Australian Hiker is Australia’s premier hiking podcast as well as providing a southern hemisphere view on overseas hiking. We are Australia’s longest running and 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
Dec 10, 2024
Dec 10, 2024
1hr 7 min
On 21 October 2024 Lauren Thomas and Steph Brake started on their 40 day, 500km journey starting at the northern Tasmanian township of Penguin and finishing at Cockle Bay is the states south to raise awareness and funds, deeply motivated by the desire to make a difference in men's health. They finally achieved their goal on 29 November 2024. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Nov 13, 2024
Nov 13, 2024
22 min
In this podcast episode we talk about our bucket list of overseas (outside Australia) multi-day hikes. Each of these hikes, regardless of their length, has something that resonates with us for one reason or another. However, they may not be your cup of tea, given that most of them are long distance trails ranging from 75 km all the way up to the longest trip on the list at around 3,000 km.
Use these walks as a guide and hopefully it will spark some enthusiasm for you to add one or more of these walks to you bucket list – maybe it will inspire you to try something that you hadn’t thought about! www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Oct 29, 2024
Oct 29, 2024
22 min
In this podcast episode we talk about our bucket list of Australian-based multi-day hikes. Each of these hikes, regardless of their length, has something that resonates with us (particularly Tim) and while they may not be your cup of tea, they are all on our ‘to do’ list for the coming years. Our bucket list hikes range from 62 km all the way up to the longest trip on the list at around 1200 km.
Use these walks as a guide and hopefully it will spark some enthusiasm for you to add one or more of these walks to you bucket list – maybe it will inspire you to try something that you hadn’t thought about! www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Oct 8, 2024
Oct 8, 2024
17 min
There are estimated to be approximately 3,200,000 podcasts in existence however many of these are no longer in production. Many shows start with a flourish but peter out after around seven episodes once their creators realise the amount of work involved in getting an episode to air. Reaching 300 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. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Sep 24, 2024
Sep 24, 2024
1hr 6 min
Mike Railton is becoming a bit of a regular on the Australian Hiker podcast and in this episode, we talk about his hike on the UK walk known as the ‘Crux’. But what is the Crux? Listen to this episode to find out all about it.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Sep 10, 2024
Sep 10, 2024
1hr 13 min
For many hikers, a key bucket list hike has been trekking to the Everest Base Camp. However, this trek, along with the world’s tallest mountain has become less unique and more pedestrian. Recently I was contacted by hikers Simon and Cheryl Staddon who undertook the K2 Basecamp Trek, something that I wasn’t even aware was a thing and something that I was keen to find out more about. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Aug 27, 2024
Aug 27, 2024
20 min
The Yerong Walking Track is one of a handful of walking track contained within the Rock Nature Reserve, also known as the Kengal Aboriginal Area not far out of the regional NSW city of Wagga Wagga. This locale is one of those hidden gems that the locals make good use of but in our case we only discovered it when the NSW Parks Service promoted it through their social media feeds. In this podcast episode we talk about this key walk and the reserve in general and hopefully it will encourage you to visit. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Aug 13, 2024
Aug 13, 2024
14 min
Gear Freak is a term you will hear associated with many sports and activities, and while I’ve been involved in many gear intensive activities in the past, this term seems to have a special affinity with hikers.
In today’s episode we talk a tongue in cheek look at the various levels of hiking 'gear freaks'. From personal experience there are four different levels of Gear Freak you are likely to come across. Where do you sit? www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Jul 16, 2024
Jul 16, 2024
1hr 1 min
In episode 231 titled ‘Crossing the Tanami’ we interviewed adventurer James McAlloon just as he was about to set off on the final leg of a unique adventure across Australia which would take him 1745km from Alice Springs through to Broome crossing the Tanami Desert in the process.
In today’s episode we catch back up with James about his latest adventure as he and his adventure partner, Henk Morgans, cross Greenland and believe it or not, this is a warm-up to a bigger adventure which we’ll discuss at the end of this episode. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Jul 2, 2024
Jul 2, 2024
1hr 30 min
In the past we have interviewed hikers who have walked the Pacific Crest Trail in the US and while everyone’s experiences are different, Australian Katrina Hemingway has her own story to tell. When Katrina undertook her journey with British hiking partner Helen, apart from being ‘older hikers’ they were both having to manage their type 1 diabetes which added an extra degree of complexity to the planning and management of this hike.
In this podcast episode we listen as Katrina talks us through her epic journey. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Jun 18, 2024
Jun 18, 2024
20 min
Eating utensils are one of the most underrated and under-considered piece of hiking gear in our packs. For most hikers what we choose to use is often based around what our fellow hikers are using or what catches our eye in the store but there is so much more to think about when purchasing your eating utensils.
In this podcast episode we look at the considerations for choosing that perfect eating utensil for your outdoor adventures. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Jun 4, 2024
Jun 4, 2024
30 min
Hiking is very much an outdoor activity and with that you get both the good and the bad aspects of nature. The beautiful views, the animals, the sense of solitude and oh the insects! Sometimes insects can be so annoying that you feel you have no other choice but to quit your hike, if you can.
In this podcast episode we discuss what you can do to reduce the impacts that insects may have on your hike so you can keep on doing what you enjoy rather than focusing on the negatives. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
May 21, 2024
May 21, 2024
50 min
In this final episode of our series on our recent journey on the K'gari Great Walk we look and at our pre-trip expectations and compare them to the reality of our on-trail experience. In addition will provide recommendations to assist you if you are planning on doing this trip yourself. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
May 14, 2024
May 14, 2024
41 min
In this second on trail episode of this series we bring you final on trail recordings from our recent K'gari Great Walk trip starting from day 4 and bring you the final days on-trail. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
May 7, 2024
May 7, 2024
45 min
In this episode we bring you a series of recordings from our recent K'Gari Great walk trip starting from our travel day and taking you through the first 3 days on trail. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Apr 23, 2024
Apr 23, 2024
26 min
There’s a well known saying many people would be familiar with and that’s ‘It’s about the journey, not the destination’. But is this the case?
