Hey epyic crew,
This week we shared a video on Instagram about not finding like-minded people. Whether it’s embedded in the AI code, together with everyone’s favourite em dash, we’ve been seeing “find like-minded people” a lot.
You don’t need people who think like you. Life is richer because of our differences. Chris is an adrenalin junkie whose adventures make my heart stop. I’m the type to float aimlessly in the ocean watching Nemo for two hours, or spend the day wandering amongst the trees until it’s dark. Together, we experience more of what nature offers.
So we think you should look for the experiences first, and somewhere along the way, you’ll find your people. We’ve included a few more below so you can do just that. Most of this week’s top picks end with a gathering - whether it’s a coffee after the paddle, a tea ceremony on the creek bank, or wood-fired pizza after the forest walk and sauna.
You’ll be bonding over the shared experience and some warm sustenance.
See you out there,
Stella & Chris
ADVENTURES THIS WEEK 🔥
🎿 Women's Intro to Backcountry | Gippsland Adventure Tours
Everything changes past the last lift. The runs empty out, the noise drops away, and the only way up is under your own steam. This annual event (running for the 8th year) is built for women who've looked at that terrain and wondered if they’d ever get there.
Kelly, an experienced guide and outdoor educator, covers the fundamentals that make the backcountry possible: skinning on splitboard, touring skis or telemark, avalanche safety, reading weather and planning a trip, navigation and terrain awareness, plus gear demos so you can work out what you actually need.
You’ll learn at your pace, while stepping outside your comfort zone, with a supportive crew cheering you on.
📅 Sat 1 Aug 📍 Mount Hotham
🎟️ Book your spot now
🧘🏽 Mind and Body: Mindfulness Walk & Sauna | Nature Insights
Andrews Hill is a part of Kinglake that people often drive past, which makes it perfect for this walk. Tony, an accredited and Parks Vic licensed guide, takes you through this quiet corner of the national park slowly and deliberately, and by the end of it your shoulders have dropped and you’re breathing deeper and easier.
After the walk, there's an optional sauna session and gathering at Lobley’s for some wood-fired pizza and wine tasting.
📅 Sat 1 Aug, 10am to 1:30pm 📍 Kinglake National Park
🎟️ Book your spot now (limited to 6 people)
⛰️ Griffith Falls & Dandenongs Day Hike | Take Shape Adventures
A waterfall that isn't quite a waterfall, a stretch where the trail stops being a trail, and a loop that takes in suburban streets, rocky track and fire roads. In exchange, you'll get views out over the Dandenongs and beyond, homemade lunch and treats, and moments where you question why you thought this was a good idea.
Adrian put this route together because people asked for something harder. Careful what you wish for!
📅 Sun 2 Aug, 9am to 3:30pm-ish 📍 Upper Ferntree Gully
🎟️ Book your spot now
🌅 Patto Canals Social Paddle | SUP Melbourne
A “slocial” paddle on a Saturday morning, say no more. This is a fun and relaxed 6-7km paddle through the canals and marinas of Patterson River. Perfect for any level of paddler, especially beginners.
Everyone rolls to a local cafe afterwards to continue the chats before you kick off the rest of the weekend.
📅 Sat 1 Aug, 7:30 to 10:30am 📍 Carrum
🎟️ Just show up, more info here
🥪 Sandwiches, Matcha and Dessert Walk | 7 Days of Fun
Four hours, four stops, four kilometres, with walking decidedly less of the main event. You'll start with coffee at Good Measure, queue for one of those enormous focaccia sandwiches at Sangaweech, wander Lygon Street and the Carlton Gardens, then work through Brunetti's cabinet, before finishing on ceremonial-grade matcha at Hareruya Pantry. There’ll be plenty of time for chats along the way.
An easy, social Saturday snagging the viral sandwich along with great company.
📅 Sat 1 Aug, 11am to 3pm 📍 IMAX Melbourne
🎟️ Book your spot now
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The Salty Tribe
When we first came across Shannon, founder of The Salty Tribe, we knew we had to introduce her to our epyic community.
Many years ago, Shannon had a panic attack 30 metres below the ocean’s surface. What followed was a journey of embracing her fear, where the ocean became the place she discovered her deep inner strength and resilience.
