Five hikers gathered on the evening of Friday 2 February 2018 for an ambitious Oxfam Trailwalker training challenge: approximately 50km of continuous hiking through the night and into Saturday morning.
The walk was organised as a training event for the Oxfam team “We’re All Mad Here”, although other suitably experienced hikers were welcome to join. Everyone needed the fitness, equipment and mental preparation required to remain on the trail overnight and maintain the group’s pace under demanding conditions.
The Garmin activity was recorded in two parts. Combined, the recordings totalled 53.86km, 12hr12min of hiking time and 716m of elevation gain.
Hike details
- Date: Friday 2 to Saturday 3 February 2018
- Scheduled time: 7:00pm–11:00am
- Planned distance: Approximately 50km
- Recorded distance: 53.86km
- Recorded hiking time: 12hr12min
- Elevation gain: 716m
- Attendees: 5 hikers
- Route type: Circuit
- Difficulty: Grade 4
- Team: We’re All Mad Here
- Conditions: Evening, overnight and early morning hiking
Beginning in the evening light
Starting at 7:00pm during summer meant we still had daylight for the opening section. The broad forest tracks passed beneath tall gum trees and tree ferns, providing a relatively gentle beginning to what would become a very long night.
One section of the route passed beneath a dense canopy, while another photograph showed me walking between tall ferns beside the wide track.
Sunset across the landscape
As the daylight began to fade, warm evening light filtered through the tall gums. Beyond the forest, the setting sun illuminated the surrounding landscape and marked the transition from an evening walk into a true night hike.
These final daylight views would soon disappear, leaving the group reliant on headtorches for the hours ahead.
Walking beneath the moon
Once darkness settled over the trail, the moon became one of the few visible features beyond the reach of our headtorches. It appeared through the tree canopy and behind the silhouette of a dead tree, creating some of the most atmospheric photographs of the hike.
A black-and-white view of the canopy captured the very different character of the forest at night.
Headtorches on the trail
Through the darkest hours, progress was reduced to the section of trail illuminated by each headtorch. Walkers ahead appeared as distant points of light moving along the track.
Night hiking over this distance required concentration as well as physical endurance. Foot placement, navigation, food, hydration and fatigue all needed to be managed while the group continued towards morning.
Forest gates and open tracks
The circuit used a mixture of forest tracks, rural trails and shared pathways. One broad trail was closed to vehicles by a farm-style gate, but continued through the surrounding countryside.
An old gum tree and the high canopy above provided further reminders that much of the route remained within or beside forested country, even when darkness restricted our view.
Following the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail
Part of the overnight route incorporated the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail. The former railway corridor provided a broad and generally well-formed path through the Yarra Valley.
Although its gradients were gentler than many bush tracks, the rail trail still became physically demanding after hours of continuous walking. Covering more than 50km meant that even straightforward terrain tested tired feet and legs.
Through towns and roadside sections
Not every part of the circuit was enclosed by forest. Some sections followed roadside footpaths, requiring the group to remain alert to traffic and intersections during the night.
These developed sections also provided a contrast to the isolation of the darker forest trails.
Dawn after a full night of hiking
Eventually, the darkness began to lift. The first glow of sunrise appeared across the landscape while the surroundings were still mostly in shadow.
After an entire night on foot, watching the sun rise brought a sense of progress that was both physical and psychological. The final morning views included an open oval framed by tall trees, with mountains visible in the distance.
Completing 53.86km overnight
The two Garmin recordings captured the hike in separate stages:
- Part one: 23.84km, 5hr45min and 229m ascent
- Part two: 30.02km, 6hr27min and 487m ascent
- Combined total: 53.86km, 12hr12min and 716m ascent
The recorded time represents the combined Garmin hiking time rather than the full scheduled event window, which also allowed for stops and other logistics.
Completing more than 53km through the evening, night and following morning was a significant training achievement. It tested endurance, navigation, lighting, nutrition, foot care and the ability to keep moving while tired—the same skills needed for a much longer Oxfam Trailwalker attempt.
Planning a long night hike today
This was a custom training circuit completed in February 2018. Oxfam Trailwalker routes have changed since then, and the original circuit should not be treated as a current navigation guide.
Part of our route used the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail. A current overview can be found in the Trail Hiking Australia guide to the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail, while current access and management information is available from Yarra Ranges Council.
For broader printed coverage, the Yarra Valley West Gippsland Adventure Map includes Warburton, surrounding forests, roads and tracks used by hikers and four-wheel drivers.
The Vicmap Gembrook North 8022-3-N Map provides more detailed 1:25,000 coverage of Woori Yallock, Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Warburton and the surrounding tracks. Depending on the exact route selected, additional adjoining map sheets may be required for a 50km circuit.
A long overnight hike requires reliable lighting, spare batteries or a power bank, reflective clothing for roadside sections, sufficient food and water, blister treatment and a clear emergency plan. Each walker should carry a backup light rather than relying on a single headtorch. Current headlamps and hiking lights are available through Green Trails Australia.
Vehicle arrangements, checkpoints, withdrawal options and communication procedures should be agreed upon before departure. Check current trail conditions, weather and fire danger, and ensure someone outside the group knows the planned route and expected finishing time.