So you've signed up for Ultra Trail Australia, the 100km gallop through the beautiful Blue Mountains of NSW. Well, you're bonkers, for a start. Okay, so maybe you're doing the less-bonkers 50km or 22km options, but still you're obviously a fan of pain. And not just physical pain but the far-worse pain of being forced to go shopping when you could be out running. Why? Because the mandatory gear for UTA reads like Bear Grylls' weekly groceries list.   Unless you've done this sort of thing before (and respect to you if you have) you're probably going to end up needing a few things, and you d ..read more

by Nick Avery The use of hammocks dates back roughly 1000 years, but the last decade or so has seen much innovation in comfort and capability. Modern fabrics and designs have created ultralight, durable hammocks suitable for resting and camping in all weather conditions.  While not a complete replacement for tents, hammocks offer a different set of options and comfort, as long as you have a something to hang from. Can’t sleep well in your tent? Hang your hammock by the babbling brook and let a gentle breeze rock you to sleep.  Not the comfiest or most portable hammock out there, but ..read more

by Trek & Travel web manager Dan Since the Ethiopia/Eritrea border is closed, the only way around is via Djibouti; even aeroplanes don’t pass between the pugnacious neighbours. The long trip to the border town of Assab passes through the Dankalia Depression - a volcanic desert stretching 600km down the coast and supposedly one of the most inhospitable and remote places on earth. There is one bus in the morning, already full, and another one three days hence. We just can’t wait that long. Welcome to Djibouti! Tomorrow’s typically shoddy vehicle is being loaded already and I run around aski ..read more

by Shelley Reynolds If you like hikes that are very well organised, offer full support and smooth running, include a well-groomed trail, accommodation in an architectural masterpiece, a nice soft bed and majestic views, then you should consider The Three Capes Track. Looking towards the Blade Like to take it easy, wake late, enjoy a long breakfast, have a chat with newfound friends and enjoy socialising late into the evening? Or, do you prefer to be up early at sunrise, hit the trail and have breakfast with a different view each day, enjoy stillness, peace and serenity then go to bed when the ..read more

Come And Join The Team   Dear all avid outdoor adventurers, We are excited to announce a new opportunity for a skilled and dynamic Retail Store Manager to join our team at Trek & Travel. If you dream of a career in a store filled with your favourite outdoor gear and brands, talking gear, dreaming of adventure and helping people get the right equipment to make their dreams come true – then this position could be for you. Trek & Travel is one of Australia's leading independent outdoor retailers. We special in exceptional customer service and supplying premium brands and equipment ..read more

Cycle touring around New Zealand’s South Island – what could possibly be more beautiful, more romantic, more … painful. If you work at a desk, breaks are enforced; if you sit for ten hours on a plane you’re supposed to wear special socks. And yet there I was taking weeks off work to sit on a lumpy, triangular piece of foam while I pump my legs repeatedly. Strange behaviour indeed. It was December, supposedly the best weather of the year, but that’s not how NZ weather works, oh goodness me no.  My partner in crime was Paul, with whom I embark on many of my madcap schemes. As soon as we’d ..read more

Now, for the first time ever, all collected together in one volume, we present the full series of Training Tips for the Kokoda Trail by staff member Dan Slater! Watch parts I to V back-to-back as he explores different ways to train for this strenuous, mountainous, mud-strewn and excessively hot & humid hiking track in Papua New Guinea. Depending on your chosen route, the path can be anywhere from 96 to 145km long, so getting in shape, especially if you are not a regular hiker, is essential, and Kokoda draws its fair share of non-hiking military history buffs. Dan describes Kokoda as 'the ..read more

by Will Wood “We are what we repeatedly do: excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – William Durant Long-distance running is self-inflicted masochism, a strange habit. Pain and suffering in both the body and mind. A thousand hours of training, alone, often at night, is beyond what I thought possible, or probable. A love affair with distance running undoubtedly takes time and energy away from things that some might find important - family, friends and (less often) dates are impacted by the adverse time constraints and the consistency of hours necessary to commit to training. Then the i ..read more

by Michael Smigielski Introduction After years of admiring many aspects of Japanese culture (the elevation of everyday routines, such as tea preparation, to the level of a meditative art, as well as and in particular the rich Japanese food culture), I discovered one day not long ago that ridiculously cheap flights to Japan were now available, so I acted quickly and booked a flight to Kansai International Airport, just south of Osaka. I had three weeks and, at the moment of booking the flights, no idea what I’d be doing apart from trying as many foods as possible, and eating as much ramen, izak ..read more

With boss-man Jemima having just returned from her solo end-to-end hike of the Larapinta Trail, we're in a great position to spill all the beans (figuratively) on this amazing hike. So, we put out the call for questions and here is Jemima's comprehensive list of answers to everything we were asked. If you're planning the 'pinta for next winter, we're all the info you need. What direction is the best? What’s the best time of year to go? Call me biased but from Alice to Redbank is of course the BEST direction. This was the way the track was designed. Starting from Alice you get the first 3 sect ..read more