If you are considering walking over between December and March (the Birak and Bunuru seasons), 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 (Birak and Bunuru).
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. This means you should not rely on rescue services, family or friends to come to your aid.
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 may continue to April 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.
2021 WA Seniors Awards winners were announced on Thursday, 25 November 2021
Contributions of seniors, businesses and local governments celebrated yesterday included James Freeman who was recognised for the many years of volunteer work with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation.
The annual WA Seniors Awards celebrate and recognise the valued contributions of seniors, businesses and local governments within the community.
James (Jim) Freeman, formerly of Merredin and now living in Mandurah, is the WA Senior of the Year - Regional. Jim is recognised for his 23 years of dedication and volunteer service to the Bibbulmun Track Foundation since its inception in 1997. Jim has volunteered in the Foundation offices, lead events as a guide for the Foundation and maintained parts of the Bibbulmun Track for 20 years, which involved walking sections of the track four times per year, often involving eight-hour return drives from his home in Merredin.
Taking a lunch break on the staff and office volunteer annual hike 2020
The 2021 WA Seniors Awards were presented by the Council on the Ageing (WA) in partnership with the State Government.
The Minister for Seniors and Ageing Minister Don Punch said the WA Seniors Awards have again recognised the very best individuals, local governments and businesses who contribute to an age-friendly Western Australia. Recognising and celebrating the great value older people bring to community life is so important and the WA Seniors Awards are a great way to celebrate older peoples' contributions.
As work starts to wrap up for 2021, we give a huge shout out and thanks to all of our 460 volunteers who made a contribution this year.
With only 4.5 FTE staff, our volunteers literally do a lot of the leg work! They’re out on the Track checking and repairing their sections … providing essential reception and admin support in the office … leading our walks and events … helping promote the Track … providing governance via the board … and transferring Track user data from the logbooks to digital format.
With their help, we fulfil our part of the partnership with DBCA – to provide baseline and strategic Track maintenance support, vigorously promote and market the Track as an asset to the state, and provide a focus for walkers seeking information and guidance.
Over the last few weeks, the volunteers were thanked and recognized at a series of events. Most volunteers work apart from HQ, so coming together and connecting at these events is always great!
Some volunteers were recognized for particular levels of contribution during the financial year just past. A total of 19 volunteers contributed over 500 hours, 19 volunteers over 300 hours and 52 volunteers over 100 hours during 2020-21. Many more made a consistent contribution but didn’t meet these thresholds (e.g. because they didn’t have the same travel requirements to their maintenance section).
The loyalty of long serving volunteers was also recognized: 26 volunteers marking their 5 year anniversary, 7 volunteers 10 years, 8 volunteers 15 years and 3 who have been participating consistently for 20 years.
The following providers are acknowledged for their contribution to this volunteer recognition:
BTF staff and office volunteers
Lake Monger Recreation Club
Peaceful Bay Progress Association
Prontos Gourmet Catering
Big Apple Bakery, Donnybrook
TownsEnd Café and Catering, Albany
Michael and Susan Grimm, Albany
Paul Harris, Peaceful Bay
Sea to Summit
Zanthorrea Nursery, Maida Vale
Barrecas Winery, Donnybrook
Rusty Roo Design, Walliston
Jim Freeman
Action Trophies, Mandurah
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 office/shop will close at 4pm on Friday 10th December, 2021 and will reopen at 10am on Monday 24th January, 2022.
Emails and online orders will continue to be processed during this time, though there may be some delays.
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.
The not-for-profit Bibbulmun Track Foundation has received a grant from Lotterywest for $81,400 for a project to upgrade and improve online resources.
Minister for Emergency Services; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Volunteering Hon. Reece Raymond Whitby, MLA along with the Minister for Finance; Lands; Sport and Recreation; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests the Hon. Dr Tony Buti, MLA presented the grant to the Bibbulmun Track Foundation’s Chair Kath Brodrick today. The Marketing and Tourism Manager Ashley Gibson and volunteers Issy and James were excited to be able to move forward on this project.
The funding will contribute to the development of a new website to improve information about the Bibbulmun Track for volunteers and the wider community.
The new website will also include a portal with better functionality for the Bibbulmun Track Foundation’s volunteers – who number in excess of 500 – to support reporting on conditions along the Track and build cohesion.
The Bibbulmun Track Foundation is an incorporated, not-for-profit organisation established to provide support for the management, maintenance and marketing of the Bibbulmun Track.
The Foundation is recognised as the primary focal point for community-based support and involvement for the Track, promoting the Track to potential walkers and maintaining the Track through a volunteer maintenance program.
The Hon. Reece Raymond Whitby stated, “The Foundation’s new website will vastly improve available valuable resources including education, safety information and trip planning, and further encourage participation and connection with the natural environment.”
Minister Buti, who is planning to hike the Track himself next year, agreed that “education and preparation is key to a safe hike so this website will be an extremely valuable resource to bushwalkers who want to attempt one of the world's best tracks.”
"The Bibbulmun Track is an icon of Western Australia and like many trails throughout our State, it's growing in popularity” he said.
"WA is currently enjoying a huge resurgence in bushwalking, with participation increasing by more than 45 per cent in the four years to June 2020."
The Foundation thanks Lotterywest for supporting this important project which we aim to launch in 2022.
The Lotterywest grant for $81,400 was presented to the BTF at Parliament House. L to R: BTF volunteers, James Young and Isabelle Busch, BTF Chair Kathleen Broderick, Minister for Sport & Recreation Tony Buti, BTF Marketing Manager Ash Gibson and Minister
