Bushwalking For Beginners: Hiking Gear, Snacks And Finding The Right Trail Author: Teresa Attard Date Posted: 11 June 2026 Master Australian bushwalking with this essential beginner's guide to local trails, seasonal gear, and smart nutrition. Explore the breathtaking Aussie wilderness safely, confidently, and with peak energy. Source: Line Knipst, Location: Walpole, Western Australia Bushwalking for beginners involves being wise about your hiking gear and nutrition choices, cosy and comfortable in your trekking clothing and putting safety first when choosing your trail. Whether you’re a first-time hiker or bushwalking veteran, preparation is key to turning nature into your personal playground to respect and explore. There are key ‘hiking hacks’ I wish I knew before setting off in the early days of trading the road for the trail. Gear up with these essential hiking tips in mind, and you’ll be able to trek further and more confidently. How To Find Hiking Trails Near You Australia has a plethora of both well-marked, popular trails and hidden gems, secluded tracks that are often not signposted, yet may lead to some of the most remarkable sights for nature enthusiasts. Although it may sound counterintuitive to leave the hustle and bustle behind, taking some time to check out trails near you online can help inspire your next journey. Wild Walks: Source: Gilberto Olimpio, Location: Maitland Bay Beach in Bouddi National Park, NSW My personal favourite hiking resource, Wild Walks call themselves an “online Bushwalking Guide Book”. Currently, this database features New South Wales trails only, but with a “goal to build a massive database of bushwalking tracks from around Australia”. Wild Walks allows you to filter walks by duration (less than an hour to multiday), grade (very easy to very experienced) and accessibility. Very detailed directions and useful photographs help ensure you’re on the right track, a must-have if you’re setting out on the walk for the first time. It's where I first discovered what’s one of the best walks on the Central Coast (just over 100km from Sydney), the Bouddi Coastal Walk (I tend to begin the walk from the Putty Beach end). This walk includes a majestic coastal boardwalk, and the picturesque sands of Maitland Bay (above). You can learn more about it on the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Trail Hiking Australia: Built from founder Darren Edward’s need to restore “balance” and “perspective” to his life, Trail Hiking Australia epitomises the mental health benefits of rejuvenating in nature. This website is rich in hiking tips, covers every state in Australia and makes it easy to filter the walks near you based on state, length, duration and grade. It provides thoughtful safety tips and brief hike summaries rather than step-by-step directions like Wild Walks. Aussie Bushwalking: According to the Aussie Bushwalking website, “It’s like Wikipedia… but for Bushwalkers!” This is a vibrant community of nature explorers, with the database of trails continuously growing, “made by bushwalkers, for bushwalkers”. Find a walk near you, with comments by fellow explorers to give you a better feel of what to expect. What Should I Wear On A Hike? The hiking clothing you wear needs to provide comfort for moving naturally and protection from the elements, based on the conditions. Hiking In The Cold: 3-Layer Rule Wearing layers is one of the golden rules for hiking, particularly in chillier environments, to ensure your outfit is adaptable to meet changing weather or body temperature. Layering has two key benefits: 1. Helping trap warmth between the layers, making your body heat work in your favour 2. Allowing you to shed a layer easily when the temperature rises This means you don’t have to bulk up like a polar bear to stay warm. On winter hikes, gear up with: A Baselayer: For Sweat-wicking Comfort The baselayer is your next-to-skin layer, often made of sweat-wicking synthetic material (e.g. polyester) or Merino wool, which is also naturally odour-resistant and thermo-regulating. Recommendations: If it isn’t a biting cold day, a lightweight running top from 2XU, Salomon or ASICS, or a more traditional long-sleeve trekking top from Craghoppers may be enough, keeping in mind your body temperature will warm up with increased muscle movement. If you need to really take the edge off the chill, think cosy thermals from Smartwool, XTM and Icebreaker. A Midlayer: For Insulation A cosy, fitted midlayer keeps your core and limbs shielded from the chill, locking in your precious body heat so you never have to experience a ‘bad hike’ due to goosebump weather. Half or quarter zip midlayers are especially convenient to allow cool air to enter when your hike heats up, or to stay bundled up if the cold persists. Recommendations: Soft fleece midlayers are a popular choice for hikers. The North Face Cedar Trail Grid Fleece ¼ Zip jacket combines warmth, breathability and recycled materials. An Outer Shell: For Protection Against The Elements Rain clouds don’t have to ruin your hike. Choosing the best rain jacket for your next hiking trip means taking into account the weather conditions to gear up prepared. Recommendations: The Salomon Bonatti Trail Waterproof jacket features Advanced Skin Dry 20K/20K, offering the best balance of waterproofing and breathability in this category. You can find waterproof jackets that sit under $200 AUD from The North Face or Marmot to get you started without breaking your budget. Seek out easily packable jackets to make stowing in your hydration pack a stress-free process. Hiking In The Heat: Keep It Light Source: Line Knipst, Location: Coastal trail in Torndirrup National Park, WA Hiking light is the goal in hot weather, and I’m not just talking about weight. Light colours help reflect the heat, keeping you cooler on those arduous climbs. Keeping more skin exposed with short-sleeve running shirts and running shorts helps your body’s natural cooling mechanism, evaporative cooling, take place. Sweat-wicking tops move perspiration to the exterior of the fabric, allowing sweat to leave your skin as vapour, and carry excess body heat with it. You can also consider wearing a lightweight, long-sleeve top with UV protection and seeking out training shirts with ventilation panels for extra breathability. Recommendations: Lightweight running tops from 2XU, Salomon or ASICS or hiking shirts from The North Face double up as your go-to warm weather bushwalking or everyday running apparel. Craghoppers have you covered with hiking-specific technologies like their NosiLife insect repellent fabric treatment. Beginner