What to avoid

Prevention
Stop to make camp well before dark or at the first sign of stormy weather. Keep your group together, especially towards the end of the day. Do not take unnecessary chances or push too hard. Abandon the trip if anyone becomes ill or if really bad weather sets in. Know your group and its limitations and modify plans as necessary.

If you get lost
If you think you are lost, stop. Sit down, try to think calmly. Use your map and compass. Climb a tree or go to a high spot to look for landmarks (know where your pack is when you do this!). Do not continue travelling until you know where you are.
If you are lost, stay in the one place. Put out signals of three - three blasts on a whistle, three columns of smoke, three lines stamped in the snow, three yells. Any pattern of three is a standard distress signal. Be sure children know what to do if lost.

All animals within National Parks are protected. Don't feed them as this creates unbalanced and unnaturally dependent populations. The animals also become nuisances (some will now open tent flies to get at food) and can contract diseases such as 'lumpy jaw' from eating refined foods. Keep food well hidden in your pack or tent and keep wildlife wild!

Also try to cook only the amount of food you can eat so you don't need to dispose of leftovers (carrying it out is a pain) and scattering it compounds the animal problem.

A plant disease known as root rot fungus (Phytophthora cinnamomi), has caused disease and death particularly in moorland, heath and dry eucalypt plant communities.

The fungus is spread into new areas by moving infected soil or plant material into uninfected areas. It is too small to be seen and is easily carried on muddy boots, trowels, tent pegs etc. Parts of some walking tracks are already infected.

You can help by always starting your walk with clean gear. Wash your tent pegs and trowel where you use them and if directed by signs on the track wash the mud from your boots and gaiters.

In some areas it is best to walk the track in a particular direction - contact the local ranger about this before you walk, particularly if you are walking the South Coast Track or the Douglas - Apsley National Park on the East Coast.

Parts of the World Heritage Area have been occupied by Aborigines for at least 20,000 years prior to the arrival of Europeans. The Area was the southernmost known extent of human occupation during the last ice age.
Aboriginal artefacts you may come across include shelter sites in limestone caves, large coastal 'midden' sites (large piles of shells which have been used as a food source and then discarded), and stone and rock engraving or painting sites. You may also see relics of past European activities such as abandoned settlements or huts.
If you come across an archaeological site please:

• Leave it undisturbed.
• Do not under any circumstances remove anything Doing so diminishes the value of both the site (because it becomes less intact) and of the artefact (which generally only has value because of its context). It is also an offence to damage Aboriginal sites and fines can be imposed.
• Report all archaeological sites to the Archaeology section, Parks and Wildlife Service, when you return. Include:

• What is there;
• Where it is (1:100,000 map grid reference) and
• Any photographs of the site.