About Marcus Reid
Twelve years of boots on the ground, countless blisters, and a growing obsession with honest trail information.
From Reluctant Beginner to Trail Addict
I did not grow up hiking. My family holidays were beach resorts and city breaks. The closest I got to nature as a kid was the backyard. When my mate Steve suggested a "quick bushwalk" in the Blue Mountains back in 2013, I agreed mostly out of social obligation.
That walk changed everything. Standing in the Grand Canyon, surrounded by ferns and sandstone that had been there for millions of years, I felt something shift. Within a month I had bought proper boots. Within a year I was planning overnight trips. Now, 12 years later, I have walked over 2,800 kilometres across 47 different trails in six Australian states.
I am not a professional guide or an outdoor educator. I work in IT during the week - database administration, if you want the unglamorous truth. Hiking is what I do to stay sane.
Why I Started This Site
The frustration that led to Australian Trails started on the Larapinta. I had done my research - or so I thought. Every source I found rated it as "moderate to challenging" without explaining what that actually meant. Turns out "moderate" in the Red Centre is a completely different beast to "moderate" in coastal Victoria.
I nearly got into serious trouble because the available information was too vague to be useful. After that experience, I started documenting my own honest assessments. Not for internet fame or sponsorship deals - just because I wanted the resource I wished had existed when I was planning that trip.
The guides on this site reflect that goal. No marketing speak, no inflated difficulty to make trails sound more impressive, no downplaying challenges to seem tough. Just honest accounts of what each trail actually involves, written by someone who has actually walked them.
My Assessment Approach
When I rate a trail, I consider several factors that official ratings often ignore. Fitness requirements are just the start - I also think about navigation complexity, water access, weather exposure, and how forgiving the trail is if things go wrong.
I try to write for the hiker I was when I started: someone with enthusiasm but limited experience, trying to figure out what they can reasonably attempt. If a beginner can complete a trail comfortably, I will say so. If it requires specific skills or training, I will be specific about what those are.
Every trail on this site I have walked at least once, most of them multiple times in different conditions. I do not write about trails I have only read about, and I do not accept payment or free gear in exchange for reviews. This site runs on a small amount of personal funding and the occasional cup of coffee.
The Gear I Actually Use
People sometimes ask about my setup. I am not a gear minimalist - I prioritise comfort and reliability over shaving grams. My pack weight for a multi-day trip is usually around 16-18kg, which purists would consider heavy. I am okay with that.
The boots I have used for the past four years are Salomon X Ultra 4 GTX. They have held up across everything from tropical rainforest to Tasmanian alpine. For overnight trips I carry a Big Agnes Copper Spur tent, which is not the lightest option but is bombproof in wind. My pack is an Osprey Atmos 65, and yes, the hip belt squeaks annoyingly on day one of every trip.
I mention these not as recommendations - gear choice is deeply personal - but to give you a sense of the setup behind these reviews. Your mileage may vary, literally.
What is Next
My to-do list keeps growing. The Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island has been on my radar for years - I finally have a booking for September 2026. I want to return to the Larapinta properly, with a full end-to-end attempt. And the Three Capes Track in Tasmania keeps calling.
Eventually I would like to expand this site to cover more trails, maybe bring in some guest contributors who share the same commitment to honest assessment. For now, though, it is just me, writing about the trails I know.
If you have done any of the walks I have written about and have different experiences to share, I would genuinely love to hear from you. The more perspectives we have, the more useful these guides become.