Hiking Clothing Tips: Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide-brim hiking hat all year round, remembering you can get sunburnt even in cold or overcast weather. From your head to your toes, avoid cotton as it absorbs rather than wicks away sweat, trapping it uncomfortably against your skin. Opt for Merino wool trail socks, tights and shirts or synthetic fabrics like recycled polyester. Trekking pants and mid-calf socks can provide extra protection from scrapes, abrasions and bites on trails with overhanging scrub or biting insects. Running tights may not offer the thicker protection of trekking pants, but they offer a smooth, second-skin fit to move freely and unrestricted. They’re my personal go-to to discover local trails in Australia. Gear up with trail gaiters like the Sea To Summit Spinifex Canvas Ankle Gaiters to provide protection from not only rain, but unwanted hitchhikers like blood-sucking leeches and ticks. What Should I Eat On A Hike? As a beginner hiker, you want your sports nutrition choices to be uncomplicated, something you can easily throw in your hydration pack to sustain you when your energy feels depleted. I find having trail snacks available as needed during a 3-hour hike makes all the difference between pushing confidently up a challenging hill, or questioning whether you should turn back. The same applies even more so for having enough water in tow. It can be easier fuelling with small snacks every 1 - 2 hours, rather than packing a full lunch which can be awkward to carry, leave you feeling sluggish, or risk spilling in your pack. When choosing hiking snacks, ensure: You have carb-rich options available: Carbohydrates are your body’s primary source of energy. If your glycogen (stored glucose/energy) is depleted, every hill is going to feel steeper. You don’t forget protein: A little bit of protein goes a long way to feeling satisfied. It’s also critical to recovery, helping repair the natural wear and tear to your muscle tissues when exerting yourself. You have enough fuel for your adventure: It is gutting when you have to turn around due to low energy. Give your body what it needs, and you’ll be able to push forward. Favourite trail snacks of our Wildfire Sports & Trek team include: Carb-rich Hiking Snacks Freeze-dried Fruits If you want the lolly-like joy of eating gummy bears but in a nutrient-dense package that’s actually good for you, freeze-dried fruits may be your new best trail snack. Gummy bears are a popular snack for trail runners as tiny pockets of fast-acting energy, helping you avoid hitting a wall, but they also come with the inevitable sugar crash. Freeze-dried fruit from brands like Forager Foods, on the other hand, offers sustainable energy and multiple benefits. They weigh considerably less than fresh fruit, while retaining quality nutrients and a vibrant taste, free of artificial colours. Of course, the texture differs from fresh fruit (and gummy bears for that matter), with a satisfying crunch that can be thrown into muesli or into a trail mix with cashews, almonds and dark chocolate, or enjoyed straight from the bag. Roasted Chickpeas & Hummus: Have a little fun by roasting chickpeas, adding your go-to spices (think paprika, cumin or cinnamon) and putting them in a convenient zip-lock bag to reach for on the trail as needed. Or, enjoy pureed chickpeas in the form of hummus. You really can’t go wrong with this filling, nutritious trail snack for short hikes with its balance of complex carbs, healthy fats, and even protein. However, be aware that due to the high water content of hummus, it is perishable. ‘Real Food’ Energy Bars When you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own muesli bars or protein balls, Clif Energy Bars and Ems Power Bars step in as good snacks for hiking. These nutrition brands pride themselves on creating homemade-style trail snacks packed with wholesome ingredients like oats. On a short hike, both options provide a satisfying hit of energy without the sugar crash. Em’s Power Cookies & Bars The founder of Em’s Power Cookies (offering not just cookies) is Emily Miazga, who wears many hats as a nutritionist and multi-sport athlete. The focus here is low GI (slow-release energy) trail snacks. In an interview with Women Who Cycle, she talks about how, from a passion for baking, she launched a full-scale business to support athletes across New Zealand and Australia. Clif Energy Bars Clif Energy Bars have a history of backing elite athletes like American ultra runner Scott Jurek and Brisbane’s own professional climber, Lucy Stirling. With a variety of plant-based energy bars on offer, they’re an ideal vegan-friendly snack for hiking, running and camping. Want a deeper dive into flavours and textures? Check out the energy bar and energy gel nutrition review from Wildfire Sports & Trek team member and Food and Nutrition Science graduate Rachel to get a vibe of their scent, taste and feel. Protein-rich Hiking Snacks Plant-based Protein: Nuts & Nut Butters Peanuts (technically legumes), almonds and pistachios are the top 3 nuts when it comes to bite-sized, protein-packed snacks; however, each has its own nutritional benefits. When you’re choosing nut butters, be sure to select a brand that is 100% nuts, without added sugars. Consider investing in reusable squeeze tubes as a spill-proof way to transport nut butter to turn any slice of celery, capsicum or carrot into a treat. Fun fact: Pumpkin seeds contain more protein than any tree nut! Animal-based Protein: Beef Jerky The protein-to-weight ratio of beef jerky makes it a high contender on lists for both best hiking snacks and post-hike recovery food. A savoury option to help fuel your next adventure, beef jerky has a long shelf life, is easily portable and provides a satisfying chew. Salty options can help replenish sodium lost in sweat; however, be sure that you have plenty of water available. Hiking Tip: Pack your trail snacks at the top of your hiking pack, where they’re convenient to reach and will be at less risk of being squished. See you on the trail! About The Author Teresa Attard - Running Shoe Expert, Trail Explorer & Nature Enthusiast Teresa is passionate about lacing up and rejuvenating in nature. Located on the sunny Central Coast of Australia, on the weekends you’ll find her walking the golden beaches, hiking challenging terrain or baking trail treats for her next adventure. Teresa has been in the running shoe industry since 2012, with a belief in the power of running and walking to nurture positivity, creativity and self-confidence that can be applied to everyday life.
