Minimal Impact Bushwalking

Those of us who go bushwalking hold certain values such as the importance of preserving natural beauty, flora and fauna, majestic views and wilderness type experience.
Most practices for minimum impact bushwalking are just plain common sense, some you may not realise, but do the wrong thing and you spoil it for yourself and others.
You may come across an irate land owner, whose only wish is to be informed that you are crossing his property, or the local ranger who has banned camping because too many people had done the wrong thing.

Points to Remember

• If you can carry it in, you can carry it out.
• Don’t disturb or damage campsites or flora, cut or mark trees, or make fireplaces.
• Use a fuel stove. If a fire is lit, take precautions to stop the threat of it spreading and never leave it unattended. Use existing fire places and if a new one is built, remove any evidence of it.
• Leave campsites in their original condition. Do not dig trenches. Use a tent with a floor.
• Do not wash with soap or use detergents in creeks or lakes. This also means biodegradable soaps/detergents.
• Use whatever tracks are present, do not form new ones. Keep party sizes to a manageable and appropriate size for the area you are walking.
• Go to the toilet at least 100m from creeks and dig a hole at least 15cm deep.
• Respect other campers.
• Always tell someone of your intentions.
• Be self reliant.
• Take nothing but photographs. Leave nothing but footprints.

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