Bushwalking Victoria - who we are and what we do

Bushwalking Victoria welcomes all walkers, outdoor adventurers and nature lovers to our bushwalking community.

As Victoria’s peak body for bushwalking, we represent all bushwalkers and bushwalking clubs in the state. Now an incorporated organisation, our roots go back to 1934 when the Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs was established. In 2006, a major restructure modernised the organisation and we adopted our current name to better reflect our key area of interest.

We work to unite members of Victoria’s diverse walking community – bushwalking club members, people from organisations with similar interests and individuals.

Bushwalking Victoria protects and works for the common interests of all walkers:

• We promote safe and environmentally-responsible bushwalking.
• We manage projects which encourage Victorians to experience the many physical and mental health benefits that bushwalking offers.
• We maintain a volunteer Bush Search and Rescue group to assist Victoria Police with land-based searches for persons lost in Victoria.
• We promote and actively work for the conservation and effective management of National and State Parks, wilderness areas and other public land, to enhance their recreational value for all the community.
• Through the Bushwalking Advisory Committee, we are a key partner, along with Parks Victoria and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), in the protection and development of Victoria’s bushwalking assets.
• Our volunteer Bushwalking Tracks and Conservation group work on the development, maintenance and accessibility of walking tracks and assist with conservation.
• Our Bushwalking Manual provides information of interest to all walkers, including leadership, safety, clothing and equipment and preservation of the environment.
• We assist new bushwalking clubs to become established and support them, along with our existing clubs, in numerous ways:
  • Providing training opportunities and resources on topics such as walk leadership and navigation; providing a subsidy for first-aid training.
  • Providing information on our website to help walkers choose where to walk.
  • Participation in the national bushwalking insurance scheme.

Comprising more than 60 established clubs, 12 associated organisations and about 200 individual members, Bushwalking Victoria represents over 6,000 club members and an estimated 360,000 active recreational bushwalkers in the Victorian community.

Join with our large and diverse bushwalking community to enjoy world-class walking in Victoria!