Survival camping isn't for everyone — so how would you go in the wilderness? Take the quiz to find out
After moving to Burnie two years ago, Rivi fell in love with survival-inspired camping in Tasmania's wilderness. (ABC News: Marc Eiden)
Figuring out what 18-year-old Rivi can leave behind when he goes camping in Tasmania's wilderness has been as important as knowing what to take.
It has been a gradual process — first, starting out with short trips and then slowly building up to longer stays.
"In our packs, we carry a first aid kit, sleeping bags, a shovel, ropes, canned food, and water. No tents, only a tarp in case it rains," Rivi said.
Jump to the Survival Camping Quiz
He also carries a satellite phone to contact his parents, who were hesitant at first but have come to trust his skills and judgement.
While camping, Rivi said respecting the environment came first — leave the forest as its found and carefully return any fallen trees used for shelter. (Supplied)
The Tasmanian terrain is known for its harsh elements, so much so, its West Coast Range was chosen to test contestants on SBS's survival reality show, Alone Australia.
But Rivi's love for survival-inspired camping didn't come from TV — it began on a camping trip with his friend Harrison.
The pair went hiking deep in the forest, which meant carrying only the essentials.
Originally from Gampaha, Sri Lanka, Rivi didn’t grow up camping, but he hopes to join the Defence Force after falling in love with Australia’s wilderness. (ABC News: Marc Eiden)
"Because we were walking over an hour into the forest, we had to get rid of a lot of gear — that's when it changed to 'survival mode,'" Rivi said.
For Rivi, it is less about exploring the area and more about creating a temporary home off the main tracks, sitting in silence, and putting his problem-solving skills to the test as conditions change.
"The more I'm away from my phone and distractions, the more I'm connected to what matters," he said.
"I've realised that the more I seek discomfort, the more comfortable I feel in myself. It's also taught me to be more confident."
When Rivi and his family arrived in Tasmania two years ago, it was the middle of a winter night in August.
Originally from Gampaha, a city 40 minutes from Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, 18-year-old Rivi found that his new home in Burnie, Tasmania, looked nothing like the place he had grown up.
Refining the necessities in his pack was a slow, methodical process for Rivi, with safety always at the forefront. (ABC News: Marc Eiden)
With the coast on one side and thick bush and mountains on the other, Rivi never imagined this would become home, or that he would forge such a strong connection to the land through survival-style camping.
"When I first moved to Australia, I felt separated from my home, my family, my friends and everything I knew," he said.
"But in the landscape of my new Australian home, camping has given me a new kind of connection."
Have fun but know your limits and be prepared, expert warns
Alex Mileham, founder of Survival Courses Tasmania, has spent 35 years hiking and camping solo across the world. (Supplied)
Alex Mileham has spent 35 years hiking and practising survival alone around the world, and he says the real danger is often closer than people expect.
He says that, unlike Rivi, survival camping is not always a choice, and most people getting caught out were underprepared and did not have the right skills.
"The most likely scenario for a real-life survival situation is often day hikers,"he said.
"Because they think that by nine o'clock at night, they're going to be back on the couch with a pizza or something, so they go unprepared and overconfident."
There are rules to follow when using Tasmania's national parks. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)
Mr Mileham is the founder of Survival Courses Tasmania and teaches survival and bushcraft skills to people from all walks of life, including surgeons, teachers, mechanics, and psychologists.
Half of his students are women.
"Some of the women who have done my courses are part of a hiking group, and they want to venture out on their own," he said.
"I teach how to build your self-confidence and your resilience in those situations in the bush."
Mr Mileham grew up hiking the Brecon Beacons in Wales, a mountainous region bordering England, which has been used for SAS training for years.
By 14, he was testing survival skills alone, and at 25 he completed his first solo trek in Nepal. He has also trained with survival experts, the UK's Ray Mears and Australia's Bob Cooper.
Mr Mileham says it's most likely day trekkers that get caught out in changing conditions without the right gear. (ABC News: Jano Gibson)
He stressed that Tasmania's weather was unpredictable and changed quickly, with mistakes happening fast if people became disorientated and began to panic.
"You can start off on a hike in lovely weather, wearing lightweight clothing and it can just change," he said.
"If you're wet, there's wind, and you're cold, those three things are almost guaranteed to bring on hypothermia when combined.
"At least with a multi-day hike, you're probably better prepared, because you're planning to spend the night or more."
In October, Tasmania's wilderness claimed the life of bushwalker Daryl Fong and has prompted numerous rescue operations, with a 76-year-old man still missing in Tasmanian bushland.
"I encourage everybody to go out and have fun, but be prepared with the right clothing and equipment, and ideally some training … because nature will always defeat you if you're overconfident," Mr Mileham said.