Plus purchasing a small amount of meals from the supermarket did still switch up my diet. 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. A great option to have when the rain hits. I packed too many teabags and sugary lollies (things I never would normally eat! Required fields are marked *. Youll want to make sure you get plenty of calories about 4000-6000 a day is recommended for long-distance hikers. More information can be found in an accommodation and services guide for walkers published by the Friends of the Bibbulmun Track. 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. 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. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. Once youve bought or borrowed everything necessary to hike the Bibbulmun Track, the next thing is to plan your walk. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! I charge both from a portable battery pack, which usually lasts me between towns. 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. 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. On long walks, maps are essential and a compass comes in handy. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. They cost nearly $700 and dont look like much, but theyre probably the best money Ive ever spent on hiking gear. There is no charge for accommodation and it cant be pre-booked, so if youre hiking for a long time or overnighting during a busy period (e.g. 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. 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). Leave No Trace is all about promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor travel and recreation through education, research and partnerships. 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. Whether you are thinking about planning your first ever walk on the Track or wondering which section to walk next, the Trip Planner pages will assist you regardless of your level of experience. Scroll down for a Map of the Bibbulmun Track through Denmark WA. Get insights together with secure sharing in real-time and from any device. Winter conditions (June to August) are not for the faint hearted, particularly further south where temperatures are lower and rainfall higher. Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! The Bibbulmun Track passes through some remote areas of Western Australia, so once youre on the Track you need to know how to stay on it. But for the purposes of a non-picky hiker, theyre perfectly adequate. Most of the towns on the Bibbulmun Track are serviced by buses, but they are infrequent and may need to be booked in advance. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. 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. The Bibbulmun Track Foundation hires out dehydrators to Western Australian locals for a fortnight. 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. Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! Personally, I would take one. 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. However, although I couldnt live in a country town full time, I enjoy getting out of the city and spending time in the country. Testing out the Sawyer Filter in a murky Peak District stream. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. 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. Near Perth, the campsites are closer together, allowing most hikers to walk two sections in a day known as double hutting. Is there anything else less essential you can leave out of your pack? Im just getting the blog off the ground so its good to hear somebody is finding it useful. 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. 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!). As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. Today, Pemberton has a population of just over a thousand people. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Banksia Burrow is a place to build and grow together. Northcliffe had a great food cooperative selling bulk and local food that I wanted to support. Matt. Thank you so much for the quick reply! Cheers! 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. 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. Luckily, the huts along the way collect rainwater, so well always have a supply of drinking water once we have purified it. Im just worried about how rocky the sleeping areas are etc. Doing it sandals should surely count for more than a regular end-to-end. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! Since I started using this I havent had a blister. 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. was to work out what to take with me. The stores arent that basic, you should be able to get all those items you mentioned. Im all about lists & planning for a hike. ! Ever since I got them, my arch pain has been a non-issue. Those that walk every step of the way can be registered as end-to-enders. I decided to see what my heart picked for me when the time came. Bibbulmun hikes: Harvey-Quindanning Road to Harris Dam, Dreaming of the Next Adventure Introducing the Bibbulmun Track Lifeone big adventure, Tent (for emergencies, and in case the shelter is full), Compass (some say optional, but I always take one in case I get lost), A personal locator beacon (PLB not optional for any responsible hiker), Dishwashing cloth (I can get by without detergent, but you may prefer it), Trowel (for digging holes for #2 between campsites), Water containers for at least three litres, Some method of water treatment (filter, UV lamp, chemical), Trekking poles (optional, I swear by them), Breakfasts (pre-made oat sachets are a good option here), Lunch (generally cold food that doesnt need too much preparation), Dinner (dehydrated meals are popular for dinner). Walking the Bibbulmun has been one of the best things Ive ever done not only because it whipped me into shape after years of being overweight, but because it gave me an appreciation for adventure and the natural world. 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. At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. It is situated in Western Australia starting in the beautiful suburban town of Kalamunda and stretches 1000 km's south down to the historical coastal town of Albany. I am planning a walk from Pemberton to Northcliffe in September. BT Day 35: Mt Dale to Helena 918.6km (29.3km) June 21, 2021. By Ben Dickinson. Everyone looked stunned. I am so glad I dehydrated a lot of my own food. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. Pembertons first settler was Edward Brockman, the son of Perths first mayor, who moved to the area in 1861 to breed horses. If you want to experience the geological features, biodiversity and scenic beauty of this long-distance walking trail, the Section-by-Section guide on the excellent Bibbulmun Track Foundation website is a great place to start. In August of 2018 after 2.5 years of planning I started my thru-hike of the 1005km Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. ), while still leaving opportunities to add to my lunch & snack supplies. Use Google Sheets to create and edit online spreadsheets. 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 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. Which towns were I planning to have rest days? Make a note of where youve buried the food in your journal because youll be desperate for it when you eventually get there! On an excel spreadsheet I mapped out my entire walk highlighting where I was planning to stay each night, how many days I would be on the track, how many nights I would be in each town to provide an overall understanding of where I would be for each day and for each meal. Once we reach Albany, its a long six hour bus back to Perth and then onwards. Ive decided to walk the Bibbulmun Track! Have booked to complete it later this year. The track was first proposed in 1972 by Geoff Schafer, a member of the Perth Bushwalking Club. WA Parks Foundation Chair the Hon Kerry Sanderson AC CVO with Board Director Eva Skira AM hiking on the Bibbulmun Track. I was really happy to be a trail angel for one of your re-supply days. I was happy to eat different mueslis, snacks and lunch meals by the end of the hike. The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world's great long distance walk trails, stretching nearly 1000kms from Kalamunda (Perth Hills) to Albany (South Coast) through the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australian town of Denmark, Western Australia. 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. Hi Sue, I got an injury before then. My kneecaps tend to rub against their track if I allow my IT band to get too tight, so I make a point of stretching it and rolling it out whenever I get the chance. How do you keep it charged, do you have a solar charger of some sort? Pingerup Plains, the swamps comprising days . As with all long distance hiking, the lighter your pack the better your journey will be. Also, the campsites, which are located between 10 and 20 kilometres apart, are closer together near Perth, which is useful for end to end walkers to ease themselves into condition. If youre an experienced hiker you probably wont find much here for you, but hey you dont know what you dont know! The Bibbulmun Track passes through Pemberton and we did two walks, totalling 7 hours. Im in the market to buy a new one but there is so much out there! 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. 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. I took water purification tablets on my first hike, but the treated water tasted so foul I couldnt drink it! Im quite an experienced hiker, and find your blog post very usefull. The Bibbulmun Track walk would technically take more than two months to finish at an average walking pace. Maps, other guides and information on diversions can be found on the Bibbulmun Track Foundation website. With tips on how to create your ideal. 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. We will be able to top up our food supplies (and replace our worn out shoes!) But how basic are these village stores? The best word to describe it is pleasant. Location/temp range/specific trip description: Seems roughly 0 to 30 degrees C (32-86 degrees F), I'm not very sure though. I speak from experience many times Ive wearily had to retrace my steps to look for a waugal. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! BT Day 34: Monadnocks to Mt Dale 889.5km (33.3km) June 21, 2021. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. Like anything, this can vary enormously in price and quality. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2013. Therefore, we will put "30 day fixed", "7 day auction", etc in this column. The Bibbs campsites are far better than those on the famous Appalachian Trail, but not quite as lavish as those in Tasmania or New Zealand. 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. 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. Glad to have stumbled upon your blog! Sharing the journey. Posted on July 8, 2018 In my defence, I find it difficult to get well-fitting boots because my second toes are longer than my big toes. 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. If you are not sure then please contact us. 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. 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. Estimated length: 1000 kilometres / 621 miles. It also helped me to better understand my bodys abilities, and made me realise how much more I could be doing with my life! It was quite a process! The Duke of Edinburghs International Award, . 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. 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. Answering these questions helped me map out how manybreakfast, lunches, dinners & snacks I would need across the hike, & where they would potentially come from along the way. 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. I used a pyramid tarp which gave me good all round protection although next time I would choose something with a smaller footprint. 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. Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers. 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. Solar chargers arent up to the job, especially on the Bibb where theres so much tree cover. For a thru-hike or multi-day section hike youll need: The key difference between hiking equipment and regular camping equipment is its size and weight. BT Day 36: Helena to Kalamunda 947.3km (28.7km) June 22, 2021. It is managed by government agencies, and has a foundation. But why? Either plan to supplement your meals with town-bought supplies, or make sure you cook up a decent range of dishes. 