Once the domain of daggy dads sporting zip-off shorts, exploring the outdoors has become cool again.
More Australians than ever pulled on their hiking boots in the past year, and the popularity of community running and walking groups is surging.
New data from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) shows COVID-19 accelerated grassroots exercise activities, like parkrun, which offers free community events with no time limits and no-one finishing last.
AIS general manager of sports division Brooke de Landre said "flexibility" was being prioritised over the traditional organised sport.
"More than 10 million Australians were outside taking part in walking activities and just enjoying the great outdoors in 2021 and 2022," she said.
Among them is Rachele Preston, who joined a Townsville bushwalking group a year ago.
Ms Preston admits she was initially reluctant to take part.
"I was a bit dubious, and I wasn't confident to start with. I was not fit at all," she said.
"Now I jump out of bed in the morning instead of not wanting to get up each day."
Bushwalking gets a facelift
It's a trend spurred on by online adventure influencers who are harnessing social media to give the outdoors a makeover.
Jemima Robinson curates adventure films that tour the world, including the hugely popular Banff Mountain Film Festival.
"They're showcasing different, amazing parts of the world, and the people out there are just living their best lives and encouraging people to dream big," Ms Robinson said.
"We've seen such a big change [in audience] coming now … people from all walks of life.
"Now we get the mountain bike enthusiast and his grandmother.
"It's good medicine for everyone."
Behold, the adventure influencer
Ms Robinson said the rise of adventure influencers online not only encouraged people to embrace and protect the outdoors but provided a direct link between adventurers and audiences.
"Previously, if you weren't a sponsored athlete, you would never get any money to do anything, and no-one would see what you were doing," Ms Robinson said.
"Now young kids who are just out on the weekend having a crack can post content and get people engaged and inspire other people."
From 'hot girl walks' to 'hike girl summer'
Ms Robinson also tours the Gutsy Girls film festival showcasing female-led adventurers, which has swelled in popularity alongside the rise of female filmmakers.
She said fitness crazes being spread on social media, like the emerging Hike Girl Summer niche, were also a key factor in getting more people to pull on their exercise shoes and embrace the outdoors.
Millions worldwide embraced the TikTok trend, Hot Girl Walk, a daily four-mile (6.4 kilometres) outdoor walk, during which the participant thought of their goals, what they were grateful for and "how hot you are".
Getting outdoors 'explosion'
Michael Pugh runs the community group Townsville Hike and Explore, which has taken more than 6,000 people bushwalking in the past three years and now has chapters in central, Far North and South-East Queensland.
"There's been a huge explosion in social walking and hiking groups in Queensland and beyond," he said.
"We've been overwhelmed, particularly post-COVID.
"Bushwalking's got a face lift."
In the past year, the bushwalking group grew by 40,000 members across Queensland, ranging from six to 82 years old.
Mr Pugh runs his events through social media, which he says has helped inspire people to explore their own backyards.
"Those sitting at home might not know a lot about the outdoors, then they look at a few photos … they learn you don't have to venture too far from your house to find a new walking trail," he said.
'Wasted so many years'
Rachele Preston said meeting "fearless" members of all ages and abilities in the hiking group helped turn her outlook around.
"Before, I was such a reserved indoors-person, and now I feel like I've wasted so many years, and I've just missed out on so much," she said.
"I love being outdoors, I love being in nature and meeting new people, and this group has provided that."
