29 Best walks in Australia: Short to Multi-Day Walks

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Our favorite way to explore any destination is on foot and during our 18-month road trip around OZ we were on a mission to discover some of the best walks in Australia.

We love walking as a family activity and getting out in nature on short walks in Australia, even if it means little Savannah ends up on my shoulders – which tends to happen on occasion.

From time to time, it’s also fun to hit the long walking trails that take multiple days to complete.

Walking is a great way to stay in shape on your travels and we encourage everyone to walk around as much as you can. But knowing which hiking trails are the best is no easy task!

So we’ve rounded up our favorite walking trails in Australia so you can add a few to your Aussie itinerary.

So get active and put your hiking sandals on and see things at a slower pace – and remember, walking is FREE!

The Best Short Walks in Australia

Let’s begin with a list of some of our favorite short walks in Australia, from a casual one hour stroll to half-day hikes. Click on each link below to go directly to a specific walk or scroll manually.

1. Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain

Tasmania has a list called “60 Great Short Walks” and one of the most popular short walks in Australia is the Dove Lake circuit beneath Cradle Mountain, one of the most famous destinations in Tasmania.

The track takes you under the shadow of Cradle Mountain, through the tranquil Ballroom Forest and back along the wshore of the lake to your starting point. 

The track is boardwalk for much of the way and an easy grade, which was awesome for our kids and suitable for all fitness levels – your only challenge will be getting a sunny day!

If you want to do a longer walk of Cradle Mountain, the Overland Track is one of the number one great walks of Australia and takes you on an adventure of 6 days, through 65 km of bushland, and up to Tasmania’s highest Peak, Mt Ossa.

• Distance: 6 kilometre loop
• Start / Finish: Dove Lake carpark
• Getting there: Cradle Mountain is 2.5 hours drive from Launceston
• Where to stay: Cradle Mountain

2. White Sands Walk, Jervis Bay

This was one of those walks where I could have just kept on walking  – even with a 2-year-old strapped on my back.

This walk combines stunning beaches, rock pools, and wooded areas with some bush tracks sprinkled in. Jervis Bay Marine Park offers a stunning back drop as you make your way along the coastal track.

If you’re lucky you can spot dolphins and kangaroos.

And you get to visit one of Australia’s best beaches, Hyams Beach.

• Distance: 2 kilometres
• Start / Finish: Greenfield Beach / Hyams beach
• Getting there: Jervis Bay is just 180km south of Sydney
• Where to stay: The nearby town of Huskisson

3. All the walks in Karijini National Park

During our road trip, so many people said Karijini National Park was their favourite place in Australia – they weren’t kidding, it’s incredible, and it reminds us so much of Utah!

The colours in the rocks, the towering gorge cliffs, the refreshing waterholes and adventurous walks. It was God’s artist studio Down Under.

We spent 5 days there and did all the walks; Dales Gorge, Hamersley Gorge, Weano Gorge, Knox Gorge, Hancock Gorge and Kalamina Gorge.

• Distances: short to long
• Getting there: Karijini is a 3 hr drive from Port Headland in WA
• Where to stay: Karijini Eco Retreat

4. The Lookout, Mount Kosciuszko

If the weather is in your favour, a climb to the top of Australia is achievable. Take the Kosciusko Express chair lift from Thredbo to Eagles Nest and follow the board walk to the rounded peak. It’s a 13km return.

Alternatively, do what we did and walk the shorter 4km return to The Lookout.

This was as far as we got with the girls, as the conditions were unfavourable with strong winds, low temperatures, and snow on the peaks.

Stop off at the Eagles Nest Restaurant (Australia’s highest restaurant) for a gourmet hot chocolate before taking the chair lift back down.

• Distance: 4 kilometres
• Start / Finish: Thredbo
• Getting there: 6-hour drive from Sydney & Melbourne
• Where to stay: Thredbo Village

5. Uluru base walk

One of the best things we’ve done as a family was walking around the base of Uluru – the spiritual heart of Australia. The loop walk took us 3.45 hours and is easily one of our favourite walks in Australia!

