Grasshopper Adventures

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‘Jason grew up in suburban Melbourne, where his adventurous spirit was sparked by family camping trips. His cycling journey began in university, leading to explorations in Scotland and Southeast Asia. He founded Grasshopper Adventures but sold the business in 2014 due to the stress of managing a growing enterprise. Now owned by Discova, he hears positive feedback from travelers.

In 2017, Jason launched Pedal Pedal, eager to re-enter tourism on his own terms. As a sole operator, he personally leads every tour, fostering friendships with customers while keeping the experience simple and enjoyable. With memorable adventures in Victoria's diverse landscapes, Jason continues to inspire others to explore the great outdoors.’

Background

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I grew up in the middle of suburban Melbourne. Not the most interesting place to be but it was settled and highly ethnically diverse. My parents were big local travellers. We had a caravan and at every opportunity we were off somewhere camping and being outdoors. I am not sure if this had an impact but on reflection it was a great escape from suburbia.

What inspired you to start hiking and cycling, and how did you get into leading cycling tours?

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I know exactly how I got into cycling. I was an environmentalist from a young age and started cycling to university. It was 17km each way. I remember the second time I did it I was so exhausted I vomited on arrival at university.

I was working night shifts at a petrol station and another employee there was studying outdoor education. He had organised a cycling trip to Tasmania. Travelling by bike was not something I had ever considered before and I thought it sounded awesome. I was planning on taking a gap year in Europe after graduating so I very quickly decided that I would do it by bike. I started researching places to go, gear needed, etc. Not once did I do a practice ride with all my gear!

So, I arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, and for the first time ever riding with panniers and all the weight on the bike, I set off on a lap of Scotland. I only made about 38km that day. But over the next few months I managed to work my way around Scotland getting out to some of the remote islands, as far north as the Orkneys, and experiencing a definite life-changing event in my life.

Returning to Australia I was hooked on adventure travel and started doing all manner of activities. I landed an IT job with a big international company which I hated. I lasted 19 months before quitting and heading off to Southeast Asia with my bike. I cycled around the Philippines, Thailand and Laos.

Running out of money and back in Australia I needed to find a way to keep travelling and I came across Intrepid Travel, who at that time hired mostly Australians to lead their tours in Asia. I applied and got a job. I had a fantastic 5 years working for Intrepid throughout Asia. In the last year I started leading their charity challenge bike tours and was very happy to be back on the bike and cycling a lot.

But I was ready for something different, and it was at this time I decided to start my own tour business specialising in bike tours in Asia. I had all the contacts locally, and with my business degree and IT experience was able to handle the business stuff and build my own website (it was 2004 when tools like Squarespace did not exist).

Basically, since then I have been leading bike tours. I owned my first business, Grasshopper Adventures, for 10 years and grew it from a single person operation to a sizable business with 70 staff and over 13,000 customers a year.

I sold out of Grasshopper Adventures in 2014. It really grew to a point where it was more stressful than fun. I was dealing daily with 'business' and not enough with the fun of getting out of a bike. So, I sold the business when I moved back to Australia. Grasshopper is now owned by Discova, which is in turn owned by Flight Centre. I don't know how much of me is still in the DNA of the business, but I know people who have travelled with them recently and they've enjoyed themselves.

I started Pedal Pedal in 2017 when I was ready to get back into tourism. It is just me. I go on every tour, I know all my customers like friends. I like to keep things simple and light without all the overheads and stress that a larger business seems to always come with. Now I just run a couple of tours a year as a part time job. It keeps me travelling and staying connected to the many great people who have been clients over many years.

For hiking, I had done a few hikes when I was younger but never really got into it until later. Being a very light person, I always struggled with the weight of all the gear. It really detracted from the experience for me, so day walks were more my thing.

Then one day in a Bangkok bookstore I came across a book called “Beyond Backpacking” by Ray Jardine. I flicked through it and liked what I saw.

The book was all about ultralight hiking, quite radical at the time, and I knew this was for me. I made some of my own gear and didn’t fear modifying gear that I bought to make it lighter. It was from this that I jumped into doing the Australian Alps Walking Track when the September 11 Twin Towers attack shut down tourism for a while and I had time on my hands for a big adventure.

Can you share some of your most memorable hiking experiences in Victoria?

