We believe hiking is good for everyone. Our volunteer leaders offer a mix of activities for different experience and fitness levels, so we can all enjoy exploring our natural world.
We each take responsibility for our own safety and wellbeing. We are prepared and self-reliant. Coffs Hikers are affiliated with Bushwalking NSW so our leaders and members are insured.
We value the environment. We follow the bushwalkers code and leave no trace. We embrace opportunities to learn about and protect the places we love.
We promote healthy communities. We acknowledge the First Nations and Country. We support new walkers, thank our volunteer leaders, offer our skills to help Coffs Hikers thrive, and share our love of the bush with other walking groups.
We are curious and innovative. Nothing excites us more than exploring a new place! We embrace new ideas and technologies to share our love of the outdoors with each other, and to streamline operations.
Caring for Country and conservation on the Coffs Coast
Ulitarra is the all powerful Aboriginal guiding spirit who created the Gumbaynggirr nation who live between the Nambucca and Clarence Rivers. Abusing the environment invokes the wrath of Ulitarra. The Gumbaynggirr mob have been walking this land and caring for country for thousands of years and we pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.
In 1971, the Ulitarra Conservation Society (affiliated with the Nature Conservation Council) was founded to educate and advocate for conservation of the environment. One of their many achievements was the preservation of the forest that became Ulidarra National Park.
Alex Floyd OAM was a member of Ulitarra Conservation Society, and came up with the concept for the botanic garden after he and a fellow member paddled down Coffs Creek. Their visionary plan was accepted, and the Botanic Gardens reserve was gazetted in 1975.
The Society was an influential voice involved in the creation of Bongil Bongil National Park, Solitary Island Marine Park, Coramba Nature Reserve. They planted koala feed trees in Toormina, and formed the Jetty Dunecare group where volunteers worked on restoring the degraded and weed infested Jetty foreshores. They helped establish Coffs Harbour landcare group in 1998 and were active in Indian Myna bird trapping.
Members of the Ulitarra Conservation Society began bushwalking together in 1980, exploring local parks and wilderness on a diverse range of walks and campouts. In the 1990s they published Making Tracks, a guide to walks in the Coffs Harbour area and beyond. The Ulitarra Conservation Society closed in 2021, their 50th year, donating their remaining funds to the Botanic Gardens.
We are fortunate to be able to tap into the extensive walking experience and environmental knowledge of some of the longtime members of Ulitarra.
We continue the long tradition of exploring in the footsteps of those who have walked this land before us.