A Beginner’s Guide to the Best Bush Walks

Editorial

Here's something that outdoors habitués who look just like John Butler would prefer you didn't know: bushwalking is actually walking. Walking. In the bush. To attempt a basic bushwalk, you need neither dreadlocks nor twenty kilograms of high-end survival gear. If you can walk, baby, you can walk in the bush.

Well, that's not strictly true. Even for a simple ramble a little preparation is required and never did I see this illustrated quite so clearly as when I ventured on to a backwoods track in the Victorian Alps with Jane, my most glamorous friend. We tried to tell her that the Dior heels might not jive with the undergrowth.

As Jane quickly learned, dedicated footwear and a little prep is a must for roughshod roaming. However, there's no need to rush out and buy those Hillmaster GTX boots right away. To learn if bushwalking is something you might fancy, pop on something with decent tread before you accessorise in a high-end hiking store. Beginners will also need water; a litre per day in the cool southern months and more in the height of summer. Wear a hat, for goodness sake and take along sunscreen no matter your skin colour; if you're worried about the potential for harm by conventional UV guards, choose a zinc-oxide based lotion. Even on a short walk, it can't hurt to take a little high-energy snack. Clearly, you'll need more calories for longer stretches. Unless, of course, you enjoy the thought of falling over from exhaustion. Oh, and if you're venturing off a well beaten or paved path, tuck your trousers into your socks. Yes. We know you'll look like a dickhead. But, better a fashion disaster than an Emergency Room calamity and a snake up the groin, right?

Gradually ramp up your fitness before climbing naked through Six Foot Track. In Sydney, you can try some of these easy, and even paved, walks without much gear or grunt of which to speak. Personally, I love The Royal.  Perhaps it's the fact that I saw a colossal Lace Monitor within minutes of setting forth; or perhaps it's down to the age of the recreation area. After Yellowstone in California, The Royal is the world's second-oldest National Park. Whatever the case, there's something grand about this reserve with its many short walks; even as it recuperates from fire.

For more urban trails, try perusing this PDF from the City of Melbourne. After you've pranced about the Botanic Gardens a bit and downed a macchiato, then it's time to check in with Bushwalking Victoria who offer these damn handy maps to more perilous country less colonized by cafes.

If infected by the bushwalking bug, it's time to begin thinking bigger. And safer. Bushwalking Australia offers the Handy How To on basic bush skills and preparation. As you move toward goals like The Great Ocean Walk you'll need to consider survival skills, communications and minimum impact of "Green" walking practise. Or, you could be a lazy arse and do as I did and outsource responsibility to a really wonderful mob like Both Feet. Avail yourself of the many resources to help push you off in the direction you prefer. Breathe deep, look long and hold your nose when you reach one of those composting toilets.

Helen Razer, Citysearch