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Bushwalking Manual

Information and guidelines for safe and enjoyable bushwalking in Australia. Published by Bushwalking Victoria.

  • Trip planning
    • Planning for enjoyment
    • Safety
      • Safety essentials
      • Other approaches to safety
      • Standards for outdoor activities
    • Extreme weather events and natural disasters
    • Forming a group
    • Bushwalking with children
    • Practical planning considerations
    • Map Apps
    • Paper maps
    • Guidebooks and other references
    • Route planning
    • Fuel reduction burns
    • Trip emergency contact
    • Vehicle preparation
  • The trip
    • A good start
    • Practical navigation
      • Map and compass basics
      • Navigation techniques
      • Navigation in difficult conditions
      • GPS Navigation
    • People, progress and conditions
    • Pace, rhythm and rest stops
    • Keeping the group together
    • Challenging conditions
      • Crossing creeks
      • Crossing rivers
      • Terrain
      • Walking in wind, rain and snow
      • Walking in hot, dry conditions
    • Campsites, stoves and campfires
    • Snow camping
    • Bush huts
    • After the trip
  • Leadership
    • Leadership overview
    • Checklists for leaders
    • Bushwalking leadership training
  • Weather
    • Understanding the weather 
    • Thunderstorms
    • Lightning
  • Clothing & equipment
    • Clothing for bushwalking
    • Footwear and gaiters
    • Walking poles
    • Packs
    • Tents
    • Sleeping bags
    • Sleeping mats
    • Stoves
    • Knots
  • Food & water
    • Food for bushwalking
    • Stove safety
    • Cooking
    • Safe drinking water
    • Water treatment options
    • Food dumps
  • Emergencies
    • Emergency communications
      • Overview of emergency communications
      • Mobile phones
      • Personal locator beacons (PLBs)
      • Satellite phones
      • Satellite trackers with SOS
      • Handheld CB radios
    • Lost?
    • Group member lost
    • Emergency shelters
    • Bushfire
      • Planning – don’t be there
      • Be vigilant – get to a safe location
      • Last resort – surviving a bushfire
      • Bushfire smoke
    • First aid
    • Snakes
    • Maintaining core temperature
    • Heat illnesses
    • Cold illnesses
    • Cold water immersion
    • Snow blindness
    • Helicopter rescue
  • Environment
    • Environment and conservation
    • Minimal impact bushwalking
    • Invasive species
  • Related activities
    • Rogaining
    • Ski touring
    • Snowshoeing
  • State information
    • New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
    • Northern Territory
    • Queensland
    • South Australia
    • Tasmania
    • Victoria
    • Western Australia
  • About
    • Acknowledgements
    • Background
    • Governance
    • Scope
    • Feedback
    • Contact
    • Disclaimer – Use of this Manual
    • Sitemap

Updates record

Posted on 4 Dec 20244 Dec 2024

Keeping the group together

Refined content.

Posted on 15 Nov 202415 Nov 2024

Lost?

Expanded advice. (Formerly If you are lost).

Posted on 15 Nov 202415 Nov 2024

Water treatment options

Includes newer treatment systems.

Posted on 15 Nov 202415 Nov 2024

Safe drinking water

Includes expanded information on range of pollutants.

Posted on 12 Mar 202429 Mar 2024

GPS Navigation

Combined and revised (formerly Mobile phone navigation and Handheld GPS navigation).

Posted on 5 Feb 202429 Mar 2024

Map Apps

Combined and revised (formerly Map apps and digital maps).

Posted on 29 Dec 20231 Apr 2024

Plan to avoid a bushfire

New Fire Danger Ratings.

Posted on 29 Dec 20236 Feb 2024

Extreme weather events and natural disasters

New Fire Danger Ratings.

Posted on 12 Jul 202223 Dec 2023

Creek and River Crossings

Clarified use of pack waist and sternum straps.

Posted on 13 Mar 20211 Apr 2024

State and Territory information

All revised.

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Updates record

  • Keeping the group together
  • Lost?
  • Water treatment options
  • Safe drinking water
  • GPS Navigation

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  • December 2023 (2)
  • July 2022 (1)
  • March 2021 (1)
  • September 2020 (4)
  • July 2020 (3)
  • June 2020 (3)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • February 2020 (1)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (3)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • Updates record
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
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Bushwalking Victoria acknowledges and thanks the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for providing funding for the development of this manual.

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