Hiking in subtropical Australian summer

Hiking in most of Australia during summer is not the best idea ever. It's very hot, can be unbearably humid, and summer is our fire and storm season so the weather can be pretty wild. If you want to get out there though, you can do it reasonably safely and have a great time! 

I used to think hiking was out from November through to about March. The heat and weather always scared me out of going during those months.

But not now! I need to train for Carnarvon Great Walk in May so I didn’t have the luxury of waiting until March to get started this year. I’ve hiked more this summer than I ever have before and I haven’t even been sunburnt! Here’s how I approached it.

• If it’s going to be sunny and hot, hike out as early in the morning as you can stand. Chances are you’ll be well in or already finished before the full heat of the day.
• If it’s going to be wet, go whenever you like but remember to take all your rain gear and allow extra time as you may need to go slower to stay injury free. Hiking in the rain is a whole other topic!
• Wear lots of sunscreen, and all the usuals like hat, long sleeves, and sunglasses.
• Aim for water! I’ve never been much interested in hiking for waterfalls, it’s all about the trees for me, but in summer there’s nothing better than dipping your hands or feet in a cold stream, sitting in the spray of a waterfall, or even going for a full swim.
• A bonus tip me and my brother accidentally discovered was starting on south or west facing tracks. In the morning the sun will take longer to make its way to you if you’re behind hills or cliffs or trees.

​Although March is autumn, it can still be quite warm for hiking. I hope these tips will help you get out there safely!