We are "Women Who Walk, and men too".
Our hiking group formed when 13 friends, 11 from Mackay and 2 from Tasmania, hiked for 4 days on the 3 Capes Track in south-eastern Tasmania, during November 2017. We enjoyed hiking as a group and decided to keep up our hiking fitness with weekly hikes in and around Mackay, beginning with 18 walkers in January 2018.
By April 2018 we had become a group of about 120 members. Now in August we have more than 300 members! Most Saturday evenings there are 25 or more urban hikers walking up to 10kms in 2 hours from 5pm October to March, 4pm April to September. Some group members have multi-day walks planned for 2018, varying from the Great Ocean Track, to Larapinta, and the Camino. As their walk approaches they will walk with boots, poles, and loaded packs. Closer to home, in the cooler months, there are plans for half day, full day and overnight walks at The Leap, Cape Hillsborough, Finch Hatton, Eungella, and the Great Whitsunday Walk, to name just a few. We now have walks most mornings and afternoons during the week. And all of our walks are Heart Foundation Walking walks.
The beauty of our group is that it is quite informal. Turn up when you can! We only ask that you arrive with a little time to spare as we leave promptly at either 4 or 5pm. No membership fees or forms. New members are arriving every week, and being made to feel most welcome by a friendly bunch of likeminded people. There is great support and information sharing from experienced hikers. Or if you just want to join in for a longer weekly walk with no intention of multi-day hikes, that's fine too. There's lots of friendly chatting and laughter along the way and it's surprising how quickly the time passes! At the end, the feeling is quite euphoric, with smiling faces all around.
By April 2018 we had become a group of about 120 members. Now in August we have more than 300 members! Most Saturday evenings there are 25 or more urban hikers walking up to 10kms in 2 hours from 5pm October to March, 4pm April to September. Some group members have multi-day walks planned for 2018, varying from the Great Ocean Track, to Larapinta, and the Camino. As their walk approaches they will walk with boots, poles, and loaded packs. Closer to home, in the cooler months, there are plans for half day, full day and overnight walks at The Leap, Cape Hillsborough, Finch Hatton, Eungella, and the Great Whitsunday Walk, to name just a few. We now have walks most mornings and afternoons during the week. And all of our walks are Heart Foundation Walking walks.
The beauty of our group is that it is quite informal. Turn up when you can! We only ask that you arrive with a little time to spare as we leave promptly at either 4 or 5pm. No membership fees or forms. New members are arriving every week, and being made to feel most welcome by a friendly bunch of likeminded people. There is great support and information sharing from experienced hikers. Or if you just want to join in for a longer weekly walk with no intention of multi-day hikes, that's fine too. There's lots of friendly chatting and laughter along the way and it's surprising how quickly the time passes! At the end, the feeling is quite euphoric, with smiling faces all around.
Please check our Facebook Page for further information. Weekly Urban Hike Events are posted by Tuesday, with an update Friday evening. We walk in light rain, but if the weather is just too bad there will be an update by 3pm Saturday. As well as the Facebook Page, there is a Facebook "Closed Group" Page you may like to join upon application.