Today, she is a snorkel and dive instructor, educator and conservationist with over a decade of experience. Through The Salty Tribe, she helps others go beyond their comfort zone to discover their own strengths, and brings together a community of women who share a passion for the ocean.
When the weather warms up, she’ll have regular snorkels, dives and ocean encounters. In the meantime, she has an immersive Women’s Whale Swimming Retreat to Jervis Bay in September (last remaining spots) that you should check out.
Absolute Outdoors
It started in 1989 with some mates running trips to Gariwerd (the Grampians) for the fun of it. The trips grew so popular, they started to organise them at scale to allow more people to experience the extraordinary landscape. Absolute Outdoors was born.
Adrian runs it now, with 20+ years of guiding behind him and a Kokoda crossing that convinced him adventure could change how people see themselves. His crew includes Matt, a former Army Sergeant who's represented Australia in rock climbing, Jess, an expedition leader who's worked Tasmania to Papua New Guinea, and Mitch, a gear nerd who recently walked the Australian Alpine Walking Trail for fun. Many of their guides and instructors have been with Absolute Outdoors for over a decade.
You’ll find rock art and national park tours, abseiling and rock climbing, canoeing on Lake Fyans, and even stargazing beneath the Milky Way.
Together with their passion for adventure, is a deep respect and responsibility for protecting the landscape they share. 35+ years in Gariwerd. And it shows.
MORE ADVENTURES THIS WEEK 🔥
🥾 Lerderderg 28km | Pride Adventures Victoria
If you’re wanting to walk off the treats you had on Saturday (see foodie walk above), here’s a 28km trail with big climbs (1003m elevation) and river crossings to balance things out. Douglas will lead this challenging but rewarding hike on some of Lerderderg’s best tracks including the East Walk, the Razorback and the Whisky Track.
A tough but fun track, and just in time for Sunday’s roast dinner.
📅 Sun 2 Aug, 8:15am to 2:45pm 📍 Lerderderg State Park (Carpool options available)
🎟️ Free to join but please RSVP
🌿 Nature Walk | ConserVentures x Dilly Dally
At the other end of the spectrum for your Sunday, is a 1.5km walk that will take 2.5 hours. That is deliberate. Jada, an ecologist and nature guide, will take you on a walk along Merri Creek at a pace that lets you notice what's there, while Emma, a forest therapy guide, shows you how to look closer: meeting a tree, getting down and close, and really getting to know the nature around you.
It finishes with a tea ceremony, a warm cup, and new nature friends you met two hours ago.
📅 Sun 2 Aug, 9:30am to 12pm 📍 Merri Creek
🎟️ Book your spot now
🏔️ Ski Mountaineering | The Climbing Company
This is where skiing stops being about the descent. Two days of skinning up, building anchors in snow, ice and rock, short-roping through exposed ground, and running crevasse rescue scenarios until they're something your hands know rather than something you've read about. Mixed climbing too, ice tools and crampons on terrain that demands both. Self-rescue sits at the centre of it, because the ability to get yourself out of a dangerous situation is essential in the backcountry.
Serious ground, taught properly.
📅 Sat 1 to Sun 2 Aug, 9am to 4pm daily 📍 Hotham
🎟️ Book your spot now (1 spot left)
🎈 Sunday Evening Social & Stroll | Wander with Luisa
If Sunday evening blues have a habit of turning up uninvited, we’ve got something for you to look forward to instead. Join Luisa on a leisurely 4km stroll along the Maribyrnong River for easy chats and plenty of laughs. Then the crew is off to The Anglers Tavern for dinner. This week, it's the birthday of one of Wander with Luisa’s regulars, so there'll be cake to top it off.
Come as you are, and celebrate this Sunday.
📅 Sun 2 Aug, 6:30pm 📍 The Anglers Tavern, Maribyrnong
🎟️ Book your spot now
Disclaimer: We do our best to curate accurate and helpful information but we can't guarantee there won’t be errors. Event details can change so please confirm directly with the organiser. All bookings are with the organiser and participation is at your own risk. We accept no liability for any issues arising from booking and attending any of these activities.