Before the trip
Our trips are advertised on the walks calendar as well as on the mailing list. If you joined the club, you are probably subscribed to the mailing list already, so you will get an email as soon as a new trip comes up.
There are a lot of different trips that we do and some of them can be quite difficult. Thus, we recommend that you read the description carefully so you understand what is involved with a certain trip. If you are new to bushwalking, we recommend that you come on easier trips first and then slowly try out harder trips to test your limits. Everybody is different and what is easy for one person might be very hard for someone else. Something like Bondi to Coogee or Split to Manly will be fine for everyone. Full day, intermediate walks (15-20 km), such as Ruined Castle or Mt Wondabyne, are also fine for fit beginners. Anything more advanced than that will likely require some sort of previous bushwalking experience. The Skills Pathways page has useful information on what difficulty suits you.
Once you found a trip that interests you, log into the member area and sign up for the trip. Note, that it is always the trip leader’s decision whether they will take you along. If everything is ok, your trip leader will send you an email confirming that you are on the trip. Please only sign up for trips if you’re fairly sure you can make it. Many of our trips are full-day walks and require all-day availability, so if you have plans for the evening, you’ll most likely not make it. Plus, trips can run late, and unexpected events can happen. Trips also often start early at 7-8 am, and if you sleep in and miss your train, you’ll not be able to join the trip.
Often, trip leaders will ask you for your previous experience on the sign-up form. It is important to describe your experience in detail- trip leaders don’t like vague descriptions such as “some” and “a lot”. For example, what kind of trips you have done in the past, how long and where. If you have been on SUBW trips before, it is best to write which trips you have been on and who your trip leader was. This helps to get an idea of your experience and whether you would enjoy the trip. It is best to be honest. Because if you come on a trip that is beyond your capabilities, you are likely to have a bad time and won’t enjoy the trip. You might even ruin it for other people, too. And lastly, on some trips, it is outright dangerous if you don’t have the necessary skills.
Before the trip, your trip leader will send around an email explaining some details about the trip, where to meet up and what to bring. These emails can be a long read, especially if it’s a camping or a canyoning trip. It is still very important that you read through the entire email carefully, as they do contain a lot of important information. If you still have any questions afterwards, just email the trip leader.
If, for whatever reason, you can’t come on the trip anymore, please, please let your trip leader know. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting at the beginning of a walk and people not showing up. Also, trips are often full and people are on a waitlist. If you tell your trip leader early that you can’t make it, they can give your spot to someone else. Showing up to trips on time increases your chances of being accepted for future trips.
What to bring
For all trips, you should bring a backpack with enough clothes, food and water. Have a look at the weather forecast to see what to expect and make sure you bring warm enough clothes. Also, it is paramount to always bring rain cover – the forecast is often wrong and being wet in the bush can easily lead to hypothermia.
Wear comfortable, breathable clothing for the walk. Avoid wearing expensive or heavy layers.
Make sure you wear comfortable and stable shoes for walking. If you don’t have special hiking shoes, the best thing is to wear some runners. They should suit you well on most walks. They must be enclosed on your toes- don’t wear sandals or thongs.
On a day trip, you should bring a lunch (for example sandwiches) and at least 2 litres of water. In summer when it is hot and you sweat a lot, you should bring more (3-4L of water) – there is nothing worse than running out of water on a hot sunny day. Remember to have a filling breakfast, and have all the food ready before you come on the trip.
Even on the best trip, something can go wrong. Thus, we recommend that you always bring a torch (head torches are best) in case you get benighted and have to walk in the dark. Also, if you have one, it is a good idea to bring a first aid kit, just in case. Power banks are a good to have so your phone can stay charged through the entire day.
If you come on an overnight trip, you need to bring your own camping gear such as a tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag and cooking equipment.
The club has a sizable store of gear that can be borrowed for club trips. Our gear locker contains camping equipment such as backpacks, tents, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, as well as canyoning gear such as harnesses, descenders, helmets, dry bags, ropes and many other things. If you need to borrow something, make sure you organise it with our gear officers in time. Usually, it is sent around on the walks calendar and mailing list, when and where you can pick up and return gear.
Do not bring pets. Domestic animals are forbidden in National Parks, which means we can’t allow them on trips.
On the trip
Some trips are organised by public transport, and you typically meet at a station or on the train. But often it is necessary to drive to the start of the walk. If this is the case, we usually try to carpool. This allows people without their own car to come along and it also saves a lot of fuel. Your trip leader will sort out before the trip who will go into which car. It is customary that the fuel costs are shared among those sharing a car. Thus, if you get a lift in someone else’s car, please ask them how much your share of the petrol is and give them the money.
Usually, our leaders are quite relaxed and give you a lot of leeway. However, it is important that you stay with the group and follow the trip leader’s instructions. If you need to go away from the group, for example, to go to the bathroom, let your trip leader know so they know where you are. Also, let them know if you need help or have concerns. Many problems can be solved.
Enjoy your trip, and Press On Regardless!