After months spent retreating indoors, spring brings longer days, warmer weather and the sudden urge to dust off the walking shoes, return to an old hobby or find a new reason to leave the house.
Whether you’re ready to tackle a famous hiking trail, join your local parkrun, brave an ocean swim or plan a golfing getaway, this month’s selection is all about getting outside and making the most of the season.
If warmer weather has you dreaming of a walking holiday, Where to Go When Hiking offers plenty of inspiration. This month-by-month guide covers 96 hikes around the world, ranging from shorter adventures to challenging multi-day treks.
Spain’s Camino Francés, California’s John Muir Trail and South Africa’s Strandloper Trail are among the routes featured, with maps, photographs and practical information covering distance, duration, difficulty, accommodation, permits and the best time to visit. Planning flowcharts also help readers find a hike suited to their interests and ability.
It’s equally enjoyable as a practical travel guide or an invitation to sit back and imagine where your hiking boots might take you next.
Walking may be one of the simplest forms of exercise, but Annabel Streets argues that where and when we walk can make a meaningful difference to how we feel.
Blending scientific research with personal stories, The Walking Cure explores the ways different surroundings can affect our bodies and minds. A canal path might encourage creativity, a busy urban walk could relieve boredom, while time spent walking beside the sea may help soothe grief and anxiety.
Rather than focusing on step counts or fitness goals, Streets looks at walking as something that can restore, energise and inspire. It’s a lovely choice for anyone wanting to move more this spring without turning every outing into a workout.
Every Saturday morning, people gather in parks across the world to run, walk, volunteer and cheer one another on. One Small Step tells the story of how parkrun grew from 13 runners into a global community of more than 10 million participants.
Founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt traces the idea back to his own complicated relationship with running, which offered freedom during a difficult childhood and later became a lifeline when injury left him feeling lost.
This is about far more than finishing five kilometres quickly. It is a heartwarming account of community, belonging and the difference that turning up each week can make. If you’ve been considering your local parkrun but worry you’re “not a runner”, this might provide the encouragement you need.
When injury left lifelong athlete and Sports Illustrated writer Chris Ballard wondering whether his best active years were behind him, an unexpected message introduced him to the growing world of cold-water swimming.
In The Plunge, Ballard visits laboratories and swims in waters around the world as he investigates why so many people willingly immerse themselves in freezing temperatures. Along the way, he meets cold-water devotees of different ages and abilities, examines the science behind the practice and eventually tests his own limits in competition.
Part science, part history and part travel adventure, this is an entertaining exploration of the resilience, connection and joy people find in cold water. It may even tempt confident swimmers to keep heading to the beach before the Australian summer properly arrives.
You don’t need to fly across the world or disappear into the wilderness for weeks to enjoy a memorable hike. Best Day Walks Australia brings together 60 walks that can be completed in anything from a couple of hours to a full day.
The routes cover coastal tracks, forests, mountains and the Outback, with options ranging from easy outings to harder adventures. More than 70 maps are accompanied by information about distance, terrain, difficulty and start and finish points, while dedicated sections highlight accessible trails and walks suitable for families.
With routes spanning Tasmania, the Kimberley, the Daintree, the Great Ocean Road and plenty of places in between, it’s a useful guide for exploring more of Australia on foot.
Spring is also the ideal time to return to the fairway, and Great Golf Courses Australia could have golfers planning several road trips before they reach the final page.
Compiled by Golf Australia editor Brendan James, this fully illustrated hardcover profiles 50 of the country’s most desirable courses. Famous metropolitan clubs feature alongside spectacular regional destinations including King Island, Kalgoorlie and Port Fairy.
Each profile covers the course’s history, defining features and standout holes, supported by photographs that showcase the landscapes almost as much as the golf. It’s an impressive guide to Australia’s best courses and a tempting addition to any golfer’s must-play list.
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