Duke of Edinburgh Award Adventurous Journeys in Western Australia

You enter for the Award. You leave with something no certificate can hold.

“This hike was more than just a physical challenge — it was a life experience. It taught me resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of preparation. But most importantly, it reminded me how beautiful and grounding nature can be.” – Meridith (16)

Adventurous Journeys with LifeTrail

LifeTrail offers guided Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys for teenagers who want to build confidence, resilience, and independence through real experiences in nature.

While these journeys align with the requirements of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, the focus is always on the young person — not ticking boxes.

Small groups. Calm guidance. Meaningful time on the trail.

What an Adventurous Journey involves

A Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey with LifeTrail is a multiday hike — not a camp.

Participants:

Walk from point to point each day
Carry all their own gear and food
Use a 65–75 litre hiking backpack
Set up and pack down camp daily
Learn to manage equipment, energy, and teamwork on the trail

Each night is spent at hikers-only Bibbulmun Track campsites, which typically include:

A designated tent area
A rainwater tank
A drop toilet
A three-wall open shelter that may be used for cooking or food preparation in wet weather

Sleeping is in one-person tents you supply.
Use of huts for sleeping is restricted to independent hikers, not groups.

There are no cabins or support vehicles.
The Adventurous Journey is completed on foot, together, step by step.

Adventurous Journey options

LifeTrail offers Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys as:

Practice Journey
Qualifying Journey
Combined Practice & Qualifying Journey

Journey structure and format are planned based on Award level, current requirements, group needs, and suitability.
Because Duke of Ed requirements can change, participants should confirm their Adventurous Journey requirements with their Award Leader and Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award WA before booking.

Hikefulness · Motion · Breathe · Connect

Take a peek inside our Adventurous Journeys

teens eating together after a hard day of hiking

Teens celebrating the competion of their 7 day hike at the Walople Visitor Centre

group of teens hiking through bush with big backpacks

Two teen girls by their tents during a hike

teens celebrating their climb with their arms up in the air

teen girls resting on a wooden bridge during a 7 day hike

Didier from LifeTrail and group of teens posing for a photo in the rain and loving it

Where journeys take place

LifeTrail is based in Denmark, Western Australia.
Most Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys are guided in the Great Southern region, along the Bibbulmun Track near Walpole, Denmark and Albany, but speak to LifeTrail about your idea.
These quieter wilderness settings naturally support focus, teamwork, confidence, and personal growth.

How Adventurous Journeys are scheduled

Adventurous Journeys may be:

Group-requested — families, schools, or participants contact LifeTrail to plan a journey together
LifeTrail-planned — a journey is planned and shared through the website, social media, and direct contact with schools or participants already connected with LifeTrail

If a group is interested but does not yet have enough participants to run independently, LifeTrail will assess whether the journey is viable for everyone involved. Where appropriate, LifeTrail may plan the journey around that group and promote remaining available places to suitable participants.

Availability, suitability, and final group numbers are confirmed before booking.

“Sending you my daughter, and then my son was the best decision I ever made, they came out just different” – Duke Of Ed Mum

Growth happens on the trail

Walking side by side creates space for learning without pressure.

Through the Adventurous Journey, participants naturally develop:

Confidence through doing
Decision-making and problem-solving skills
Communication within their group, also other wonderful hikers and teamwork
Resilience when things feel challenging

Growth happens through the hiking experience itself— not as a lesson and not as a program.

Why this is safe — but not soft

A Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey with LifeTrail is designed to be well planned, supported, and safe, while remaining a genuine challenge.

Safety comes from:

Careful route and journey planning
Small group sizes
Clear expectations and preparation
Calm, experienced guidance
Daily decisions based on conditions and group wellbeing

At the same time, the journey is not softened into a camp experience.

Participants carry their own gear, walk each day with purpose, and take responsibility for themselves and the group.
This balance is where confidence, resilience, and independence are built.

Being prepared matters

Before booking, participants and parents are encouraged to read the following pages to understand what’s involved:

Read first — Teen Multiday Hikes
Read first — Gear List
Read first — How to Prepare for a Multiday Teen Hike
Read first — Hiking Food
Read first — Hike difficulty grading

These pages help families understand that an Adventurous Journey is a real multi-day hike, not a camp.

Supervisor & Assessor (important)

For LifeTrail-guided Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys, LifeTrail acts as both the Supervisor and Assessor.

When preparing your Adventurous Journey with your Award Leader or Duke of Edinburgh Award WA, please ensure the following email is entered correctly:
he***@***********om.au

This ensures post-journey reports are received, assessed, and approved. Reports sent to an incorrect email will not reach LifeTrail.

Before you get started

Please confirm the following before submitting an enquiry:

I have spoken with my Award Leader and confirmed current Adventurous Journey requirements
I understand whether I need a Practice, Qualifying, or Combined Practice & Qualifying Journey
I understand LifeTrail is both Supervisor and Assessor
I will ensure he***@***********om.au is entered correctly with my Award Leader
I have read LifeTrail’s preparation information and understand this is a multi-day hike, not a camp

Communication makes it work

Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys often begin with a conversation.

Because of privacy laws, LifeTrail can only communicate directly with families and participants once they contact us individually. In practice, it’s often a parent — very often a mum — who brings families together, shares information, and helps move a journey forward.

LifeTrail is happy to support this process with:

Clear information to share with other families
Guidance on journey options and viability
Help shaping a group into a positive, workable Adventurous Journey

If you’re keen to get a journey off the ground, start the conversation and reach out.

Mums create magic.

Start Your Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey

Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journeys with LifeTrail are planned thoughtfully and individually.

Please read the preparation pages above before submitting an enquiry.

👉 Start a Duke of Ed conversation

LifeTrail Adventurous Journeys

LifeTrail has recently relocated to Denmark, WA.

LifeTrail’s Duke Of Ed Adventurous Journey’s are part of the Teen Multiday Hike program.

LifeTrail has been offering life changing Teen Multiday Hikes since 2018. While our teen hikes are taking shape in the Great Southern, you’re invited to contact Didier directly on 0410 756 065 or he***@***********om.au to chat, ask questions.

Even though we are planning future hikes on the Bibbulmun Track in the Great Southern, we are open to discuss hikes closer to Perth if you already have a group.

Below you will find a growing collection of available multiday hikes, look out for dated hikes you can book.

Walpole Giants Teen Hike

Forest Plains Coast Teen Expedition