Are Guides Necessary for Hikes
 

Are guides necessary for hikes in Finders Range, Grampians and Great Ocean Walk.
Experienced hikers and been to Australia multiple times and know there are a lot of poisonous spiders and snakes. We prefer to be on our own with a 4 wheel drive. What say yee?


Rss

No. We've hiked in Flinders Ranges and the GOR on our own. We've also hiked in TAS and all over WA on our own. In fact, we've never not hiked on our own...anywhere.

Yes, there are plenty of spiders and snakes in the bush, but they're easily avoided if you pay attention.

Are you talking about multi-day hikes and camping or just day hikes?

Talking about day hikes......not multiple day.

Between 5KM and 13 Km per day.

Thanks

All the more reason to go it on your own. No camping involved.

I agree wil Mel - just make sure you have plenty of water. Many of the walks will not have any on the way.

We have rarely seen snakes and know no one who has been bittenin all our years of hiking.

A guide is only handy if you really want a detailed description of each plant etc.

Certainly it is easy to do hiking along the GOR and Grampians by yourself. The vast majority of hikers in these areas do so. I know that along the GOR it is quite expensive to have guides as it is usually all packaged up with luxury accommodation, fine dining, transportation of luggage etc.

Thank you everyone. No guides it is!!

RSS

Just to a quick comment as RSS seems happy with the feedback.

Again I will say the is no NEED for guides if the idea of your walk/hike is to take your own pace and your own time to enjoy the surrounds and have the ability to choose your own direction (on set walking tracks of course!).

We haven't used guides on our hikes either, nor do we prefer guided tours of towns/sights/destinations.

Some people do, as was touched on earlier for the hidden details - in this case of the stories of the landscape.

This is where I'll pause, if it is just the two of you and you are mainly into travelling through the land and taking photographs etc. then great - must of us do this. We have done the same in Tassie NSW and beyond.

But it is always a good approach to advise someone of what you are doing. having read you have hiked before you probably do this already. the other little thing - if you wish - is depending on the countryscape you might want to take a local (guide or otherwise) to hear the stories of the land, and I dont just mean what plant is where but the connections that are with the land.

Either from an Aboriginal view point, early settlers or flora/fauna angle. these do add another element to the hike.

perhaps choose one only in a significant area or popular walk.

Relatives did this at Uluru and appreciated the insight.

just a thought.

Thanks for all our inputs! Very much appreciated.

RSS