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Bushwalking Manual

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 and digital maps
    • 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
      • Navigation with a mobile phone
      • Navigation with a handheld GPS
      • GPS sports watches
    • People, progress and conditions
    • Pace, rhythm and rest stops
    • Keeping the group together
    • Challenging conditions
      • Crossing creeks
      • Crossing rivers
      • Terrain
      • 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
    • If you are 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

Recent updates

Posted on 28 Aug 201921 Nov 2019

Managing the trip – people, progress and conditions added

The following articles have been added:

  • People, progress and conditions
  • Pace, rhythm and rest stops
Posted on 16 Jul 201921 Nov 2019

Safety articles added

The following articles have been added:

  • Safety essentials
  • Other approaches to safety
  • Published standards for outdoor activities

 

Posted on 11 Jun 201921 Nov 2019

Snow camping, walking in challenging terrain, navigation and helicopters articles added

The following articles have been added:

  • Snow camping
  • Walking in challenging terrain
  • After the trip
  • Handheld GPS navigation 
  • Mobile phone navigation
  • Helicopters 

More images will be added to these soon.

Posted on 5 Jun 201921 Nov 2019

Emergency communications articles added

The following articles have been added:

  • Overview of emergency communications
  • Mobile phones
  • Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)
  • Satellite phones
  • Tracking devices with SOS 
  • Handheld CB radios

Images will be added to these soon.

 

Posted on 2 Apr 20196 Nov 2020

Campsites, stoves and bush hut sections added

Campsites, stoves and campfires and Bush huts articles have been added.

Posted on 29 Mar 20196 Nov 2020

Pace and Rhythm & Communication in the Group sections added

Pace and Rhythm & Communication in the Group pages have been added to The trip section.

Posted on 27 Mar 20196 Nov 2020

Trip planning section nearly complete

The prototype manual is now available for Bushwalking Victoria and bushwalking club members to provide feedback.

The Trip planning section has nearly been completed.

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Recent updates

  • State information revised
  • Bushwalking with children page added
  • Crossing rivers and Snowshoeing pages added
  • Emergency shelters page added and map information updated
  • Food, cooking, stoves, stove safety and crossing creeks articles added

Archives

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  • 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)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (2)
  • Recent updates
  • 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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