Paint & Hike Trips
The perfect creative escape – no painting or hiking experience necessary.
The Adventure Gene Difference
Our Ultralight Comfort System™ is designed to keep you warm, dry, safe and happy.
No previous experience is required. Whether you’re a beginner painter, a first-time camper, or an expert in both, all are welcome.
Led by both an expert hiking guide and a professional artist, you’ll be fully supported the entire time.
We only provide small group experiences. With 2 guides and up to 10 guests, you’ll be well looked after and can walk at your own pace.
Wilderness Immersion
Spark your creativity with an escape into the Aussie bush. Designed for hikers and artists alike, this is the ultimate creative retreat.
Our Paint & Hike Trips
- Paint & Hike
- 4 days
- From $2,195
New departure dates coming soon. Sign up to be the first to know!
Need help choosing a trip?
All of our Paint & Hike trips are beginner friendly. You do not need any previous hiking or painting experience. We make planning simple by providing premium ultralight gear and clothing, all art supplies, nutritious food and private transport from Canberra.
The trip you pick will primarily depend on the location you would like to visit.
Blue Waterholes
Set in the remote northern reaches of Kosciuszko National Park, our Paint & Hike: Blue Waterholes immerses you in the rugged beauty of the Snowy Mountains.
You’ll experience a mix of single-track, fire roads, and off-track walking, making it a great option for those who are keen to learn some off-track navigation.
We visit historic alpine huts, explore Murray Cave (optional side trip), and swim in Blue Waterhole. When it’s time to kick back and paint, you’ll capture rustic huts, twisted snow gums, and sweeping mountain vistas.
Sapphire Coast
Tracing the shoreline of the remote Sapphire Coast, our Paint & Hike: Sapphire Coast immerses you in the vibrant coastal beauty of southern New South Wales. You’ll experience pristine beaches, rocky single track, hiker-only campsites, and ocean sunrise views.
When it’s time to bring out the paint brushes, you’ll capture tranquil blue bays, delicate seashells, and the iconic historic lighthouses that mark the start and finish point of the walk.
Paint & Hike Trip Calendar
Check out our trip calendar for a visual overview of all upcoming Paint & Hike trips!
FAQs
Curious about our Paint & Hike trips? We’ve answered our most common questions to make planning your adventure stress-free.
I'm new to hiking, are these trips suitable for beginners?
Yes! You don’t need any prior hiking experience to join us. We provide a detailed pre-trip preparation package, and our guides will teach you everything you need to know. The only prerequisite is your physical fitness. It is essential that you are capable of carrying a 10kg pack for 2-4 hours over uneven terrain.
What art abilities do you cater for?
Our trips are designed for all levels of painting experience. Whether you haven’t held a brush since primary school or you’re a professional artist with an established practice, you are completely welcome here. Our artist guides will tailor their workshops to ensure you get the level of support or freedom you need.
Where do your Paint & Hike trips go?
We offer our Paint & Hike trips in two remote locations: the Snowy Mountains (Kosciuszko National Park) and the Sapphire Coast (Beowa National Park). While both adventures share the same duration and difficulty level, the landscapes (and what you’ll paint), are quite different.
Blue Waterholes (Snowy Mountains): A remote alpine escape with off-track walking, swim holes, mountain views and historic alpine huts.
Light to Light (Sapphire Coast): A vibrant wilderness coastal journey with winding single track, beach walking, spectacular wildflowers and ocean sunrises.
How much hiking and painting do you do?
On a typical day, you can expect about 2-3 hours of hiking and up to 3 hours of guided painting workshops. You’re always welcome to keep painting during your downtime at camp.
Am I fit enough?
All of our Paint & Hike trips require you to carry a 10kg pack for extended periods over uneven terrain. To ensure you are ready, you will need to do some training before the trip. We highly recommend engaging in at least 2 hours of physical activity each week, such as running, cycling, swimming, team sports, or hiking up and down hills. Walking on flat pavement is not adequate preparation.
In addition, you should aim to complete at least 2 practice walks carrying a 10kg pack for 2-3 hours (including breaks) before we depart.
What do I need to bring?
We provide all the gear, outer-layer clothing, and painting equipment as part of our Ultralight Comfort System™. This includes (but is not limited to) tents, sleeping bags, hiking packs, hiking poles, down jackets, down pants and fleece layers.
The only things you need to bring are your base layers and personal items:
Long-sleeve shirt and hiking pants
Shoes (either trail runners or hiking boots)
Socks and underwear
A hat and sunglasses
What’s included in the trip price?
Included in the trip price is the following:
- Use of world-class ultralight gear and clothing
- All painting supplies
- Cooked meals, snacks, and hot drinks (excluding breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day)
- Return transport from Canberra
- 1 professional artist guide and 1 expert hiking guide (a 1:5 guide-to-guest ratio)
- Pre-trip support and a detailed preparation package (including packing video)
What group sizes can I expect on a trip?
All trips are intentionally small, with up to 10 guests, accompanied by 2 guides. This ratio ensures a personal, comfortable, and well-paced experience.
Who will be guiding me?
All of our hiking guides are highly experienced in navigating the Australian backcountry. While each guide brings their own unique style and interests to the trail, they all share a commitment to being supportive, knowledgeable, and ensuring your trip is one to remember.
Similarly, our artist guides are professional artists who are passionate about capturing the wilderness. While each artist has their own preferred medium and creative approach, they are all dedicated to providing patient, tailored instruction to ensure you feel inspired and supported, regardless of your experience level.
We will let you know who your guides are about a month before departure, though please note this can occasionally change on short notice.
What happens when it rains?
All of the gear and clothing we provide is high-quality and designed to ensure you stay warm, dry and comfortable throughout the trip.
On our Blue Waterholes trip, we camp near a hut each night, providing the perfect backup space to hold our painting workshops under the shelter of the veranda if the weather turns. For the Light to Light Walk, and on the trail in general, our guides carry group shelters that can be set up quickly. This allows us to create a dry, protected space to continue painting.
Are there toilets?
On the Light to Light Walk, there are drop toilets at every campsite stay at along the trail. For our Blue Waterholes trip, there are drop toilets at 2 out the 3 huts we camp next to, and at the start and finish.
Outside of these times, a trowel is used to bury waste. This is something our guides will teach you how to do on Day 1.
I still have questions?
We know preparing for a trip brings up plenty of questions! Email or call us, and one of our senior guides will be more than happy to answer them.
Our trusted gear suppliers
Reviews
Browse our verified Google reviews to see what others are saying about our trips.
