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. Many people undertake this journey as a section hike, doing pieces of it over a period of months and even years. The track is one of the world's longest walking trails stretching from Perth to Albany. I created a spreadsheet which recorded, for each date, the starting and finishing points and the number of kilometres between them. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . Hi Anna, 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. Each hut can accommodate between eight and 15 people (depending on the design) sleeping on wooden boards. 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. The Bibbulmun Track is a long-distance walk trail in Western Australia.. Metal rungs were hammered into the tree trunks to form a spiral ladder leading up to a look out in the canopy of the tree. Although well be walking in Australias winter and rain is a distinct possibility, weve opted for lightweight trail shoes which will offer the tread we need without the weight and (hopefully) the blisters and pressure points on the feet. I was really happy to be a trail angel for one of your re-supply days. ), while still leaving opportunities to add to my lunch & snack supplies. Required fields are marked *. Dwellingup Collie: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Dwellingup accomodation to reach Collie. You can get some pretty light self-inflating mats so Id explore that option if you plan on hiking regularly. Its become an obsession. Blisters are a big problem for many hikers, so its worth experimenting with different shoe and sock combinations to see what works for you. 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. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Banksia Burrow is a place to build and grow together. I was happy to eat different mueslis, snacks and lunch meals by the end of the hike. 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. I take a Sony A6000 camera, which I have attached to my backpack with a Peak Designs capture clip. Location/temp range/specific trip description: Seems roughly 0 to 30 degrees C (32-86 degrees F), I'm not very sure though. Dont know why I packed them), and not enough dried fruit & nut snacks. Starting from just outside of Perth, it will take approximately 45 days to hike through the towering forests, quiet farmland and wild beaches until we reach Albany. Then bury it. It was the perfect opportunity for me to wind down from the more rugged and draining hikes of the previous few months. In 1913 timber mills were established in Pemberton to supply half a million sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway line. Required fields are marked *. 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. If youve got a decent budget, Id recommend looking at equipment made by speciality manufacturers in the US like Zpacks, Enlightened Equipment, ULA and others (detailed gear reviews coming soon!). BT Day 33: Nerang to Monadnocks 855.9km (25km) June 19, 2021. The name comes from the Bibbulmun, or Noongar people, Indigenous Australians . Charting my travels around the world, one adventure at a time. You will know the right one when it comes along! 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. Since I started using this I havent had a blister. The Bibbulmun Track runs from Perth to Albany, 1000 km and takes about six weeks to thru hike. Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. The distance calculator is designed to help you plan your walk. 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. 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. Follow the bright yellow waugyl through towering forests, over creeks and rivers, along wild beaches and up and over some impressive granite features. Many Different Landforms. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. So far, our base packs come to approx. 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. 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. Pemberton to Walpole The section from Pemberton to Walpole is exciting. We like to track how the item was listed at the time of the sale. Solar chargers arent up to the job, especially on the Bibb where theres so much tree cover. 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. If youre attempting an end-to-end for the first time, youll inevitably develop your own way of living on the track that will probably vary a little from the directions in this guide. In my humble opinion, the Australian outdoor gear industry is still stuck in the 1980s, when heavy packs were a source of pride and durability was the biggest concern. 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. Once we reach Albany, its a long six hour bus back to Perth and then onwards. He was also a pretty good breeder himself, fathering nine children! Rain and flooding can be a problem that time of year, but its generally nothing that cant be overcome with good rain gear and a positive attitude. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). Reflections from the reality & how it all worked out. At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. Collie Donnelly River Village: Purchase all of my food from the Collie supermarkets & Balingup shops to reach Donnelly River Village. 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. It is roughly 1000 kilometers in length. I decided to see what my heart picked for me when the time came. There are also taxi services and tour operators who can help you to co-ordinate your walk, and some B&Bs near the Track offer drop-off and pick-up services. 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. Thank you so much for the quick reply! The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. Your email address will not be published. The track goes through every resupply town, which is also rare to find. Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. I took water purification tablets on my first hike, but the treated water tasted so foul I couldnt drink it! She made a road trip the week before she left and dropped off her own supplies. 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 stretches 1,000 km from Kalamunda in Perth to Albany in the south-west. Im just getting the blog off the ground so its good to hear somebody is finding it useful. