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
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 Jan 30, 2024
AH 281-Kiama Coast Walk
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
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.
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
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 28, 2023
AH 276-Turn Left
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
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
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 24, 2023
AH 272 - Day Trip Melbourne: 52 Nature Adventures
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
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
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 01, 2023
AH 264- Micro adventures
Tuesday Aug 01, 2023
Tuesday Aug 01, 2023
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
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 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
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 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 Jan 31, 2023
AH 245-Dog Trip Sydney Guidebook: interview with the authors
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
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.
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
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
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
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 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 Apr 19, 2022
AH Episode 216-Canberra Summits Walk
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
Tuesday Apr 19, 2022
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
215-Nordic Walking
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
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
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
AH Episode 204-Day Trip Sydney Guidebook: interview with the authors
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
AH 203-Getting back into hiking after lockdown, Interview with Joe Bonington
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
AH 202-Australian Hiker 5th Birthday
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
AH 200-Episode 200!
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
Tuesday Oct 26, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
AH 198-Tent pegs for hiking
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
Tuesday Oct 05, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
AH 197-Urban Hiking
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
Tuesday Sep 28, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
AH196-Bondi to Manly Walk Guidebook: interview with the author
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
AH 195-Tim‘s hiking podcast listening list
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Episode 188-Industry Interviews June 2021
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Episode 186-Hiking and epilepsy
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Episode 185-Whats in a name?
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
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
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Episode 183-Powering your hike
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
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
Australian Hiker Social Media
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Episode 180-Choose your own adventure
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
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.
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Episode 179-Are equipment manufacturers missing the mark?
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
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
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Episode 176-Considerations for choosing a hike
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
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
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Episode 175- Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail: Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
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
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Episode 171-Social media and hiking
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
Wednesday Dec 16, 2020
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
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
Episode 170-Finding water on a hike
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
Wednesday Dec 02, 2020
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
Wednesday Sep 30, 2020
163-Hiking with Injuries
Wednesday Sep 30, 2020
Wednesday Sep 30, 2020
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
Tuesday Sep 08, 2020
161-Hiking and camping styles
Tuesday Sep 08, 2020
Tuesday Sep 08, 2020
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
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
157- Pack Training
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
Tuesday Aug 11, 2020
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