Almost nine years after Kiama local Mark Burns went for a walk around Kiama Harbour and came up with the idea for The Man Walk, the initiative is preparing to launch its 100th location.

With 93 locations across Australia, four in New Zealand, one in Japan and one in England, Burns still struggles to comprehend how much the grassroots movement has grown.

“It’s unexpected - that’s probably the best word for it,” Burns said. “The Man Walk has been this inadvertent success since late 2018, when I went for a wander around Kiama Harbour just to get myself on the right foot.

“It was about starting the day in the sun, clearing my head - simple stuff. It worked for me. Then my mates crashed my walk and from there it grew to Wollongong, then Coolangatta, and then a viral social media post in 2019 that reached 1.3 million people.”

Originally, the goal was to launch 12 new locations each year. Since 1 July 2025 alone, 21 new walks have started.

“The most recent ones include Bribie Island, Chelsea in Victoria, Rutherglen, and Rockhampton, and we’re at 99 now,” he said. 

“It’ll be a bit of a race to see which becomes number 100. It might be Sylvania in Sydney - or maybe Chelsea in the UK. Pretty cool to have Chelsea, Victoria and Chelsea, London.”

As the initiative expands, Burns says the responsibility behind the scenes has grown too. On the tougher days, he draws motivation from the stories he hears from participants.

“What’s really powerful is hearing from the blokes who walk regularly. It’s mostly older men - it’s open to anyone 18 and over, free and weekly - but some of the stories are incredible,” he said.

“I’ve had guys say, ‘This is my first friend in 40 years,’ or ‘The Man Walk saved my life.’ When I get bogged down in governance, insurance and strategy - which I never thought I’d be worrying about - I think about those stories.”

The founder of The Man Walk Mark Burns (centre). Photo: Mark Burns

The program’s impact is now being measured more formally through a longitudinal study with Charles Sturt University.

“Professor Julaine Allan specialises in community connection and social wellbeing. They had some funding available and reached out after seeing what we were doing online,” Burns said.

“She and her team designed a thorough study looking at demographics, cultural background, economic position, alcohol consumption, and anxiety and depression scales. We survey ambassadors and walkers in March and October each year for five years. As the same men continue participating, it strengthens the data.”

Ninety-seven per cent of men surveyed said The Man Walk has had a positive impact on their mental and physical health whilst ninety-nine per cent said it helped them engage socially with others. 

The first phase of the study concluded: “The Man Walk is a community-based program that effectively fosters social connection, routine and wellbeing, especially for older men and those in regional and lower socioeconomic areas.”

Despite the growth, Burns insists the core of The Man Walk remains unchanged.

“The purpose hasn’t changed. It’s still a low-barrier, easy opportunity for connection - shoulder-to-shoulder, walk and talk. That simplicity is the magic, and I don’t think that will ever change,” he said.

“What has evolved is that we now offer more. There are mental health education programs and wellbeing check-ins. And with so many locations, there’s a bit of ‘Man Walk tourism’ - like parkrun tourism. Some blokes have walked at 30 or 40 locations around Australia.”

Once the 100th walk is confirmed, Burns hopes to see another 500 established over the next decade.

“Growth has been entirely organic so far, but we’re starting to identify areas of need more strategically,” he said.

In the near future, the organisation will host ‘One Big Walk for Men’s Health and Wellbeing’ - a 400-kilometre trek from Tathra to Kembla Grange from June 13 to 20, more than a marathon a day.

“It’s about raising awareness and funds. We’ll pass about 14 active Man Walk locations along the coast and connect with them. Funding a free organisation is tough,” Burns said.

“We’re hoping 15 people will commit to the full eight days, each raising $5,000.

"Others can join for a day and aim to raise $1,000.”

The group will finish at Kembla Grange on Race Against Suicide race day.

“It’s a big challenge - I’ve got the walking shoes on already - but it’s exciting. We’re proud of where things are heading. It’s definitely onward and upward.”