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. Next time I would dehydrate even more of my own food, specifically dinners if time allowed (they just worked out so well! Required fields are marked *. The Bibbulmun Track is a 623mi/1,002km trail that runs near the Southwest coast of Australia from Kalamunda (near Perth) to Albany. Id actually recommend this option for an end-to-end, because it supports the communities that host you and it saves you from agonising over a nutrition plan before your hike. Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. There are eight towns along the way, where well be able to buy supplies, but other than that, well be relying on what we carry to keep us going. Thanks Ben. There certainly are! Still buying from towns did provide some good flexibility. The towns on the Bibbulmun Track are pretty spread out, with the greatest distance between two towns being 202 kilometres. Tank water should be treated, either with a filter, a UV lamp or some chemical treatment method. 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. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). We have been planning in earnest for a few weeks now and we have been using a huge excel spreadsheet to help us battle the logistics one step at a time. 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 current incarnation of the Bibbulmun Track was opened to the public in September 1998. 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!) How big were the towns and what were their supermarkets/food stores/cooperatives like for resupplying? Your email address will not be published. Many of these groupies were British ex-servicemen who had returned from WWI to find there were no jobs for them. Not a fussy eater at all, just after the basic hiker foods. While on the contrary I bought packets of sugary lollies straight from the huge supermarket at home and packed them in my food parcels. We are flying to Perth from London on Qantas new direct flights. If youre picky about what you eat or you have specific dietary requirements, you can make dried meals with a dehydrator and vacuum sealer, and ship them to yourself along the way. The Track is popular with locals, interstate and overseas visitors alike. In this section you will find a brief description of the towns that lie on, or adjacent to, the Track. Let's see how we go! Thankyou in advance! 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 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. In the past, Ive hiked with a mix of homemade meals and supplies bought in towns. 1000km. 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. (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Whether you want to walk for a couple of hours or a couple of months, the Bibbulmun Track provides the means to get away from it all and to experience the peace and beauty of south-west Australia. I put together a list of distances from the details on the Bibbulmun Website today and a rough guide on how long I would potentially take, it's roughly based off your times but I've added a few extra days to sections as I won't be doing it as fast as you did. It was originally envisaged by keen bushwalker Geoff Schafer, in 1972. Bibbulmun Track Food planning & resupplying on the Bibbulmun Track! It is named 'Bibbulmun' after a group of . 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. Preparing the right kind of food for an overnight or extended walk on the Bibbulmun Track is one of the most important considerations walkers need to make. The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail located in Western Australia running over 1000km between Kalamunda in the north and Albany in the south. South Australia, Western Australia & Northern Territory, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHfaBZT Q&index=15, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc sp=sharing. Choose a section of the Track for a day of amazing scenery or challenging walks or, if you're game, tackle the whole Track. Your email address will not be published. Definitely not perfect but I was trying! 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. The solitude and peace on this trail is incredibly unique for one so near civilization. The Bibbulmun Track is a long-distance walk trail in Western Australia.. I have opted for. Anyone with an average level of fitness should be able to complete an end-to-end, so long as they actively manage their body and dont injure themselves. If youre inspired to try, heres (some of) the info youll need to make it happen. 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. 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. Read More. A combination approach really worked well for me. Sending packages to yourself does make a bit of guess work. The calculator works in both north and south directions. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. Thanks for all the information about the Bibbulman Track. This creates a logistical nightmare. 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. I take a Sony A6000 camera, which I have attached to my backpack with a Peak Designs capture clip. Thats it. What a contradiction! Track Angels are locals that support hikers on the track - whether they be end to enders like us, or just doing sections of it - with food drops, accommodation, advice and lifts. Wildlife abounds on the Bibbulmun Track. The first thing I needed to decide about was when to start the journey. Many people undertake this journey as a section hike, doing pieces of it over a period of months and even years. Restocking food has been one of the biggest dilemmas for my hikes. The Pingerup Plains between Northcliffe and Mandalay Beach are usually inundated in late winter and spring, but many hikers believe its worth a few days of wading to see their magnificent wildflowers in full bloom. 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 towns Tourist/Information centers and some petrol stations have stored supplies for her. It won't be gourmet dining, but it will do the job. If an access point is not shown here, then it is likely that it is not a permitted vehicle access point. They generally only have one brand of everything though, and fresh items are often very limited. It was originally envisaged by keen bushwalker Geoff Schafer, in 1972. Your email address will not be published. The only bad time to walk the Bibbulmun is summer. The Bibbulmun's Wagyl or Rainbow Serpent blaze.