Australian Hiker
Episodes
235-Christmas Gifts for Hikers 2022
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 abou...
AH 234-Best Walks of NSW MID NORTH COAST guidebook-Interview with the Author
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The NSW mid north coast is a bit of an unknown for us and we are hoping to get up that way over the next 12 months to do some hiking and wanted to do...
AH 233-Beach hiking
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 th...
AH 232-Ottie Merino
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ottie Merino is a relatively new Australian outdoor clothing company and, as the name suggests, specialises in Merino garments which have been designe...
AH 231-Crossing the Tanami
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 Australi...
AH 230-Great Ocean Walk: Reality vs Expectations
14 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 cas...
AH 229-Great Ocean Walk; Interviews from the trail-part 2
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
AH 228-Great Ocean Walk; Interviews from the trail-part 1
04 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
AH 227-Great Ocean Walk, an introduction
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first in a planned series of four podcast episodes and a full trip review to be released over the coming weeks on our upcoming trip on the...
AH 226-When times get tough; motivation on the trail
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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. Tim...
AH 225-Industry Interviews July 2022
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Every year Australian Hiker touches base with suppliers, importers and manufacture of hiking equipment to find out what new and exciting products are ...
AH 224-Wild camping for hikers
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
AH 223-Hiking in the cold
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
AH 222-East Gippsland Rail Trail reality vs expectations
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode I discuss my pre trip expectations for the East Gippsland Rail Trail versus the reality of the trip itself. In many cases the ...
Episode 221-East Gippsland Rail Trail Interviews from the trail
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 prov...
AH 220-East Gippsland Rail Trail here I come!
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ne...
AH 219-Rail Trails
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
AH 218-Socks for hiking
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
AH 217-Choosing a jacket for hiking
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
AH Episode 216-Canberra Summits Walk
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 discover...
215-Nordic Walking
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
AH Episode 214-Wharf to Wharf Walk (NSW)
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Located on the far southern coast of NSW the 27 km Wharf to Wharf Walk which officially opened in mid 2021 is one that is still relatively unknown an...
AH Episode 213-Pillows and hiking
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
212-Hammock Camping; from the trail
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
AH 211-Hammock Camping; an introduction
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 camp...
AH 210-Food on the trail; a detailed look
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
AH 209-Bikepacking; interviews from the trail
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we bring you a series of recordings from a recent overnight trip on the Canberra Centenary Trail. While i've done plenty of one day tr...
AH 208-Bikepacking
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bikepacking can best be considered as an allied form of backpacking and instead of walking your chosen route on foot you undertake your journey with t...
AH 207-Three Capes Track; Expectations vs reality
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is the third and final podcast episode in the series of 3 on the Tasmanian Three Capes Track. In this episode we compare our pre trip expectation...
AH Episode 206-Three Capes Track, interviews from the trail
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second episode in the series of 3 on the Tasmanian Three Capes Track. This episode consists of a series of on-trail recordings from Gill a...
AH Episode 205-Three Capes Track, an introduction
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This is the first in a planned series of 3 podcasts to be released over the next 3 weeks. In today’s episode we set the scene for our upcoming trip...
AH Episode 204-Day Trip Sydney Guidebook: interview with the authors
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
AH 203-Getting back into hiking after lockdown, Interview with Joe Bonington
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
AH 202-Australian Hiker 5th Birthday
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 r...
AH 201-Christmas gift ideas for hikers 2021
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 focus on the best a...
AH 200-Episode 200!
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 flo...
AH 199-Hiking and Plane Travel
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For many hikers getting to the start of a hike typically requires a car ride either in your own vehicle that you return back to at the end of a hike, ...
AH 198-Tent pegs for hiking
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
AH 197-Urban Hiking
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
AH196-Bondi to Manly Walk Guidebook: interview with the author
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 We...
AH 195-Tim‘s hiking podcast listening list
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 h...
AH 194-Tasmanian Trail: a wrap up
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode we wrap up Tim's 2021 Tasmanian Trail trip and while it ended prematurely it provided me with a great overview of what's on of...
