30 October 2023
21 mins Read
Length: 1200km over 60 days (or one obsessed lifetime).
The Heysen Trail is more than a ramble – it’s a lifestyle. The rock star of Australian walks starts in the ancient and mesmerising Flinders Ranges – Parachilna Gorge to be exact – and finishes at Cape Jervis, but only the crazy would walk its entire length in one attempt. No other trail meanders through such lovely countryside – including five wine regions. From the Outback to the surf coast, this is the best in South Australia.
Yes, but visit your doctor first. See the Friends of the Heysen Trail website.
Several operators cover sections of the walk, particularly in the Flinders Ranges.
At the very top end, the luxurious Arkaba Walk spends three night and four days meandering through Wilpena Pound and is all-inclusive with meals and accommodation.
If you’re more of a money-cruncher, the five day Park Trek walk through the Flinders Ranges is standing a little bit cheaper.
Views from the Heysen Trail.
Length: 58km over five days.
This trail plays to all of the NT’s strengths – lush rainforests, spectacular waterfalls and calming, mystical (croc-free!) waterholes. The trail is divided into five sections starting from the Nitmiluk Visitor Centre 30km from Katherine and ending at Leliyn (Edith Falls). With just five fairly leisurely days of six to eight hours’ walking in the utterly beautiful Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), we vote it Australia’s “most likely to be huge in two years” trail – so make it a priority now and have it (almost) to yourself.
Yes, but you will need a load of supplies. There are many natural springs along the way for freshwater. For info, go to the NT website.
Gecko Canoeing & Trekking Tours run a four-night, five-day Jatbula walk with a fully inclusive package and entirely guided.
Otherwise, Trek Tours Australia run a walking tour throughout the trail for six days, complete with all meals and snacks catered and two professional guides to help you.
Jatbula takes in the best of the NT (Photo: Tourism NT/Peter Eve)
Length: 22km over two days.
The Giles Track is a great “starter” track for outback walking because it involves just one overnight sleep-out (the annoyingly fit can even do the entire 22km in just one day).
The walk starts with a 1km section of the Kings Canyon Rim Walk before heading out on the Giles Track for another 7km to the Reedy Creek campsite. The first day is a challenging climb through spectacular weathered sandstone domes to the awesome Watarrka lookout and down again to the campsite at Reedy Creek. The second day is a 14km trek across a series of creeks to the final destination, Kathleen Springs.
Yes, but make sure you take your own supplies and avoid doing the challenging walk in the height of summer. Plan your trek at the NT website.
Trek Larapinta tour group does a five-day Mt Giles Explorer Trek. Walkthrough Mt Giles as well as Ormiston Gorge (roughly 42 kilometres in total). If you’re feeling extra prepared, this is the one to book.
Length: 39km over three days (for the superhuman) or five days (for everyone else).
The Tabletop Track rambles through the best of Litchfield National Park. The actual walk is a circuit so you can reach it via a connecting track from one of the many lovely waterholes that Litchfield is famous for (and that are hence also popular with busloads of tourists).
After each day’s walk you can follow these linking tracks to the popular campsite for a soak and to camp out with the hordes. Alternatively, there are a number of campsites that are accessed only via the Tabletop Track, such as Tjena Falls. The entire walk takes in well-known highlights such as Wangi Falls, Florence Falls and Walker Creek, with secluded wanderings through savannah, pandanas and secluded oases.
Yes, but make sure you take plenty of supplies and be prepared to rough it. Plan it at the NT website.
Not available.
Soak in Litchfield National Park.
Length: 223km over 13 days.
The Larapinta Trail stretches along the spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges, from the Old Telegraph Station in Alice Springs to its highest point and trail end at Mt Sonder, via some of the most spectacular landscapes in Australia. Climb to astonishing lookouts then descend into serene gorges and waterholes.
The trail is divided into 12 stages, most taking a day to complete. Go in late autumn when both day and night temperatures are at their mildest.
