Voices from the Track: A Family Adventure — 700km with Baby Romy
When most new parents think about parental leave, they imagine settling in at home, catching up on sleep, and perhaps fitting in the occasional weekend trip. But for Anne-Flo and Volker, who live in Germany, parental leave looked a little different: hiking 700 kilometres of the Bibbulmun Track with their 8-month-old baby, Romy.
The start of the adventure of a life time as a family of three on the Bibbulmun Track
This story is part of Voices from the Track, a new series celebrating the people who make the Bibbulmun Track come alive. Each month, we share stories from walkers — from end-to-enders to section hikers — highlighting their challenges, triumphs, favourite spots, and top tips.
A dream that began with adventure — and family
“Living in Germany, we had the wonderful opportunity to take extensive parental leave,” says Volker. “We wanted to make the most of it not just by travelling, but by sharing something we truly love: the outdoors.”
They began searching for a destination that was baby-friendly, adventurous, and comfortably mild in August and September. Australia quickly ticked all the boxes.
“As passionate hikers, we started looking for long-distance trails and that’s when we discovered the Bibbulmun Track,” says Anne-Flo. “The more we read about its landscapes, huts, and community, the more excited we became. It felt like the perfect way to introduce our daughter to our love of nature and adventure.”
Seasoned hikers, new parents
Both Anne-Flo and Volker are experienced long-distance hikers, with trails like the Appalachian Trail, the Tour du Mont-Blanc, and even the Pacific Crest Trail under their belts — the latter being where they first met in 2022.
“When Romy was born, we continued that spirit of adventure,” says Anne-Flo. “We started taking her on short hikes and overnight trips to test our setup. She loved it from the start — she’d happily nap in the front carrier while we walked.”
So, when they arrived in Western Australia, they were already a well-oiled hiking team — just one member bigger.
Preparing for a family thru-hike
Physically, the pair did several day hikes with full packs to get used to the extra weight. Mentally, they took a different approach than on previous thru-hikes.
“In the past, we were strict about walking every single kilometre,” says Volker. “But with Romy, we wanted to focus on enjoying the journey together. Our plan was simply to start and take it as a family holiday — to stay flexible and adjust when needed.”
Family adventure – Anne-Flo, Volker and Baby Romy enjoying ocean views
Their preparation also relied on a network of support. Friends in Perth helped them with logistics and a “trail angel” named Julie met them at Brookton Highway with resupplies (and took out their rubbish — a huge help when carrying nappies). They mailed boxes to visitor centres along the Track to simplify baby food and nappy resupplies.
Hiking with a baby: comfort, care, and creativity
Carrying an 8kg baby plus gear while hiking on the Bibbulmun Track required some creativity. One parent carried the bulk of the food and gear, while the other carried Romy in a front carrier and a small backpack.
“We alternated to balance the load,” says Anne-Flo. “We could also turn her forward so she could enjoy the views.”
Romy’s comfort was always the priority. They brought rain gear, merino clothes, and a small sleeping bag to ensure she stayed warm and dry. “Our lightweight sun/rain umbrella was a game changer — we used it every day,” says Volker.
Feeding was another key part of their planning. “Because we knew we wanted to try a long-distance hike, I was still breastfeeding,” explains Anne-Flo. “That helped enormously in terms of food carry, but we also brought solids like porridge and veggie pouches as she started to eat more.”
Each resupply box included a carefully packed “baby kit”: one ziplock bag with six nappies per hiking day and another empty bag for carrying the used ones out. “We learned quickly to never miss a chance to offload rubbish — nappies get heavy fast!” laughs Volker.
Playtime, naps, and sleeping setups
During the day, Romy usually slept in the carrier while her parents hiked. When she woke, they would spread out a sheet of Tyvek so she could crawl, stretch, and play with leaves, twigs and gravel — a routine that became an essential part of her development and their daily rhythm.
“We wanted to make sure she had plenty of playtime to explore the world around her,” says Anne-Flo. “It was beautiful to watch her interact with nature in her own curious way.”
At night, the family slept on two inflatable mattresses tied together with elastic bands. “That setup worked perfectly in our tent,” says Volker, “but in the shelters it was trickier — Romy wanted more space to move.” On a few nights, Anne-Flo ended up sleeping on the floor. Eventually, they bought a lightweight yoga mat, which not only improved their shelter setup but doubled as a play mat during the day.
Challenges — and silver linings
Of course, hiking the Bibbulmun Track with a baby wasn’t always smooth sailing. “The rain was definitely our biggest challenge,” says Volker. “Feeding, changing nappies, or taking breaks in the rain is hard — especially when there’s no shelter.”
After several wet weeks, they made the decision to skip about 270km of the Track between Northcliffe and Walpole, where flooding had made conditions unsafe. “We had to remind ourselves that this wasn’t about rules or distance — it was about sharing an experience together.”
Another challenge was simply the energy required. “Carrying a baby through steep climbs or across streams takes focus,” says Anne-Flo. “We were grateful for our ultralight gear and good teamwork.”
Moments of joy
Despite the challenges, the experience was full of heartwarming moments. “Watching Romy grow and discover the world was incredible,” says Volker. “She’d recognise trail markers, point out kangaroos, and light up at the sight of grass trees.”
Baby Romy entertaining herself with some sticks on the Bibbulmun Track
Some standout memories include Romy sitting up on her own for the first time in a hut, being enthralled by campfire chatter, and delighting other hikers with her giggles. “We were overwhelmed by how much love and encouragement people shared with us on the Track,” says Anne-Flo.
Seeing the ocean after weeks of forest walking was another highlight. “It reminded us of how far we’d come — and how special it was to experience it all as a family.”
Lessons from the trail
As parents and hikers, Anne-Flo and Volker came away with a simple but powerful lesson: “Be flexible,” says Volker. “Things will go differently than planned, and that’s okay. It’s about enjoying the journey, not ticking off kilometres.”
For other families considering hiking with a baby on the Bibbulmun Track, their advice is encouraging and practical:
- Go lightweight. “Reducing pack weight makes all the difference.”
- Choose your trail wisely. “The Bibbulmun Track is perfect for families — with huts, frequent access points, and a supportive trail community.”
- Take your time. “Little ones need lots of breaks to play and explore. Towards the end, Romy wanted more time on the ground, so we started finishing our hiking days earlier.”
Looking back
If they could change one thing? “We’d allow more time,” says Anne-Flo.
Baby Romy having a wiggle out on the Bibbulmun Track
“We were limited by travel plans, so we had to skip some sections. But we’re proud to have walked over 700km — and to have done it together.”
Their favourite piece of gear? “Our umbrella!” laughs Volker. “It kept Romy dry and shaded — we used it every day.”
And one last piece of advice: “Never miss a chance to get rid of your rubbish. Nappies get heavy!”
A heartfelt thank you
“We want to thank the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and all the volunteers for their incredible work,” says Anne-Flo. “We’ve hiked trails all over the world, and the care and passion that go into the Bibbulmun Track are truly outstanding.”
Anne-Flo, Volker, and baby Romy remind us that adventure doesn’t have to stop when life changes — it just takes new forms. Sometimes, it means slowing down, taking more breaks, and seeing the world through smaller eyes.
And in their case, it means showing one very lucky baby the joy of life on the Track.
Have you recently completed your own end-to-end?
Register your walk with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation to be featured in our End-to-Enders Gallery — and share your story in Voices from the Track!
