We first crossed paths with Holli through Instagram, and since then, we’ve absolutely loved following along with her adventures and seeing where she heads next.

Behind ‘Hike With Holli’ is one of the most uplifting, positive and genuinely kind people, with a pretty infectious love for the outdoors. From hiking and camping to surfing, climbing and guiding, Holli is always finding a reason to get outside — but what we love most is how she uses that passion to encourage other women to do the same.

Through outdoor education, guiding and women’s adventures, Holli is helping create spaces where women can build confidence, learn new skills and realise just how capable they are — particularly the younger generation she works with.

We caught up with Holli to chat about adventure, getting outside your comfort zone and why sometimes you just have to give it a go.

You’ve turned that love for the outdoors into a career through Outdoor Education and guiding. What made you want to start sharing these experiences with other people?  

Initially, Outdoor Education was a way for me to turn my hobbies into work, but as I have progressed through my career, I have come to realise that my passion is so much deeper than that. I have found so much gratitude for these experiences and realised that not everyone gets to experience the same things that I have/do. So now, I have a newfound passion for providing these experiences and opportunities for others. It brings me so much fulfilment in being able to provide these experiences to people that might not have the skills, access, friends to go with them, or whatever the barrier may be. 

You’ve hosted women’s camping trips and retreats, including your trip with Salty Aura. What do you love most about bringing a group of women together in the outdoors?  

I love this question, and I have so many answers, there are so many layers. Firstly, girlhood. There is something so special about bringing a group of women together and creating a safe space to enjoy the outdoors. In a world where there can be a lot of “you can’t” or “you shouldn’t” towards women, I want to be the person who says, “you can, and let me show you how”. Being able to teach women the skills, connect in nature, and build confidence truly brings me so much joy. Working in outdoor education, primarily at all-girls schools, I am able to provide this opportunity to YOUNG women, teenagers, and I find this such an incredible age to work with, as they navigate self-discovery, their passions, and capabilities. Being an older sister to two younger sisters, I feel like I take on this role really naturally for many other young girls. Being a role model, supporting, and inspiring them to get outdoors is something that I am so passionate about, and teaching them just how capable they are is just the best.

For someone who loves the idea of hiking or camping but feels intimidated doing it on their own, what would you tell them?  

Reach out + connect. There are so many amazing female-driven initiatives at the moment all over Australia (and the world) for people just like this. Shameless plug, but I have been working for Cool Girls Club (@coolgirlsclub_au), which is a female-run, Sydney-based business, whose mission is exactly this – to help get as many women outdoors as possible. Other businesses include Enliven Outdoor Adventures (@enliven_outdoor_adventures) and Hot Girls Hike (@hot.girls.hike) are another two South Australian-based businesses that I would highly recommend. You could also reach out to friends, family members, or the girl sitting on the reformer next to you at Pilates. You never know who else might
be searching for the perfect adventure buddy!

The outdoors can feel very daunting, safety, ability and gear are just a few barriers that I know many people experience. So, if other people can help you to remove some of those barriers, then that will give you more confidence to start. 

I would also say, start small. You don’t need to start your outdoor adventuring era by hiking for 2 weeks in remote Australia, find somewhere that is local to you (I love the wiki camps app) and go for 1 night. You could try doing it solo, sleep in your car, or pull that old tent out of your parent’s bag garage and enjoy the process of trying to set it up alone. It doesn’t need to be perfect. 

You hiked the Larapinta Trail through Central Australia — what was that experience like, and was there a particular moment that has really stuck with you? 

To give you some context, the Larapinta Trail is, it is a 231km trail in Tjoritja - The West MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory. Last year I decided to hike the trail solo, but that wasn’t always the plan. I initially was on the hunt for someone, or multiple people to join me on this adventure, because of course I would want to share this experience with other people (hello massive extrovert over here!! 🙋🏼‍♀️). However, despite my best efforts I wasn’t very successful… I was feeling pretty defeated, was I going to be able to make my dream to hike the Larapinta a reality?? It wasn’t until one of my closest friends - Mack suggested “why don’t you just go alone Hols?” 

It had not occurred to me that going alone was even an option, and I distinctly remember this moment, sitting on her bedroom floor, and this wave of doubt and fear washing over me. I couldn’t understand why I felt this way, I am a flipping bushwalking instructor for goodness sake!! So why does this make me feel such a way? I realised that it wasn’t because I felt like I didn’t have the skills, gear, knowledge, or fitness, I knew I was capable, so what was stopping me then? I realised that it was actually the alone part that was holding me back. Who would I talk to? What would I do for 15 days solo? This would be a challenge for me, and one that I really wanted to dive into head first. From that moment with my friend onwards, I was locked in to the idea of Hiking the Trail solo. 

After many hours of planning and preparation, the time finally came for me to embark on my adventure, and I could not be more excited. Was I nervous? ABSOLUTELY! I burst in to tears to my partner the morning of my flight to Alice Springs. But I knew that there would be challenges, highs, lows, and everything in between. 

My dear friend Lauren was already working as a guide on the Trail, so on the Sunday morning, she dropped me off at sunrise and off I went. I could give you a detailed explanation of the whole 15 days I was out there, however I’ll save that for another time. Being out there, in the most amazing environment was absolute bliss. What an incredible landscape, such raw, rugged country. And let me tell you, I was not alone. I met so many incredible people along the trail, had dinner with strangers, shared resources and stories, and I truly believe if I hadn’t of been solo it would have been such a different experience. But Holli, what did you do the whole time?? Well, apart from walking 😂 I sung to myself a lot (ex-choir kid hehe) I watched the birds, looked for flowers, ate lots of snacks, had naps in the shade of giant trees, went for icy cold dips, wrote in my journal, painted with my water colours, and listened to a whole lot of Ball Park Music. 

A highlight, would have to be my second to last night at Hilltop Lookout. I had my tent pitched with the most perfect view of Mount Sonder. As the sun set, I watch the sky change colour, and the golden sun illuminate the rock before me. The end was literally and figuratively in sight. I was so so proud of myself, and just so glad that I had done it. 

When you’re guiding a trip, what do you hope people walk away with beyond simply having visited somewhere beautiful?  

I hope people walk away feeling like they have learnt something new, and a deep sense of appreciation for the place that they have explored. I hope people walk away having cared for the place that they have visited, whether that is simply appreciating its beauty, picking up rubbish, or utilising Leave No Trace principles. I always say, leave places better than you found it. Because if every single human did this… WOW what a world we would live in.  

You’ve recently moved from Adelaide to Sydney and started a new chapter as a guide. What adventures are still sitting at the top of your list — or what are you chasing next? 

Yes! I have just finished my Masters of Secondary Teaching, and as I mentioned working with Cool Girls Club (@coolgirlsclub_au). This has been so awesome because I am exploring so many new places for work! How lucky am I?! I am so excited to explore more in the Blue Mountains and surrounding National Parks. 

There is one big adventure that has been on my mind since finishing the Larapinta more than a year ago… and that is the Munda Biddi Trail. But this isn’t a hiking trail, this is a bike packing trail. Think hiking, but on a bike! The trail is 1060km stretch that spans from Perth to Albany in Western Australia. Bike packing is completely new to me – I am a bike rookie. So I am very excited to finally get on this trail, and challenge myself in a new area!! However, this time I am hoping to not be solo, because I think this experience would be so fun to do with a group!

Finish the sentence: Life's too short to never get out of your comfort zone!

How do you chase the water? I live by the mantra – you never regret a swim. I am very lucky to have grown up living by the ocean, so whether that is a quick dip, a snorkel, surf, or more recently laps in the ocean pools in Sydney, I always try to chase the water.