Everyday Hiker

Ngaro Track with Julie Cross

Join me and special guest Julie Cross as she talks about her experiences on the new Ngaro Track in the Whitsundays. Bookings for the 2027 season open on **11 August **. It sold out quickly last time so here is an opportunity to hear about the track, the boat ride over, what to take and the highlights. NB: Apologies for the quality of the audio - we had to record this interview in an semi open area so some background noise is audible. Links: Ngaro Track | Whitsunday Islands National Park | Parks and forests | Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

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Five More Fantastic Day Hikes in Brisbane

In my first ever episode of this podcast I featured five fantastic day hikes you can do in Brisbane. This is a follow up episode with five new ideas for short day hikes no more than 9kms that take 3-4 hours from Brisbane including travel time. Hope you can get and out enjoy some different trails in the beautiful Brisbane weather. Links: Chermside Hills Reserves Circuit, Queensland, Australia - 553 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Venman Track, Queensland, Australia - 921 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Sirromet Winery - Dine, Wine, Stay, Celebrate, Tour Karawatha Quarry via Rocks Circuit and Dianella Track, Queensland, Australia - 148 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Devils Break Loop, Queensland, Australia - 521 Reviews, Map | AllTrails The Reserve Anstead Gold Creek Reservoir, Queensland, Australia - 522 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Brookfield General Store Brookfield | Must Do Brisbane Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

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Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk with Jenny Woodhouse

Join me and my special guest Jenny Woodhouse as she takes us through the four day Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Jenny is a prolific hiker and videos many of her adventures on YouTube. She uses the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk as a training run for some of her bigger hikes and will often loop it twice if not three times. Jenny talks through the natural environment you will experience each day, where to start and finish, overnight hiking options and some practical tips of gear to bring with you. Links: Jenny's YouTube channel - WHY I HIKE | A Personal Story | Rainforest Relaxation Film | 4K | Mt Glorious Queensland Australia Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, Queensland, Australia - 66 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Campsite bookings - Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk | Parks and forests | Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Mapleton Pub - M Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

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Three Capes Track: Practical Tips

In this week's episode I share my experience hiking the Three Capes Track in Tasmania. This is a moderate, well graded track over 4 days and 3 nights. It is a great introduction to multi day hiking and has some stunning coastal scenery. I'll go through practical tips to get there, what to expect from the huts and trail, what to pack and highlights you shouldn't miss. Links: Three Capes Track | Parks & Wildlife Service Tasmania Packing list Home - Port Arthur Historic Site Three Capes Track 4-Day Meal Kit - Campers Pantry Pty Ltd Welcome - Port Arthur Motor Inn, Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

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Overnight Hiking Gear Advice: Part 2

Join me and my special guest Bam da Silva from K2 Base Camp in our second episode on essential overnight hiking gear. In this episode we discuss water storage, cooking options, and other essentials like safety gear and headlamps as well as some luxury extras like a pillow! Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

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Overnight Hiking Gear Advice: Part 1

Join me and my special guest Bam da Silva from K2 Base Camp as we talk about what's important when you're setting out on an overnight hike for the first time or what you might need to update with your existing gear. We discuss backpack size, tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags in the first part of this topic. Next time we will cover food, water and all the extras! Links: K2 Base Camp | Outdoor Adventure Experts K2 have some really useful hiking checklists as well: Hiking Essentials: A Checklist for the Australian Hiker Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

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Mt Barney - Australia's hardest hike?

Join me and my special guest Wes Lee who has climbed Mt Barney almost 100 times as he talks about the how, when, where and who should climb Australia's hardest hike. Have a listen before you set out on this strenuous climb. Links: Mount Barney South East Ridge and Peasants Ridge, Queensland, Australia - 907 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Rum Jungle Campsite via Yellowpinch and South East Ridge, Queensland, Australia - 224 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Montserrat Lookout via Upper Portals Track, Queensland, Australia - 137 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

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Binna Burra and the Best Bushwalks in Lamington NP

Join me and my special guest Suzanne Noakes - local Binna Burra resident, tour guide and member of the Lamington Natural History Association as we explore her favourite walks on the Binna Burra side of Lamington National Park. We also touch on where to stay, dining options and special events with the Lamington Natural History Association to learn more about everything nature has to offer in this wonderful part of the world. Links: Tullawallal Lookout, Queensland, Australia - 556 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Daves Creek Circuit via Border Track, Queensland, Australia - 1,824 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Ships Stern Circuit, Queensland, Australia - 957 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Upper Ballanjui Falls, Queensland, Australia - 352 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Lower Ballanjui Falls via Ships Stern Circuit, Queensland, Australia - 324 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Home | Binna Burra Lodge Information – Lamington Natural History Association Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

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O'Reillys and the Best Bushwalks in Lamington NP

