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Guide · Bushwalking ·

Day walk packing list: what to carry on a hike

By the Australia Travel Escapes editorial team · Who we are

Day walk packing list: start with plenty of water, food, a warm layer and a raincoat, then add a map, a compass, a first aid kit and sun protection. That is the short answer. The rest of this guide explains each item in plain terms, so you can pack in ten minutes and walk with confidence.

Spring has arrived in much of Australia, and many of us are heading for the bush on weekends. A day walk can be a track through a local park or a full day in a national park. Bushwalking Australia says a bushwalk can be a trail through urban parks or forest near home, or a full day walk in a national park or reserve. The packing rules are much the same for all of it.

Sources for this section: Bushwalking Australia, home page.

Water and food

Take more water than you think you need. Most tracks have no taps, and creeks can be dry or unsafe to drink from. Fill your bottles at home and carry spares for a longer walk or a hot day.

Pack extra food as well as your lunch. NSW National Parks advice, reproduced by NSW Police, tells walkers to bring extra food and water in case of unexpected delays. A twisted ankle or a missed turn can add hours to a walk.

Sources for this section: NSW Police, General safety information when undertaking bushwalks (from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service).

Clothing and layers

Weather in the bush can turn fast. The NSW advice says to be ready for heat, rain, thick mist, icy winds, sleet and snow, and that everyone in the group should carry a raincoat and warm clothing. In practice that means a light jacket or fleece and a waterproof coat, even on a sunny morning.

Cotton jeans and T-shirts are a poor choice in cold, wet weather, because wet cotton stays wet. Synthetic or wool layers dry faster. This is our own tip, not a rule from the parks agencies.

Sources for this section: NSW Police, General safety information when undertaking bushwalks (from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service).

Carry a topographic map and a compass, and learn how to use them before you need them. The NSW advice lists both among the items you should have at the very least, and says a GPS is only really useful when used with a topographic map and a compass.

Mobile phones help, but they are not a plan. The same advice warns that phone coverage can be patchy and that battery life can suffer. In some places you cannot make a call, but a text message may still get through. Carry a torch in case the walk runs past dark.

Personal locator beacons, known as PLBs, send a signal through a satellite network to an emergency centre in Canberra. They are for real emergencies only. The advice also says that technology does not guarantee your safety, because bad weather can slow rescue crews.

Sources for this section: NSW Police, General safety information when undertaking bushwalks (from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service).

First aid and emergency items

A first aid kit and a space blanket are both on the NSW list of basics. A space blanket is a thin foil sheet that folds to the size of a wallet. It weighs almost nothing and can keep a tired or injured walker warm while help arrives.

If you get lost or hurt, the advice is to stay where you are. If you keep moving you are harder to find and you use up energy. Find a spot out of the wind, make a shelter, and leave something bright and visible, such as colourful clothing, for searchers.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. For first aid training, contact a recognised provider in your state.

Sources for this section: NSW Police, General safety information when undertaking bushwalks (from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service).

Sun protection

Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, according to Cancer Council Australia. Its Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide message is the simple checklist: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses. The slogan gained the last two words in 2007.

The Bureau of Meteorology now publishes sun protection times in its daily forecasts. These are the times of day when the UV level is expected to be Moderate or above, and the Bureau says protection is recommended during them. It also says to take notice on cloudy days and cool days, because the sun can cause damage even then.

Sources for this section: Cancer Council Australia, Sun protection and Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide; Bureau of Meteorology, UV and Sun Protection Times.

Before you leave home

Packing is only half the job. Check the forecast and ask the local National Parks office about tracks, creek levels and fire danger. Leave details of your route, your group, your equipment and your expected return time with a relative or a responsible person. A trip intention form is available for this.

The NSW advice suggests a group of at least three, with one experienced person, and says the walk should suit everyone in it. Start early and plan to finish in daylight. Tell your contact when you are back safely, so nobody raises the alarm by mistake.

Sources for this section: NSW Police, General safety information when undertaking bushwalks (from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service).

Sources

  1. NSW Police, General safety information when undertaking bushwalks, reproduced from the National Parks and Wildlife Service, version 1.0, October 2008: police.nsw.gov.au
  2. Cancer Council Australia, Sun protection: cancer.org.au
  3. Cancer Council Australia, Slip Slop Slap Seek Slide: cancer.org.au
  4. Bureau of Meteorology, UV and Sun Protection Times: bom.gov.au
  5. Bushwalking Australia, home page: bushwalkingaustralia.org