You’re in the Outback so start this walk early at first light in the warmer months to beat the heat. Start at the Kuniya walking point and head anti-clockwise, take lots of water, snacks and short breaks.

• Distance: 10 kilometre loop
• Start / Finish: Kuniya walking point
• Getting there: 5 hr drive from Alice Springs, 3.5 hr flight from Sydney
• Where to stay: the town of Yulara

6. Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach

Freycinet National Park is our favourite place in Tasmania and the walk to famous Wineglass Bay, is a must. We started our walk early to reach The Lookout for sunrise and to beat the anticipated crowds. 

From the car park to The Lookout is about a 45-minute walk. A steady uphill climb, but a well-made path

Once you reach The Lookout your reward is a spectacular view over the landscapes of Wineglass Bay. The walk down onto the beach itself is steep but a short one of 20 minutes.

We next made the 30-minute flat walk to nearby Hazards Beach, another famous beach in Freycinet National Park.

• Distance: 2.5 hours return for Wineglass Bay/Hazards Beach circuit
• Start / Finish: Car park entrance to the NP
• Getting there: Freycinet is a 2.5 hour drive from Hobart
• Where to stay: Coles Bay is on the doorstep of Freycinet

7. Byron Bay Lighthouse Walk

When you visit Byron Bay, and you MUST visit Byron Bay, one of our top recommendations is an early-morning walk to the lighthouse. 

We started from in front of Byron’s famous pub, the Beach Hotel, and followed the path parallel to the beach until it becomes Lighthouse Road.

Continue on the main path from here and head up the headland with incredible sea cliff views back over The Pass and Byron Bay before descending to one of our favourite beaches in Australia, Wategos Beach.

Just before you reach the lighthouse, you will pass by the most easterly point of Australia’s mainland, Cape Byron.

• Distance: 6 kilometre loop
• Start / Finish: Main Beach, Byron
• Getting there: Byron is a 9 hr drive north of Sydney or a 2 hour drive south of Brisbane
• Where to stay: Byron Bay has accommodation for all budgets

8. Noosa National Park

Noosa is a famous beach town in Australia, but it’s the National Park that elevated Noosa to a place that’s worth visiting for us. Before that, I thought Noosa was overhyped and overpriced.

We spent a morning walking the coastal track within the National Park from the surf club to Tea Tree Bay.

It’s a beautiful walk and if you look up you might just spot a koala or two.

You can also walk into the National Park from the opposite entrance at Sunshine Beach, with spectacular scenery of the coast.

And we saw our first whale for the season breaching just off shore.

• Distance: Noosa to Sunshine Beach 5.4 km one way
• Start / Finish: Noosa Surf club
• Getting there: 1.45 hr drive from Brisbane, 1.5 hr flight from Sydney
• Where to stay: Noosa Heads

9. Ubirr rock art and sunset walk in Kakadu National Park

Guided walks and talks on Aboriginal rock art and culture run of an afternoon through the Ubirr rock art gallery. An Aboriginal ranger will tell you many of the stories behind the paintings on the wall of the 1 km circular walk.

The rock art is impressive and worth spending time seeing. Go in the afternoon and then head straight up the top of the rock for one of the most unforgettable sunsets over the floodplains of Kakadu and Arnhem Land.

• Distance: 1.5 kilometres
• Start / Finish: Ubirr
• Getting there: 3 hour drive from Darwin
• Where to stay: Jabiru in the heart of Kakadu

10. Indarri Falls, Boodjamulla National Park

We believe Boodjamulla National Park in Outback Queensland is Queensland’s best kept secret. Lawn Hill Gorge, at the north of the park, is the biggest and most spectacular attraction with its sandstone cliffs, emerald green river, and lush vegetation.

There are plenty of walks ranging from easy to difficult. Well, we did the difficult trail to Indarri Falls and upper-gorge with the girls and I’d class it moderate.

Indarri Falls separates the middle from the Upper Gorge and is just stunning. 

From here go up the top of the escarpment to the Upper Gorge lookout for amazing views of the gorge and river below.

• Distance: 7 kilometres
• Start / Finish: Campground at Boodjamulla NP
• Getting there: 16 hr drive from Cairns
• Where to stay: Boodjamulla National Park (book ahead) or 10km’s outside the park at Adele’s Grove.

11. Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk

You can spend $200+ and climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge (recommended once in your life) or the much cheaper option is to simply stroll across the pedestrian walkway at street level and take in the same panoramic views on a lower level, for FREE.

It’s one of my favourite city walks in Australia.

Start from The Rocks District and once on the pedestrian walkway wander across to the other side and either walk back or catch the train back to the city from Milsons Point station.

• Distance: 
• Start / Finish: The Rocks District
• Where to stay: See my selection of best Sydney accommodation

12. Coastal track in Burleigh Heads National Park

We lived in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast for 18 months and did this walk several times a week.

Grab a coffee from Nook Espresso then head to the point and catch the magnificent sunrise before doing the coastal walk around the headland to Tallebudgera Creek.

About half-way back you’ll come to Tumgun Lookout which offers awesome views over Palm Beach.

• Distance: 2.5 kilometres
• Start / Finish: Burleigh Headland
• Getting there: The Gold Coast is one hour south of Brisbane
• Where to stay: Gold Coast

13. Kings Canyon Rim Walk

Our Australian road trip opened our eyes to the resilience of our daughters, evidenced by them completing one of the best canyon walks in Australia – Kings Canyon.

People told us the girls couldn’t do it, but they made it to the top of “heartbreak hill”, took a rest whilst looking over the sheer 100-metre high sandstone walls, and then kept going.

It was a lovely walk amongst the striped stone domes stopping for lunch at the Garden of Eden. Second best walk in the Red Centre after Uluru.

• Distance: 6 kilometres
• Start/Finish: Kings Canyon car park
• Getting there: Kings Canyon is along the Red Centre Way loop, 3 hours from Uluru.
• Where to stay: Kings Canyon Resort 

14. Valley of the Giants

One place we had pencilled in on our Australia trips was the Tree Top Walk through the tingle forest, a popular destination near the town of Denmark in south-west Western Australia.

Throw in some seriously big trees, otherwise known as The Valley of the Giants, and it’s one of our favourite walks amongst nature.

The Valley of The Giants derives its name from the large red tingle trees. And giant they are, especially when your kids in their hollowed-out butts, their scale is put into perspective! 

A birds-eye view of the tingle forest can be gained from 40 metres above ground level as you walk seemingly on air high up in the treetop canopy.

• Distance: 600 metres
• Start / Finish: Visitors Centre
• Getting there: 420 kilometres from Perth
• Where to stay: Denmark

15. Carnarvon Gorge National Park

Many of our readers suggested we visit Carnarvon Gorge on our travels through Queensland, and if you go, a tropical oasis awaits. It’s a special place, and certainly worthy of more than the two nights we stayed here.

There are several walks here including the short walks to Moss Garden and Mickeys Creek, and the longer 18km return walk to Cathedral Cave. Besides the great walks and camping, Carnarvon Gorge is one of the best places in Australia to see Kangaroos in the wild, they were everywhere!

• Distance: 2 – 18 kilometres
• Getting there: 8 hour drive from Brisbane
• Where to stay: Takarakka Bush Retreat

16. Wilsons Promontory National Park

Another place we’d barely heard of before our travels around Australia was Wilsons Promontory National Park in Victoria. It wasn’t until friends in Melbourne urged us to visit that we added it to our itinerary.

Glad we did, it’s one of Victoria’s gems! The Prom offers many great walks, for all different fitness levels.

We enjoyed a walk around to the point from our campsite at Norman Beach with views over Squeaky Beach, which is now one of our favourite beaches in Australia. And we saw wombats in the wild!

• Distance: 2.5 kilometres
• Start / Finish: Tidal River Campground
• Getting there: 3-hours from Melbourne
• Where to stay: Tidal River Campground (book way ahead)

17. The Pinnacles walk, Grampians

The other national park in Victoria great for hiking is The Grampians, a rugged mountain range renowned for its breathtaking rocky views, rich culture and stunning wildflower displays.

One walk we loved was conquering the summit of the Pinnacle’s walk, and at 4 kilometers and a decent gradient no easy feat for our kids, but they did awesome!