Join me and my special guest Peter O'Reilly who literally grew up with the Lamington National Park as his backyard. Peter shares with us the special places and walks from the O'Reillys Rainforest Retreat side of the park. O'Reillys is just about to celebrate their 100 year anniversary in April 2026 so we also talk about some special events and a historic bushwalk that is planned to celebrate. Links: Links: Python Rock Lookout, Queensland, Australia - 280 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Pat's Bluff and Python Rock Lookout, Queensland, Australia - 294 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Border Track and Box Forest Circuit, Queensland, Australia - 1,238 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Toolona Creek Circuit, Queensland, Australia - 990 Reviews, Map | AllTrails O'Reilly's to Binna Burra, Queensland, Australia - 484 Reviews, Map | AllTrails O'Reillys activities and accommodation - Gold Coast Hinterland Rainforest Retreat Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Great Noosa Trail Walk 2026

Welcome to the first episode of Everyday Hiker for 2026. In this episode I interview the new hosts of one of my favourite walks in South East Queensland - the Great Noosa Trail Walk which will be held from 3-5 October 2026. Listen to all the highlights and logistics of this great 3 day walk. But don't wait to long! This walk sells out pretty early in the year. It's a great way to test multi day hiking with all the logistics organised for you including transport of your bags and meals and at a very affordable price. Links: Great Noosa Trail Walk Trail Running, Hiking & Fast Packing Adventures – Trail Trekkers (check out link at the top of the page for the Unbroken event Bob speaks about) Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Banks Track - New Zealand

This is our last episode for 2025 and I wanted to share with you a magical multi day walk in New Zealand that you should put on your Christmas wish list. The Banks Track is near Akaroa in New Zealand's South Island. It is a fantastic coastal walk crossing farmland, mountains, and nature reserves. It features dramatic sea cliffs, waterfalls, secluded bays, dense woodlands, amazing views and so much wildlife. Links: Banks Peninsula Walking Holiday and Hike | Banks Track The Seventh Generation | Akaroa # 1 Expert Local Guide Home | Akaroa French Connection – bus trip The Giants House - Akaroa - N.Z. Akaroa Visitor Information - ChristchurchNZ.com | ChristchurchNZ.com Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Nakasendo Way - Trip Planning

I recently walked the Nakasendo Way in Japan. I did it as a solo, independent traveller. In this episode I talk through the logistics of organising the trip from transport, accommodation, itinerary, what to pack and what to expect on the trail. EPISODE NOTES: Transport: · Klook app – pre booking major train trips · JR Central Official - Shinkansen Travel Site Cash: · 711 convenience stores Esim: · Buy eSIMs for international travel - Airalo | Airalo. I have a code that gets you $5 AUD off (roughly $3 USD) which is REBECC7542. Packing list: · Two sets of complete hiking clothes – tshirt, long sleeve top, long/convertible pants, two pairs of hiking socks, underwear – I wore one and carried one set. · One puffer vest and one rain jacket – both compact. You might need a warmer jacket depending on the time of year but even on a cold day (11 degrees Celsius) I was warm enough with four layers. · One cap/hat. · Hiking trail shoes (you don’t really need boots unless it suits you – just some good grip soles). · Slides (although these were at the hotels/guest houses) and a spare pair of lightweight socks. · One pair of plain pyjamas/lightweight loungewear– I also wore them to dinner at night with a vest or jacket over top. Some guest houses provide pyjamas/robes to wear at dinner. · One small towel – just in case it rained but also because it can be humid and you might appreciate it to dip in water and cool off with. · Hiking poles – I appreciated these on the down hills – mine are foldable in my back pack so I didn’t always use them. · 2 litre bladder for drinking water – I refilled this at every town – cold bottles of water are readily available in vending machines at the train stations or on the side of the road in towns and are cheap to buy. · Food – I didn’t take any and just bought along the way as there was plenty of little shops but I would caution that restaurants closed early so maybe stow a pack of instant noodles if you wanted a back up – hot water was readily available. I did take a few black tea bags and some UHT milks as I just love my cup of tea in the morning. · My phone and a charger with an ebook on board to read along the way. I used an eSIM from Airalo and had good coverage almost the whole way. · Coin purse – you need coins for some local trains and buses as well as smaller shops and to enter temples and museums. · Travel size bathroom items and a small first aid kit. There was soap, shampoo, towels including hand towels and lots of other bathroom items in the hotels/guest rooms. · Small plastic bags for food rubbish and wet clothes – bins are really hard to find along the way! Itinerary outline: Day 1 – Matsumoto to Kiso Fukushima (via Yabuhara to Narai trail) Day 2 – Kiso Fukushima to Agematsu and return Day 3 – Kiso Fukushima to Magome (via Nagiso – Tsumago – Magome trail) Day 4 – Magome to Nakatsugawa/Nagoya If I had one more day I would have made Day 3 – Nojiri to Nagiso and stayed the night in Nagiso. This is a 15km walk and is much quieter than the others mentioned here but accommodation is hard to find in Nagiso. Accommodation (see Episode 2 notes) Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Nakasendo Way - Trip Report

I recently walked the Nakasendo Way in Japan. I did it as a solo, independent traveller. I have done two episodes. The first episode has all the details you will need to help you plan your trip. This episode is a daily trip report. I take you through the itinerary I followed - the transport I took, the highlights, the accommodation and the meals. Please see Episode 1 notes but details of accommodation I stayed are as follows: The Celecton Matsumoto, Matsumoto (updated prices 2025) Kiso Mikawaya, Kiso (updated prices 2025) Magome Chaya, Nakatsugawa (updated prices 2025) Just Inn Premium Nagoya Station, Nagoya (updated prices 2025) Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Mt Barney - Hiking to Wild Swimming Spots

