All-female hiking group takes off in Queensland as women seek friends away from pub scene

ABC NEWS (Australia)

An all-female hiking group has exploded in popularity in north Queensland as more women embrace the outdoors for their wellbeing. The group promotes friendship and fulfilment away from the pub.

Transcript

00:00These women are finding their feet in nature.

00:07They're members of an all-female hiking group and their numbers are growing.

00:12We do go hiking but at the end of the day it's more about female friendship, female connection and female empowerment.

00:1723-year-old Danika Wingarden founded the group last year.

00:21So just look out for each other.

00:23Sick of pubs and clubs being the main place for regional women to socialise.

00:29I saw a drastic improvement in my mental health and how I was feeling and my motivation

00:33and I thought if it's going to do that for me it's going to do that for other girls as well.

00:3790 women showed up to a recent hike, aged from their teens to their 60s.

00:43I've always wanted to go hiking and I haven't really had girlfriends that want to go

00:48so this was a perfect opportunity for me to make friends and do the things I love.

00:52Being outside in nature as well is like the perfect relaxation for us.

00:57Some have never hiked before.

01:00I felt much safer because there was people around and heaps of girls so I knew I would be alright.

01:07Hiking and bushwalking boomed during the pandemic and the sports popularity is enduring.

01:13Two million Australian women laced up their hiking shoes last year

01:18and Sports Commission data shows young people are leading the charge.

01:22Being able to share that kind of love of nature and adventure and womanhood all together

01:27that's what makes it so so special.

01:29Finding friendship and fulfilment in the fresh air.

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