AH193-Tasmanian Trail: week 2 on the trail
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast episode consists of a series of recordings from Tim in his second week on the Tasmanian Trail. In addition to his on trail recordings Tim...
AH 192-Tasmanian Trail: week 1 on the trail
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast episode consists of a series of recordings from Tim in his first week of the Tasmanian Trail. It’s been an interesting and challenging ...
AH191-Tasmanian Trail here I come
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In February of this year I decided that my long distance hike for 2021 was going to be the 1200km south Australian Heysen Trail and part of my decisio...
AH 190-In the Footsteps of the Cannibal Convict
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 1820 Irish thief, Alexander Pearce, was sent to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) to serve a seven year sentence for stealing shoes and if the story e...
Episode 189-Interview with the author-A Book of Australian Trees
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode we talk with author Inga Simpson about her latest book and first children's book, The Book of Australian Trees. Trees tell stori...
Episode 188-Industry Interviews June 2021
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Episode 187-Trail Volunteering
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you walk trails only a few kilometres long or are into big trails many hundreds of kilometres in distance the next time you put feet to the gr...
Episode 186-Hiking and epilepsy
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 Australia...
Episode 185-Whats in a name?
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Backpacking, bushwalking, hiking, tramping, trekking, thru hiking, rambling… So many terms are used to describe getting outside with a pack on your ...
Episode 184- Australian huts and hiking
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Australia's alpine national parks consist of a series of eight National parks that run from the outskirts of Canberra in the north through NSW, and d...
Episode 183-Powering your hike
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 y...
Episode 182-A day in the life of a long distance hiker
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I’m a bit of an obsessive about some things and one of those is what a typical day on a multi-day hike looks like. In this episode we break it down ...
Episode 181-Westward ho!
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over Easter 2021 Gill and I headed out towards the Broken Hill region in far western NSW to hike some of the more remote National Parks. Over a period...
Episode 180-Choose your own adventure
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are literally thousands of marked or signposted hiking trails across every state and territory of Australia and even the keenest hiker is unlike...
Episode 179-Are equipment manufacturers missing the mark?
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 178-Luxury items and hiking
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Whenever we go hiking we make decisions about the equipment we carry. These gear choices can be broken into two broad categories; those pieces of gear...
Episode 177-Operation Flinders
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Operation Flinders is an Australian organisation that exists to provide young men and women who have been identified as being at risk, with demanding ...
Episode 176-Considerations for choosing a hike
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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. Surprisin...
Episode 175- Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail: Fighting Monks and Burning Mountains
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 hea...
Episode 174-Schlink Hut Walking Track
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The walk to Schlink Hut in Kosciuszko National Park (NSW) starts at the Guthega Power Station visitor car park. This is a great day walk or as an over...
Episode 173-Hiking with animals
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The human connection with animals is timeless. First as food, then as working partners that carried our loads, helped us hunt or managed and protecte...
Episode172-Guided hikes
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to hiking there really is no ‘one way’ to get involved. Some people stick to shorter hikes that can be completed in a day or less. F...
Episode 171-Social media and hiking
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 ge...
Episode 170-Finding water on a hike
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 n...
169-Great North Walk; a Failed thru Hike
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In November of 2020 Tim commenced his journey on the 260 km Great North Walk which runs between the Australian east coast cities of Newcastle and Sydn...
Episode 168-Australian Hiker 4th Birthday
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On 11 November 2020 Australian Hiker celebrated its fourth birthday on what has been a difficult year. In this episode we reflect on our past year, a ...
Episode 167-Christmas Gifts for Hikers 2020
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s that time of the year again when you start to consider gifts for the special hiker in your life. In this article we focus on the best and brigh...
Episode 166-Take a Hike
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2016 well known research company, Roy Morgan, undertook a study on hiking (bushwalking) and unsurprisingly found that the proportions of Australia...
165-Plan N
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
2020 is likely to be a memorable for so many reasons! I had planned to be walking the Australian Alps Walking Track in mid November but between the fi...
164-Hiking with a disability
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Most hikers will have an injury or two that they have collected over their lifetimes but when this goes beyond being just a minor issue and becomes a ...
163-Hiking with Injuries
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 case...
