How I got to Park Trek - It's not such a random walk ...

Over the last year or so I’ve had more than a few friends and colleagues ask along the lines of: “So Charlie, what led you to leave corporate and buy a small business in the outdoor experience and wellness space”. I agree it may sound like a random walk, so I thought I’d share a short story of how I ended up with Park Trek Walking Holidays Australia .

Basically, from the early days of my childhood, my dad, a country boy from up round the Murray River, instilled in me a love for nature through countless road trips, hikes, camping and fishing trips – some less well planned than desired, but always memorable. He was passionate about Australian landscapes and his favourite tree - the Snow Gum.

The Snowy Mountains, around Jindabyne and Cooma, and the beautiful NSW South Coast, around Merimbula and Jervis Bay, were my family’s sanctuaries. These places shaped my passion for and appreciation of the benefits of time in nature for physical and mental health. We camped, we fished, we hiked, and we explored these, and other places and they are all special to me. Like so many other far-flung parts of Australia I have since been fortunate to walk and explore alone, or with friends or family.

After navigating the realms of a career in law and management consulting post-uni, my career path ultimately led me into management in the logistics and e-commerce industry with some great Australian companies. As my kids and family know, I am passionate about the importance of supply chains (physical and digital) and logistics and how they impact all aspects of society – business, communities, and nature.

While I loved my professional and corporate days for the most past, my sanctuary and sanity always came from escaping for time in nature. A bolt to the high country, to the coast or to the outback, or perhaps even just walking the dog in Melbourne’s beautiful parks, including Birrarung / Yarra Bend. The outdoors has always been my, and my family’s, source of happiness and fulfilment. It’s also a rich source of stories I cherish and regularly share with others.

So, the decision to step away from the corporate world during COVID was a bit of a leap of faith. A pursuit of purpose and quest to run my own thing in sync with my own passions and my own values. To me at least it made sense to merge my business background and experience with my lifelong passion for nature and the great outdoors. I have always been an advocate of the benefits of time in nature, for kids and adults.

Thus, the exciting journey began looking for businesses aligned with my objectives, and ultimately Park Trek Walking Holidays Australia came along in December 2021. Through Park Trek I am able to blend my love for nature and the outdoors with a business where good logistics and planning are key to delivering great customer experiences through our frontline guides.

Park Trek Walking Holidays Australia is however not a new business. It was established in 2000 by a passionate Victorian bushwalker and it has a rich history through its customers and associations that our team is enthusiastic to build upon. We are not just a business, rather a purpose driven entity committed to creating great ecotourism experiences that seamlessly combine nature and wellness.

We are comprised of a community of employees, partners and customers who all share a love of nature, and we invite you to join us on an adventure. We cater for individuals, private and charity groups. We do multi-day walks in most states and territories of Australia, so there is definitely something that will appeal to you. Check out all our walks here.

Better still if you refer to this article when booking for two or more, just say to our friendly team “Charles said you might do a special price”, and I am sure we will work something out. Come walk with us, we’d love to hear your story and share our wonderful experiences with you!

Acknowledgement of Country

Park Trek is based on beautiful Wurundjeri Country. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, skies and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and we are proud to live on a continent with the oldest continuous living culture on earth.