You can do this trek yourself, but get organised. If attempting the whole trail without assistance then you must organise food and water drops. Check out the very helpful Larapinta Trail website for trail maps and more info.
World Expeditions runs five-night camping trips or nine-day treks, both are all-inclusive, meals, tents etc. And the aptly named Trek Larapinta runs a five-night trek or a 16-day end-to-end trip with hotel pickups, professional wilderness guides and all camping equipment.
The weird and wonderful Larapinta.
Length: 90km over eight days.
The walk starts at Dili village on the east coast of K’gari Fraser Island. From here, the trail heads inland through lush rainforest, open woodlands, vine forests and kauri pines. The trail is a mix of old logging roads and trails, and it skips from one photogenic site to another.
You can visit the island’s famously gorgeous freshwater lakes, such as Mackenzie, Wanggoolba and Wabby, where you can refill water bottles, soothe weary legs and/or camp for the evening. Queensland National Parks maintain eight campsites on the trek.
Yes, but make sure you book the campsites, carry enough supplies and purchase a topographical map. Best research for this trek is via Queensland National Parks.
The folks at Fraser Island Hiking offers guided and self-guided walks. Go pack-free (only guided) while they carry your bags (ahh relief), and discover the beauty that is Fraser.
The walk takes in the east coast of K’gari Fraser Island.
Length: 32km over four days.
Another pristine island walk, the Thorsborne Trail takes the eastern coastal route on Hinchinbrook Island, off the coast of Cardwell, which is exactly halfway between Cairns and Townsville. The trek follows the coast and includes several creek crossings to make it more adventurous.
Green sea turtles and dugongs feed in the sea offshore and are often spotted during an afternoon swim, particularly around Nina Bay. Less welcome fauna is the native giant white-tailed rat, which can be a pest if you don’t secure your food at night.
The trail is highly protected – only 40 permits are granted at a time for walkers, to minimise the environmental impact. There are several campsites to choose from, each with facilities such as a composting toilet and freshwater creek to refill your water bottle, but campfires are not allowed.
Yes, but you need to bring all supplies and get in early as it books out quickly in peak periods. Check out more at the website.
Not available.
Queensland comes alive.
Length: Depending on how you carry your tiara, this eco-luxury walking experience lasts up to four indulgent days.
Those who like a little comfort at the end of the day and a lighter load on the trail will love this gentle guided walk, where all the hassles are attended to by someone else – all you have to carry is your lunch and water. There is no single track but rather a series of 5-10km day walks around south-east Queensland’s beautiful Scenic Rim.
On day one you walk through a section of the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia before entering the Spicers Peak Nature Reserve. For two evenings you settle into the permanent camp at Spicers Canopy, and for the final evening, you get to indulge in the luxury of Spicers Peak Lodge, topping your experience off with a seven-course degustation dinner.
No. This is a private trail and company (see below).
The two-day pampered walking tour will provide you with alcoholic beverages, return transfers and hiking equipment. The six-day hike offers the same, but you get to stay in comfy and cosy cabins throughout your stay.
Litchfield National Park panorama.
Length: 45km over three days (or one if you’re a marathon runner).
Australia’s quintessential multi-day track follows an old bridle trail through the Megalong Valley from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves. The landscape is classic Blue Mountains – sheer sandstone cliff faces and escarpments with awe-inspiring vistas of valleys, fern glens, river crossings over suspended bridges… with a soundtrack of whip birds. Campsites are numerous and well-marked.
Yes. Check out the National Parks guide on the track.
Life’s An Adventure offers a “luxury” hiking experience where guides carry your bags and cook your dinner for you, talk about being pampered.
Don’t miss our guide to the best Blue Mountains walks.
The Six Foot track winds through Blue Mountains National Park and state forests.
Length: 32km over four days.
The Budawangs are a hidden gem: pockets of rainforest interspersed with windswept brush and thickets, stands of eucalyptus and towering sandstone cliffs. The Budawangs Circuit is tucked into the western escarpment of the Morton National Park, inland from Jervis Bay. The trek usually begins at Long Gully.
