The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. Its important to ensure your pack fits comfortably and has a good hip belt to keep the weight on your hips rather than on your shoulders. Hi Anna, What about tracking navigation? cooking at home with bulk foods & predominately organic or local vegetables that were purchased from independent stores but would then travel to Western Australia, buying food in these small towns from local businesses that sell ethical products to support their local food economy, understanding I would be shopping from supermarkets and purchasing standard food, sold in packaging both here at home & in Western Australia. Required fields are marked *. I really wouldnt change much. Good luck choosing one! On long walks, maps are essential and a compass comes in handy. After all, hiking is only walking for a long time. Spring and autumn are the most popular times to walk the track, but winter is my favourite because I love seeing all the creeks and rivers in full flow. Travel from Perth Airport to Fremantle for $4.50, Take a walk on the wild side walking the Bibbulmun Track, What to take on a multi-day Bibbulmun Track hike, Follow Local Travel Tips on WordPress.com. Traditional camping equipment is rarely suitable for hikers, so youll need to buy equipment thats designed for hiking. These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. There are great opportunities for fit walkers to challenge themselves, on at least two of the days we walk around 25 km. Open the map and click on a hut and then there is a button to download photos - so do that on Wi-Fi too. The most important item on any hike is a pair of comfortable, well worn-in boots. Nick. Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers, by Empacitator Wed 22 Jan, 2014 12:20 am, by Empacitator Fri 24 Jan, 2014 10:58 am, by InspirationOutdoors Mon 27 Jan, 2014 1:33 pm, Return to South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests. This is intended as a guide for the absolute beginner. Required fields are marked *. Although I had grown up in the hiking mecca of Derbyshire in the UK, Id never done a multi-day hike and didnt even own a pair of hiking boots. Thanks Andrew for such detailed notes. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. The Group page. This occurs on the first stretch (on a north to south hike) between Kalamunda and Dwellingup and involves walking for at least 10 days with no opportunities to resupply. While on the contrary I bought packets of sugary lollies straight from the huge supermarket at home and packed them in my food parcels. If some of the forums are anything to go by, people have hiked the APT and PCT - much longer trails than we are planning for - with as little as 5 kg base-packs (the weight of your bag before any food or drink is added). Your email address will not be published. If you ever got foot pain while walking, its worth going to a podiatrist to get your feet assessed. Besides a 5,000-litre rain water tank, each campsite has a sturdy three-sided timber hut with a tin roof, a bush toilet, tent sites, and a picnic table. Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? It should be noted that access points shown with a green car on the official maps and guidebooks, are not included as they involve walking various distances along trails or forestry tracks to access the Bibbulmun Track. Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. ! The most well-known is the Gloucester Tree, which is located only a couple of kilometres out of Pemberton.Despite not being very confident about heights, I climbed the Gloucester Tree once in the late 1980s so do not feel the need to climb it again. Weve bought a Sawyer Squeeze Filter - apparently it gets rid of 99.9% of bacteria and only weighs 85 grams (I did say weight was now the only thing I think about!). Ive decided to walk the Bibbulmun Track! Erika Lori sets a new record on the 1,000km Bibbulmun Track. A practice walk of three or more days should give a good indication of how much food you need, otherwise allow about one kilogram of food per day. However, we went there last weekend to hike on the Bibbulmun Track a 963km walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda in the eastern suburbs of Perth to Albany on the south coast of Western Australia. Track so, if you walk in the spring when water is plentiful and temperatures are not too high, you could get away with carrying about two litres of water. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. The Bibbulmun Track, south Western Australia. Pembertons first settler was Edward Brockman, the son of Perths first mayor, who moved to the area in 1861 to breed horses. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. I vividly remember the day I committed to walk the Bibbulmun Track. Solar chargers arent up to the job, especially on the Bibb where theres so much tree cover. It was quite a process! Its become an obsession. You should always use this calculator in conjunction with the Bibbulmun Track maps and guidebooks as whilst the distances are a good guide, they are rounded to the nearest 100 metres. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. My resupply plan was developed with the the goals of eating delicious, plant-based, package free, local and organic foods as much as possible. Collie Donnelly River Village: Purchase all of my food from the Collie supermarkets & Balingup shops to reach Donnelly River Village. People also record their experiences in these registers so, as well as being a safety precaution, they are a useful source of Track intelligence about such things as: missing markers; the condition of the Track; the state of the water supply at the next campsite; big hills en route; flora and fauna to look out for; or the school party that took over the campsite the day before. Overview Stretching just over 1000 kilometres from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany, the Bibbulmun Track is Western Australia's longest walking trail, falling just behind South Australia's Heysen Trail as the longest walking-oriented trail in the country (the impressively long 5330 km Bicentennial National Trail is not designed with walkers in mind). Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! We have included all campsites, towns, recreation sites and legal vehicle access points as shown by the red car on the Bibbulmun Track maps and guidebooks. Autumn (March to May) is another good time weather-wise, though water supplies will be low if you set off early in the season before the rain. How much food you need to take will depend on your metabolism, how long you are walking for, and which section of the track you are doing. You should always use this calculator in conjunction with the Bibbulmun Track maps and guidebooks as whilst the distances are a good guide, they are rounded to the nearest 100 metres. Its important to ensure your pack fits comfortably and has a good hip belt to keep the weight on your hips rather than on your shoulders. If youre on a tight budget, its still possible to put together a kit with gear from AliExpress and sale items watch this space for gear reviews on how to make that happen! The Bibbulmun Track passes a wide range of experiences, from a gentle stroll to enjoy the peace and beauty of the natural environment, to an epic eight week adventure camping out at the 49 campsites and enjoying the hospitality of nine communities along the way. Walking through the massive karri trees as they stretch high above you like a natural cathedral is awe inspiring, and we were lucky enough to see emus and kangaroos, the two native animals on the Commonwealth Coat of Arms. The Archer family became trapped in their remote cabin when floodwaters rapidly rose last month After three days they hiked out, with three young children, including a baby, to their neighbour's place They are now rebuilding and say they look forward to moving back to their 'rainforest homestead' Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! Testing out the Sawyer Filter in a murky Peak District stream. I highly recommend it! My niece is currently on the track and has pre-planned food drops along the way. The karri tree is one of the tallest species in the world, reaching heights of ninety metres, and some of the tallest karri trees in the area were used as fire lookouts from the 1930s to the 1960s. The first version of the Track (from Kalamunda to Northcliffe) was marked in 1974, and named after a distinct Aboriginal language group, who inhabited some of the areas the Track passes through. It also provides schools with the resources to participate in the WACE endorsed end-to-end program and students to attain the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Your email address will not be published. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. This Bibbulmun Track FB Group page was started by David Baird in mid 2009. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. as we pass through the eight track towns along the route, but other than that will be camping out in the specially designated campsites for Thru-hikers with only the snakes for company. BT Day 34: Monadnocks to Mt Dale 889.5km (33.3km) June 21, 2021. The Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia Ranging from inland planes to beaches, limestone ranges to damp gullies, the 965-kilometre Bibbulmun Track, spanning from Perth to Albany, is one of Australia's great walks. If youre an experienced long-distance hiker, you could aim to finish in as little as a month. This occurs on the first stretch (on a north to south hike) between Kalamunda and Dwellingup and involves walking for at least 10 days with no opportunities to resupply. Thanks Kelly! For gear reviews, I often rely on Outdoor Gear Lab. You can get some pretty light self-inflating mats so Id explore that option if you plan on hiking regularly. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. Bibbulmun Track Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! Unless you can talk friends into bringing supplies to you, which could be difficult to coordinate, youll need to do a food drop before you go. Track so, if you walk in the spring when water is plentiful and temperatures are not too high, you could get away with carrying about two litres of water. I decided to see what my heart picked for me when the time came. One thru-hike at a time. a long weekend) its best to take a tent with you. The Track was radically realigned (retaining less than 10% of the old route) and extended to Albany. Life on the Bibbulmun is pretty simple: You wake up each day, walk as far as you can, camp, and repeat. Choose a section of the Track for a day of amazing scenery or challenging walks or, if you're game, tackle the whole Track. There's a chance of no water, with many days the temperatures up in the high 30's, and some days reaching 40C and beyond. Is there anything else less essential you can leave out of your pack? Like anything, this can vary enormously in price and quality. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. The Bibbulmun's Wagyl or Rainbow Serpent blaze. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). He was also a pretty good breeder himself, fathering nine children! The Bibbulmun Track runs from Perth to Albany, 1000 km and takes about six weeks to thru hike. South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHfaBZT Q&index=15, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc sp=sharing. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. It also helped me to better understand my bodys abilities, and made me realise how much more I could be doing with my life! On my first attempt at hiking the Bibbulmun Track end to end, I was thwarted by very nasty blisters, caused by my boots being slightly too loose and rubbing on my heels. Those that walk every step of the way can be registered as end-to-enders. ), while still leaving opportunities to add to my lunch & snack supplies. I aimed to start my hike in late September and to walk north to south. Whether you love plants, animals, nature or just walking in beautiful landscapes, the Bibbulmun Track has something for you. The shelters with the water supplies are 10 km apart in the first few days out of Perth, average 18 km over the rest of the track until they go back to 10-12 km apart as you come into Albany. Your email address will not be published. The only place you might need to plan ahead is the Kalamunda to Dwellingup section, where the only resupply point is the North Bannister Road House. Glad to have stumbled upon your blog! The distance calculator is designed to help you plan your walk. Id read an article about the newly aligned Bibbulmun Track that would be opening later in the year, but hadnt thought much more about it. The Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. The rest includes a teeny, tiny cooker and gas canister, down jacket, one change of clothes, basic hygiene kit, first aid kit and basic electronics. Spring is really recommended to see all the blooming flowers. Reflections from the reality & how it all worked out. You will need to take some sort of shelter, both for safety reasons (getting caught out inbetween the huts) and just because sometimes the huts do get full. my partner and I are planning to do the Bibbulmun Track starting ~14th of September (we're arriving 10th of September in Perth from Europe) and we're looking for some advice. Have booked to complete it later this year. Summer is not recommended as Western Australia has extremely hot dry summers, making it a high-risk fire season. Looking at starting mid September, I hope thats a good time. Do you keep your phone on you? I charge both from a portable battery pack, which usually lasts me between towns. Thanks Ben. Some things Im curious about: if you dont mind answering: What do you bring to take photos? Best time to hike the Bibbulmun track is between April and October. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! This is useful for working out how much food you will need for each section and for arranging to meet other people. However, you don't need to finish it in one go, with 49 campsites along the track. A great option to have when the rain hits. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. I waited for my turn, not knowing which of the places on my bucket list to choose. I tried to allow at least one rest day in each town to stock up on supplies, do my washing, shower, eat and, most importantly, rest. The Bibbulmun Track passes through Pemberton and we did two walks, totalling 7 hours. Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. The facilities are world class compared to most long-distance trails around the world. Hi Sue, I got an injury before then. A practice walk of three or more days should give a good indication of how much food you need, otherwise allow about one kilogram of food per day. Over its (roughly) 1000-kilometer length, the Bibbulmun winds its way through dense native forests, passes through a handful of sleepy country towns, climbs up and down ranges with magnificent views, and traverses the white, sandy beaches of WAs powerful southern coast. While cooking and dehydrating meals took extra time & energy, this allowed me to enjoy meals that were more delicious, full of veggies & legumes, lighter & cheaper than many supermarket options. Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. Each campsite has a three-sided shelter, a water tank, a drop toilet and picnic tables. Top-line results of the planning so far: 8 resupply towns + two possible food drops, Having been brought up hiking in the bogs of Dartmoor, the Peak Districts moorlands and the soggy Scottish Highlands, Ive always owned hardcore walking boots, with hard soles and waterproof casings. Mmm, difficult question! Shane Johnstone, who set out to break a record of WA's Bibbulmun Track, has finished the gruelling run well ahead of schedule.. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . It was quite a process!! They cost nearly $700 and dont look like much, but theyre probably the best money Ive ever spent on hiking gear. I also maintain a rigorous stretching routine when Im on multi-day hikes, to keep my legs from seizing up and to protect my knees. I have met a lot of people with the same foot conformation so, if this applies to you, you may need to choose between sore toes or blisters on your heels. I have since found a fabulous tape called fixumol, which I put on my heels and toes at the start of a hike as a preventative measure and add more of as hot-spots begin to develop. Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! Each town has its own distinct character, and the offerings of each are there to be savoured by walkers who have spent a few days in the bush. Ever since I got them, my arch pain has been a non-issue. Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. Ive never had a single blister since I started wearing Injinji toe socks as a liner, underneath thicker wool socks (in my case, Darn Toughs). Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. But its still an awesome pack with a really strong hip strap. With tips on how to create your ideal. The majority of this comes from the big four: pack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and tent - most of which we already had and are heavier than we might like. The Bibbulmun Track is a long-distance walk trail in Western Australia.. I was thinking I could toughen up for two nights, but would love to hear from someone who has already walked it as I dont want to regret not bringing a mat when I cant get to sleep. Thanks for all the information about the Bibbulman Track. Full-day walks average about 16 km. Good luck! The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. That said, its totally doable to do a thru-hike solely on town-bought supplies if you dont mind paying a little extra and youre not a fussy eater. Karri sleepers from Pemberton were also used in the early development of the London Underground and other railway lines in the UK.