Coastrek has announced Australian journalist, author and wellness advocate Elle Halliwell as its newest Ambassador and she’s urging women to swap burnout for adventure, with registrations for the Sydney Eastern Suburbs Coastrek opening Tuesday 13 October. Participants gather a team of two or more, choose a distance of 20km, 30km or 50km, and start training together ahead of event day on Friday 19 March 2027 – with Halliwell walking alongside them.For Halliwell, this ambassadorship marks a new chapter inspired by her personal journey. Diagnosed with blood cancer while pregnant, she found solace in daily walks. Last year, following the end of her marriage, she completed a 500-kilometre solo pilgrimage through Spain.
“My daily walks gave me the opportunity to process my thoughts and feelings, turn down the rumination in my head, and connect my mind and body,” Halliwell commented. “It did wonders for my mental health and became the easiest way to practise mindfulness and presence.”
Halliwell highlights walking as an under-rated wellbeing tool due to its accessibility. “Out of all the exercise, fitness and wellbeing practices you can do, walking has one of the lowest barriers to entry. It’s free. You don’t have to book a session, you can do it alone or in a group, in the morning or at night, and it fits around your life. It’s accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels, and it has so many mental, spiritual and physical health benefits,” Halliwell commented.
As Ambassador, Halliwell aims to redefine hiking for women with her concept of the ‘bougewalk’ – an adventurous evolution of the popular ‘hot girl walk’. “A lot of women used to think hiking was for people who liked roughing it and pushing themselves to the extreme. I’m hoping to change that perception and show that even more challenging, multi-day hikes can be achievable and really fun to tackle with friends. It’s all about incorporating little luxuries into your bushwalk – a hiking outfit that makes you feel your best, a delicious picnic spread, dinner at a nice restaurant afterwards, a stay at a nice hotel, or just a DIY pamper session,” Halliwell commented.
Coastrek, Australia’s iconic team hiking and fundraising challenge, has inspired over 90,000 people since 2009, raising more than $60 million for charities like the Fred Hollows Foundation, the Heart Foundation, and Beyond Blue. Coastrek was founded by Di Westaway OAM to champion women in the outdoors, focusing on wellbeing, connection, and empowerment. Today, Coastrek welcomes everyone.
Coastrek founder Di Westaway OAM sees the hiking boom as more than just exercise. “Women don’t necessarily need another workout. They need an adventure,” Westaway commented. “When you get women outside, walking together towards a shared goal, something shifts. The conversations become deeper, the laughter gets louder, and suddenly the things that seemed so overwhelming don’t feel quite so overwhelming.”
- Registrations for Coastrek Sydney Eastern Suburbs opens Tuesday 13 October and close 7 February 2027