Nothing gets you up close and personal with an ecosystem like a long hike, and Australia is home to many long and sublime hikes. Since the regions of Australia are so diverse, we didn’t want to just list the best trails - there are too many to count anyway! Instead, we spent this month narrowing down the best Aussie hikes by habitat.
So whether you want to walk in the wet of a rainforest, climb the tallest mountain, cross the blooming desert or brave your way along the beach, there is a life-changing waiting experience for you. Get your boots on.
Rainforest hiking - Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk
Spanning 54 kilometres, the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk links the Numinbah Valley to the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. This is one of the largest areas of subtropical rainforest in the world, housing volcanic landscapes, powerful waterfalls, vibrant rivers and ancient natural heritage. Camp in the forest overnight and you’ll be done in just three days - wishing you had longer, of course!
Mountain hiking - Kosciuszko Walk, New South Wales
Taking you from Thredbo to the astonishing heights of Mount Kosciuszko in just a few hours, this hike is a rare cool weather joy to undertake in the heart of the Snowy Mountains. While the walk is short, the trail is quite difficult. The path meanders uphill, and it’s snowbound from June to October. If you can manage that, you’ll be treated to blooming alpine wildflower fields, colossal granite outcrops and the never-ending views from ‘Australia’s rooftop’.
Desert hiking - Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
The Larapinta Trail has been described by Australian Geographic as one of the best long-distance, arid-zone walks in the world. It crosses 223 kilometres from Alice Springs to Redbank Gorge in the West MacDonnell National Park. The trail takes about two weeks to complete, exposing you to stunning semi-arid chasms, waterholes, flora and fauna. For serious hikers, this is one blooming desert walk you don’t want to miss.
Bushland hiking - Bibbulmun Track, Western Australia
The Bibbulmun Track is the pride of Western Australia’s southwest region. One of the longest of the long-distance walk trails, it takes about two months to complete the 1,000 kilometre walk and achieve ‘end-to-end’ status. The good news is you don’t need to put aside two months for this hike - there are sheltered campsites along most parts of the track for weekend hikes and plenty of guided pack-free luxury tours to embrace as well! Since the Bibbulmun Track’s northern terminus is located in Perth, it’s a great option for day trips too. The Bibbulmun Track ticks off forest, coastal scrublands, bushland escarpments, river valleys and much more.
Beach hiking - Cape to Cape, Western Australia
The Cape to Cape is a wonderful way to enter the world of hiking. Thanks to the many coastal towns dotted along the coast between Cape Leeuwin and Cape Naturaliste, travellers can hike a day along the Cape to Cape track and enjoy a soft bed and local artisanal wine every night. The Cape to Cape is a straightforward walk between two lighthouses along coastal bushland in the southwest corner of Western Australia, spanning about 123 kilometres in total. If you love long walks on the beach, this one's for you!
Ready to get your hiking boots on? Reach out to Travellers Choice today to find out more about walking holidays and tours.
