Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. The name comes from the Bibbulmun, or Noongar people, Indigenous Australians . Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. 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. The only bad time to walk the Bibbulmun is summer. Its a good idea to split your food into two parcels and bury them in different places to reduce the chances of losing everything. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. It may be several weeks before you arrive there on foot, so make sure your food parcel is water- and vermin-proof by packing the food in plastic bags, inside plastic boxes, inside another large plastic bag. The WA Parks Foundation is running two prize draws online throughout March to encourage membership to help support the Foundations, Dark Sky Festival celebrates total solar eclipse, The Dark Sky Festival from 19 to 21 April will take place in the Shires of Ashburton, Carnarvon and Exmouth, Signing up to protect endangered black cockatoos, Murdoch University is working closely with Main Roads Western Australia on projects to minimise the impact of motorists and road. More information can be found in an accommodation and services guide for walkers published by the Friends of the Bibbulmun Track. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. I highly recommend it! Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. 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. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. 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. Here are the main points we are currently looking at: If left to my own devices I would happily stick with the full contingent of hiking kit I currently own - including a sleeping bag dating back well over 15 years and a hiking pack purchased for my Bronze D of E. In my mind, if its not broken, why replace it? The Bibbulmun Track is a long-distance walk trail in Western Australia.. One thru-hike at a time. However, you don't need to finish it in one go, with 49 campsites along the track. Hi we are considering heading over to WA from SA in September to experience a section of the Bibbulmun Track, imagining that the border will be open by then. Me most of all that article had obviously made a bigger impression on me than Id imagined. Thanks for all the information about the Bibbulman Track. If you are doing more than a day walk on the Track, you will need to take a lot of equipment: sleeping gear, cooking equipment and food, a change of clothing, basic toiletries, a first aid kit and maybe a tent. I want to walk the Bibbulmun Track, I said confidently when my turn came. The Bibbulmun Trackis a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. On long walks, maps are essential and a compass comes in handy. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. 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. More to come, I'm sure. Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. I vividly remember the day I committed to walk the Bibbulmun Track. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a website or blog at WordPress.com, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). BT Day 35: Mt Dale to Helena 918.6km (29.3km) June 21, 2021. Charting my travels around the world, one adventure at a time. Awesome write up thank you! Thanks for your comment. For example, I discovered from the registers that the Track markers on the Monadnocks (a series of exposed rocky hills) were piles of rocks instead of the usual waugals. Ive only done Bibbulmun day hikes as of yet. 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. Thankyou in advance! Western Australia generally doesnt experience snow or extreme cold, although it can get a little chilly at nights and in the early mornings, so warm clothes and sleeping gear are a must. Well be sending a second pair of each ahead to one of the Track towns in case they are so worn we need to replace them (gulp!). 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. 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. I just googled the Via Dinarica and it looks amazing! Im all about lists & planning for a hike. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. 4WD campers have the luxury of an engine with a few hundred horsepower to lug all their gear around, while hikers only have their own two legs. Ive lived in Western Australia all my life, but it wasnt until I walked the Bibbulmun that I really appreciated what a rich and incredibly diverse landscape were blessed with. I really wouldnt change much. If you have a car, you can drive to an accessible place on the Track, walk to a certain point then retrace your steps back to the car. 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. Thats it. Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. 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. That way the cooler areas in the south would be warming up, but were unlikely to be too hot, by the time I got there. 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. The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. Western Australia, AU Distance 992.8 km Vertical Gain 17,500 m The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long distance walk trails, stretching 1000km from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills, to Albany on the south coast, winding through the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australia. 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. a long weekend) its best to take a tent with you. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. She made a road trip the week before she left and dropped off her own supplies. As a traveller from eastern side of Australia doing this hike in pieces wasn't an option. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. The track goes through every resupply town, which is also rare to find. There are buses from all the main track towns to Perth or Albany in case we get injured and need to bail. Therefore, if my boots fit well at the heels, my second toes end up getting battered on hikes and eventually, the nails turn black and drop off. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Travel from Perth Airport to Fremantle for $4.50, What to take on a multi-day Bibbulmun Track hike. But its still an awesome pack with a really strong hip strap. Posted on July 8, 2018 Tank water is often yellowish from the tannins in the leaves that get stuck in the shelter gutters, but is still perfectly safe to drink once treated. We wont be reaching anywhere near that kind of weight but does make sense to keep it down to the bare minimum with a combination of our existing kit and, where affordable or where it makes sense, new, super lightweight bits and pieces. Hey Ben! was to work out what to take with me. You can get some pretty light self-inflating mats so Id explore that option if you plan on hiking regularly. Collie was a bigger town with a large supermarket. 