Karri trees grow in the high rainfall areas of south west Australia. I love that people do that just for the love of helping. My basic gear, not including food and water, weighed about 13 kilograms (see the list at the end of this blog). As a rough guide, there should be five waugals per kilometre in forest areas, and two per kilometre in more open areas. In the end I came away with the resupply plan: Kalamunda Sullivans Rock: Pack everything, dehydrating my own food & carrying from the start to reach Sullivans Rock, Sullivans Rock Dwellingup: Pack everything, dehydrating my own food & organise a trail angel to drop off near Sullivans Rock to reach Dwellingup. Walking the Bibbulmun takes some preparation, but its something that anyone of average fitness and mobility should be able to achieve. The next most important consideration for a long distance hike is your pack. 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!). Thanks Kelly! 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!). Able to buy peanut butter, tortilla flatbread and instant pasta meals like those kind of things? 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. Innovative lightweight backpacking and travel gear for your next adventure. 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. 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. The facilities are world class compared to most long-distance trails around the world. Download the app on Wi-Fi and then open the Bibbulmun Track and make sure you have downloaded the maps for offline use. This isnt a problem on the outward journey, but on the way back it may be difficult to predict what time (or even what day) youll reach a town on foot. It underwent many changes over the next two decades until, in 1993, work began to turn the Bibbulmun Track into one of the worlds great long distance walks, modelled on the Appalachian Trail in the USA. It is important to keep an eye out for these waugals, as you can easily stray off track if youre daydreaming. 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. There was a cooperative in Pemberton I didnt know about! 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 won't be gourmet dining, but it will do the job. 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. 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. It was another early settler who arrived a year later, Pemberton Walcott, who gave the town its name. Celebrate our 25th year with an adventure! The Bibbulmun Track is a walking trail that stretches from Kalamunda, on the outer reaches of Perth, to the south coast harbour town of Albany. 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. 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). 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. I packed too many teabags and sugary lollies (things I never would normally eat! 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. You can add to this if you like, but remember you will have to carry whatever you take! However, you don't need to finish it in one go, with 49 campsites along the track. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. Take a walk on the wild side walking the Bibbulmun Track, Follow Local Travel Tips on WordPress.com. Pingback: Dreaming of the Next Adventure Introducing the Bibbulmun Track Lifeone big adventure, Your email address will not be published. Ive got a Wilderness Equipment Discovery 1 (medium), but I bought it in 1998 so things will have moved on since then! After all, hiking is only walking for a long time. 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. Therefore, we will put "30 day fixed", "7 day auction", etc in this column. By Ben Dickinson. The local food shop in Balingup had closed down. Spring (September to November) is the best time to walk the Bibbulmun Track. She made a road trip the week before she left and dropped off her own supplies. I really wouldnt change much. 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. There are a number of things to consider before setting out on the Track. Sending packages to yourself does make a bit of guess work. The Bibb connects the outskirts of Perth on the west coast with the town of Albany on the south coast. Which towns were I planning to have rest days? Your email address will not be published. How much water youll need to take will depend upon the time of year. But why? It also helped me to better understand my bodys abilities, and made me realise how much more I could be doing with my life! Cooking for two, I prepared and dehydrated batches of 8-12 serves (4-6 days) of 11 different dishes, once or twice a week during our preparation time rather than all at once at the end, so the task wasn't too overwhelming. Walkers should always check the current Track conditions before embarking on a walk. I was really happy to be a trail angel for one of your re-supply days. The best word to describe it is pleasant. Dont know why I packed them), and not enough dried fruit & nut snacks. Copyright 2023 Bibbulmun Track Foundation. 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. Home Trip Planner Distance Calculator. The calculator works in both north and south directions. 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. 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. Distinctive yellow triangles displaying a waugal symbol (a rainbow serpent spirit-being from the Aboriginal Dreaming) are nailed to trees along the way to mark the Track. 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. Youll want to make sure you get plenty of calories about 4000-6000 a day is recommended for long-distance hikers. To help you get started on overnight walks the Foundation also has a range of items for hire. 