Search results for #hiking
Older Adults, Friends and Mental Health: What New Australian Research Reveals
A six-year UNSW study of older Australian twins suggests strong social ties with friends, neighbours and community groups may help protect mental health in later life. Here’s what the research found — and how to apply it.
Rachel Entrekin: First Woman to Win Cocodona 250
At 8.09am on a Saturday in Flagstaff, Arizona, Rachel Entrekin finished a 253-mile race ahead of every other person on the course. The 34-year-old physical therapist became the first woman to win the Cocodona 250 outright, clocking 56 hours, 9 minutes and 48 seconds, more than two hours faster than...
Do Dogs Really Improve Your Health? Australian Stories and Research Suggest They Can
Dog owners often describe their pets as the reason they walk more, meet neighbours and maintain daily routines during difficult periods. Large international studies involving millions of people have linked dog ownership with lower mortality rates, better cardiovascular outcomes and higher physical activity levels. Australian stories reveal a similar pattern,...
Best Free Outdoor Exercise Spots in Hobart
Hobart's free outdoor fitness scene runs deeper than kunanyi/Mount Wellington. Most regulars spend their weeks on flatter, quieter tracks closer to home — Sandy Bay's foreshore, the Intercity Cycleway, the Clarence Foreshore Trail, Risdon Brook. This is a working list of spots inside a 15-minute drive of the CBD, grouped...
Active Winter School Holiday Ideas for Kids
Winter school holidays don’t have to mean two weeks of screen time. With the July break running from late June to mid-July across Australian states, parents need a plan to keep kids moving when it’s cold outside. This guide covers indoor and outdoor activities — from rock climbing and heated...
Grip Strength: The 10-Second Health Test You Can Do at Home
A simple squeeze of your hand could reveal more about your long-term health than most blood tests. A 2026 meta-analysis of over 900,000 people found that grip strength asymmetry — a significant difference between your left and right hands — increases all-cause mortality risk by 12 per cent. When combined...
Exercise Halves Premature Death Risk for Midlife Women
A major Australian study tracking more than 11,000 women over 15 years has found that those who consistently met physical activity guidelines through their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s halved their risk of dying prematurely. The research was one of the largest studies of its kind globally. Here's what the...
More Than Just a Walk: How Outdoor Groups Build Community for CALD Women
Beyond the physical benefits of exercise, getting outdoors provides a vital pathway for social connection and cultural exchange. Drawing on the 2025 SAFE research by RMIT University, we explore how community-led outdoor groups are helping women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds overcome barriers to participation. From reducing isolation...
1000km Against the Odds: How a Mullumbimby Hiker is Redefining Courage on the Bibbulmun Track
When a challenging diagnosis like Motor Neurone Disease (MND) threatens to steal your ability to move, what do you do? If you're this incredible hero from Mullumbimby, you lace up your boots and take on the ultimate physical challenge: the 1000-kilometre Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia. This jaw-dropping journey through...
Ballina's Breathtaking New 42km Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk is Now Open
Calling all keen hikers! Ballina's brand-spanking-new Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk isn't just a stroll in the park – it's a full-blown, 42-kilometre, multi-day adventure through the breathtaking Northern Rivers region. Imagine trekking through lush rainforests, past ancient volcanic formations, and soaking in panoramic vistas of the Tweed caldera mountains. This immersive...