Login

Upcoming trips

Bushwalking

Preparation for a trip:
1. Contact leaders at least 5 days before the trip. Leaders may cancel an activity if there are insufficient participants or if circumstances are likely to make conditions unsafe.
2. Arrive on time. Leaders (at their discretion) will only wait 15 minutes.
3. Ensure you are adequately equipped for the activity and all possible conditions with suitable clothing, hat, raingear, sunscreen, food, First Aid kit, torch and appropriate footwear.
4. Carry sufficient water for the conditions (2 litres min.).
5. Map and compass are strongly advised for navigation.
6. You will need to sign up through the website.
7. Your Medicare card is useful in case of accident.
8. Please do not invite friends or children on club activities without leader's permission.
10. Dogs are not allowed on activities without the permission of leaders.
11. Leave a record of your intentions with a responsible person

During a trip:
1. Be prepared to follow the leader's directions. They are volunteers but will have experience.
2. Stay together - this enhances safety. Always keep sight of the person ahead - if you're having trouble keeping up, TELL the leader.
3. Let the leader know if you need a water/ snack/ blister' repair / toilet stop.
4. Do not leave the party or fall behind the tail-ender without informing them.
5. On activities of more than one day you will have to provide your own camping gear. The leader may be able to assist. Otherwise gear is available to borrow or hire from the club gear guys and/or bush-walking shops.
6. Observe fire restrictions — open fires are not permitted in most National Parks or on fire ban days.
Extinguish all fires with water. Do not light fires if you cannot put them out. Plastic and aluminum foil have no place in the campfire. Leave your campsites as if you had not been there.
7. Carry out all rubbish. Take only photographs, leave only footprints.

Leaders - prior to your walk, you MUST contact the following for information on Park closures, fire bans and bushfire hazards:
National Parks & Wildlife Service   1300 361 967
www.npws.nsw.gov.au/news/firenews
Rural Fire Service (Fire Bans Recorded Info) 98981356 www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au

This document is based on similar information from Sydney Bushwalkers Inc.

Bushwalking Safety 

• Let someone know where you are going, when you are leaving and returning and your anticipated route.
• Find out if anyone in the group has a medical condition and let the contact person know.
• Notify the contact person wheny you safely return.
• Take the required maps and a compass and know how to use them.
• Take appropriate clothing and footwear. Be prepared for bad weather and take a waterproof jacket and clothing that will keep you warm where it's wet (eg synthetic or wool thermals).
• Take waterproof matches and extra food in case the walk takes longer than expected.
• Take a first aid kit and try to have a memeber of the group with a current first aid certificate.

• Allow extra time for the unexpected and don't overestimate your abilities or that of others.
• Only go as fast as the slowest member in the group and stay together.
• Don't leave an injured person alone in the bush. Someone should stay with an injured walker while another person goes for help.
• Don't keep moving when lost. If you become a lost find a campsite with nearby water and good visibility for a helicopter.
• If you are overdue let someone know of your safe arrival as soon as possible.
• Every trip should include at least one experienced bushwalker to every three inexperienced walkers.

• Alert the UNSWOC Safety Officers or any available UNSWOC exec member.
• Call the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad so they can prepare, if needed.
• Stay near the phone as a point of contact.
• If you know where the group is, driving along roads and to car parks in the area or short easy track walks may help resolve the matter quickly.
• DO NOT plan or mount a full search without the BWRS or Police.

• Location where the goup was last seen, grid reference and intended route.
• Number in group and names
• Eperience of party
• Equipment/food carried
• Where vehicles are parked and registration numbers
• Any known medical conditions