Australia’s hiking scene goes way beyond your usual weekend walk for your morning cup of Joe. From multi-day adventures to sandy strolls across near-empty stretches of sand, there are well-maintained trails for every kind of explorer right across the country.
Ready to hit the trail? Lace up, here’s my pick of the best walks and hikes across Australia.
The Overland Track
Tasmania
This one had been on my hiking hit list for years. Stretching across 74-ish kilometres of Tasmania’s wild heartland, the Overland Track takes you deep into Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park over six to eight unforgettable days. Think ancient rainforests, alpine meadows, glacial lakes, and wombats waddling around you.
You’ll need to plan ahead (permits are required and it’s one-way only from November to May), but if you time it right—say, between December and February—you’ll catch the highland wildflowers in full bloom. It’s ideal for those with moderate hiking experience and a good sense of adventure. Lace up, pack smart, and prepare to be totally off-grid.
Scenic Rim Trail
Queensland
Scenic in name and scenic in nature, this four-day trek came highly recommended by my friend Rach who claims it “cured her screen addiction".
A hot destination among locals and tourists alike, wind your way around Mount Tamborine and experience diverse terrains like bushland, rocky scapes and shrubby national parks. Relatively new on the hiking scene but rich in history, the Scenic Rim Trail explores the best of Main Range National Park, and prehistoric Gondwana Rainforests.
If I were to commit to this trail, I'd go for the guided experience. Spicers’ multi-day, lodge-to-lodge walk means you’ll end each day with a hot shower, local wine and a chef-prepped meal. Full-body challenge by day, total luxury by night. No wonder it’s Queensland’s only official Great Walk of Australia.
Sydney Harbour Walk
NSW
As a Perth local, I’ve done plenty of coastal walks in my time, but none have surprised me quite like this one.
The 80km Sydney Harbour Walk is basically a greatest hits album of Sydney. Starting at Bondi, it winds all the way to Manly, stitching together icons like the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, secluded beaches, bushland, and cultural landmarks that most locals don’t even know exist.
When I was last in Sydney, a friend and I picked off one of the eight manageable chunks, rewarding ourselves with dips in harbour coves and cheeky gelatos. You really don’t need to be a hardcore hiker to get a whole lot out of this one. You can stroll one leg at a time, or go all in and hike it over several days. Either way, you’ll be getting your steps up while hugging one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines.
It’s the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure city walk. Just don’t forget your sunscreen, that Sydney sun has some bite.
Kings Canyon
Northern Territory
Hold onto your Akubra, lace up your Timberlands and head to Kings Canyon in the Northern Territory for a beginner-friendly Australian hike in Watarrka National Park.
See everything this sunburnt country has on offer with a 6km circuit outlining Kings Canyon and venturing through the ‘Garden of Eden’, a sacred watering hole of the local Luritja people hidden deep in the canyon floor. It’s a back-to-basics kind of Aussie hike, where the red dirt gets in your socks, the views are magical and the silence is almost surreal.
Pro tip: go early. Not just for the beautiful changing light, but because the heat out here is no joke. My friend Bron made the mistake of starting a little too late on her trip to the NT and felt like a rotisserie chook by 10am.
Cape To Cape Track
Western Australia
I might be biased because the Cape to Cape is in my own backyard, but eight days of salty air, white-sand beaches, wildflowers and whale sightings? Doesn't get much better than that. Stretching 123km from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, this track is the ultimate slow travel experience, with the Indian Ocean as your backdrop.
Don’t let the distance scare you off, though. It’s surprisingly beginner-friendly and the terrain’s not too intense, so it’s a great first multi-day hike if you’re keen to dip a toe into this world. You’ll camp along the way at designated sites (or treat yourself to a lodge stay if you’re feeling fancy), and each day brings a fresh slice of WA’s insanely beautiful coast.
K'gari Great Walk
Queensland
K’gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk has been calling my name for a while now. Stretching around 90km from one end of the island to the other, this five- to seven-day trek winds through rainforests, dunes, and crystal-clear creeks. It’s a mobile-blackout zone, so it’s all about switching off, tuning in and keeping an eye out for dingoes. Most people start their journey after ferrying over from Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay, then follow the well-marked trails past icons like Lake McKenzie and Wanggoolba Creek.
Just make sure you go with people you know you actually get along with—you’ll be sharing campsites, snacks, and a lot of quality silence
Freycinet Experience Walk
Tasmania
If a quick image search is enough to have you packing your bags and heading south, then typing Freycinet into your search bar is a good place to get started. Spend four days exploring Tassie highlights like Coles Bay, Freycinet Peninsula, Mt Mary and Saltwater Lagoon. This moderate walk is just shy of a week and offers a little something special for every adventurer, with trail options from easy to difficult depending on your skill level.
Great Ocean Walk
Victoria
104km of famous Australian coastline? Tick. Post-card worthy tourist destinations along the way? Tick. A hike that has differing difficulty levels so every can enjoy Australia’s rugged beauty without breaking an ankle? Tick tick tick. The Great Ocean Walk, a few hundred kilometres south of Melbourne, offers up the opportunity to explore some of our country’s finest landscapes by foot. Walk from Apollo Bay to Glenample Homestead and check out famous photo hotspots like the Twelve Apostles and Otway National Park. Some parts of the track are a little trickier, and some unpassable around high tide, so be sure to plan ahead before you wander through this famous stretch of Australia.
Valley Of The Winds
Northern Territory
Soul search your way through Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and journey the 8km round trip at Valley of the Winds. It’s about a ‘medium’ on the hiking scale. Follow creek beds and valleys through the 36 awe-inspiring dome-shaped rocks and soak in everything the red soil and rugged country has to offer. They weren’t kidding about valleys or winds, so pack your chapstick and make sure your hat’s got a chinstrap.
Larapinta Trail
Northern Territory
This is the bonus round. Not for the faint at heart (or the rookie) this is an adventure of epic proprtions stretching out across 223km from east to west of the Northern Territory. If you’re up for the challenge, start your journey at Alice Springs and head across to Mount Sonder, one of the territory’s highest mountains. It follows ranges, peaks, a ridge line and national parks, and is famous for interactions with Aussie critters like snakes, spiders, birds and the odd sneaky dingo.
Image credit: Erico Marcelino Tourism Australia