Gay, bi, trans and queer men's March Hike: Werribee Gorge

We’ll be doing an early morning hike in Werribee Gorge in April!

The hike is rated as a moderately challenging hike - meaning a very good level of fitness is required. It’s about 9km in total and involves some very steep and rocky terrain and a short cliff section with cables along an exposed rock face, but they’re not too difficult to manoeuvre.

Where: Werribee Gorge (exact meeting people sent out after 6pm day before)

When: Sunday April 27th, 8am (meet from 7:45am, set off at 8am)

Bring: Weather appropriate clothing, hiking boots with good grip (no thongs or casual shoes!), backpack, sunscreen, two bottles of water, a personal first aid kit if you have one, some easy food to share with the group halfway and a sense of adventure and a good, positive, friendly attitude.

We expect that the hike will be completed around 11am as we usually stop for breaks, snacks, photos and chats.

If you’re interested in carpooling from Ballarat, please let us know and we can try and connect you with someone driving there.

WHO CAN ATTEND?

Men who are gay, bi, trans, and/or queer. You do not have to be local to Ballarat - guys from anywhere are welcome and we regularly have guys join us from Geelong and Melbourne. You can come alone, with a partner, or with friends (as long as you all have tickets).

Shy guys and guys that are not out are very welcome - and don’t worry, only people who actively consent to photos being taken are ever photographed.

Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on this hike.

YOU MUST REGISTER FOR A TICKET

Tickets are FREE but we have tickets so we control numbers and provide any last minute updates about route/wet weather contingencies.

Only those that register for tickets will be provided with our exact hike meeting point which will be emailed to you after tickets close at 6pm the day before.

We hope you can make it! If not, we’ll keep you in the loop on future hikes.

Thanks,

OUT in Nature

Find our answers to FAQ on our group here. If you have any other questions, let us know!

**Note: this is an event only for people that identify as men.

Why is This a Men’s Only Event?

This event is designed exclusively for men in response to requests for men-only gatherings. Men are not well represented in local LGBTIQA+ event stats and so we hope these events can provide a space where men can meet and bond, serving as an entry point for broader LGBTIQA+ community involvement.

It's also important for men to have opportunities to connect with one another and build a sense of community.

Research shows that strong community connections can significantly improve physical and mental health. Hiking, as a central activity, offers a healthy alternative to social activities that often revolve around alcohol. It also provides a welcoming and non-threatening environment for men to converse and be physically active together which will strengthen positive health outcomes.

Thank you for your support.