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Bushwalking for Fun, Fitness, Friendship and Nature!
Retiring soon? Consider bushwalking as a way to stay fit, get outdoors and socialise!
At last, you have the time to make your dreams of leisure a reality …
You have retired!
Or at least have reduced your working hours.
You most likely have this on your wishlist:
To get fitter or maintain your fitness,
To get outdoors more – commune with nature, as they say in the classics,
To socialise more, meet new people and make lasting friendships,
To spend quality time with your spouse or showing your grandchildren the bush,
You cannot, no you must not be stuck at home, looking for a new weed to pull from the garden!
YOU NEED TO GO BUSHWALKING!
Most of us look forward to retirement with so much anticipation, but once the dust has settled:
- You have been on that trip, and there will be more travels, but not next week.
- You have, at last, put the regimen of working life behind you, swept away the former routines, and finally grasped the concept that work, paid or voluntary, is now optional, not compulsory.
- You have caught up on all those jobs around the house that have been deferred for as long as you can remember.
YOU NEED TO GO BUSHWALKING!
Retirement can bring on many challenges such as:
- Adjusting to a change in the pace of life;
- Settling into your new lifestyle, new routines;
- Coming to terms with your changed financial position, and for many,
- Downsizing from the family home and moving to a new neighbourhood;
- Moving to be near family, more childminding.
Some retirees find it hard to imagine how they had time to go to work while others find time weighing heavily. Many retirees speak of feeling lost and disconnected or socially isolated. Few retirees will spend their golden years cruising the seven seas, living the life of the eternal grey nomad or find the meaning of life managing their personal superannuation fund.
Everybody needs and wants to find their correct balance between satisfying, meaningful activity and leisure.
YOU NEED TO GO BUSHWALKING!
Eventually, the years move on and the physical realities of aging cannot be swept under the carpet any more. To keep the aches and pains to a minimum, to help medication do its job and reduce the risk of all the ‘modern’ epidemics, all advice leads to staying socially connected and physically active.
BUSHWALKING TICKS ALL THE BOXES – Fun, fitness, friendship, well-being and nature!
So let’s look at the amazing opportunities of having time on your hands and the world at your feet:
- Bushwalking is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people, make new friends and to keep in touch with old friends. For families, it is a great multigenerational activity to enjoy together, to share in the wonders of nature and to learn or pass on knowledge of the natural world.
- Here in Victoria, we are blessed with ample opportunities and a variety of terrains in which to explore.
- Close to Melbourne, near to regional cities or towns, one hour from home near public transport or two hours drive out in the countryside, and if you are so inclined, at more remote destinations.
- There are Council Parks, State Parks and Forests, National Parks and popular recreational areas.
- A choice of short, medium or long walks;
- Every grading of walk from easy through to challenging, catering to every level of fitness and ability;
- Bushwalking does not require expensive membership fees or elaborate equipment. It is something that can be enjoyed as a member of a club or group or in a casual get together with friends. Best practice is not to go onto less travelled tracks on your own.
VISIT A BUSHWALKING CLUB
Most bushwalking clubs will allow you to join them as a guest (usually for up to three walks), that way you can get a feel for the club and its members and what recreation it can provide for you, before you commit. You can explore our affiliated bushwalking clubs here. Many clubs arrange interstate and international walks, so there are many options for you to spread your wings.
Click on this link to see how Bushwalking could be your gateway to safe outdoor recreation!
All Images courtesy of Melton Bushwalkers, one of our affiliated bushwalking clubs.