The Australian Hiker podcast first went to air on 11 November 2016 and since that time we have released over 300 episodes which have been downloaded over 1,170,000 times! At the current rate of downloads we are in the top 5% of all podcasts worldwide, not just the outdoor ones.
The following episodes are our top 10 all-time downloaded episodes since we started. We update this list on an annual basis.
1. Episode 076-Week 1 Bibbulmun Track 2018
On 9 August 2018 I started my journey on one of Australia’s premiere long distance hiking trails, the Bibbulmun Track which traverses 1000+ km between Albany and Perth in Western Australia. This podcast provides an overview of a typical week on the trail completing 210 km and travelling between Albany and Walpole. Listen to what I and other hikers go through in what represents some extremely taxing conditions.
2. Episode 072-Getting fit for hiking
Whatever type of hiking you do, being fit will ensure that you enjoy what you are doing and will keep you happy and healthy on the trail. But what does being fit for hiking mean? This episode provides a brief introduction to hiking fitness and identifies the key aspects that you need to consider.
3. Episode 108-Tangles and tail: an interview with Lucy Barnard
In this episode we interview Lucy Bernard from Tangles and Tail as she attempts her journey from the southern-most point of South America to the northern-most point in Alaska. This is an epic journey, almost solely by foot, covering around 30,000 km in distance. In this episode, we find out a bit about Lucy (Tangles) and Wombat – the ‘Tail’ member of her team, the reason behind her trip, the logistical issues surrounding such a massive undertaking, and how her journey has gone so far.
4. Episode 149-Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail
In this we discuss the Japanese Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail. This trail, which was included on the World Heritage list in 2004, is a network of ancient pilgrimage routes that converge on Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine, in the mountainous heart of Wakayama Prefecture. Apart from the shrines, the landscape itself is one of the key highlights that everyone talks about. The episode combines a series of three interviews and each of our interviewees provides a different perspective on this amazing trail system.
5. Episode 105-Kiandra to Tharwa; a taste of the Australian Alps
Over three days in Easter 2019 I walked the 112 km from Kiandra in the Snowy Mountains to Tharwa over a section of the Australian Alps Walking Track. Doing an extreme walk is one of the annual challenges I set myself and this one was also a learning opportunity to do some pre-planning for a planned thru hike of this alpine trail. This podcast episode contains a series of recordings over the three days and describes what I was seeing and how I was feeling; I learnt some hard lessons on this hike.
6. Episode 127-Dehydrated Food on the Trail
Start talking about food options for hiking and it’s amazing how quickly the conversation becomes heated as individuals passionately defend their preferred meal options and tell you why your choices are wrong. This is definitely a topic I try to avoid when at-camp in the evening. This podcast episode discusses the pros and cons of using dehydrated food and provides a few suggestions for dehydrating.
7. Epsiode 207-Three Capes Track; Expectations vs reality
This is the third and final podcast episode in the series on Tasmania’s Three Capes Track. In this episode we compare our pre-trip expectations to the reality of the journey and based on our experiences make recommendations on how you can get the best from this trip. We recommend that you follow along with the written review of this trail that includes images and resources to help you on the Three Capes Track.
8. Epsiode 077-Week 2 Bibbulmun Track 2018
At the end of the second week I have reached Pemberton which means that 40% of the Bibbulmum Track is done. I’m actually a day ahead of schedule but I’m not taking that for granted and now have seven days up my sleeve. In this episode I discuss the camp infrastructure as well as my journey from Walpole to Pemberton.
9 Episode 190-In the Footsteps of the Cannibal Convict
In 1820 Irish thief, Alexander Pearce, was sent to Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) to serve a seven year sentence for stealing shoes. If the story ended there, it wouldn’t be particularly noteworthy, but rather than just one of many similar stories. Where it becomes interesting is in 1822 when Pearce, and seven other convicts, escaped from the penal colony in western Tasmania and made their way eastwards across some of the most rugged and inhospitable terrain in Tasmania in a break for freedom. Starvation pressed the party into a series of grim decisions including cannibalism with Pearce being the sole survivor of the group. In 2008, six hikers recreated this walk, covering 170 km in 23 days ,on an amazing journey.
10. Episode 078-Week 3 Bibbulmun Track 2018
Week three of my Bibbulmun Track journey and our longest ever podcast due to eight days worth of podcasting as I undertake the biggest week of the trip. In this episode I discuss my typical day and how I make decisions about what I will be doing. The episode also includes a series of recordings interviews of my trip over this period between Pemberton and Collie covering a distance of approximately 250 km.
11 January 2025