ACT's Parks and Conservation Service are spruiking what will be a bumper season for Canberra's parks and reserves but urged people to take care, offering advice on how to stay safe when going bush.
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Parks and Conservation's regional manager Brett McNamara said people heading over the holidays should plan their trip, pack plenty of water, wear appropriate clothing for the conditions and get an affordable emergency beacon.
"This time of year of we find a lot of people heading to the back country, some of the more remote locations of the park," Mr McNamara said.
He urged Canberrans to think twice before leaving the designated walking tracks, plan for a potential stay in case they're caught out overnight and to share plans with people who could raise the alarm.
"One of the biggest hazards out there is the change in the weather," Mr McNamara said.
"There's no such thing as bad weather, just a poor choice of clothing."
He highly recommended bushwalkers rented or purchased a personal locator beacon, or PLB, from the parks visitor centres.
"I've yet to come across a mobile phone that you could eat or get warm by, so do not rely on mobile phones," Mr McNamara said.
ACT Police's Station Sergeant Stephen Cooke repeated Mr McNamara's advice to rent a PLB and said people were wrong in assuming they'd get fined or reprimanded for activating their beacon.
"[People shouldn't] be afraid to activate that PLB if they get themselves into trouble," Mr Cooke said.
"We would prefer people activate that PLB early rather than later, the sooner that they do that, the sooner we can get to them particularly if they're in trouble or they're injured."
The most common mistake bushwalkers made was underestimating the time it takes to complete their trek, often beginnig their return after dark which could be stressful.
If people get into a situation where they're lost or in trouble, Mr Cooke said they should get to an area where they're highly visible, such as near a track or road because those were areas emergency services searched first.
They should then stay put, stay hydrated, calm and stay dry if it's raining.
"We will come to them. We will find them," Mr Cooke said.