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. Solar chargers arent up to the job, especially on the Bibb where theres so much tree cover. 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! For advice specific to the Bibbulmun, the Bibbulmun Track Hikers Facebook group is a useful resource. I found these answers by completing some research on the Bibbulmun Track website, Facebook, Google maps, and asking people who had previously hiked the track. 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. Follow the bright yellow waugyl through towering forests, over creeks and rivers, along wild beaches and up and over some impressive granite features. 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. Ill call them and ask and add something to the blog about that section, it probably warrants a mention. As much as I tried I still arrived in Northcliffe on a Sunday, which is the one day the cooperative is closed! The tank water is potable but if you get water from natural sources along the way its a good idea to treat it. At the end of the weekend we felt tired yet recharged by our brief break in the country. Ive decided to walk the Bibbulmun Track! Full-day walks average about 16 km. With tips on how to create your ideal. In the past, Ive hiked with a mix of homemade meals and supplies bought in towns. 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. 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. Im just worried about how rocky the sleeping areas are etc. Im in the market to buy a new one but there is so much out there! Ever since I got them, my arch pain has been a non-issue. If youre walking upwards of 20 kilometres a day for weeks at a time, its a battle to keep weight on. 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. The following list is what I take on multi-day hikes on the Bibbulmun Track. Today there is still a timber mill in Pemberton, surrounded by old mill cottages, but tourism is also important for the towns survival. Tank water should be treated, either with a filter, a UV lamp or some chemical treatment method. I have opted for. What about tracking navigation? And if youre tired enough youll fall sleep! But how basic are these village stores? Megan, I find this very good sharing, especially on the resupply considerations that included supporting local businesses. This is a very rewarding and quite remote expeditionary hike. I charge both from a portable battery pack, which usually lasts me between towns. 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. In the 1920s, free land was offered to group settlers to establish a dairy industry. Youll need more if you walk when the water supply is less reliable. Mmm, difficult question! I aimed to start my hike in late September and to walk north to south. What pack did you use for this hike? Many other hikers swear by this method, but feet are very personal things! Fast forward Finishing the Front Corrugated Iron. 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. 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. Notes for Potential Hikers of the Bibbulmun Track Introduction. SA, WA & NT specific bushwalking discussion. 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. Theres all kinds out there, Best thing I have ever done. The track is officially measured as 1003 kilometres long, divided into 58 sections, each ending in either a town or a campsite. 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. Shane Johnstone, who set out to break a record of WA's Bibbulmun Track, has finished the gruelling run well ahead of schedule.. 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. 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. 10 kg each. 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. March 27, 2018 Bibbulmun Track Planning - Spreadsheets and an obsession with weight In May this year, Tim and I will be flying to Western Australia to take on our biggest challenge yet; we'll be hiking the Bibbulmun track, 1,000 km through the remote Australian wilderness. Pick one itinerary or join several together to customise your Bibbulmun Track holiday adventure. Visitors can go four-wheel driving or mountain biking or fish for trout and marron. Bushwalk Australia and contributors 2007-2014. Me most of all that article had obviously made a bigger impression on me than Id imagined. Somewhere in the world: Lines in his book A long walk in the Australian bush.. As a traveller from eastern side of Australia doing this hike in pieces wasn't an option. Bibbulmun Track Video December 29, 2021. Either plan to supplement your meals with town-bought supplies, or make sure you cook up a decent range of dishes. Awesome write up thank you! Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water. One of my favourite places to escape to is a little town called Pemberton, 335 kilometres south of Perth. 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. The Bibbulmun Track runs from Perth to Albany, 1000 km and takes about six weeks to thru hike. Pembertons first settler was Edward Brockman, the son of Perths first mayor, who moved to the area in 1861 to breed horses. was to work out what to take with me. Collie Donnelly River Village: Purchase all of my food from the Collie supermarkets & Balingup shops to reach Donnelly River Village. In 1913 timber mills were established in Pemberton to supply half a million sleepers for the Trans-Australian Railway line. North to South - South to North: Where were the best opportunities to send parcels, such as to my accomodation spots or visitors centres? 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. Nowadays, I use an ultraviolet wand which doesnt affect the taste of the water.