The reward at the summit is a magnificent view over the valley below.

• Distance: 4 kms
• Getting there: 3 hour drive from Melbourne
• Where to stay: the town of Halls Gap

18. Bondi Beach to Coogee coastal walk

One of our favourite coastal walks in Australia and my favourite free thing to do in Sydney is the stunning coast walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee – it’s the perfect way to spend a gorgeous few hours on a side trip from Sydney.

Featuring stunning views of cliffs, bays and rock pools as you pass the beaches of Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Gordon’s Bay. Stop along the way for a swim or stop at a cafe for a drink and bite to eat.

• Distance: 6 kilometres
• Start / Finish: Bondi Iceburgs
• Getting there: train from Central Station to Bondi Junction. Then bus to Bondi Beach
• Where to stay: See my selection of best Sydney accommodation

Video: Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk

Long / Multi-Day Walks in Australia

Now you have more than a handful of shorter trails to choose from, those looking for long walks in Australia may want to do a section of these multi-day walks.

Although these multi day walks tend to range from 3 days to 60 days to complete, they have mostly been broken up into sections so you can do a portion of the trail in a day.

These walking trails are considered the best great walks in Australia for a reason! Let’s take a look at them…

19. Seven Peaks Walk, Lord Howe Island NSW

The Seven Peaks walk on Lord Howe Island is famed for its biodiversity and natural beauty, known for featuring in David Attenborogh documentaries.

The trail is long but it’s not extremely tough, and is for hikers who enjoy scenic views, a variety of different terrains, and the sound of waves from almost every part of the trail.

Along the way, you pass rare plants and fauna, and passed bays filled with reef sharks, turtles and colorful coral reef.

What’s great about this walk is that you can do each section of the trail in one day, and return to the Pinetrees Lodge as your base. If you don’t want to hike the full 45km, you can easily hike one section and get a good experience of the landscape.

Because you don’t need to camp, it’s one of the few day multi-day hikes in Australia that offers luxury and adventure.

While The Seven Peaks Walk is moderately challenging, there are some strenuous sections of the path that go ‘off-track’ so you need to have a good level of fitness.

• Distance: 45km (6 days)
• Start / Finish: North Bay to Lower Road
• Getting there: take a flight from Sydney or Brisbane
• Where to stay: Pinetrees Lodge, Lord Howe Island

20. Larapinta Trail, West MacDonnell Ranges, Northern Territory

Spanning across the West MacDonnell Ranges in the Northern Territory, the Larapinta Trail is a long walk in Australia that is for the adventurous hiker.

Starting in the Australian outback, the trail passes through epic landscapes, such as Simpsons Gap, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge, Glen Helen and Mount Sonder.

It’s a challenging hike with many ups and downs, and there is no hotel along the way so you will need to make camp in one of the designated campsites. Fortunately, there are 26 of them along the trail, which all hikers must stay in due to the dangers of wildlife in the outback.

When camping, you should book your camping spot ahead of time. The entire walk takes 20 days, which is one of the longer trails on this list, but if you think it sounds too mighty for you, then this trail can be split up into 12 sections that can be done in one or two days.

• Distance: 223km (20 days from end to end)
• Start / Finish: Telegraph Station near Alice Springs to Mount Sonder
• Getting there: Head to Alice Springs and take a taxi to the trailhead
• Where to stay: stay in Alice Springs before and then camp between hiking days.

21. Scenic Rim Trail, Main Range National Park

The Scenic Rim Trail passes through 30,000 hectares of outstanding nature, passing through ancient rainforest, escarpments and volcanic plateaus, this is the perfect walk for those who love to see the diverse wonders of nature.

The trail winds through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Gondwana Rainforest, before traversing up through mountainous ridges with incredible views of the park.

The rainforest is also home to native wildlife, such as koalas, kangaroos and goannas.

Between hiking days, you can sleep in well maintained and purpose-built, sustainable lodges en route, where you can order meals and fuel up before heading out the next day.

• Distance: 47km (4 days)
• Start / Finish: start at Thornton View and finish at Cunningham’s Gap
• Getting there: Head to the town of Toowoomba and from there take a bus or taxi to the trailhead.
• Where to stay: Toowoomba before starting the trail.

