From the unforgiving tropics of the Kokoda track to Mt Everest, wilderness guide Steve Ellis has made a career teaching bushcraft and survival skills to civilians and Defence personnel – and along the way he has survived his share of life-threatening situations.

Steve Ellis' own first lesson in survival came very young.

He was just 6 years old when he got lost in the national forest near his family farm in central Victoria, but as Steve snuggled up to one of the working dogs for the night, he knew he'd be ok.

Steve has made a career of teaching bushcraft and survival skills to civilians and Defence personnel.

He's guided treks across freezing North American glaciers, and through the unforgiving tropics of the Kokoda track.

Steve never tires of the awe and wonder of the natural world and looking up at the night sky, particularly at his beloved Southern Cross, when he's far from the city lights.

This episode of Conversations explores mountaineering, avalanches, hiking, Mt Everest, fire, NORFORCE, Army, military, celestial navigation, food, family, war, military history, WWII, Anzac, Nepal, astronomy.