Summer is almost upon us in South East Queensland so if you are looking for hikes you can do at some of the most natural wild swimming spots - head to Mt Barney! In this episode I discuss three fantastic hikes and swims ranging from fairly Easy to those involving a 4WD and some lung busting up hills. Plus where to stay and where to eat in the Mt Barney region. Links: Lower Portals Track, Queensland, Australia - 862 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Upper Portals Track, Queensland, Australia - 118 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Cronan Creek Falls, Queensland, Australia - 310 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Places to eat and drink: The Shed Café - Facebook Home Main - The Rathdowney Hotel Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Hiking for Mental and Emotional Resilience with Marc Murray

Join me and my special guest Marc Murray from Brisbane Hiking Adventures as he talks about how hiking helped him overcome barriers in his life and build mental and emotional resilience. To share his experiences on the trails, he created a group that now has more than 10,000 members posting about their hiking adventures and opportunities to connect. As a rural firefighter, Marc also knows a thing or two about safety and he talks about how he leads small groups up more challenging climbs to build confidence in others. Links: Brisbane Hiking Adventures | Facebook Contact Marc via this page to enquire about his new four week Roots to Resilience program Hikesense - Elevate your hiking experience For the hiking poles Marc talks about in this episode Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Noosa Coastal Walk and more ideas for hikes in this region

Today I explore the iconic Noosa Coastal Walk - a must in my opinion if you're visiting Noosa beach for a holiday. And if that's not enough for enjoying walking and hiking in the region check out my other ideas for mountains, lakes and cute regional towns to visit while in the Noosa region. Links: Coastal Track: Dolphin Point, Hell's Gates and Devils Kitchen, Queensland, Australia - 656 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Mount Coolum Track, Queensland, Australia - 1,664 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Mount Cooroora Summit Route, Queensland, Australia - 892 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Cooroora Shared Trail, Queensland, Australia - 73 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Places to eat and drink: Coolum Surf Club - Coolum Surf Club Pomona Distilling Co | Spirits Handcrafted With Passion Camping Noosa | Habitat Noosa Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Hiking shoes: the latest trends for a hiker's most important piece of equipment

Join me and my special guest Mitch from Wildfire Sports and Trek as he talks the latest trends in hiking shoes and accessories to keep your feet comfortable and blister free! His main observation on why hikers have issues: "90% of people wear shoes that are too small". Find out why and what problems this could be causing. And the trail shoes vs traditional hiking shoes debate: alive and kicking! Don't buy a new pair of shoes until you've listened to this episode. Links: The cult shoe everyone is wearing on long distance hikes like the Pacific Crest Trail: https://www.wildfiresports.com.au/altra-lone-peak-9-waterproof-low-womens-shoes And the trendiest hiking shoe right now: https://www.wildfiresports.com.au/hoka-challenger-8-wide-mens-shoes Maybe a re-think on Merino socks for Australian summer? https://www.wildfiresports.com.au/lightfeet-evolution-trail-half-crew-hiking-socks Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Mt Greville vs Mt Maroon: they are both winners

Join me and my special guest and walks leader Bart from Brisbane Bushwalkers Club. Bart has done the climb of both Mt Greville and Mt Maroon many times. He shares his insights on the best trails to take and highlights of both. They're two of my favourites and good ones if you're looking for new challenges. Trail links: Mount Greville Loop via Waterfall Gorge and Palm Gorge, Queensland, Australia - 1,019 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Mount Greville via Southeast Ridge Track, Queensland, Australia - 100 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Mount Maroon, Queensland, Australia - 1,755 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Places to stop: Arthur Clive's Family Bakehouse – Baking Fresh Daily Since 1936 – History in the Baking! (5) Facebook Brisbane Bushwalkers Club: Brisbane Bushwalkers Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

52 Peaks Challenge with Paul Ferry

Join me and my special guest Paul Ferry who is the founder of the 52 Peaks Challenge. The challenge aims to encourage participants to get outside their comfort zone climbing mountains around South East Queensland at an average rate of one per week. Paul talks about his motivation for starting the challenge as well as how much he has grown along the way including gaining 6,500 new friends to share his passion with! Learn how to join the 52 Peaks Challenge here: 52 Peaks Challenge | Facebook Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes

Mt Cordeaux and the spear lillies in springtime

Join me as I outline why early spring is such a great time to visit Mt Cordeaux to see the magnificent spear lillies! I share details of how to get there, what trails to take including side trips to Bare Rock and Morgans Walk as well as Mt Cordeaux's twin sister Mt Mitchell. One of my favourite hikes in South East Queensland! Links to trails: Mount Cordeaux Track, Queensland, Australia - 376 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Bare Rock Track and Morgans Walk, Queensland, Australia - 1,172 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Mount Mitchell Trail, Queensland, Australia - 356 Reviews, Map | AllTrails Please follow us on Instagram for details of upcoming episodes