We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members, volunteers and sponsors for their support during the year and wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The Bibbulmun Track Foundation will be closed from 4pm on Friday 13th December, 2019 to 9am Monday 20th January, 2020.
Emails and online orders will continue to be processed during this time, though there may be some delays with merchandise orders.
If you wish to get in touch, contact us through our website. Most questions can be answered in our FAQs.
If you wish to report a problem on the Track, please see the instructions at the top right of the contact page.
Track conditions, listed in the relevant Section By Section Guide will be kept up to date during this time.
If you are considering walking over this summer, please restrict your walks to day walks (duration of one day). We advise that you check the weather and fire forecasts. If the fire danger is Very High or above we recommend walkers don’t go out on the Track, or leave if they are already out. If in doubt, and the weather forecast is for hot (and windy) conditions, the recommendation is not to go walking.
It is usually too hot to walk in the peak of summer.
It is strongly recommended that you do not carry out any extended walk between December and the start of March anywhere on the Track.
If you do go out, you must be able to self-evacuate in the event of a bushfire as a rescue may not be possible.
The Track gets very hot and the bushfire risk is extreme. Temperatures can range from low 30s to mid-40s. In recent years the Track has been severely impacted by bushfires with the destruction of campsites and other structures which fire fighters were not able to save due to the ferocity of the fires. Much of the Track is difficult to access quickly in an emergency and more so during a bushfire.
Please plan to walk outside of these months and avoid putting your life at risk and the lives of those that may need to rescue you.
Day walks in the karri forest can be comfortable on cooler days (temperatures less than 27 degrees). We advise people planning a day walk to check the weather and fire forecasts. Again, if the fire danger is ‘very high’ or above it is strongly recommend people don’t go out on the Track. The south coast, although may be cooler, offers little protection from the sun due to the lack of a forest canopy and fire spreads more quickly in open bush and grassland. Even when walking in winter, always cover up and wear a hat and sunscreen.
Some key points to remember:
Plan your visits for cooler periods of the year, avoiding the hot summer months.
Check the Fire Danger Rating and do not go on the trails if the forecast is Very High or above.
Do not do extended multi-day trips as it is not possible to keep up with changing conditions (extremely limited mobile phone coverage) and it is difficult to self-evacuate from the trail at short notice. You must be able to self-evacuate in the event of a bushfire.
Avoid remoter sections of the trail where there is limited vehicle access.
Abide by all trail closure signage, and any instructions from Parks and Wildlife and other emergency staff.
Trails and parks may be closed on days when the Fire Danger Rating is Very High or above.
More info about total fire bans and permanent fire bans at specific Bibbulmun Track campsites.
Campfire in a fire ring at a campsite
Campfire bans will be in place at many campsites on the Bibbulmun Track.
Walkers are not permitted to light any campfires or wood operated stoves where campfire bans are in place. Please carry and use a liquid fuel stove.
Campfire bans will begin from December 1. Once in place, they will continue to April 2020 depending on weather conditions. Please check the Section By Section guide (under Trip Planner) for any changes.
Check the Section by Section Guide relevant to the section you are walking for other impacts. There are likely to be some sections of the Track that will be impacted by bushfires this summer.
The Track is indistinguishable alongside this creek bed after the fire.
On certain days, a total fire ban will be in force where walkers are not permitted to light a fuel stove either. For information about locations of current total fire bans call 1800 709 355 or visit the www.emergency.wa.gov.au/.
No fires are permitted at any time of year at two campsites in the northern section (Yourdamung and Blackwood) and between the Mt Chance campsite (south of Northcliffe) through to Albany.
We strongly encourage walkers to always use fuel stoves to cook on whenever they are walking the Bibbulmun Track. Campfires are great to sit around, but they can have an adverse effect on the environment.
The full range of work done in the name of the Foundation wouldn’t be possible without all our volunteers – in the office, carrying out Track inspection and maintenance, guiding events, collecting and processing Track user statistics, and more.
To recognise this contribution, all volunteers were invited to a “thank you” morning tea on 17 November. This annual event incorporates the acknowledgement of volunteer contributions made during the previous year, as well as the presentation of gifts to long-standing volunteers. It’s an opportunity to share the successes and challenges of the year, and catch up with other lovers of the Track. We were able to welcome new Board Chair Kath Broderick, and heard from Support Volunteer coordinator Charlie Soord about some of the projects completed during the year.
It was great to see the volunteers who were able to join us on Sunday morning at the Lake Monger Recreation Club – a new location for this event. This will be followed up by regional events in Albany and Peaceful Bay this weekend.
Retiring Chair Mike Wood congratulates Kath Broderick on her appointment as Chair of the Bibbulmun Track Foundation board.
After 21 years as Chair, Mike Wood stood down from the role on 31 October 2019.
Mike’s involvement with the Track started around 1993 when he joined a steering committee that oversaw the Building a Better Bibbulmun Track Project that resulted in the current alignment and the construction of the campsites.
He was instrumental in establishing the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and has been Chair of the Board since it was incorporated in 1997 (as the Friends of the Bibbulmun Track).
In addition to chairing the Board, Mike, personally and through his businesses, has been, and continues to be, extremely generous in sponsoring and supporting the BTF. For over 20 years he provided free office space and donated hiking equipment for hire to walkers, as rewards for the BTF’s volunteers and as prizes for fundraising. He also assisted with community talks and promotion. He is a strong advocate for the Track to the WA Government and others.
On tendering his resignation Mike said “The Foundation is in a great position with an excellent board, strong community support and a fantastic team of staff and volunteers. I feel now is a great time to hand over the reins.”
Peter Sharp, Director of DBCA’s Parks and Visitor Services thanked Mike on behalf of the Department and stated that, under Mike’s leadership, the Foundation has become an outstanding example of a successful community partnership, having the common goal of the protection and enjoyment of a community asset that we are passionate about.
Kathleen Broderick was elected the new Chair and we are delighted to welcome her to the role. Kath has been on the Board since 2016 and a Bibbulmun Track member and maintenance volunteer for many years prior to that.
She has over 30 years’ experience in the education and natural resource management sectors, and has contributed strongly to regional development.
We are sure that Kath will continue to take the organisation from strength to strength.