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Victoria is such a varied state, you can visit beautiful coastlines, alpine mountains, temperate rainforests, and arid regions. So when I think of my most memorable experiences they are also varied. I completed the Australian Alps Walking Track in February 2002 which will stay with me forever.

The Victorian section was definitely the highlight, particularly crossing the Crosscut Saw. They are some spectacular and challenging mountains. On that hike I had summer heat and snow, rain and sunshine. Going for a long time, I took four weeks, means you have to prepare for all conditions. So I even enjoyed and still remember all the planning, meal preparation, and map selection that I had to do.

On the flip side, I took my family along a section of the Great Ocean Walk recently. It was a great intro for them. Stunning coastlines, koalas, easy walking and happily I now have a family that want to do more hiking.

What are some of the most interesting places you've cycled globally?

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This is a hard question because every place I’ve cycled is so different. My favourites generally involve mountains with Laos and Bhutan two of the best. Both are also quite underpopulated and have large tracks of wild land and quiet, sometimes shy people, which I love.

Thailand is like a second home to me and cycling the areas away from the tourist zones is wonderful. Because I speak Thai it makes travel there that much better. The road network is extensive so you can ride quiet back roads throughout the country while eating 5 star food in every village.

For unique countries, cycling the grasslands of Mongolia, camping every night while following tracks across wide open spaces is something I’ve not done anywhere else. Uzbekistan was a different world. Tashkent was very Russian, I was mistaken for a local, but out in the countryside I felt like I was in biblical times.

I could keep going… China is a whole world in itself. Taiwan is surprisingly spectacular. Cycling along the Danube is easy but so lovely. Hawaii had some of the best cycling roads I’ve done. And Scotland - changed my life did that place!.

What trails in Victoria do you consider must-visit for both beginners and experienced hikers?

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For beginners the Great Ocean Walk is a really good one. You can access transport a various points along the way, there are plenty of people on the trail if you have issues, and it is simply beautiful.

Also some of the alpine walks out of Hotham or Falls Creek in summer are quite easy and also spectacular. Easy way to get hooked on hiking.

For more experienced hikers the Grampians Peaks Trail is a good one. While the section distances aren’t long there are enough side trips to make for good daily walks. I have only done the first four days (so far) and found the rocky terrain and steepness of the tracks made it harder than I thought it would be. The campsites are in amazing locations and despite the high cost it really is an impressive hike.

The Crosscut Saw which is part of the Australian Alps Walking Track is tough and if you have good weather, incredible.

I think anyone with experience should do at least one long hike at some stage. At least a week, more is better. Once you’ve been hiking for weeks, camping every night, being outdoors all the time, going back to living in a house takes some adjusting. I feel we really are in our natural state when out hiking (apart from not hunting and gathering during the day).

How do you prepare for a hiking trip in Victoria's diverse landscapes?

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Probably not where you would expect me to start but a spreadsheet is always my starting point once I know where I am going. I have a spreadsheet of all my gear and I go through it to select which items are needed for a hike. Weather is the main influence on what I take as colder/wetter obviously needs more warm and waterproof gear.

I’m an early riser so most mornings I am up early to go for a walk or run. If it’s a walk I usually put some weight in a backpack and walk up and down a steep hill near home for an hour. This isn’t specifically training for any one hike, but I know it keeps me strong. When I have a long hike coming up, depending on the difficulty and distances, I might do 10-15km walks a few times a week to prepare.

I have got into dehydrating food so I will prepare these in advance. It’s much easier than I thought it would be.

What challenges have you faced while hiking in Victoria, and how did you overcome them?

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I did the Australian Alps Walking Track before handheld GPS/mobile phones were around so it all came down to map reading to navigate. There are sections of the AAWT where there is no track and so I did get lost from time to time. Being able to read the layout of the land, try to find this on the map and then take a bearing until an established track or a creek was found was the only way I could become ‘unlost’. It was annoying at the time but I am confident knowing I can stay calm and find a way to get back on track.

Only recently I was on a three day hike up Mt Feathertop and around the Alpine National Park. On day 2 I got caught in a huge electrical storm. I was walking on a ridge and didn’t feel safe. When the rain started hammering down, I also had trouble seeing as I am a glasses wearer and in heavy rain they just don’t work. But I knew I was fit enough, and I carried a very light pack, so I ran and walked all the way down off the mountain back to my car - a 38km day in total. Knowing I am able to go long distances when needed is always a good backup plan!