162-Soldier On
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you are in the armed services, you will be familiar with the Soldier On organisation. However, if you’ve never had family or friends in the milit...
161-Hiking and camping styles
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
160-Perfect Motion
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Australian Hiker is all about walking and when Jono Lineen, author of the book Perfect Motion, contacted me a few months ago to talk to talk about doi...
159-Back country touring
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In our last podcast episode, episode 158, we talked about snowshoeing in the Australian Alps. But for those that want to go a step further there are o...
158-Snowshoeing in Australia
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Hiking, bushwalking, whatever you want to call it is all about hiking outdoors in nature. While Australia doesn’t have the same sort of extreme wint...
157- Pack Training
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
156-Industry Interviews August 2020 Part 2
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past three years Australian Hiker has attended the annual Outdoor Retailer Australia Show. This show is a chance for Australia’s outdoor w...
155-Industry Interviews July 2020 Part 1
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past three years Australian Hiker has attended the annual Outdoor Retailer Australia Show. This show is a chance for Australia’s outdoor w...
154 - Bushwalks of Bungonia National Park-Red Track
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bungonia National Park is located in southern NSW near the inland city of Goulburn and is an easily accessible drive from both Sydney and Canberra. Th...
153-Peak Bagging: the what and why
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Peak bagging is the practice of climbing to the summit of a hill or mountain in an attempt to collect peaks in a particular region. I must admit that ...
152-Contributing to Australian Outdoor Magazines
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 138 we talked with Craig Sheather who writes hiking guide books and in episode 135 we caught up with adventure photographer Danyal Taylor. ...
151-Stepping out again
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's now mid-June 2020 and at long last the restrictions around coronavirus are easing, seemingly at a rapid rate. Pending a second wave of the virus,...
150-Donkeys on the Bicentennial National Trail
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In 2004 Liz Byron undertook a 2,500 km journey on the 5,300 km Bicentennial National Trail. As Australia’s longest designated shared trail, her stor...
149-Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail
19 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode we discuss the Japanese Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail. This trail, which was included on the World Heritage list in 2004, is a net...
148-Australian Bush Legends and Myths
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Australia like most countries, has a series of legends and myths that form part of our cultural identity. While some of these are based on fact, and o...
147-Things that go bump in the night: getting a good night's sleep
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most common complaints I hear from hikers who camp overnight is the inability to get a good night's sleep. And while some of this can be pu...
146-An update in strange times
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's mid April 2020 and already this has been the the strangest year that we have had in a long time and we still have most of the year to go. In this...
145-Things to do when you can't hike
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s early 2020 and Australia has had a hell of a start to the year. First we had a summer full of bushfires that have impacted much of the country,...
144-Bondi to Manly Walk
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Bondi to Manly Walk was officially opened in December 2019, formalising a pre-existing route into a standalone walk. It showcases Sydney Harbour a...
143-Te Araroa Trail, a catch up
10 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we catch catch up with musicians Mickey and Michelle who are currently hiking the 3,000km New Zealand Te Araroa Trail, playing gigs as...
142-What to pack for a day hike
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's Saturday morning and the weather is perfect so you decide to head off to a local National Park with friends to do a hike. Nothing complex, but it...
141-Catching up with Tangles and Tail: February 2020
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we catch up with Lucy Barnard and Wombat from Tangles and Tail as they make their way from the bottom of South America to the top of N...
140-Everest Base Camp
11 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode we catch up with Annie Connor who is a keen Canberra-based hiker and who has spent over 20 years hiking throughout Australia, N...
139-Games on the trail
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you hike with children or are just into board and card games then this is the episode for you. There are literally hundreds of choices available fo...
138-So you want to be a Travel Writer
14 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 135 we discussed what the life of an adventure photographer/videographer was like. In this weeks episode we talk to Craig Sheather about ab...
137-What's up in 2020?
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this our first episode for 2020 we take a look at the impacts that the current bushfires gripping many parts of Australia at the time of this podca...
136-Apps for Hiking
17 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Mobile apps have become such a familiar part of life that there is an app for just about everything. And hiking is no exception. In this episode we ha...