Multi-day hikes are hard work, and they can get expensive fast. Once you add the backpack, tent, sleeping bag, food and everything else, the gear bill can become intimidating. If you are not prepared, or do not know what you are doing, a beautiful weekend outdoors can turn into a miserable slog before you have even found your camp site.

But you do not have to begin with a multi-day expedition, a $900 backpack and the survival skills of Bear Grylls.

You need a date on the calendar, a decent route, some support and a reason not to pull out when the first proper hill appears.

That is the idea behind HIGHLANDER Adventure’s new 1DAY format. It gives first-time hikers the chance to experience an organised adventure without committing to several days on the trail, with events coming to Mount Macedon in Victoria and Bouddi National Park on the NSW Central Coast. But let’s clear up one thing: one day does not mean easy, but it will be fun, if you’re prepared

The Mount Macedon course covers 18.5 km with 540 m of ascent. The Central Coast route is 21 km with 590 m of climbing. You will not need to sleep in the bush, navigate alone or carry several days of food. You will still need to spend several hours walking uphill, which is harder than you think.

The kind of fitness most gym routines miss

A bloke can squat, deadlift and smash a treadmill workout, then discover that four hours of walking on uneven ground has found muscles he did not know existed.

Hiking a route like this doesn’t test raw strength so much as it tests a different, less-trained kind of fitness:

• Time on feet, not time in a single set
• Calf and foot endurance, mile after mile
• Repeated climbs and descents, which load the legs differently to a treadmill incline
• Balance and ankle stability on uneven terrain
• Pacing yourself over hours, not minutes
• Eating and drinking while still moving
• Managing blisters, heat and changing weather as the day goes on

None of that shows up on a gym leg-day PB. It’s a genuinely different fitness test, and it’s the reason a fit-looking gym regular can still have a miserable back half of a 19km hike.

What HIGHLANDER Adventure actually is

HIGHLANDER Adventure positions the 1DAY format as a supported, non-competitive hiking event rather than a guided sightseeing walk. According to the organiser, the event supplies routes, GPX tracks, offline maps, checkpoints, water, food and safety support — with campsite infrastructure added for the multi-day formats. Participants remain responsible for carrying their own pack and turning up physically prepared. HIGHLANDER Australia describes the experience as fully organised, but self-sufficient — and that’s a fair summary once you’ve seen the route stats.

What “fully supported” does — and does not — mean

This is the section worth actually reading before you hit register.

Included:

• Marked and mapped routes
• GPX and offline navigation
• Water and checkpoints along the course
• Food and trail snacks
• Medical and safety support
• Post-hike activities
• Campsite setup for the multi-day events

Still your responsibility:

• Appropriate footwear
• Weather protection
• Your own day pack
• Personal medication
• Personal snacks, if you have preferences beyond what’s provided
• Camping equipment, unless specifically supplied for your format
• Training enough to actually finish the route

Can a beginner really walk 19–21 km?

Possibly — but not without preparation. If you currently struggle to walk for two hours, event day is not the place to find that out. Build up gradually, practise on hills, and wear your hiking shoes well before the event so day one isn’t also the first time you’ve worn them.

What to carry on a supported day hike

• Comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes
• Lightweight day pack
• Enough water capacity for the distance
• Hat and sunscreen
• Rain jacket
• Warm layer
• Phone and a portable battery
• Blister treatment
• Personal medication
• Food that agrees with your stomach

Gym fit versus trail fit: a quick self-test

• Can you walk continuously for three hours?
• Can you handle repeated hills without stopping every few minutes?
• Can you walk 15 km without foot or knee pain?
• Have you actually tested your shoes and pack, not just bought them?
• Can you manage food and water while still moving?

If you answered no to more than one of those, that’s not a reason to skip the event — it’s your six-week training plan, above.

FAQ: HIGHLANDER Adventure, answered

What is HIGHLANDER Adventure?
An organised hiking event series in Australia, offering both a single-day 1DAY format and multi-day formats, with routes, navigation, checkpoints and safety support supplied by the organiser.

Is HIGHLANDER Adventure suitable for beginners?
The 1DAY events are marketed as beginner-friendly, and the support structure (marked routes, checkpoints, food and water) removes much of the logistical difficulty of hiking. The distance and climb — 18.5–21 km with 540–590 m of ascent — still require real preparation.

How far do you walk at HIGHLANDER?
The Mount Macedon 1DAY route is 18.5 km with 540 m of ascent. The Bouddi National Park route is 21 km with 590 m of ascent. Mount Hotham’s multi-day formats cover 33–95 km across two to five days.

What is included in a HIGHLANDER event?
Marked and mapped routes, GPX and offline navigation, water and checkpoints, food, medical and safety support, and — for multi-day events — campsite infrastructure. See the full breakdown above.

What should I bring on a one-day hike?
Broken-in hiking shoes, a day pack, enough water, sun and rain protection, a warm layer, your phone, blister treatment and any personal medication. See the full kit list above.

How do I train for a 20 km hike?
Build up your longest weekly walk gradually over five to six weeks, adding hills and stairs as you go, and do at least one walk close to event distance before race day. See the six-week plan above.

Which HIGHLANDER format is right for me?
First-time hikers and weekend adventurers suit the Mount Macedon or Bouddi 1DAY events. If you want an overnight or multi-day challenge once you’ve built a base, Mount Hotham’s 2DAY, 3DAY and 5DAY formats step up from there. See the comparison table above.