Spending time walking is great, spending time overnight on walks is even better. There is something amazing about carrying your gear, cooking and sleeping in wild places that reinvigorates the soul.

Learning skills before we need them is one of the best ways we can stay safe and enjoy our bushwalking experiences. The following articles are good starting points to help you prepare for most multiday bushwalks, many of these are the same as day walks.

Start by getting comfortable with longer day walks, and find friends with experience walking. Your best first few overnight walks short will know and signposted walks, in favourable weather and with experience walkers. Build your skills over time. Do a few overnight walks before you set off on a week-long walk, and try walking in different weather conditions. Learn from friends, test your gear and skills in wet and dry weather - maybe even on day walks.

If you have a big adventure in mind like the Overland Track or the Larapinta Trail please don't just plan to walk the one track, use this as an opportunity to discover the many great walks near where you live and enjoy walking in different places. They say it is the journey, not the destination that matters.

Find local overnight walks by searching bushwalk.com, use the map and refine the filters to find walks that best suit you. There are many amazing places to explore.

This information is for building general bushwalking skills, to help you get out and enjoy walking in a wide range of areas, but can not cover all environments or conditions.

Happy Walking.

Equipment

• Skills