One of the biggest perks to a country as large and as open as Australia is that there are many spectacular hiking spots, regardless of the state you choose to visit. Many of the best bushwalks in Australia weave through World Heritage-listed Wilderness Areas ranging from half-day jaunts through bird-rich bushland and along beaches lapped by sapphire seas to multi-day treks through the country's red hot heart, where rugged gorges and red-hued deserts challenge even hard-core hikers. With so many great hikes to choose from, your hardest decision will be choosing which one is for you. Broken up into Australia’s 7 states and territory, we've selected the best hikes in each to help you get started. So with that, these are the best hikes in Australia – a complete guide to help you plan your visit to the land down under!
Photo credit: Mark Fitz, Tourism & Events Queensland
Best Hikes in Queensland
Scenic Rim Trail
One of the most popular and more challneging trails is the Scenic Rim. The trail follows alongside some of Queensland's most famous mountain ranges including the Great Dividing Range and Tamborine Mountain. If opting for the 5 day hike, there are cabins perched in the rainforest giving you a much needed space to relax and while away. With guided private hikes lasting from 2-5 days so you can be sure to get the most out of the hike.
Fraser Island Great Walk
Tracing the footsteps of the native Butchulla people on World Heritage-listed Fraser Island, this 90-kilometer walk takes in the top tourist attractions of the planet's largest sand island. The trail threads along old logging routes between Dilli Village and Happy Valley through subtropical rainforest and mangroves, and along the shores of windswept beaches. Highlights include strolling along the rainforest boardwalk bordering the crystal-clear waters of Wanggoolba Creek, swimming in the striking blue waters of Lake McKenzie, and gazing up at the towering sand dune engulfing Lake Wabby. At Central Station, stop by the exhibits to brush up on the history and ecology of the island, and while you're walking, look out for dingoes, Australia's wild dog. This relatively easy walk takes about six to eight days to complete, and you can concentrate on smaller segments if you're short on time. Basic walkers' camps lie along the route, as well as a couple of private guesthouses and the 4-star Kingfisher Bay Resort.
Photo credit: Destination NSW
Best Hikes in New South Wales
Mount Gower, Lorde Howe Island
Climbing 875-meter-high Mount Gower on World-Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island off the north coast of New South Wales is one of the best day hikes in Australia. The track ascends to the mist forests at the mountain's summit. Along the way, you can explore the botanical and wildlife wonders of this pristine island, where visitor numbers are limited to protect the natural environment. As you climb this lush peak on the island's southern end, fern-filled forests, rare orchids, and moss-cloaked trees imbue the landscapes with a storybook feel. Along the way, you can gape at views of neighbouring Mt. Lidgbird; Balls Pyramid, the world's largest sea stack at 565-meters; the lagoon; and the island's northern settlement. Traverse ledge crossings and rope sections to reach the summit. Guided walks are highly recommended and provide insight into the island's unique ecology and natural history.
Mount Kosciuszko
If you've always wanted to summit a county's highest peak but you're not much of a mountaineer, you're in luck. On the Kosciuszko walk, you can enjoy a round-trip hike to the 2,228-meter summit of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest peak, in less than five hours – with a little help from Thredbo's Kosciuszko Express chairlift.From June through October, this well-maintained and clearly-marked track is usually covered in snow, so the 14-kilometer loop is best attempted in summer. Take the chairlift up as far as you can go, and from here, the track ascends past the rugged granite outcrops of the Rams Head Range, through wildflower-flecked heathlands, and past Lake Cootapatamba, which was gouged by glaciers. Soak in the spectacular views of Australia’s alpine country from the lookout and stride along the humble headwaters of the Snowy River. You can easily tackle the walk independently.
Photo credit: Pixabay
Best Hikes in Victoria
Great Ocean Walk
The Great Ocean Road, along Victoria's Shipwreck Coast, is one of Australia's most famous scenic drives, but you can also enjoy the breathtaking scenery on foot. Carving along one of the country's most spectacular stretches of coastline, this multi day, one-way hike stretches for 104 kilometers from the town of Apollo Bay through Port Campbell and Great Otway National Parks, and takes up to eight days. This epic trek evokes sheer awe in the power of Mother Nature. Perhaps the most famous stretch is from Princetown to Glenample. Here, a clifftop path perches over the famous Twelve Apostles, the towering coastal rock formations sculpted by the howling winds and thrashing surf. Standing above the treacherous ocean, you can actually imagine how the forces of nature gouged this scalloped coast over millennia. Other highlights include skirting some of the country's highest sea cliffs, wandering through wildlife-rich wetlands and casuarina forests, and descending to windswept beaches where the rusted anchors of old shipwrecks lie. From June through September, look for whales in the wind-whipped sea.
