Here is some general information for anyone thinking of doing the Bibbulmun track.
I must start off by saying that the official Bibb track site is absolutely awesome and should be your first (or next) port of call.
Where is the Bibbulmun Track?
The Bibb is located in South Western Australia and runs 1000km from just outside the state capital Perth to the coastal town of Albany.
How do I get there?
Perth is the international gateway for Western Australia. It’s as close to Singapore as Sydney! Flight time from Singapore is around 5 hours. It’s only 3.5 hours to Bali, which is why so many people from Perth holiday there.
Public transport is not too bad in this part of the world, and there are a number of access points along the 1000km length of trail.
When should I walk the track?
The best time is anytime except summer (December to April).
The perfect seasons would be spring (Sept/Oct) for the wild flowers and autumn (Apr-May) for cooler temperatures. Winter can be pretty wet apparently.
Where can I buy hiking and camping equipment?
I’d recommend bringing as much as possible from your home country unless you live somewhere super expensive, such as Dubai or New Zealand! Australia is not a cheap country and Perth is a long way from everywhere, hence the steeper prices.
There are plenty of outdoor shops in Perth. I’d recommend the Army Surplus store on Wellington Street near the Perth City YHA (which for those on a budget is where I’d recommend to stay in the city)
Where am I going to sleep?
At least every 20km are awesome three sided shelters which are based on those on the Appalachian Trail in the USA. Apparently the Bibb ones are much nicer. Many people also take a tent and camp by the shelters. This way you have the best of both worlds.
There is no charge to use the shelters and they all have a water tank and a drop toilet too. This makes an extended hike very affordable in an otherwise expensive country.
Where am I going to buy food?
There are a number of trail towns along the track. Some have full on supermarkets, whereas others will just have a small (and super expensive) store. Most trail towns will have cafes and takeaways too, as they are also popular tourist destinations.
How long does it take to walk the full 1000km?
Most thru-hikers take around 6 weeks, some will take 2 months, others around 30 days.
Dangers and annoyances?
Let’s not go there. This is the Australian bush. If you want safety, then stay in your house and watch another episode of Game of Thrones.
Seriously though, the likelihood of a bad wildlife encounter is very slim. Normal precautions prevail, watch where you step and always check under the toilet seat before taking the throne.
