FITNESS GUIDE
It’s well worth investing some time and effort preparing for your walking holiday. The graph shows the average daily distance, elevation and terrain difficulty for your hike. The dotted line indicates the average across all our walks, which will give you a feel for how challenging your walk is compared to all – and the recommended type, and amount, of preparation needed. Of course, you can adapt this according to your existing fitness levels and lifestyle.
The graph and the information below can be used in conjunction with the fitness guide to help you prepare for your walking adventure. Across all walks, average daily distance is 16.8km, average daily elevation is 448m, average terrain difficulty is 5/10.
DISTANCE - ~AVERAGE
Distance training should be a consideration in your overall training program, so take every opportunity you can to walk. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.
Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 16km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row.
Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.
ELEVATION - BELOW AVERAGE
Elevation is not a major consideration in your overall training program. However, you should still incorporate some form of resistance training to increase your endurance.
TERRAIN
ROCKY TERRAIN
Whilst preparing for walking on rocky terrain, you must focus on the development of balance, strength, and agility.
Integrate targeted strength exercises, such as lunges, squats, and step-ups, to strengthen your leg muscles, with a particular emphasis on improving stability on uneven surfaces. Balancing exercises are essential. Undertake core strength activity, coupled with exercises such as planks and Russian twists to enhance balance. As you progress, include hikes on progressively rougher terrain if you can. Additionally, the appropriate footwear with good ankle support and tread for grip are essential. Stay mindful, watch your step, and use trekking poles for added stability.
FLAT TERRAIN
Whilst training for walking on flat and hard terrain, you should focus on building endurance and ensuring you can maintain a comfortable pace.
Start with regular walks on sidewalks, roads, or paved paths to get used to the surface. Maintain a proper posture and engage your core muscles to support your back, keeping a steady gait. Ensure that you have comfortable, supportive footwear with adequate cushioning. If endurance is important, consider incorporating low-impact cross-training activities like swimming or cycling into your routine.
SELF GUIDED
6 DAYS 
Easy to Moderate 
SELF GUIDED
6 DAYS 
Easy to Moderate 
Karen B
Joining Auswalk for a walking holiday on Kangaroo Island meant all the hard work of knowing where to go, what to see and the best places to visit has been done by others and all I had to do was turn up and follow two very experienced and informed guides to see and walk to some of the best places on the Island. Kangaroo Island has a number of different walks providing opportunities for ocean views, stories of amazing past history and settlements and a wonderful variety of plants and wild flowers to make each days walking new and exciting. Much of the native wildlife on the Island was easy to see and the guides made sure we had plenty of time to enjoy these encounters. The accommodation and food was excellent and we able to taste much of the local produce while we were on the Island. Having two guides meant I had choices of walks each day and I could enjoy those areas which were of personal interest to me.