What do you find most rewarding about hiking compared to cycling?

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I find hiking is much more relaxing, I don’t have to be quite as alert to the terrain as my body seems to move a lot more without thinking. Cycling is faster and therefore needs a bit more concentration. I like the spaces my mind can explore when walking, it can become quite meditative, especially when going uphill on a long climb.

Hiking shows detail. Moving much slower means I’m more likely to see things that I would miss cycling. It might be a flower, a butterfly, a view. Stopping when walking is easy, you just stop. On the bike I tend to not stop as much.

I love simplicity and there’s few things less simple than walking. Everything is on my back, there’s no machine that needs maintaining. There are people who run a marathon a day over a period of time. It’s a hard thing to do. But try walking a marathon a day and it becomes much more manageable. I ran a 50km ultra-marathon once and it took a long time to recover from. But I have also walked 50km in a day (while carrying a pack) and I simply got up the next day and kept on walking.

What does it take to lead a successful cycling tour? Can you describe your typical tour experience?

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I think there are a couple of key ingredients to a successful cycling tour. I’ll start with probably one that most people wouldn’t put near the top of their list: food. A well fed group is a happier group. I’m a grazer, always eating, always hungry. I would say I almost have a fear of hunger. So I also make sure there is food available and if not that there is fair warning so my guests (and me) can stock up. Hungry = ‘hangry’

A second key ingredient is clear and correct information. You can tell a group they have a nice easy 50km day with a tail wind, but the day turns out to be hot, with a head wind, and road works with a 5km diversion needed and they will be grumpy with me. But put them on a 100km tough day with hills and bad roads but also the knowledge that this is what is coming, and they will rise to the challenge.

Other key factors are of course an interesting and/or beautiful destination, quality bikes, comfortable hotels, a capable local crew (I have a local guide and support vehicle on my tours).

A typical tour with me is around two weeks long and will involve riding hotel to hotel as much as possible. About half my guests will ride ebikes. I’m not a fan of having to get on transport to complete a day. Sometimes we will transfer in the middle of the tour to move to a new region. I’m very keen to allow my guests to have autonomy and choose their own timetable.

So, there’s no departure time each day. Guests are given the route information in an app to follow. So, they can choose to ride with their family/friends or ride with a guide (I tell them what time the guides are departing each day). Usually throughout a day some people race ahead and reach our next destination by lunchtime, others go slowly and plod along. I move around and ride with different people each day. We meet up each evening to reflect on the day and discuss the following day.

The support vehicle is on hand for anyone who is struggling with the day’s ride, wants to skip a section or should we have any unwell guests.

How do you decide on the routes and destinations for your cycling tours?

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Part of the decision comes down to where do I want to go next and I also discuss with my guests to get suggestions. There’s also the factor of what sounds exotic and saleable to take into account.

I have guests who have been travelling with me for 20 years so I have to keep finding new places, but I also have people new to travelling with me so I need to think about where I can go back to.

What are some of the most unique cycling cultures or experiences you've encountered around the world?

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In terms of cycling culture, the surprise for me was Taiwan. Lots of local’s cycle tour there. There are dedicated cycling hotels and people everywhere with panniers out for multiple day rides with their friends.

Of course, Europe is the obvious pinnacle of cycling culture. Their trail network is incredible and, in some cases, (e.g. the Danube between Passau and Vienna) the trail is better than many rural roads in Victoria!

Probably the most unique cycling experiences I’ve had have been leading unicycling tours. Many years ago, I was to lead a fundraising cycling tour from Vietnam to Cambodia. A guy from New Zealand turned up with a unicycle and completed the whole tour on it, easily keeping up with the bicycles.

This led to Ken, the unicyclist, and I dreaming up the idea of creating tours specifically for unicyclists. Like all small special interest groups, the internet allows all these crazy people to get together. So, we designed the first tour to be in Laos in 2006 with nearly 20 riders turning up.

It has always been special interacting with locals when travelling by bike, but to travel with a group on unicycles really made for an incredible dynamic and interactions with the locals. There have now been eight unicycles’ tours: Laos, Vietnam, India, Mongolia, China, Uzbekistan, Nepal, and Cambodia.

How does cycling in different countries compare to biking in your home state?