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. Then bury it. Over 1000km, the walk traverses red ironstone gravel in the Darling Range, elevated granite domes with vast views, coastal cliffs of jagged limestone, peaty swamp plains, gorges with cascading . Innovative lightweight backpacking and travel gear for your next adventure. If youre an experienced hiker you probably wont find much here for you, but hey you dont know what you dont know! 10 kg each. However, you don't need to finish it in one go, with 49 campsites along the track. As you become more experienced you will get better at knowing what gear works for you. The route is well mapped, way-marked and maintained. Our current plan involves only restocking at the towns, although we are also exploring the option of calling upon the Tracks Trail Angels to drop off food on some of the longer, 7+ day stints to reduce our pack weights. Photos featured on this site are courtesy of Tourism WA, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Doug Coughran, Colin Ingram, Peter Nicholas, L-A Shibish and Nature Play WA. 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. Trekking The Bibbulmun Track End to End - Planning. 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. Full-day walks average about 16 km. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. During the summer months (December to February) very hot weather, low water supplies, and abundant flies can make long walks very uncomfortable and even dangerous. A range of tasty Back Country Cuisine meals are available in select stores along the Track. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. 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. 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. The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . But how basic are these village stores? Thanks Ben. It's designed to help decide which part of the 1000 km Track you'd like to walk and to give you all the planning information you need. The next thing I needed to do in preparation for hiking the Bibbulmun Track (see my previous blog for the background to this crazy idea!) On long walks, maps are essential and a compass comes in handy. The Bibbulmun Track can be tough so, go on take a walk on the wild side! Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? Read More. 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. This Bibbulmun Track FB Group page was started by David Baird in mid 2009. Your email address will not be published. It was another early settler who arrived a year later, Pemberton Walcott, who gave the town its name. Its designed to help decide which part of the 1000 km Track youd like to walk and to give you all the planning information you need. I am so glad I dehydrated a lot of my own food. Summer is not recommended as Western Australia has extremely hot dry summers, making it a high-risk fire season. 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. Northcliffe Walpole: Pack everything (except breakfast), dehydrating my own food & post to Northcliffe Visitors Centre to reach Walpole. Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! Restocking food has been one of the biggest dilemmas for my hikes. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. It won't be gourmet dining, but it will do the job. Mmm, difficult question! A great option to have when the rain hits. Spring is really recommended to see all the blooming flowers. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. 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. The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. Sending packages to yourself does make a bit of guess work. North to South - South to North: I charge both from a portable battery pack, which usually lasts me between towns. Pingback: Dreaming of the Next Adventure Introducing the Bibbulmun Track Lifeone big adventure, Your email address will not be published. Ive only done Bibbulmun day hikes as of yet. The Group page. Most of the sections are somewhere between 20 and 25 kilometres long, or about a full days walk for the average hiker. If youre walking the whole Track in one go, transport is not an issue you can catch a bus from Perth to the northern terminus of the Track in Kalamunda, and get a bus back from Albany when you arrive at the southern terminus a month or two later (or vice versa if youre walking from south to north). Cheers! The Bibbulmun Track passes through many different environments; we saw an astonishing 85 different orchid species and hybrids. Pictured here is an impressive Heath Goanna (Varanus rosenbergi). 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. We will be able to top up our food supplies (and replace our worn out shoes!) For example: Kalamunda to Dwellingup was approximately 11 nights, which was too far to carry food the whole way. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. The Bibbulmun Track often has temporary diversions and permanent realignments for various reasons, which can extend the distance to be walked on any day. There are great opportunities for fit walkers to challenge themselves, on at least two of the days we walk around 25 km. 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. Youll be carrying your whole life on your back, so youll need to make sure you have the right equipment and supplies to make it work. This is useful for working out how much food you will need for each section and for arranging to meet other people. I also occasionally use my phone. Nick. At this time the wild flowers (including orchids) are out, temperatures are moderate, and the streams and water tanks are likely to have plenty of water in them. May 27, 2020 thebanksiaburrow Over the last couple of weeks before I left for the Bibbulmun Track, I was up until midnight planning my itinerary, counting sections, cooking up curries, dehydrating meals, weighing portions & allocating food for each day. I tried to find a balance between: The ethical conundrum of what to buy & where, was so big in my head that I tried to change my itinerary to make sure I reached Northcliffe on a day that the food cooperative was open. How do you keep it charged, do you have a solar charger of some sort? 