4th August 2025

5 Reasons I Started The Hike Collective (That Still Guide Everything We Do Today)

When I started The Hike Collective back in 2016, I wasn’t trying to build a tourism company.
I didn’t set out to win awards or fill weekends with back-to-back guided hikes.

I just wanted to create something that felt… better.

Something that would give people a reason to get outside.
To breathe.
To feel human again without the pressure of performance, the confusion of complicated gear, or the fear of not “doing it right.”

The idea was simple: walk together.

And over time, that simple idea became something much bigger. Today, The Hike Collective is an award-winning Australian experience company, helping people reconnect with nature and themselves through guided hiking and wellness in wild spaces.

But even as we grow, the reasons we started haven’t changed. In fact, they’ve never felt more important.

So whether you’ve been walking with us for years or you’re just discovering us now, here are the five core reasons I started The Hike Collective — and how they still shape every trail we walk.

1. Because movement is medicine

Before hiking became a product or a tour, it was a ritual. A way of moving emotions through the body. A reset.

There’s something powerful about walking. It grounds you, literally. It shifts stuck energy. It brings clarity without needing to explain yourself. And it’s available to almost everyone, at almost any time.

I’ve seen first-hand how movement can help people feel better without needing to be “fit” or outdoorsy. You don’t need to train for it. You don’t need to hit 10,000 steps. And you definitely don’t need to climb a mountain to feel the shift.

Our hikes are designed to meet you where you’re at. Whether it’s a gentle forest amble or a guided cave meditation, every experience is rooted in the belief that movement heals — when done with intention.

2. Because nature holds answers we can’t Google

We spend so much of our lives online, trying to fix, solve, optimise, or escape. But the wisdom we need is often waiting for us in the quiet.

In the rustle of leaves.
The sound of birds.
The wind across open space.
The gentle reminder that the world is much bigger than our inboxes.

Nature has an uncanny way of putting things into perspective without saying a word. That’s what drew me to it. And that’s what keeps me going back.

At The Hike Collective, we design every experience to allow for these moments of reflection. No phones. No rush. No trying to “get somewhere faster.” Just space to think, feel, and reconnect.

Some people say it’s like therapy. Others say it’s a reset. For many, it’s the first deep breath they’ve taken in months.

Nature doesn’t try to fix you. It just holds you while you remember who you are.

3. Because connection should feel easy, not awkward

One of the things I noticed early on — especially in the fitness world — was how many people were craving connection, but didn’t know how to find it.

They’d show up to classes or hikes or events… but feel like outsiders.
Or they’d go alone and feel too intimidated to start a conversation.

That’s not how it should be.

The Hike Collective was built to be a soft landing. A place where it’s normal to come solo. Where everyone’s welcome — even (and especially) if you’re not “a hiker.” And where community happens naturally, without needing to force it.

We train our guides to hold space, not just lead trails. We notice the quiet ones. We connect people gently. And we never assume someone wants to talk, but we always make room when they do.

And something beautiful happens on a trail. People drop the small talk. They share stories. They walk side by side, without pressure or expectation, and suddenly, they’re not strangers anymore.

It’s not about finding your people. It’s about remembering you belong.

4. Because we all need a safe place to escape to

Let’s be honest: life gets loud.

Between work, family, phones, news cycles, and the constant pull to keep up… it’s easy to lose ourselves. To feel like there’s no space just to be.

That’s why I believe so deeply in what we offer.
Because it’s not just about “getting outdoors.”
It’s about creating moments of stillness.
Tiny pockets of calm in a busy world.

Some people come to our hikes for the adventure. Others come for the mental space. Many come not even knowing what they need — just knowing they feel better afterward.

We’ve had people cry quietly in gorges. Sit silently in sun-drenched meadows. Laugh unexpectedly with strangers on a trail. These aren’t just hikes. They’re gentle homecomings.

That’s what our wellness tours like Zen in the Cave are all about. It’s not about performing. It’s about pausing.

Not everyone wants a retreat. But we all need a return.

5. Because good things should be easy to say yes to

When I started guiding hikes, I kept asking myself: why don’t more people do this?

The answer, I realised, wasn’t about motivation. It was about access. Too many people feel like they’re “not outdoorsy enough.” Or they don’t know where to go, what gear they need, or if it’s safe to go alone.

So we removed those barriers.

Our experiences are designed to be accessible, in location, language, price, and vibe. We don’t assume you’ve got hiking boots. We don’t expect you to know where to park. We take care of the logistics, so you can focus on feeling present.

Whether it’s your first walk in years or your fiftieth hike this season — there’s space for you here.

And that’s something I’m incredibly proud of.

You don’t need to hike harder. You just need a place to start.

What Happens When You Start with “Why”

Almost 10 years on, we’re still walking people home to nature, to connection, to themselves.

Our experiences might look different now. From multi-day wellness journeys in Karijini, to seasonal rituals like Zen in the Cave, to new ways to walk with us coming later this year (hello, Trail Club) but the heartbeat remains the same.

Simple movement.
Gentle community.
Wild places.
And a deep belief that this work matters.

If you’ve been craving more space to breathe, to think, to move your body and soften your mind — we’d love to welcome you on a trail soon.