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Everywhere is so different but one that that is noticeable is how much more respect cyclists have in other countries from other road users. Drivers will often stop to let us cross a road, they never yell out their window or honk their horn just as they are passing. They just seem far more patient and understand that the cyclist is vulnerable when compared to a heavy fast moving car or truck and they take appropriate steps to keep it safe.

I don’t like to tar all drivers in Victoria badly, most are really good, but I feel we have a higher proportion of people who see cyclists as annoying or somehow invading the space of larger vehicles on the road.

How do hiking and cycling fit into your everyday life? Do you have a preference for one over the other?

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I try to do something everyday. On an office day I will get up and walk 5km in the morning - this is my standard ‘non-exercise’ day.

I have an ambition to get away at least once a month that sees me sleeping in a tent. I find that setting little goals like that stops me getting complacent and too comfortable lazing at home.

I am always planning the next hike and currently have four that I am planning. Now that I have my wife enjoying hiking, we are doing long weekend hikes monthly while the weather is good and going to Japan in (our) winter. Doing lots of walking in the mountains will be a bit part of the trip.

I try to get out on a longer ride twice a week which usually involves trying to find roads I haven’t previously cycled. I get bored riding the same loops so I have a map that I draw onto when I have ridden a road. For the next ride I’ll find a space on the map where I haven’t been and go there. I often end up riding a tiny little area just going up and down all the roads. I hope to eventually ride all the roads and tracks in my shire.

What advice would you give to someone looking to start either hiking or cycling?

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The best advice I have is to go out and do it. You need far less than you think. And if you don’t have all the right gear just do what you can. In Alpine National Park you can drive up into the park and walk 2km to a campsite. So even if you don’t have a hiking tent you can carry in a heavier tent and camp for a night or two and do some day walks. Once you find you like it you can think about investing into some lighter gear.

The same applies to cycling. It’s easy to book a night at a cheap motel, find a friend or two, jump on the train to get out of the city, work out a route that avoids bigger roads and go cycling. It’s such a fun way to travel.

The other thing to mention is that there is not one way to do anything. Hiking for me is about being as lightweight as possible and that works for me. I have come across plenty of people who are very much into food, and they carry a full kitchen and cook up amazing meals from scratch. They don’t mind carrying the weight because their dinner will be gourmet! There’s bikepacking and bike touring - just find your own way.

Are there any specific hiking trails or cycling routes you dream of exploring in the future?

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So many! Here’s a short list:

Iceland - I have wanted to travel to Iceland for a very long time. It looks to have the most amazing landscape for cycling and hiking. The cost factor has kept me from going and running a tour there would be so expensive I don’t think I could sell it. I’m getting to the age where I think I will just go. If I camp the whole time it can’t be too expensive can it?
AAWT again - It’s been 23 years since I walked the AAWT and I would love to do it again. It was such a great experience then and I am sure it would be again.
Along the Murray - I want to cycle the Murray River from Albury to the Ocean. It’s definitely achievable, maybe a couple of one week rides over time…
Blue Mountains - I have never hiked in the Blue Mountains and the photos I see look like my kind of territory. Will get there soon…

Never been to Africa. Never been to South America.

How do you see your role as a cycling tour leader evolving in the coming years?

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My main ambition is to simply keep doing it. I try to run 4 tours a year which is a manageable amount of time to be away from my family. I can see myself still leading tours well into my 60s. As long as my body stays strong.

To continue following our explorers Jason Williams’s journey or simply want to reach out and say Hi, you can connect with them on the following accounts:

Jason Williams

Grasshopper Adventures

To continue following our explorers Jason Williams’s journey or simply want to reach out and say Hi, you can connect with them on the following accounts:

Facebook:

@jasongrasshopper

Instagram:

@jasonw_au

TikTok:

@jasow.com.au

Website:

PedalPedal.com.au

jasonw.com.au

Help support The Roamers Trail by following us on social media

Jason Williams

Grasshopper Adventures

To continue following our explorers Jason Williams’s journey or simply want to reach out and say Hi, you can connect with them on the following accounts:

Facebook:

@jasongrasshopper

Instagram:

@jasonw_au

TikTok:

@jasow.com.au

Website:

PedalPedal.com.au

jasonw.com.au

Help support The Roamers Trail by following us on social media

Jordan Wood