How Trail Hiking Australia is supported and how independence is protected
Trail Hiking Australia is a free, independent resource focused on hiking safety, preparation and access to reliable trail information across Australia.
I built this site as a personal project, and it remains something I manage directly. As it has grown, I’ve put clear boundaries in place to protect its independence and maintain trust.
This page explains how the site is supported and how those boundaries work.
Purpose first
Trail Hiking Australia exists to help people plan and undertake hikes safely and confidently.
Everything I publish is guided by a few core priorities:
- Public access to reliable trail information
- Safety, preparation and informed decision-making
- Accuracy over speed or volume
- Long-term trust over short-term gain
These priorities shape how the site operates, including how it is supported financially.
How the site is supported
Trail Hiking Australia is supported through a combination of:
- Community support
- Limited advertising
- Carefully selected partnerships that align with my values
The site remains free to access and does not operate behind a paywall.
Diversifying support helps ensure that no single source has influence over what is published.
What funding does not influence
Financial support does not influence:
- Trail descriptions, grades or route information
- Safety guidance or preparation advice
- Editorial decisions or content priorities
- Which trails, tools or resources are published
Safety and accuracy always come first.
Advertising and partnerships
I do not treat Trail Hiking Australia as a traditional advertising platform.
Advertising and partnerships are limited and selective. Any collaboration must align with the core principles of the site, including:
- Editorial independence
- Safety-first messaging
- Honest, experience-based information
- Respect for public land and shared outdoor spaces
Not every opportunity is accepted. Many are declined to maintain focus and trust.
What I do not do
To protect credibility and independence, I do not:
- Sell editorial control
- Publish undisclosed sponsored content
- Accept pay-to-play articles or advertorials
- Prioritise promotion over safety
- Create content primarily to maximise clicks or conversions
These boundaries are intentional and important.
You can read more about environmental and information-sharing principles on the Responsible Access and Stewardship page, and my broader position on public land access on the Position on Trail Access and Development page.
Transparency and disclosure
Where partnerships, product reviews or collaborations exist, they are clearly disclosed.
In some cases, I use contextual affiliate links where they provide practical value. These do not influence safety guidance, trail information or editorial decisions.
Information about collaboration opportunities is outlined on the Work With Trail Hiking Australia page.
Community support
Some members of the community choose to support the site financially to help maintain its independence and ongoing development.
Support is entirely optional and does not provide special access, influence or preferential treatment.
More information is available on the Support Trail Hiking Australia page.
Questions or enquiries
If you have questions about how the site is supported or how independence is maintained, feel free to get in touch.
Darren Edwards
Founder and developer of Trail Hiking Australia
ex*****@*************om.au