Wilsons Promontory
A hike to the southernmost tip of mainland Australia is definitely an experience at WIlsons Promontory. With day hikes and multi-day hikes on offer; walk remote coastal bushland trails, scale the granite peaks of Mount Bishop or Mount Oberon for panoramic views, enjoy an overnight hike in The Prom and swim at pristine beaches dominated by granite tors. Camp in comfort at family-friendly Tidal River or hike to a more secluded campsite. Either way, the local wombats, kangaroos and emus are waiting to meet you. Read more: Best Hikes in Wilsons Prom.
Photo credit: Adam Bruzzone, South Australian Tourism Commission
Best Hikes in South Australia
Flinders Ranges
Ancient and rugged mountain landscapes, peaceful tree-lined gorges and a seasonal wealth of wildlife. The sense of space unique to the semi-arid zone combine to make Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park one of South Australia’s iconic destinations and one not to be missed. The park comprises approximately 95,000 hectares. It includes the Heysen Range, Brachina and Bunyeroo gorges and the vast amphitheatre of mountains that is Wilpena Pound. From the grandeur multi day hikes of the Arkaba Walk and Heysen Trail to an array of day hikes, Flinders Ranges offers a walk that will keep you captivated. Read more: Best Hikes In The Flinders Ranges.
Flinders Chase Coastal Trek, Kangaroo Island
Drenched in rugged windswept beauty, the Flinders Chase Coastal Trek skirts limestone cliffs overlooking the wild sea on the west coast of Kangaroo Island in South Australia. The Flinders Chase Coastal Trek is one of the most rewarding multi day hikes in South Australia, with plenty of campsites along the route. It comprises three sections, but the highlight is the one-way, 19-kilometer hike from Ravine des Casoars to West Bay. Along the way, you'll have plenty of opportunities to spot iconic Aussie wildlife. Kangaroos, koalas, goannas, echidnas, and wallabies are some of the creatures that inhabit the coastal bushland. Look out to sea, and you can sometimes spot whales, seals, and ospreys. Besides the wildlife, other highlights include the jagged wind- and sea-sculpted limestone stalagmites rising from the headland. Fall and spring are the prime times, when temperatures are milder.
Photo credit: Tourism Western Australia
Best Hikes in Western Australia
Cape To Cape
The Cape to Cape Walk Track is a long-distance walk trail located in the far south-west corner of Western Australia, and is one of the best coastal hikes in Australia. This rewarding multi-day hike meanders for 135 kilometers along coastal cliffs, surf beaches, and forests of giant karri trees. Named for its route between the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, along the Margaret River coast, the entire walk lies within a national park and takes between five to seven days. But you can choose easier sections for half-day or day walks. Highlights of the Cape to Cape walking track include coastal rock formations, such as jagged Sugarloaf Rock jutting from the sea; cool cascades; squeaky-clean beaches; and sea cliffs with views across the pounding surf. Between June and December, this makes a perfect location for whale watching. One of the most scenic sections of the hike skirts the cliff-tops above Contos Beach, where wildflowers flourish in the spring and kangaroos often take cover under shady scrub. Read more: The Cape to Cape Track, Margaret River.
Bibbulum Track
Hiking in Western Australia can take you through some of the most breathtaking scenery in Australia, and the Bibbulmum Track covers many of the highlights. This one-way 1,000-kilometer, long distance hike starts from Kalamunda, on a walking trail in the Perth hills, and explores some of the most scenic national parks in the state's southwest, ending in the coastal town of Albany. Highlights include wandering through the giant karri, jarrah, and tingle forests; seeing the sights of William Bay National Park, breathing in the salty air in ocean-view heathlands; and catching sight of kangaroos peeking out from purple spring wildflowers in the misty valleys. You can tailor the experience to suit your comfort level and experience, from a self-guided, eight-week, long distance hike to shorter guided tours. If your’e in search for day hikes without comprising the create comforts, you can stay in towns along the way and tackle shorter hikes in each area.The best time of year to hike the track is in the Southern Hemisphere's autumn, winter, or spring, when the wildflowers burst into bloom. Summer can be too hot for hiking – especially along more exposed areas of the trail.