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. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our natural and cultural heritage. The Perth ultra-endurance runner crossed the finish line at Kalamunda this afternoon, completing the 1000km journey in 11 days, seven hours and eight minutes. I really wouldnt change much. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. Youll want to make sure you get plenty of calories about 4000-6000 a day is recommended for long-distance hikers. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail located in Western Australia running over 1000km between Kalamunda in the north and Albany in the south. As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. Spring (September to November) is the best time to walk the Bibbulmun Track. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. 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 that makes your eyes water, its possible to put together a reasonably lightweight backpacking kit with gear from Paddy Pallin, Wild Earth and a few other retailers for less than 2000AUD. Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! Thanks Andrew for such detailed notes. 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. Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? 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 WA's powerful southern coast. Each of the towns on the Bibbulmun has at least a mini supermarket, but the range is often limited and the prices are high. A checklist is great way to start. Two of the original fire lookout trees can still be climbed by daring visitors. What a contradiction! This creates a logistical nightmare. A combination approach really worked well for me. Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! Leave No Trace is all about promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships. Im hooked on my fitbit for tracking my hikes but they run out of juice so quickly thanks man! Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. The Bibbulmun Trackis a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. 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. 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!). So many! This includes how to get there, highlights, interesting places, weather forecasts, Track conditions, the Track towns and photos. After some months now of planning and preparing the walk is almost upon me. I will definitely have to crack down on what I bring in order of importance. Im trying to cut down on as much weight as possible. 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. Oct 10, 2021 28 Dislike Share Dori's Hiking Adventures 2.03K subscribers This video is for everyone that is planning to hike the Bibbulmun Track. If you can't find what you're after, please contact us. Walking the Bibbulmun takes some preparation, but its something that anyone of average fitness and mobility should be able to achieve. These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. Donnelly River Village Northcliffe: Pack everything dehydrating my own food & post to DRV accomodation to reach Pemberton. 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. Collie was a bigger town with a large supermarket. Buying food along the way also allowed me to get meals that I wanted to eat at the time, instead of having to make those choices months in advance. 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. Next time I would dehydrate even more of my own food, specifically dinners if time allowed (they just worked out so well! 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. 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). 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. Fast forward Finishing the Front Corrugated Iron. It is situated in a valley surrounded by karri forests, so its history is inextricably linked to forestry and logging. I might end up with a couple of 40km+ days I think but the majority should be around 30km. Cheers, Andrew. Notes for Potential Hikers of the Bibbulmun Track Introduction. . We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. If youre more tech-savvy than me, a GPS could also be invaluable, though youll need to take a solar charger too as there are no power points between towns. 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. Hi Emma, These pages provide youth group leaders with the necessary tools to plan, lead and complete a successful expedition on the Bibbulmun Track. Thanks Kelly! I have a question about the resupply in towns.. if you dont mind. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). These pages are bursting with information to help you have a safe and pleasant journey. More to come, I'm sure. It may not have the most spectacular scenery for most of it, but it somehow wins the heart of everyone that hikes it for the pleasant experience. Your email address will not be published. The Bibbulmun is on my list of possibilities. Life on the Bibbulmun is pretty simple: You wake up each day, walk as far as you can, camp, and repeat. This is a very rewarding and quite remote expeditionary hike. Choose a section of the Track for a day of amazing scenery or challenging walks or, if you're game, tackle the whole Track. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2013. 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. Unless something goes wrong, all your water will come from the tanks at campsites or taps in towns. Suggest you make a post on one of the Bib track sites on facebook as lots of experts there. A fully-stocked ultralight backpack using mainly gear from decent overseas manufacturers will cost somewhere between 2000-3500AUD. Bibbulmun Track Trip highlights Trek the spectacular South West Australian Coast and enjoy the incredible coastal scenery Enjoy the serenity of the many secluded beaches along the way Immerse yourself amongst the colourful wildflowers in spring Walk beneath the huge turbines of the Albany wind-farm Premier Partner of the Foundation and the Bibbulmun Track maintenance volunteer program. Sugars and fats might be your enemy in the real world, but theyre your friend on the trail. In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.