The second day tackles the highest point of the trek, which also passes through tunnels and along scraggy cliffs. For those with a fear of heights or bung knees it’s challenging, but once you reach the magnificent Castle the feeling of achievement is huge. The stunning views will make you forget your burning quads.
Yes. Bring a day pack so you can leave the heavy pack at the campsite for the walk up The Castle and back. Because it’s a wilderness area (whatever that means) National Parks doesn’t promote the walk, so the best place to find more information is through bushwalking forums. For information from National Parks, go to the website.
Not available.
Budawang National Park is declared a wilderness area.
Length: 65km over four days (DIY) or six days (guided).
Winding along the most pristine coast in northern NSW, this is the state’s answer to Tassie’s Bay of Fires or WA’s Cape to Cape Walk. The best way to do the walk (aka the Solitary Bay Walk) is to head in from Angourie (just south of Yamba) in the north then make your way to Wooli. You’ll traverse beautiful beaches and freshwater creeks and lakes.
Comfort-seeking trekkers will love that the trail has been measured out so that each day ends at a town (with a beach) so you can resupply, refresh with a swim and sleep in a comfy bed. Though you can always go hardcore and camp in the national park on the outskirts of town.
Yes, check out the National Parks website.
Local operator, Yuragir Walks offer logistical and transport assistance.
Hike the multi-day Yuraygir coastal walk on the Clarence Coast.
Length: 40km over five days, or 80km with side trips.
This, the greatest multi-day walk in NSW, showcases the beautiful New England Tableland near Glen Innes. Most walkers start the 40km loop at Mulligans campsite in the Gibraltar National Park. The trek is characterised by the huge variety in the landscape. From dry eucalyptus forests and granite outcrops to lush, wet rainforests with dramatic waterfalls, it has it all – including the world’s largest stand of coachwood trees.
There are designated campsites and bush-camping areas next to creeks, but freshwater supplies need to be filtered, boiled or sterilised. The best time to head out would be mid-spring when the temperature is perfect for a walk and the wildflowers are in full show.
Yes. The NSW National Parks site is difficult to navigate so try Map My Walk to visualise the trail.
Not available.
Length: 650km over 60 days.
The ascents and descents are the equivalents of scaling Everest three times, so most sane walkers tackle only a few stretches at a time. It is relatively well marked, but you’ll need a good map and compass. It offers windswept plains, beautiful snow gum glades, wildflowers in spring and pioneers’ mountain huts.
Yes, but plan, plan, plan.
Lake Crackenback Resort & Spa allows guests to choose between 2 hours/half day/full day Alpine walks. Grab a shuttle bus from the resort to and from the trailheads and sit down to a gourmet picnic lunch to refuel.
Auswalk brings it up to a seven-day walk through the high peaks of Kosciuszko National Park. Stay at comfortable ensuite accommodation and enjoy a freshly cooked breakfast each morning.
The Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT) is made for us mountain lovers.
Length: 45km over four days.
From Thurra River, north-east of the lighthouse at Point Hicks (Cook’s first sight of Australia in 1770), this walk follows the spectacular Croajingolong National Park coast in Gippsland and traverses very wild and remote terrain before ending at Shipwreck Creek. It is not a walk for the novice, with extended day walks and rough-and-ready tracks.
This is the wild and woolly version of a walk along the beach. The entire Wilderness Coast Walk is substantially longer than this leg (100km from Sydenham Inlet in Victoria to Wonboyn in NSW); however, this is the most spectacular section and will give you a good idea of whether you want to attempt the entire 100km.
Definitely, but bring your own supplies.
Operated by Gippsland High Country Tours, this Croajingolong National Park Tour takes up seven days. You’ll be hiking through Point Hicks, Gipsy Point and Mallacoota.
If you are exploring Gippsland, you may also want our guide to Wilsons Prom.
The east coast of Gippsland in Victoria is a wild and isolated place. (Photo: Parks VIC)
Length: 90km over six days.
