A multi-day walk is a different undertaking to a day walk and deserves proper planning. The stakes are higher when something goes wrong twenty kilometres from a road, and the decisions around gear, food, water, and route need to be made before you leave home rather than worked out on the track.
Start With a Well-Known Route
For a first multi-day walk, choose a route that is well-documented, regularly used, and has established campsites. In NSW, options like the Six Foot Track, the Budawangs, the Warrumbungles, and the Barrington Tops all have good information available and existing camp infrastructure. Save the remote off-track stuff for when you have a few multi-day trips under your belt.
Water Planning Is Critical
Multi-day walks demand serious water planning. Research each day's stage and know where the water sources are. Check recent trip reports to confirm they are running, particularly in summer or after a dry period. Carry enough to get between sources with a buffer in case a source is dry or you take longer than planned.
Pack Weight Matters
For multi-day walks, every kilogram in your pack is with you for the entire trip. The difference between a 14kg pack and an 18kg pack is significant over consecutive days with elevation change. Go through your gear list and ask whether each item is genuinely necessary. Comfort items have their place but they need to earn their weight.
Plan Each Day Conservatively
Plan your daily distances shorter than you think you need to. A day that looks straightforward on a map can be significantly harder with a loaded pack, particularly on rough terrain or in heat. 12 to 15km per day is a reasonable target for most people on their first multi-day walk. You can always push further if conditions are good and the group is moving well.
Leave a Trip Intention
Before a multi-day walk, leave a detailed trip intention with someone who is not coming. Include the route, daily camp locations, your expected return date, and what they should do if you have not made contact by a specific time. Registering with the relevant national park is also worthwhile for remote walks.
Log Each Day
Logging each day's walk in LogsKeptSimple gives you a complete record of the trip including GPS tracks for each stage, distances, elevation, and timing. That information is useful for planning similar routes in future and for documenting the experience for any outdoor programs or certifications you are working towards.
