Hello, how can we help you?
There are always hazards and risks with any type of outdoor activity, including bushwalking and hiking. We will ask you to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk and Obligations. Choose a walk within your capabilities, be appropriately dressed, bring water and food, and carry the right gear. Remember, you are responsible for your safety.
There is more information on safety in the Bushwalking Manual and on the Bushwalking NSW website. We are affiliated with Bushwalking NSW, so our leaders and members are insured.
You must join as a trial member to gain access to our Calendar and to book onto a walk. You will need to sign the Acknowledgement of Risk and Obligations.
You can try us out for two or at most three walks over six months, after which your trial membership will expire. After completing two trial walks, you may apply for full membership.
Leaders may allow you to join an activity if you are visiting the Coffs Coast from another area, as a guest of full member. Members need to ask the leader first to get permission to bring their visitor. Of course, visitors will still need to sign the Acknowledgement of Risks and Obligations.
Financial members of other Bushwalking NSW clubs are welcome to join a walk as a visitor, please contact us first.
Trial membership is $5 (three walks maximum). Full membership has an annual subscription fee of $35.
Fees cover insurance (for leaders and members), affiliation with Bushwalking NSW, incorporated association costs, website hosting and software costs, and other incidentals.
Coffs Hikers don’t charge for joining a particular walk or activity. Our leaders are generous volunteers. However, you will need to pay your share of any National Parks fees, car-pooling, camping or food costs.
Our easy walks are suitable for beginners, while are hard walks are for fit and experienced bushwalkers only.
Walks on the program may give the distance in kilometres, but that can be misleading as off-track walking is slow and tiring compared to walking on flat, formed tracks. Read the walk information carefully as it may describe the total ascent (how much climbing you will be doing), the terrain (formed tracks, rough tracks, or more difficult off track), the pace, and challenges and hazards such as creek crossings. Read more about our gradings.
Ask the leader for more information if necessary, so you can assess if the walk is suitable for you.
We expect all walkers to be self-reliant.
For a short or day walk please wear suitable closed walking shoes and clothes to protect you from the bush, sun and weather. Pack a small daypack with water to drink, lunch and snacks, your first aid kit, a warm layer, rain gear. Toilet paper, hand sanitiser and a ziplock bag for rubbish. And don’t forget some money for car pooling.
Leaders may refuse to take you if you are inadequately dressed or equipped.
Not all walks are suitable for children under 18. The leader decides who they will accept on a walk, and may refuse children, or set a minimum age. Please ask the leader in advance of the walk for their permission to bring your children.
All children must be accompanied by and fully supervised by their parent, grand-parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian will need to sign an Acknowledgement of risk and waiver on behalf of the child and bring this to the walk. If a grand parent is supervising the child the parent or guardian will still need to sign this form. We have a Child Protection Policy.
Unfortunately we cannot take dogs on group walks.