In this podcast episode we discuss this saying and came up with very different answers on what’s important. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Apr 9, 2024
Apr 9, 2024
16 min
There’s a well known saying many people would be familiar with and that’s ‘It’s about the journey, not the destination’. But is this the case?
In this podcast episode we discuss this saying and came up with very different answers on what’s important. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Mar 26, 2024
Mar 26, 2024
1hr 13 min
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
Mar 15, 2024
Mar 15, 2024
1hr 28 min
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.
In this our second episode of this series we finish up with our supplier interviews, talk about some great new product that's coming onto the market and then go onto some notable trends in the hiking and outdoor industry.
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. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Mar 6, 2024
Mar 6, 2024
1hr 8 min
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
Feb 13, 2024
Feb 13, 2024
50 min
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
Feb 6, 2024
Feb 6, 2024
23 min
Valentine's Day, while once considered just another American holiday, is now firmly entrenched in Australian culture. The day is usually associated with chocolate, flowers and dinner out, but is this just lazy romance? Why not change things up a bit by thinking outside the box and blending hiking with Valentine's Day for a romantic date out bush!
In this podcast episode we look at some of the considerations for combining hiking and romance. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Jan 30, 2024
Jan 30, 2024
41 min
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
Jan 16, 2024
Jan 16, 2024
25 min
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
Jan 2, 2024
Jan 2, 2024
1hr 11 min
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
Dec 20, 2023
Dec 20, 2023
18 min
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
Dec 12, 2023
Dec 12, 2023
26 min
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
Nov 28, 2023
Nov 28, 2023
23 min
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
Nov 21, 2023
Nov 21, 2023
27 min
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
Nov 14, 2023
Nov 14, 2023
18 min
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
Oct 31, 2023
Oct 31, 2023
36 min
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
Oct 24, 2023
Oct 24, 2023
38 min
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
Oct 17, 2023
Oct 17, 2023
56 min
In October 2023 Gill and I took part in the Kokoda Challenge at Lake Macquarie, NSW. The aim of the Kokoda Challenge is to raise funds for the Kokoda Youth Foundation’s programs and the great work they do.
This episode consists of three segments with the first being an interview with the Kokoda Youth Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Johllene Elson who shares more about her organisation, the work they do and what the Kokoda Challenge is all about.
The second segment of this episode involves a series of recorded interviews about our experience on the day of our Kokoda Challenge which includes interviews with other participants as well as with an event volunteer to get their perspective.
And finally, Gill and I do a wrap up of the Challenge and talk about how we found the event and the organisation.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Oct 10, 2023
Oct 10, 2023
1hr 30 min
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
Sep 30, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
24 min
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
Sep 12, 2023
Sep 12, 2023
39 min
Australia is a large continent with just about every type of environment and vegetation you can imagine ranging from coastal, forest, arid to semi-arid; and then there’s our sub alpine and alpine regions which make up less than 1% of the continent. The practice of planning hikes is the same no matter where you are however there are some specific considerations that hiking in Australia Alpine 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
Sep 5, 2023
Sep 5, 2023
34 min
The Thin Green Line is a global not for profit organisation that exists to support park and wildlife rangers in their fight for conservation and is solely dedicated to supporting Rangers and their families in what can sometimes present them with life threatening challenges.
In this podcast episode we catch up with Amanda Dudgeon to discuss her journey "Walking the Thin Green line across Oceana" hoping to be a catalyst that initiates meaningful change for Oceana rangers. www.australianhiker.com.au
Aug 22, 2023
Aug 22, 2023
43 min
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
Aug 15, 2023
Aug 15, 2023
1hr 6 min
Back on trail again on the Western Australian Cape to Cape Track. This episode includes recordings from the final 2/3 of this 128.7km trail and provides a real time overview of our on trail experience.
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
Aug 1, 2023
Aug 1, 2023
25 min
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
Jul 25, 2023
Jul 25, 2023
16 min
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
Jul 18, 2023
Jul 18, 2023
31 min
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
Jul 11, 2023
Jul 11, 2023
20 min
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
Jun 27, 2023
Jun 27, 2023
16 min
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?
Jun 20, 2023
Jun 20, 2023
30 min
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
Jun 13, 2023
Jun 13, 2023
24 min
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
May 30, 2023
May 30, 2023
1hr 4 min
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
May 16, 2023
May 16, 2023
48 min
Over the years I regularly come across hikers who sets themselves a goal(s) around their hiking. Apart from planning and hiking specific trails, the two most common goals I come across include climbing all the local peaks in an area or doing a certain number of hikes over a defined period. In this episode we catch up with hiker Mike Railton to discuss his 2022 goal of doing 100 hikes in a single calendar year to see how he went.
In the second half of this episode we use this interview to discuss goal setting and hiking and the impact that it can have. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms
May 11, 2023
May 11, 2023
25 min
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.
Apr 25, 2023
Apr 25, 2023
38 min
Over the past 7 years I have been focused on reducing the weight I carry on trail, chipping away here and there when I can but recently I have found myself adding gear and not choosing the lightest items. In this podcast episode I revisit my journey to becoming an ultralight hiker to see where I have landed on both my pack weight and my philosophy towards ultralight hiking. www.australianhiker.com.au
Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms