From bush walks to business, driven by a love of Australian wilderness
Back in 2014, Bright Shaft was nothing more than a small group of friends who met every weekend to explore trails around the Blue Mountains. We shared a simple belief: walking is the purest way to experience the Australian landscape.
Word spread. Friends brought friends. Strangers asked if they could join. What began as weekend adventures transformed into something bigger, a community united by curiosity and a desire to disconnect from screens and reconnect with nature.
By 2017, we had formally launched Bright Shaft as a tour company. Our mission stayed the same: create walking experiences that go beyond exercise. We wanted to tell the stories embedded in the land, from ancient Indigenous pathways to the geological forces that shaped our mountains and coasts.
Today, our team includes trained naturalists, Indigenous knowledge keepers, and certified wilderness guides. Each brings a unique perspective that enriches every tour we lead.
The principles that guide everything we do
We follow Leave No Trace principles on every tour. The trails we walk today should be just as pristine for the next generation of walkers.
Our guides don't just lead, they teach. Ecology, geology, history, survival skills. Each walk is an opportunity to learn something new.
Some of our walkers have become lifelong friends. We design our tours to foster connection, both with nature and with fellow adventurers.
Walking shouldn't be exclusive. We offer tours for all fitness levels and work to keep pricing fair while paying our guides what they deserve.
The passionate guides who bring our trails to life
A former park ranger with 20 years of bushwalking experience. Sarah can identify over 200 native plant species by sight.
A Wiradjuri man who shares his people's deep connection to country through storytelling and traditional knowledge.
Marine biologist turned trail guide. Emma leads our coastal walks and knows every rock pool along the shore.
Born and raised in the red centre. Tom spent a decade working on remote cattle stations before joining our team.