Media Release April, 2012 HOW TO MAKE BUSHWALKING A WALK IN THE PARK Outdoor GPS brand Magellan shares some essential tips If you enjoy being close to nature but don’t see yourself as the Bear Gryllis type, then bushwalking may be just the thing for you. There are many levels of bushwalking, so it doesn’t necessarily have to be all about roughing it out – unless you want it to be. Simply planning your trip and taking along the right tools can help you make the most of your bushwalk. Outdoor GPS brand Magellan shares some helpful bushwalking tips. “Bushwalking is one of the best ways to have fun while also keeping fit but it can turn into an unpleasant experience if you are unprepared or get seriously lost. The Magellan eXplorist GPS range was designed to help bushwalkers make the most of their open-air adventures while keeping them safe at the same time,” Paris Basson, Magellan Australia. Here are some great tips to make your experience that much more enjoyable, comfortable and safer: Find a walk to suit you. Some tracks are easier to conquer than others. You can choose between longer and shorter walks that can include certain features along the way. The Australian Walking Track Grading System, uses symbols to grade tracks between one to five, to make it easier to find ones that are suited to your age and experience level. Look out for signs that explain a track’s features at the start of the trail. Magellan’s Summit Series maps found on the 610 and 710 eXplorist range will also help you find nearby trails and trail classifications with valuable information to help you locate the right track for you. Planning is the key. Get familiar with your walk – make sure you do your research beforehand. On the Magellan eXplorist range World Edition maps show water features, urban and rural land use and city centres. The Summit Series Australia Discovery Topographic Maps found on the Magellan eXplorist 610 and the Summit Series Australia Tourer routable Topographic map on the 710 model also include information about contour lines, trails, information of elevation and details for assessing terrain difficulty and waterways. The 610 and 710 devices also have thousands of points of interest for added awareness of your surroundings and what’s coming up on you hike. When you arrive at the start of your hike, it is a good idea to visit the local ranger station to avoid any unexpected obstacles on your walk and to ensure you are aware of nearby points of interests. Pack the essentials. Make sure you take plenty of water to keep hydrated on your walk and pack water purifying tablets for good measure. To keep up you energy don’t forget to pack high energy snacks like nuts and energy bars. Be sure to take along a small first aid kit with bandages and bandaids and antiseptic lotion. It is also wise to pack insect repellent and antihistamine tablets in case of allergic reactions to native plants or insect bites. A flare or beacon may also alert people of your whereabouts if you can’t guide yourself out of trouble due to an injury. Cover your tracks. Always make sure you let someone know where you and when you are going bushwalking so they know when to expect you back. For added safety the Magellan eXplorist 110, 310, 510, 610 and 710 models record your journey with a series of digital breadcrumbs, so you can view your current track, retrace steps or keep a log of steps taken throughout the day for a digital journal of all outdoor adventures. Wear appropriate attire. To make your trip as comfortable as possible make sure you wear closed comfortable shoes and long pants. Also pack a hat and sunscreen to ensure you don’t get any nasty burns as a souvenir of your trip. You may additionally want take something to keep you warm and dry in case it becomes cold or you experience wet weather. Most of all enjoy it. Breathe in the fresh air, bring along good company and a small camera. The Magellan eXplorist 510, 610 and 710 models allow users to relive or share adventures by recording geo-referenced images and voice notes with an integrated 3.2 mega-pixel camera, microphone and speaker. Use these to share special moments or increase your bragging rights by uploading files onto Facebook, YouTube or a number of online communities. -endsRecommended retail prices: eXplorist 110 $149 eXplorist 310 $249 eXplorist 510 $399 eXplorist 610 $549 eXplorist 710 $649 About Magellan Magellan is a leading portable GPS navigation consumer electronics company. Founded in 1986 and with over 200 key patents in GPS technology, Magellan is recognised as an industry innovator and leader. MiTAC International Corp, which also owns Navman Technology, bought Magellan in December 2008. MiTAC International is a leading worldwide maker of wireless communications products and one of Business Week’s top 100 Global IT companies. In 2011, Mitac Australia Pty Ltd trading as Navman Technology took over the sales, marketing and distribution of Magellan outdoor GPS products. For more information, visit www.magellangps.com.au or the Magellan Australia/New Zealand Facebook page. For further information about Magellan please contact: Georgina Policarpou or Harriet Lawler, The D’Arcy Partnership Telephone: +61 2 9281 2230 Email: [email protected] or [email protected]