26th August 2025

From Barefoot Curiosity to Guiding Thousands: The Story of The Hike Collective

Childhood: Nature as Second Nature

I have always loved the outdoors.

As a kid, I would spend hours barefoot in the bush, climbing trees, exploring creek beds, and wandering until the sun went down. Nature wasn’t an outing or an activity. It was part of who I was.

Those hours outside planted something in me that I didn’t realise at the time. Being outdoors gave me perspective, grounding, and a joy that only comes when you are immersed in the natural world.

A Different Lens

In my twenties I moved to Germany. I lived on the Swiss border with trails and slopes right at my doorstep. On weekends, locals would lace up their boots, grab their poles, and head out into the Alps.

At first, I went out of curiosity. I never thought of myself as a “hiker.” Hiking felt like a word reserved for serious adventurers with compasses and maps. I was simply exploring.

At first, it was the views that pulled me out there. The reward of a sweeping alpine vista. The satisfaction of standing at the summit. But that started to shift.

I realised it wasn’t really about the peak. It was about the feeling.

• The shift in perspective.

• The grounding in presence.

• The rhythm of moving steadily, step by step, into something greater than myself.

What began as casual exploration became more of a practice. Almost a ritual.

Planting the Seed

Four years later I returned to Perth and started working as a personal trainer. My job was to help people move, but I couldn’t shake the sense that true health wasn’t found only in gyms or routines.

I kept hiking. And that ritual grew.

I invited friends along. They invited theirs. Soon strangers started showing up. What began as my way to reconnect with myself became a collective way to reconnect with nature, with movement, and with each other.

That was the seed of The Hike Collective.

Growing Into a Collective

At the beginning, it was simple. Small groups. Short trails. Lots of laughter. There was no business model. Just people craving the same reset I had found.

Over time I saw something bigger taking shape.

People weren’t just looking for exercise. They were looking for safety, community, and space. They wanted to feel guided but not rushed. They wanted to feel curious again. To find that deep exhale that only comes when you step onto a trail.

So I kept building it. Slowly. Intentionally. With care.

From Local Walks to National Journeys

What began as weekend meet-ups grew into a recognised tourism business with a clear mission: to create safe spaces to explore the beauty of Western Australia while unlocking the power of movement, connection, and nature.

Today, The Hike Collective guides thousands of people each year.

• We host guided experiences throughout Western Australia

• We partner with destinations like Kings Park, Rottnest Island, and Perth Zoo to create wellness experiences that combine hiking with yoga, sound healing, and breathwork.

• We lead guests into ancient landscapes like Karijini, where we pair hiking with mindfulness, storytelling, and stargazing under some of the darkest skies in the world.

Each trail is different, but the heart is always the same. We create opportunities for presence, connection, and growth.

What I Have Learned Along the Way

1. Childhood passions often point to adult purpose.
   What you loved barefoot and wild might just hold the clue to what you are meant to do later in life.

2. Nature isn’t just a place to go. It is a place to grow.
   Research shows that time outdoors improves mental clarity, reduces stress, and boosts wellbeing. But beyond the science, it changes the way we see ourselves.

3. Sometimes curiosity is the best compass.
   I didn’t start with a business plan. I started with a trail in front of me. Following that curiosity led me here.

Looking Ahead

The Hike Collective has grown into something far beyond what I imagined when I first stepped back onto a trail. From childhood curiosity, to realising the value of nature while living overseas, to sharing it with friends and strangers, the throughline has always been the same. Nature has the power to change us.

And my hope is that every person who joins us on a trail discovers their own version of that moment. Maybe it is clarity. Maybe it is calm. Maybe it is joy or simply the gift of time outside.