Safety

Let someone know before you go and avoid going alone:

• If you are a visitor or traveller without any local contacts, you can register your trip with the police instead.
• Where possible, record your party's details in bushwalking registers at the start of remote walking trails.
• Share the track. Walkers should give way to horses, cyclists should give way to walkers and horses, and horse riders should exercise caution around other users.

Know your limits:

• Research your trip. Choose walks or activities that match your abilities, fitness and stamina, purchase a high-quality map before you go and take note of any opening or closing times.
• Check the weather conditions and be prepared for changes regardless of the forecast, particularly in colder months.
• Carry clothing sufficient for the worst conditions you could encounter. In the mountains or in colder months, consider multiple warm layers top and bottom, a waterproof, hooded jacket, waterproof overpants, mittens and a balaclava or beanie.
• Ensure your footwear is up to the task. Quality boots and socks will protect your feet and help keep you warm.
• Pack extra food, a hat and sunscreen, and avoid dehydration, especially in summer, by carrying sufficient water. Treat water from creeks or tanks before drinking it.
• Check road conditions, and use a 4WD or chains when required in winter.

Understand the dangers:

• Stick to the tracks to avoid getting lost and to minimise your impact on the natural environment.
• You need the right preparation, equipment, skills and training for bushwalking in more remote areas. If you are interested in exploring remote tracks, seek training from a reputable provider beforehand.
• If entering an ACT pine plantation, please be aware that they are working plantations. You are responsible for your own safety and of those in your care. Do not enter worksites without the work supervisor's permission. In very windy weather be wary of hazards falling from the canopy of the plantation.

Be prepared for an emergency:

• Take a first aid kit and ensure you or a member of your group is trained in remote first aid.
• Be aware that mobile phone reception may be unreliable and GPS may not work in dense bush or deep gullies.
• Consider hiring a personal locator beacon (available for hire from Namadgi Visitor Centre)

We share our parks and reserves with the animals that call them home. Please do not feed the animals. Doing so is an offence in parks and reserves, and native animals may become sick or die of disease as a result of eating human food. They may see humans as a source of food that may lead to behaviours that will harm them or you.

Slow down when driving between dusk and dawn. Wildlife are awake and moving about too.

Be aware of:

• Snakes – if you encounter a snake, keep a safe distance and do not threaten it. Alert nearby park users to its location. Read our snake safety tips.
• Dingoes – often referred to as wild dogs, can be found in low numbers throughout Namadgi National Park. In the unlikely event you are threatened by a dingo, face the animal and calmly back away. Read about dingoes and report any incidents to Access Canberra.
• European Wasps – report nests on public land to Access Canberra.
• Magpies – during spring, avoid swooping magpies by taking an alternative route. Find out more about swooping birds.
• Ticks – ticks have been found in the ACT region. They carry germs that affect people and animals. If you find a tick on you after a day in the bush, follow the recommended procedures. Find out about tick bite prevention.

Always check whether dogs are permitted before you go.