Photo Credit: Jason Charles Hill, Tourism Tasmania
Best Hikes in Tasmania
The smallest of all states yet perhaps the most to offer! Almost 60 per cent of Tasmania is protected within national parks and reserves and 20 per cent of this is World Heritage-listed. The 19 national parks are crisscrossed with trails to suit every level. Long and short, gentle and giant, from mountains to coast, there are some wonderful Tasmanian walks to take you away from it all. The East Coast takes the spot for offering some of Tasmania’s greatest trails. From conquering the highest dolerite cliffs in the Southern Hemisphire on The Three Capes Track to the ravishing half-moon slice of white sand and sapphire sea of the renowned Wineglass Bay in Freycinet National Park.
Read more: East Coast Tasmania Walks.
Iconic Cradle Mountain is a place of exceptional natural beauty in the heart of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. From moss-covered ancient rainforests and deep river gorges to snow-covered mountain peaks, wild alpine moorlands and glacial lakes, the park is revered for its diverse and breath-taking landscapes. The Park offers a world-class system of walking tracks to explore that ranges from very short easy strolls to the legendary Overland Track. This 5-6 day hike stretches 80km from Cradle Mountain through to Lake St Clair and is an unforgettable journey through Tasmania’s alpine heart.
Read more: Best Hikes In Cradle Mountain.
Photo credit: Pixabay
Best Hikes in Northern Territory
Kings Canyon Rim Walk
One of the country's most famous day hikes, the six-kilometer Kings Canyon Rim Walk, in Watarrka National Park, skirts the lip of a spectacular 150-meter-deep canyon in Australia's Red Centre. The first part of the hike requires climbing 500 steps to the rim of the canyon, but it's worth it for the spectacular views. Once at the top, follow the u-shaped trail around the sandstone cliffs and peer below into a wonderland of weathered dome-shaped rock formations; ancient cycads; and the Garden of Eden, an unlikely oasis with lush vegetation and a perennial waterhole. After winter rains, waterfalls tumble down the rock faces here. The best time to hike is before dawn to beat the scorching heat. The rising sun paints the landscape in rich hues of rose gold, and this is also the best time to see wildlife, including kangaroos, zebra finches, and white-plumed honeyeaters. Hikers seeking a gentler walk in the canyon can try the easy 2.6-kilometer Kings Canyon Creek walk.
Larapinta Trail
A quintessential Aussie Outback adventure, the remote Larapinta Trail in the Northern Territory follows in the footsteps of the country's first inhabitants, across ancient desert landscapes and the rugged spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges.The entire 223-kilometer track takes up to 14 days and is best tackled by experienced hikers, but you can choose a combination of the 12 separate sections depending upon your time constraints and ability. Larapinta Trail hikes offer a striking glimpse at stark outback scenery. This multi day hike starts at the old Alice Springs Telegraph Station and weaves west to the dramatic beauty of Simpson's Gap, Ormiston Gorge, and Stanley Chasm. It culminates with a steep climb up Mount Sonder, the highest point of the trail, with 360-degree views over the magnificent desert landscapes. Sleeping under the star-studded desert skies in a bushman's swag is part of the adventure here, or you can pitch a tent at one of the wilderness camps. Guided group tours are recommended for this long distance hike due to the harsh climate and its rugged and remote location in Australia's Red Centre.
Uluru Base Walk
The Uluru Base Walk circumnavigates this sacred rock, taking you through the changing landscapes, from lush foliage to acacia woodlands, waterholes, stands of bloodwood trees, and bare sun-scorched desert. Walking around the rock takes you up close to see the etchings and ever-changing colors of the rock's surface. The track is well-marked and flat, and interpretive signs along the way share fascinating details about the ecology and the rock's significance to the local Anangu people. For a true connection to this sacred land, book an aboriginal-guided hike to learn more about the cultural significance of this iconic landmark and its surroundings, including how to find bush tucker. The best way to tackle the hike is to start at the Mala carpark in the early morning, when the weather is cooler, and walk around the rock in a clockwise direction. This is one of the best family hikes in Australia – as long as you time it for the coolest part of the day.