22. Jatbula Trail

If you’re looking for a long walking trail that passes through a variety of landscapes, then the Jatbula Trail offers just that.

Spanning for 62km from Nitmiluk Gorge, just outside the town of Katherine near Darwin, the moderate to difficult trail passes through a sandstone plateau, desert landscapes, dense woodland and open forest, as well as some impressive rocky ravines.

This trail is not only scenic but culturally importance, since the traditional owners, the Jawoyn people, used this trail for many years as part of their

You will walk in the footsteps of generations of Jawoyn people who traditionally travelled through parts of this trail.

This is another hike that requires you to camp along the way, but the designated campsites are always near a spring or waterfall, and restricted to 15 people, so you can enjoy being in uninterrupted nature and quietness, even with others around.

• Distance: 62km (5-6 days)
• Start / Finish: starts at Nitmiluk Gorge and finishes at Leliyn (Edith Falls)
• Getting there: Head to the town of Katherine and take a taxi to the trailhead
• Where to stay: Stay at Nitmiluk Gorge the day before and camp along the way

23. Thorsborne Trail

Located on Hinchinbrook Island (between Townsville and Cairns), the Thorsborne Trail is another long walk that takes in the best of Australia’s natural coastal beauty.

The island belongs to the Bandjin and Girramay people, who have used this trail on the eastern side of the island for centuries. Along the way, you pass by rugged mountains, hills of lush vegetations, through lush rainforest and a vast karri forests (eucalypt forest), as well as mangroves.

Some parts of the trail are quite challenging, as you hike up 1,000 meters along cloud-covered mountains and some terrains are more rugged than others.

Nature lovers will enjoy this walk as you can spot migratory birds who flock here in the summer, as well as see dugongs and green turtles swimming on the oceans along the way.

You will need to camp in designated campsites between days of hiking, and to maintain the trails natural beauty, only 40 permits are given out each day. They can be difficult to get in the peaks seasons of April – September, so plan ahead if you want to do this hike.

• Distance: 32km (4 days)
• Start / Finish: Ramsay Bay to Zoe Falls
• Getting there: Take the ferry to Hinchinbrook Island from Cardwell or Lucinda
• Where to stay: Ramsay Bay, and camp between days

24. Three Capes Track, Tasmania National Park

Another great walk in Tasmania is the Three Capes Track trail, which takes you around the Tasman Peninsula, which is famous for being home to the penal colonies.

This premium coastal walk passes by dramatic landscapes that some might seem inhabitable. It is said the original settlers decided to locate here because there was little prospect of escape.

But that’s not the case today, now it is home to a well-maintained walking trail that offers views of the diverse landscape. The trail passes through dense forest, escarpments, past towering sea stacks, craggy sea cliffs, rainforest, heathland and dry woodland.

You also get to stop by white sand beaches and cool off in the blue waters.

If you don’t like camping, then you can opt to do the Three Capes Lodge walk which is a guided walk with accommodation inside the national park each night.

It’s a blend between adventure and luxury, as you can sweat during the day and enjoy a comfy bed and hot shower at night.

• Distance: 48km (4 days)
• Start / Finish: Denmans Cove to Fortescue Bay
• Getting there: Head to Port Arthur, 90 minutes south-east of Hobart
• Where to stay: Stay in Port Arthur before the hike, and camp between days

25. Six Foot Track, Blue Mountains National Park NSW

The Six Foot Track is a challenging hike through the Blue Mountains National Park, just outside Sydney. It passes through the Kanangra-Boyd National Park, which is known for its beautiful waterfalls and rivers.

Not only is the path incredible scenic but it’s also historic, passing numerous heritage sites along the way. In 1884, it was used as a horse track, connecting Katoomba with the Jenolan Caves.

Classified as a bushwalk, the terrain winds through heath and grasslands, as well as woodlands and rainforest.

There’s also plenty of camping sites along the way where you can pitch a tent and rest, but if you don’t feel like camping and completing the whole walk, you can divide it into sections.

