Take in the fresh air and get moving, perfect if you’re new to exercise or aren’t that interested in sport. Women’s walking groups in Victoria help you to go out and get moving, while being part of a supportive community.
Can you feel it? Join a women’s walking social group and meet new people while getting some movement in your day. Here are some tips to pull on those walking shoes and find one near you.
On this page we look at:
- This Girl Can Ambassadors Tracy, Mardi and Deb’s stories about enjoying the feelings they get from going walking in Victoria
- Benefits of walking for women
- How to find a women’s walking group
- Discovering new walks to go on
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Tracy feels tired sometimes, but going for a walk with her dog gives her a boost
Tracy knows having dogs makes all the difference between doing no activity and doing some activity, especially on the days when she’s “really tired”. “You sit on the couch and you’re kinda like ‘oh yeah this is comfy I don’t really want to get up’, but you know that after you walk the dogs you’re going to feel amazing. Not only that, you know they need you to walk them,” Tracy said. Tracy juggles two jobs and knows that having the responsibility to do the right thing by her dogs ensures she does the right thing by herself. “It’s definitely a 50/50 of ok cool I’ve got to get them out to get them moving but I’ve also got to get me moving,” she said.
Health benefits of walking for women
Going for a peaceful walk is an easy way to add some more movement to your day.
Lots of women enjoy walking because they can get some fresh air, have time to themselves and move their body. You can do it with a friend, with coffee, with your kids or with your dog. It’s time for you, and it’s great for physical health and mental wellbeing.
Among some of these benefits are increased cardiovascular fitness, reduced risk of heart disease and lung disease, stronger bones, improved balance, and more strength and endurance.
You don’t need any equipment, just some walking shoes and comfortable clothing. And you can do as much or as little as you like – if you want to try a hill or go bushwalking down the track, you can.
Finding a walking group for women near you
It doesn’t matter if you’re at the front of the group or the end. When you go for a walk with a group, you’ll have the supportof women who love to get active at their own pace.
You can be any age, background, or body shape. It’s all about getting on your feet, having a chat and making new friends.
If you’d like to find a new walking women’s group to join near you, here are some ways to get started.
- Heart Foundation walking groups is a great place to start. You can use their group finder to see what’s close to you, and how to join on the next walking women’s group trip they have planned.
- Victoria Walks also provides free resources and information about women’s walking all over Melbourne and regional Victoria.
- Escaping Your Comfort Zone run body-positive bushwalking groups and adventures for plus-size women in Melbourne and Geelong.
- Parks Victoria offers free walks guided by trained volunteers so you can enjoy walking in urban parks or bushland without having to worry about where the trail is or how long it might take.
- Have a look online to find a women’s walking social group in your area. You’ll be surprised at how many there are, and they’re all super friendly and welcoming to new walkers.
Mardi enjoys bushwalking to connect with nature again
Mardi loves to go bushwalking and says it makes her feel grounded and connected to nature. “When you start to listen to all the natural sounds and feel the grass, you can forget about things like traffic and being on time…it does give you a very wholesome feeling.”
Walking maps and finding great walks in Victoria
There are so many amazing walking trails in Melbourne and regional Victoria. If you feel like a change of scenery, or are up for some weekend adventures, try a new walking track.
Visit Victoria offers a great range of walking maps to help you explore the state.
If bushwalking sounds like fun, Bushwalking Victoria has some great walking maps and resources, and ways to get involved in social bushwalking.
Deb started walking and getting active to be a role model for her daughter
It wasn’t until Deb’s daughter asked her to do a handstand that she realised she couldn’t. Determined to be the best parent she could, Deb wanted to get active and started walking before breakfast. She was initially embarrassed about getting out there and puffing up the hills, but it’s now part of her daily routine.
Getting involved in social walking, or finding a new walking trail
- Visit the websites mentioned on this page: Heart Foundation walking groups, Victoria Walks, Escaping Your Comfort Zone, Visit Victoria, Parks Victoria or Bushwalking Victoria.
- Google it! Have a look to see what’s available in your local area, whether it’s for a walk around the block or joining a bushwalking group and going for an adventure.
- Find a Supporter in your neighbourhood, to see if a walking group has registered online to support This Girl Can – Victoria.
- Ask other women about walking – chat to your friends, family or colleagues about doing an activity together, or post a question to our Facebook page where there’s a super supportive community of women who can help you out.
Can’t get out right now?
If you can’t make it outside at the moment, that’s okay. There’s plenty to keep us busy at home sometimes.
If you’re looking to get active, visit Get Active @ Home for some fun and easy home workouts to get you sweating and feeling good. You can also prepare for when you can go out by searching online for the best walks in Victoria. Then you’ll be extra excited to go walking when you can head out for a while!
Learn more about This Girl Can – Victoria and how it’s helping women feel good by getting activity in a way that suits them.