The Wallaby Track around the Macedon Ranges is, in fact, a subsection of the Goldfields Track, which in itself is a subsection of the Great Dividing Trail. The walk traditionally starts on a high at Mt Buninyong, where a lookout tower gives great 360-degree views of the landscape. The closer you get to the end, the better the walking.
Historic goldfields relics are everywhere, as are old waterways that fed sluicing machines, where the occasional prospector is still trying their luck. Also en route is the slab-and-bark hut of federation unionist W.G. Spence. Ending the trail in Daylesford is a great thing – take in the healing mineral waters of Hepburn Springs to recover.
Yes, it is easily done as a series of day walks. Sections two and three do not have any designated campsites. The best information can be found on the Goldfields Track official website.
Not available.
Length: 104km over eight days.
Its advantage over Australia’s greatest drive is that when the Great Ocean Road heads inland, the trail hugs the pristine coast. You can experience it in numerous ways, from a one-day walk upwards. The campsites are great, but some of the guided tours will drive you to a comfy bed at the end of each day.
Yes, but campers should book via Parks Victoria.
Aus Walking Co. has its own custom-designed lodge for walkers, complete with a firepit and terracotta bowls for soaking weary feet. Choose between the four-day moderate walk or the three days easier option. The luxury accommodation holds rainforest showers, a library and is entirely sustainable.
Auswalk’s seven-night walk includes a night’s stay in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage at Cape Otway.
For more check out our guide to the Great Ocean Road walk.
This once-in-a-lifetime hike will take you eight days.
Length: 260km over 18 hours on a horse – way longer on two feet.
The Kidman Trail (not to be confused with NSW outback 4WD trail the Kidman Way) is a multi-use track shared by horses, trekkers and mountain bikers. Starting at the northern tip of the Barossa at Kapunda, the trail meanders around Adelaide via the Adelaide Hills wine region, and on to the heart of another wine region, McLaren Vale.
The section of the trail through the Adelaide Hills is perhaps the closest experience to an old English ramble that you can have in Australia. The beauty of passing through this populated area is that a refreshing pub is never too far away – as is a comfy B&B.
Yes. Go to the South Australian Trails for maps and, even more handily, a list of towns, accommodation and pubs on the trail.
Not available.
Length: 54km over three days or 5.25 hours for marathon runners.
This shares 12km with the Kidman Trail. From north to south (though most walk the opposite way), it starts at Ambers Gully and traverses plains with views of the city and sea, eucalypt forests, waterfalls, deep gullies, and the odd orchard and vineyard before it ends at Belair train station.
Easily. There are one day and four half-day sections. Find accommodation in the Hills or at one of many campsites.
Not available.
Length: 135km over seven days.
Stroll along the stunning coastline from Cape Naturaliste in the north to Cape Leeuwin in the south, traversing the Margaret River wine region: you can walk, taste wines, swim it all off and start again. The beaches are fabulous and there are plenty of campsites.
Yes. Join the Friends of the Cape to Cape Track for extra information.
Inspiration Outdoors runs both eight-day and five-day guided tours for the Cape to Cape track. Stay in the same comfy lodge every night and get driven to the trail each day.
Cape to Cape Tours has a heap of options in regards to this track. With a three-day glamping session, a four-day deluxe explorer trail, and either the eight-day end-to-end session (choose from classic, ultimate and base camp).
Walk along the iconic Cape to Cape Track.
Length: 961km over 54 days without a blister.
The granddaddy of WA’s walks has by far the best facilities for a long-distance trek. At every day’s end is either a township or a three-sided wooden shelter for campers, complete with fresh water, bunks and cooking facilities.
From Kalamanda, the track runs south to Albany, mostly through beautiful jarrah and karri forests; the last section skirts the coast. The best time to walk is early spring, when the wildflowers are spectacular.
Yes, but join the Friends of Bibbulmun Track Foundation for info, maps and a free advisory service.
Inspiration Outdoors runs an eight-night Walpole to Denmark tour and a six-night Albany to Denmark tour. Walkers stay in the same lodge every night and are driven to the trail daily.
