 We like to think that anyone who comes on a hiking tour with Emu Trekkers becomes a member of our Emu Trekkers family. For us, this is more than just a bushwalking tour. It is an opportunity to connect, to bring together the community, and make a positive difference to the lives of others. It has been so exciting to see participants in our first month of operation respond so positively to our guided hiking tours in Manly and the Blue Mountains. To celebrate this milestone, we would like to showcase our first 5 reviews and thank each of the reviewers for spreading the word. It is inspiring to see the idea of Emu Trekkers come to life and make an impact on others.
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By Jody Hammond, Media Officer.  Australian couple, Tristan Harley and Rutty Talati have launched Emu Trekkers, what they believe is Australia’s first 100 percent, not-for-profit tour operator run by volunteer guides in Australia.
Inspiration for the venture came from an experience they had during their honeymoon, trekking volcanoes in Nicaragua in 2016, with a group that raised money for local children. They returned to Australia with a desire to create a similar program here. So Emu Trekkers was born, a social enterprise offering guided walks with the goal to support children in need. Emu Trekkers’ mission is “Hike Australia. Help Kids”. The registered charity will donate funds from the walks to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. In addition, Emu Trekkers will take disadvantaged children on walking tours.  Emu Trekkers is proud to announce that the proceeds raised from the treks in 2017 will be going to the amazing charity, the Indigenous Literacy Foundation. This Australian charity focuses on improving literacy rates among remote and very remote Indigenous communities in Australia.
Being able to read opens so many doors, but unfortunately, according to the 2017 Closing the Gap report, only 42% of Indigenous Year 5 students in very remote areas in Australia are reaching national minimum reading standards, compared to 94% for non-Indigenous students. What we love about the Indigenous Literacy Foundation is that they not only give children thousands of new, culturally appropriate books - with a focus on early literacy and first language- but they also run programs to inspire the communities to tell and publish their own stories. Many of these stories, such as Nginingawila Ngirramini – Our Story, are written by the students themselves in their first language and English. These stories focus on their heroes, sacred places and favourite memories.  So you are considering heading out on your first multi-day bush walk? Or perhaps you have done a long distance walk before but it has been a while and you want to refresh your knowledge.
Here are 5 simple tips to make the experience that much more pleasurable 1. Pack light One of the most common errors made by first-time hikers is carrying too much stuff in your backpack that you do not really need. These may be items such as heavy books, appearance items such as hairbrushes, chairs or excessive amounts of clothing. There are multitude of pack checklists available freely on the internet these days. The important thing is to choose a list that suits the conditions you will be hiking in, whether it is desert sun or coastal rain, and stick it to it. Do not add more. Remember, on a multi-day hike, you are going to get dirty and smelly. You have to just live with it and remember that it is not date-night. |
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Emu Trekkers is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission and is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).
ABN 82614391614.
ABN 82614391614.
© Emu Trekkers - Hike Australia. Help Kids. 2025.