• Distance: 44.3km (3 days)
• Start / Finish: Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves
• Getting there: Head to Katoomba, 102 km from Sydney
• Where to stay: Stay in Katoomba before and camp between hiking days

26. Great Ocean Walk

We’ve all heard about driving the Great Ocean Road, but how about walking it? The Great Ocean Walk is a week-long hike that takes you from the start of the Great Ocean Road in Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles stack.

Along the way you’ll be graced with stunning coastal views and past rate plants and animals. The path also winds through forests, coastal heathland and along the rocky shore. You might even see koalas sleeping in the trees, see humback whales swimming off the shores, and several shipwrecks along Wreck Beach.

There are many dedicated campsites along the way, but if you don’t like the idea of sleeping in a tent, you can also find off-walk accommodation. The Twelve Apostles Lodge walk offers a combination of adventure and luxury with their guided walks.

If you do decide to camp, we recommend you book your campsites and accommodation in advance as some campsites require prior booking and it’s also a very popular walk so lots of places will be booked out.

This is another trail that you can split up and stay in the towns on the GOR if you don’t want to walk the whole thing.

• Distance: 110km (8 days)
• Start / Finish: Apollo Bay to The Twelve Apostles
• Getting there: Head to Apollo Bay, the start of the great Ocean Road Drive, 196km South of Melbourne.
• Where to stay: You can camp in designated campsites or stay at off-walk accommodation

27. Heysen Trail, South Australia

This is the largest walk on our list and we don’t recommend you do all of it if you’re strapped for time (I mean, it does take 60 days), but you can certainly find some incredible long walks over a day or two on the Heysen Trail.

The trail takes you through stunning state forests and national parks, as well as through iconic regions in Australia such as the Barossa Valley and Wilpena Pound.

The entire trail starts from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula, and heads towards Spalding, going around Adelaide through the scenic Mount Lofty Ranges and ends Parachilna Gorge.

The southern section is much easier, and can even be done as a family.

• Distance: 1,200km (50-60 days)
• Start / Finish: Cape Jervis to Parachilna Gorge, Flinders Ranges
• Getting there: Get to Cape Jervis and take a taxi to the trail head
• Where to stay: Cape Jervis

28. Freycinet Peninsula, Tasmania

Without a doubt, the Freycinet National Park is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Tasmania. Located on the Freycinet Peninsula is a beautiful area known for its dramatic cliffs, rocky coves, and secluded bays with white sand beaches and clear waters.

The circuit trail takes you on a circular loop through all the short walks in the national park, passing highlights such as Wineglass Bay, The Hazards Mountains, Mount Freycinet, and Hazards Beach.

Some people have managed to complete this walk in two days, but we recommend allowing three days so you can stop and enjoy some restful time on the beaches. You will need to carry a tent as there are no huts on the path.

Of course, if you don’t want to walk the entire route, you can choose to walk one of the short hikes in Freycinet National Park.

• Distance: 30km (3 days)
• Start / Finish: walking tracks car park near Cole Bay (loop trail)
• Getting there: Head to Coles Bay and take a taxi to the trail head
• Where to stay: Coles Bay to begin with, and then camp along the trail.

29. K’Gari / Fraser Island Great Walk

The final trek in Australia that deserves a mention is the Fraser Island Great Walk, which passes through the highlights of K’Gari’s biodiverse landscape.

What better way to see the world’s largest sand island than on foot? Since the trail is mostly flat, you can cover a lot of ground in one day. The whole hike takes 6-8 days, depending on how long you stop at each place, but if you are short on time you can walk sections of it.

The hike passes through the island’s subtropical rainforest, over vast sand dunes, coastal heathland, into a mangrove forest, and past the iconic Lake McKenzie, Wanggoolba Creek, and Lake Wabby.

You will need to camp each night between walks at one of the dedicated campsites, but on an island with very little infrasturcture, you will find it to be the perfect spot for stargazing as it’s unspoiled by light polution.

• Distance: 90km (6-8 days)
• Start / Finish: Dilli Village to Happy Valley.
• Getting there: Head to Fraser Island, take a ferry from Hervey Bay
• Where to stay: you will need to do tent camping in campsites along the trail

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