Bush Grid
RFS grid references, distance and bearing, in your pocket and on your wrist.
Bush Grid turns the 6-digit grid references used on the radio into places on a map, and back again. Made by a volunteer, for volunteers. No ads, no accounts, no tracking.
For iPhone (iOS 18 or later) and Apple Watch (watchOS 10 or later).
What it does
Your grid reference, always. See your own RFS map reference at the top of the screen, ready to read out over the radio.
Find any reference. Type in a reference on a big, glove-friendly keypad and see it on the map, with how far away it is and which way to go.
Navigate. Distance, bearing (true or magnetic) and a live compass guide you to the point.
Plan routes. Add several waypoints, step through them one at a time and see the distance of every leg.
Find a fire by triangulation. Enter compass bearings from two or more places and Bush Grid shows where the lines cross, with a best estimate and how much the bearings agree.
Share and save. Copy or share any location, and save places you use often, such as the station, dams or staging areas.
Works out of coverage. GPS, grid references, distance, bearing and triangulation all work without mobile data.
Free for everyone, always
Everything you need in the field is free: grid references, GPS, distance and bearing, routes, triangulation, saved locations, copy and share.
Supporter extras
An optional Supporter subscription or one-off lifetime purchase helps cover running costs and unlocks:
Lock Screen and Dynamic Island display of distance and bearing, without unlocking your phone.
Track log that records where you've been, even with the phone locked, and exports as a GPX file.
Triangulation error cones that show the area where the target could really be.
Apple Watch app with distance and an arrow pointing to your target.
Brigades and members who can't afford it can ask for a free code.
Built for the fireground
Dark, high-contrast screens that are easy to read in sun and smoke.
Large buttons that work with gloves.
Matches the references used on the NSW RFS Grid Reference Map, with 8-digit (10 m) references when you need more precision.
A plain-language help guide built into the app.
Not for emergency or life-safety navigation. Bush Grid is an unofficial aid and is not made or endorsed by the NSW Rural Fire Service or any agency. Always use official maps, a compass and radio, follow RFS procedures, and check every location independently. In an emergency call Triple Zero (000).
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Bush Grid is published by Bryan Nouwens, New South Wales, Australia.