Australian Hiker

The Outdoor Retailer Australia Show was held on 13-15 October 2026 at the exhibition centre located minutes from the centre of Canberra city. For me this trade only show is a chance to see any new and upcoming gear as well as to strengthen relationships within staff and companies within the outdoor industry. As usual from our discussions with the various suppliers at the show, we will be undertaking a number of gear reviews over the upcoming year as the opportunities arise that will be of interest to you. www.australianhiker.com.au Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Vimeo Australian Hiker Youtube

I can remember clearly going into the Canberra Scout Store as a teenager with a parent and purchasing my first real tent (nylon) and external frame aluminium and nylon pack for an upcoming week long trip. These days we have no end of purchasing options from nationally branded stores and well known standalone specialists. In addition over the past couple of years in particular we are seeing international branded stores entering the retail market including The North Face, Arcteryx, and Patagonia. These stores have come into existence for two main reasons. In this podcast episode we discuss the rise of outdoor gear as a fashion item and this means for the industry. www.australianhiker.com.au Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Vimeo Australian Hiker Youtube

In this final episode of our series on my journey on the Great South West Walk we look and at my pre-trip expectations and compare them to the reality of my 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 Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Twitter Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Vimeo Australian Hiker Youtube

This podcast episode contains a series of recordings starting from my travel day prior to my trip to the end of week 1. For the first two days there are multiple recordings and for the first time on one of our trips we will then be doing a single daily recording. Week two's episode is due for the second half of the trip is due for release on Tuesday 6 May, followed by our 'expectations vs reality' episode due for release on Tuesday 13 June. Enjoy! www.australianhiker.com.au Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Twitter Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Vimeo Australian Hiker Youtube

Throughout Australia much of our wilderness areas and reserves are managed by the relevant government agencies and while to do the best they can with limited resources they also rely on the support of enthusiast volunteer groups and individuals to assist, often undertaking work that government is unable to. In today’s Episode we catch up with Jon and Justine from the Tasmanian Volunteer group Wilcare SPRATS (“Sea sPurge Remote Area TeamS”), SPRATS for short, who for the past 18 seasons have taken on the responsibility for managing invasive weeds growth on an 850km section of Tasmania’s’ wild and remote southern and Western coastlines which has seen a 98% reduction in the targeted weed species. www.australianhiker.com.au Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Twitter Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Vimeo Australian Hiker Youtube

On the 2nd March 2026 Australian Hiker has gone through a major change and in this short episode we want to update you, our listeners, with what this change is and where we are heading in the short to medium term. We are also seeking your input about what you would like to see. www.australianhiker.com.au Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Twitter Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Youtube

The concept of pack weight for your hiking adventures is one of those topics that has the potential for heated debated when you get a group of hikers together. Everyone will have an opinion but this question is like asking ‘how long is a piece of string’? Which is just a way of saying that the answer is impossible without more specific information. In this podcast episode we look at the concept of pack weight and discuss considerations for determining what this means for you. www.australianhiker.com.au Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Twitter Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Youtube

Australia is a country of sun lovers; if we aren’t at the beach, we’re out bush, if we aren’t out bush, we are usually outside doing something if the weather is warm. As I write this article we are in the middle of a heatwave over much of Australia and with that some intense UV so I’m spending my time indoors, planning for upcoming hikes and putting together podcasts like this one. If however the conditions are with you and you are getting outside hiking, then you need to put some thought into sun protection, with head protection being on the top of the list. In this podcast episode we look at the main types of head protection available on the market and what you should consider when choosing that perfect hat for your outdoor adventure. www.australianhiker.com.au Australian Hiker can also be found on our various social media platforms Australian Hiker Facebook Australian Hiker Instagram Australian Hiker Twitter Australian Hiker Threads Australian Hiker Youtube