Australian Hiker

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

With Christmas approaching it is an ideal time to buy new gear with many manufacturers clearing soon to be superseded products in anticipation of the release of new models.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...

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.

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.

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

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 appro...

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.

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.

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.

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 guide...

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 e...

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.

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 passio...

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?

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 sho...

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.

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...