World Expeditions hosts both the Albany to Denmark and Walpole to Denmark tours as well.
Enter the Bibbulmun Track.
Length: 65km over six days.
It’s the country’s superstar trek; one that everyone wants to do. With such popularity, the trail is strictly managed so you have to book your walk and pay a track fee to National Parks Tasmania. You also have to walk it in one direction – from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. This World Heritage area is stunning and encompasses many of the highest peaks in Tasmania. No one returns unchanged.
Definitely, but the weather is variable (even in walking season, Nov 1-Apr 30). Check out the National Parks site for advice.
You’ve got loads of choices.
Cradle Mountain Huts is the first-class walking experience, with exclusive access to the very comfy and spectacular huts along the route, and guides who cook unbelievably good meals.
Wilderness Expeditions has year-round tours (you carry snowshoes in winter). With six nights in total and spending five of those nights camping.
For more read our review of the Overland Track.
The Overland Track winds through Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park
Length: 23km over four days.
This is the most leisurely and indulgent way to experience Tasmania’s beautiful natural environment. The Bay of Fires walk is a private tour that officially starts at pick-up at Launceston but actually kicks off at Boulder Point in the Mount William National Park, on the north-east coast.
Of the three nights, the first is spent in a semi-permanent camp at Forester Beach, while the other two are at the stunning Bay of Fires Lodge. The coastal walk is only 23km long but traverses pristine white sandy beaches, rocks rusty with lichen and coastal scrubland. In total there are two days of walking and one day of leisure when most participants go for a morning kayak before returning to Launceston.
Parts of it, but not with the same level of pampering. Only Bay of Fires walkers can stay in the camp at Forester Beach, but there are other camping and caravan sites.
Tas Walking Co. offers a three-night experience, walking from Launceston to Mt William National Park, the Bay of Fires and a kayak session on the last day.
Walking Tasmania’s iconic Bay of Fires.
Length: 42km over four days
Maria Island is a sliver of land off Tasmania’s east coast. It has a chequered history, but today is a national park without a single permanent resident, so walkers have it to themselves.
The most comfortable experience is the award-winning guided walk, which begins on the pristine beaches of the southern end before exploring the rare cloud rainforests of Mount Maria in the north. You stay two nights in permanent tents, while the final night is spent in heritage-listed Bernacchi Homestead.
Yes, but there are no shops and only basic facilities, so come prepared. Check out the Tasmanian Parks & Wildlife website for information.
Maria Island Walks operate from mid-October to the end of April. A three-night tour includes transport from Hobart and meals.
Maria Island is a special place with something for everyone.
Length: 70km over five days
Of all the walks in these pages, this is the most remote. It starts at Scots Peak Road and ends at Melaleuca, which has no road access, so either continue walking the South Coast Track for another six days or arrange a boat or flight out. The weather is more variable than anywhere else in Tasmania as the Antarctic winds howl.
But this is the most primitive landscape you may ever see, which makes the track one of the most-wanted by serious walkers.
Yes, but take loads of gear and supplies. If the weather turns, supply flights into Melaleuca are cancelled. Make sure you thoroughly read the notes at the Parks Tasmania website before even considering this.
Tasmanian Expeditions’ 16-day tour includes both the Port Davey and South Coast Track.
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No thanks, I like to travel solo
Looks like a great list of walks – most of which I haven’t done! Just wanted to point out that while the Bibbulmun Track in WA is very well set up, the campsites don’t really have cooking facilities. You can have a fire at about 2/3 of the campsites at certain times of the year though. Oh and Inspiration Outdoors now runs many accommodated tours on the track – multiple sections and a ‘best of’ that takes in parts of the Cape to Cape Track and the Bibbulmun Track. Cheers.
Wow! Great article. You’ve just filled up my entire retirement years ahead with amazing walks in our beautiful country.
muffyhand@bigpond.com
What a fabulous overview of Australia’s amazing walks. I, and my walking pals, are very grateful. More than a bucket list, this is a billabong list. Thank you. XOX
Love all the hiking!!!