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. Required fields are marked *. Every piece of kit I own has been weighed and weighed up for its usefulness vs. weight. But once my heart had spoken, I felt I had to follow through. Of course this is all a bit subjective but if there is a lot of unstable rocky ground or long, steep walks uphill then I might be in trouble, Thanks for your quick reply, Andrew. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. 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. 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. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long distance walk trails, stretching 1000 kilometres from Kalamunda in the Perth hills, to the historic town of Albany on the south coast. Tank water should be treated, either with a filter, a UV lamp or some chemical treatment method. Im just getting the blog off the ground so its good to hear somebody is finding it useful. What pack did you use for this hike? So I thought it might be helpful to share in a little more detail some of the things I considered when organising food for the trip. Shane Johnstone, who set out to break a record of WA's Bibbulmun Track, has finished the gruelling run well ahead of schedule.. The Bibbulmun Track Foundation hires out dehydrators to Western Australian locals for a fortnight. 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 will know the right one when it comes along! When buying a backpack, try on as many packs as you can before making a decision, and ask the shop assistant to add weight to them and adjust the straps to fit your body so you can assess how the pack distributes the weight. They have very straight trunks that dont separate into branches until high up near the tops of the trees so they were in great demand for railway sleepers. While I had mapped out many of the places to shop along the way, where I planned to buy certain items, sometimes that didnt work out. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2013. There are three-sided shelters with picnic tables, rainwater tanks, as well as dunnies with toilet bowls and sometimes even toilet paper. This is useful for working out how much food you will need for each section and for arranging to meet other people. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. This series will show you what it's like to thru-hike the 1002 km (623 mile) Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, including the terrain, life in camp, the b. I also occasionally use my phone. As I mentioned in the last blog, there are 48 campsites on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. Let's see how we go! In Pemberton purchase two days worth of food to reach Northcliffe. Since I started using this I havent had a blister. For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. Ive decided to walk the Bibbulmun Track! However, even if you walk regularly, its surprising how much difference carrying a heavy backpack makes. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? Have booked to complete it later this year. If you are doing more than a day walk on the Track, you will need to take a lot of equipment: sleeping gear, cooking equipment and food, a change of clothing, basic toiletries, a first aid kit and maybe a tent. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. But be warned, this is not a stroll in the park. If youre inspired to try, heres (some of) the info youll need to make it happen. This would create the best variation and flexibility, encouraging me to explore the track towns and purchase local foods, while still predominately enjoying the same meals I would eat at home everyday!! Two of the original fire lookout trees can still be climbed by daring visitors. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. Embrace it, and figure out what works for you. I will definitely have to crack down on what I bring in order of importance. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . Since I started using this I havent had a blister. Thats literally just a petrol station with very basic, expensive options, although it does have an attached cafe so you can have at least one decent hot meal. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the longest continuously marked trails in Australia, stretching 963 kilometres from Kalamunda, 20 kilometres east of Perth, to Albany on the southern coast of Western Australia. With a couple of exceptions (like the excellent Tier Gear, Wild Earth and Paddy Pallin), the Australian industry seems to have decided its simply not going to even try and keep up with technological advancements that are making it into the mainstream of the global hiking community. A range of tasty Back Country Cuisine meals are available in select stores along the Track. If you ever got foot pain while walking, its worth going to a podiatrist to get your feet assessed. At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. How do you keep it charged, do you have a solar charger of some sort? This is a very rewarding and quite remote expeditionary hike. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. I am so glad I dehydrated a lot of my own food. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! Well be talking & typing all things #tinyhouse #hiking #permaculture #gardening #bushwalking #simpleliving #organic #wastefree #reading. Deciding what equipment you need for a Bibbulmun Track walk doesn't have to be a daunting process. And if youre tired enough youll fall sleep! I ate out in town more than I had originally planned, and so a few of my homemade meals were repacked for the next section. You get to experience the famous (or infamous!) It can get extremely hot in WA between December and February, and the risk of bush fire is too great. North to South - South to North: How many days of food could I carry at a time? 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. It was quite a process!! Most of the towns on the Bibbulmun Track are serviced by buses, but they are infrequent and may need to be booked in advance. I currently have a fracture of my fifth metatarsal which will heal by then but I am wondering about the steepness of the terrain, especially near the Gloucester tree, and also the unevenness of the ground. 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. Bibbulmun Track Video December 29, 2021. Most hikers take several months to cover WA's famous 1,000km Bibbulmun Track, but Perth school teacher Jono Ride managed to do it in just over two weeks, despite not setting out to break records. Slower Hiking 12/9/22 Slower Hiking 12/9/22. Not a fussy eater at all, just after the basic hiker foods. If you want to get the most out of your Bibbulmun Track walk, use it as an opportunity to explore the South Coast of Western Australia . In May this year, Tim and I will be flying to Western Australia to take on our biggest challenge yet; well be hiking the Bibbulmun track, 1,000 km through the remote Australian wilderness.