Newcastle Hiking Skills 9-10 August 2025

Conquering the Women’s Fitness Adventures Hiking Skills Weekend

This past weekend, I completed the Women’s Fitness Adventures Hiking Skills Course—and let me tell you, it was equal parts exhilarating and exhausting!  

Friday Night: Meet & Greet

The adventure kicked off with a social dinner at the Bull & Bush in Medowie. Fourteen of us gathered, including our instructor, Jane. The group was a mix of women from all over—Newcastle, Port Stephens, Central Coast, Sydney, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Mackay,  100km northeast of Perth! It was amazing swapping stories and getting to know everyone before the real work began.  

Saturday: Gear Talk & Bulahdelah Mountain

Saturday morning, we assembled at the Mercure in Williamtown and were introduced to Shane, our local guide. Then came a deep dive into hiking gear. And wow—there’s so much to consider! From boots and socks to gaiters, rain gear, gloves, and even the right underwear (yes, really), we covered it all.  

In the afternoon, we tackled Bulahdelah Mountain. I’ve driven past it countless times but never imagined hiking to the top. Spoiler: It was steep. Very steep. Well it was for me. Before we even started, I warned everyone that I’d be the slowest—and I was right. 

Uphills are my nemesis. Absolute worst. And yet, here I was, panting my way up Bulahdelah while Jane and Shane patiently doled out advice like, "Short steps! Breathe!". Meanwhile, my inner monologue was just: "Why. Are. Hills. A. Thing."  

They covered everything—downhill techniques (apparently, zigzagging is smarter than charging straight down like a runaway trolley), stairs (use your glutes, not your knees—who knew?), and walking poles (life-changing, if you actually remember to use them). There were tips on overheating (strip layers before you’re a sweaty mess) and about a dozen other things I’ve already forgotten because my brain tapped out halfway through.  

At one point, Jane said something about "efficient energy transfer," and I just nodded like, "Sure, Jane." My legs were too busy staging a mutiny to absorb advanced physics.  

Once we reached the summit, the group split—some went rock-hopping (not my thing!), while others explored a different path. The most adventurous hikers went even higher to a lookout, but since that would take an extra hour, the rest of us (wisely) started our descent. By the end, I was wiped—but in the best way possible.  

Sunday: Mud, Leeches & Survival Mode  

We met at Brunkerville Service Station, expecting to hike part of the Great North Walk. Surprise! Instead, we took a different trail—one that immediately made us all groan as it went downhill, knowing we’d have to climb uphill on tired legs at the end of the hike.

This hike was no joke—mud, slippery clay, creek crossings, leeches (shudder), and even rain. Just 4km took us three hours thanks to the technical terrain.  

Mud. Glorious, squelchy, "will this suck my shoe right off?" mud. Shane’s advice? "Step lightly, short steps, test before you plant your whole weight —unless you fancy a spontaneous mud angel.

Let’s talk about creek crossings—AKA nature’s way of asking, *"How badly do you want dry socks?"  Shane's advice was simple: "Pick your line, commit, and for the love of blisters, don’t hesitate." Sounds easy. It was not.  

Key lessons learned: 

Rock hops are lies. That "stable" stone? It’s a traitor.  Test the rocks are stable.

Poles = your new best friends. Unless you drop them mid-stream.

Embrace the squat-and-shuffle. Dignity is overrated when dry pants are on the line.  

Boots before body. Wet boots are better than trying to jump a creek bed and falling  in.

I am not a graceful gazelle. I am a determined, slightly soggy wombat.  

Final verdict? Made it. Socks and boots? Casualties of war.  I'm glad I had a plastic shopping bag in the boot of my car.

Mission Complete… Now Where’s My Nap?  

By Sunday afternoon, I was done. Every muscle ached, and I discovered new places to cramp that I didn’t even know existed. Did I get the nap I desperately craved? Nope. But would I do it all again? Absolutely.

This weekend pushed me out of my comfort zone, introduced me to an incredible group of women, and taught me that even when the trail feels endless, the view (and the bragging rights) is worth it.  

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be foam rolling for the next week! 😊🚶‍♀️