere view on overseas hiking. We are Australia’s most downloaded hiking podcast with regular episodes being released every two weeks covering gear and trail reviews, hiking practice, recipes and skills. Bonus episodes will be released at least once a month and include interviews from the trail as well as with relevant industry and allied professionals. Let us do all the research for you.
Episodes
3 days ago
AH 286-Hexatrek
3 days ago
3 days ago
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
AH 284-Adventure Expo 2024 Industry Interviews pt1
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
Wednesday Mar 06, 2024
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.
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.
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
AH-283-Malerweg Hiking trail
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
AH 280-Assumptions
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
Tuesday Jan 16, 2024
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
AH 279 -The Long Way South
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
Tuesday Jan 02, 2024
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
AH 278-Staycations and hiking
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
AH 277-Shakedown Hikes
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
AH 275-Christmas Stocking Stuffers for Hikers 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
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 every price range including some very high-end options.
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
AH 274-Australian Hiker 7th Birthday
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
AH 273-Cute and fluffy thieves!
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
AH 270-Triple Crown
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Saturday Sep 30, 2023
AH 269-1,000,000 podcast downloads
Saturday Sep 30, 2023
Saturday Sep 30, 2023
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Aug 22, 2023
AH 266-Cape to Cape Track: Reality vs Expectations
Tuesday Aug 22, 2023
Tuesday Aug 22, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
AH 263- Bathing on trail
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
AH 262- Arid hiking
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
Tuesday Jul 18, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
AH 261- Best before
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
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?
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
AH 260-Night Owl or Rooster; what’s your sleeping pattern?
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
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?
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
AH 259-Setting up a tent for hiking
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
Tuesday Jun 20, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jun 13, 2023
AH 258-Is age a barrier to hiking?
Tuesday Jun 13, 2023
Tuesday Jun 13, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday May 30, 2023
AH 257-Murramarang South Coast Walk
Tuesday May 30, 2023
Tuesday May 30, 2023
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Thursday May 11, 2023
AH 255-Waterproofing your pack
Thursday May 11, 2023
Thursday May 11, 2023
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.
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
AH 251-Cape To Cape Track, an introduction
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
AH 249-Adventure Expo 2023; Industry Interviews pt 1
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
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.
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
AH 248-Changing tastes in trail food
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
Wednesday Mar 01, 2023
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
AH 247-Musicians on the Te Araroa part 2
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
AH 244-Boots vs Trail Runners
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
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?
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
AH 243-Gaiters for hiking
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms at
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
AH 240-South Coast Track; Interviews from the trail-part 1
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
Sunday Dec 18, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms at
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
AH 237-Choosing rain gear for hiking
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
Wednesday Nov 23, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
AH 236-Australian Hiker 6th Birthday
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
Tuesday Nov 15, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
235-Christmas Gifts for Hikers 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
Wednesday Nov 02, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
AH 233-Beach hiking
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
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/
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms at
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
AH 232-Ottie Merino
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
Tuesday Oct 04, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
AH 231-Crossing the Tanami
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
Tuesday Sep 27, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
AH 230-Great Ocean Walk: Reality vs Expectations
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
AH 229-Great Ocean Walk; Interviews from the trail-part 2
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
AH 228-Great Ocean Walk; Interviews from the trail-part 1
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
AH 226-When times get tough; motivation on the trail
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
Wednesday Aug 10, 2022
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?
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
AH 225-Industry Interviews July 2022
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
Wednesday Jul 27, 2022
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
AH 224-Wild camping for hikers
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
Wednesday Jul 20, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Jul 06, 2022
AH 223-Hiking in the cold
Wednesday Jul 06, 2022
Wednesday Jul 06, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday Jun 08, 2022
Episode 221-East Gippsland Rail Trail Interviews from the trail
Wednesday Jun 08, 2022
Wednesday Jun 08, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday May 31, 2022
AH 220-East Gippsland Rail Trail here I come!
Tuesday May 31, 2022
Tuesday May 31, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday May 24, 2022
AH 219-Rail Trails
Tuesday May 24, 2022
Tuesday May 24, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday May 18, 2022
AH 218-Socks for hiking
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Wednesday May 18, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Wednesday May 04, 2022
AH 217-Choosing a jacket for hiking
Wednesday May 04, 2022
Wednesday May 04, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
AH Episode 213-Pillows and hiking
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
Tuesday Mar 08, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
212-Hammock Camping; from the trail
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
Tuesday Feb 22, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
AH 211-Hammock Camping; an introduction
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
Tuesday Feb 15, 2022
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.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
AH 210-Food on the trail; a detailed look
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
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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