Debra Heyes

Deb Heyes started bush walking at a very early age when her aunt used to organise hikes (more like forced marches) in and around the Otway Ranges. Despite being one of the youngest of the cousins and therefore always panting up the hill last, she developed a great love for walking everywhere, especially in out of the way and wild places. She has walked extensively in the U.K., Europe, Australia and had an excellent adventure in Patagonia with Julie Mundy a couple of years ago. She hopes to go back one day to hike the Dientes de Navarino at the ‘end of the world’ but for now is very happy to explore the highways and byways of Australia and hopefully New Zealand. Deb met Julie when their kids attended the same school and they discovered that they had a mutual love of walking and talking. She started writing for Woodslane when Julie suggested they co-author a book, so 4 years down the track and a lot of hiking and researching later, book number 3 is in and there are a few more planned as soon as restrictions allow them to get back out there. In her past life Deb was lucky enough to be a teacher whose favourite bit was taking the kids on school camps. Her two boys were initiated into hiking on the annual family pilgrimage to Wilson’s Prom and many, many treks to isolated lighthouses (Deb’s husband is a lighthouse anorak). She has written for Great Walks magazine.