Debbie McQueen and Rebecca Scott, indyNR.com
Have you heard of the Bibbulmun Track? It is one of the world’s great long distance walk trails.
It stretches more than 1000km from Kalamunda in the Perth Hills to Albany on the south coast, winding through the heart of the scenic southwest of Western Australia.
Kyogle’s Debbie McQueen and Rebecca Scott recently completed this adventurous hike.
Why The Bibbulmun? Debbie wanted to do something different for her 60th and was looking for a challenge that she’d always remember.
In August last year, the seed was planted and Rebecca said that she would love to come along.
The track takes walkers through towering karri and tingle forests, down mist-shrouded valleys, over giant granite boulders and along breathtaking coastal heathlands.
Debbie and Rebecca’s adventure began on April 13. The physical challenges of a thru-hike make themselves present early on.
Hiking a thousand kilometres through coastlines, forests and unforgiving landscapes will take its toll on the body. Injuries are common and listening to your body will make or break your journey.
Then there’s the logistical side, such as knowing what gear to bring, researching the terrain and weather, how much food is needed and more.
The logistics of food were the most challenging – how much do you need, where can we buy food, can we send food to towns?
The track takes you through some lovely towns and this is where we organised our food parcels to go.
They were posted a minimum of two weeks prior to arriving in the towns and we sent them to either the visitor information centres or to our accommodation.
When we got to a town, opening our food parcels felt like it was Christmas.
Something that you don’t have control over is the weather, you must make sure you have the right clothing to keep you comfortable, warm and dry.
Over the seven weeks, we had five days of rain and the rest of the time it was perfect walking conditions.
Other logistics we had to negotiate were the different track conditions ranging from track diversions because of prescribed burns, inlet crossings and permanent diversions.
The physical and logistical sides of a thru-hike are difficult enough on their own, but the mental grind poses the biggest challenge.
Of course, injuries are a big factor in driving hikers off-track, but mental fatigue and loss of motivation are the number one reason.
Getting to share track time with friends is extra special. Hiking together, we not only got to see one another but also strengthened the bond we have.
Sometimes you simply need to know someone has confidence in you and know they have your back.
We were there to encourage each other on those tough days.
There’s something special about getting out in nature and leaving our busy and hectic everyday lives behind. Whether it’s for a few months, weeks, or days.
Getting out in nature helps us to clear the clutter in our minds and allowed us to be renewed mentally.
Debbie and Rebecca’s journey ended on June 1.
The Bibbulmun Track is more than just a walk – it’s a community, a connection to nature, and a journey of the soul.
If you would like to know more about this track, the Bibbulmun website is full of great information.
This article appeared on indyNR.com on 9 June 2025.
