Bushwalking Adventures Queensland offers a range of activities including social activities (Soc) and cycling (BK), however our main activity is bushwalking. We offer day walks (DW), through walks (TW) that involve pack carrying and camping overnight, and base camps (BC) where we camp fairly close to our cars and walk each day from the camp site.
Each walk is graded using a combination of criteria - distance, terrain and level of fitness required. See Walk Gradings, below, for further information on the walks grading system. When you prepare for your first walk you need to be very mindful of your own abilities so it is best to be cautious in selecting your first walk until you learn what your capabilities are in relation to the grading system.
Be aware that what might be casually described as easy by more experienced bushwalkers may be a little more challenging for the inexperienced. There is nothing more disheartening than to find yourself on a walk where everyone else is used to jumping from rock to rock and you are not. You are most welcome to ring the Members Officer or email our Outings Officer to inquire on the nature of the walk and the equipment required.
Our grading system
The system we use helps to determine the suitability of walks and other activities for participants. Each grading has four parts including:
- Activity Type – Abbreviated
- Distance grade – Abbreviated
- Terrain Difficulty grade – 1 to 9, ascending in order of difficulty
- Fitness grade – A to E, ascending in order of difficulty.
The grading is comprised of the activity type and three characters: distance, terrain and fitness level. You can download a PDF copy of the gradings here.
Example: A suitable walk for beginners is the Lower Bellbird Circuit at Binna Burra in Lamington National Park which is a 13km graded track walk. This particular activity is a DW with a grading of M3B.
The classification and grading means that this is a Day Walk, of Medium length in distance, with a Terrain difficulty of 3 and a Fitness grade of B.
Self-Assessment
Participants are responsible for ensuring they are capable of doing the walk for which they nominate.
Easier walks: A terrain grade of 1 – 3 is suitable for beginners and inexperienced walkers.
Moderate walks: A terrain grade of 4 and higher requires increasing degrees of self-reliance.
Difficult walks: A terrain grade of 7 and higher requires accurate self-assessment of ability before undertaking difficult walks, including off track day walks and through walks.
Participants are encouraged to contact the walk leader and discuss fitness and skill levels if they are in any doubt.