Toileting is part of hiking. Managing it properly protects water, wildlife, fragile soils and the experience of others. It also protects your own health.
Handled correctly, it is routine. Handled poorly, it becomes one of the most visible and preventable impacts on Australian trails.
The principles are simple: plan ahead, protect water, pack out what does not belong and maintain strict hygiene.
Plan before you leave
Research your route. Some trailheads and campsites provide toilets. Many remote tracks do not. Alpine areas, deserts and high-use coastal routes increasingly require waste to be packed out.
Carry a dedicated toilet kit so you are never improvising under pressure. Do not wait until it becomes urgent. Rushed decisions result in poor site selection or contamination of water sources. Holding on to avoid the inconvenience can also reduce fluid intake, increase dehydration risk and impair concentration over the course of a long day.
Small physiological decisions compound.
Urinating on the trail
Urine has relatively low environmental impact when dispersed correctly, but location still matters.
Move at least 100 metres from water sources, campsites and tracks. Choose durable surfaces such as gravel, mineral soil or rock rather than fragile vegetation.
Environmental context changes the approach. In alpine areas, urinating on rock is preferable. In parts of the Victorian High Country and the Blue Mountains, feral animals such as deer and brumbies are attracted to the salts in urine and may dig up fragile vegetation to access it. Depositing urine directly on soil in these areas can damage sensitive alpine meadows.
Along large, fast-flowing rivers, urinating directly into the water may be appropriate because volume dilutes waste and prevents campsite saturation. This does not apply to small streams, ponds or lakes.
Tips for comfort and privacy
Practical technique matters.
If squatting, choose a soft patch of soil that absorbs quickly to prevent splashing. Take a wide stance for stability and ensure pants, straps and boot laces are well clear. Pay attention to the slope of the ground and position yourself uphill so any flow runs away from you.
A reusable bandana or dedicated pee cloth is a sustainable alternative to toilet paper. Tie it to the outside of your pack where airflow and ultraviolet light assist drying between uses.
In exposed terrain, a lightweight sarong, hiking skirt or towel can provide modesty without requiring dense vegetation. When hiking with a partner, a simple lookout system avoids awkward encounters.
Defecating on the trail: Pack it out first
Where toilets are unavailable, the preferred standard is to pack out solid human waste.
In many Australian environments, burial is no longer sufficient. Alpine plateaus, arid regions and heavily used coastal tracks often have thin, compacted or biologically inactive soils that do not break down pathogens effectively. High visitor numbers compound the problem.
If you can carry food in, you can carry waste out.
Using WAG bags
A WAG bag system is designed specifically for this purpose. It contains an inner waste bag with gelling powder that solidifies liquid and reduces odour, and a heavy-duty outer bag that prevents leakage.
After use, the inner bag is sealed inside the outer puncture-resistant bag and carried out for landfill disposal. Stored inside a dedicated dry bag or rigid container, it is secure and discreet.
These systems are increasingly expected in sensitive Australian environments. Packing out waste is not extreme. It is responsible.
When burial is permitted and is the only option
Burial should only be considered where regulations allow it and environmental conditions genuinely support decomposition.
If burial is appropriate:
- Select a site at least 100 metres from water, campsites and tracks.
- Dig a hole 15 to 20 centimetres deep in biologically active soil.
- After use, cover completely with the original soil and restore the surface naturally.
- Pack out all toilet paper.
Burial reduces visual impact and limits wildlife attraction, but it is not universally suitable. Many Australian animals dig up buried waste and paper. Currawongs, dingoes and goannas routinely disturb shallow burial sites.
If in doubt, pack it out.
If it is urgent
On track conditions are not always ideal. If urgency prevents digging first, go in a suitable location away from water and campsites, then immediately dig a 15 centimetre hole beside the waste and move it into the hole using a trowel or sticks. Cover and restore the surface properly.
Leave No Trace still applies, even in a rush.
Pack it out: A clear mandate
Toilet paper must always be packed out. Even biodegradable paper decomposes slowly and is frequently exposed by wildlife. Seeing used paper scattered through bushland, even within sight of a facility, is entirely avoidable.
A practical method is the double-bag system. Place used paper in a sealable bag, then store that bag inside an opaque or duct-tape-wrapped outer bag. This removes visibility concerns and ensures complete containment.
If it did not exist before you arrived, it should not remain after you leave.
Hygiene and illness prevention
Human waste contains pathogens not normally present in wilderness environments. If introduced into water sources, these can make people and wildlife sick.
Clean hands thoroughly after toileting. Use water and biodegradable soap where appropriate, or alcohol-based sanitiser when water is limited. Keep toilet supplies separate from cooking gear.
When hikers develop gastrointestinal illness, contaminated water is often blamed. In many cases, poor hand hygiene is the real cause.
Night-time and cold-weather considerations
In cold or exposed conditions, plan ahead. Some hikers use a clearly marked, dedicated bottle overnight to avoid leaving shelter. If doing so, keep it distinct from drinking containers and empty it well away from camp in the morning.
Practice access systems before you need them in wind, rain or darkness.
Leaving the trail safely
When stepping off track, particularly in dense bush or low visibility, leave a visible marker at your exit point. Trekking poles, a pack cover or another obvious item indicate where you left. Short distances off trail can become disorienting quickly. Environmental responsibility and navigation safety are connected.
Managing dog waste
Dog faeces contain bacteria not normally present in natural environments and can affect native wildlife. Always bag and pack out dog waste. Store sealed bags in a dedicated container to prevent leakage and odour transfer.
The essential hiker’s toilet kit
A simple, dedicated kit prevents poor decisions:
- Lightweight hiking trowel
- Toilet paper in a waterproof bag
- Sealable bags for packing out paper
- Opaque or duct-tape-wrapped outer bag
- Reusable pee cloth or bandana
- Hand sanitiser
- WAG bag in sensitive or high-use environments
Preparation removes stress. Stress leads to shortcuts. Shortcuts lead to impact.
The core principle
Going to the toilet on a hike is not complicated.
Use toilets where provided.
Pack out solid waste wherever possible.
Bury only where appropriate.
Maintain strict hygiene.
Responsible toileting is a core hiking skill. It protects fragile Australian environments and demonstrates respect for those who walk after you.
