| Destinations: CROSS COUNTRY HIKING |
Because of the nature of cross country hiking, it would be foolish and foolhardy of us to try and give full instructions on the many walking and hiking paths built specifically for cross country travel on foot around Australia. Local knowledge or that learned by hiking club members who have done these walks before is essential for your safe passage through some of the isolated wilderness areas they traverse, so the information we have given here is just to let you know about these localities and the walks others have made through them. If you are interested in a particular walk, we recommend you follow the links given for further information or to join a group walk through the area of interest.
At 5,330 km, The Australian Bicentennial National Trail is the longest trail of its type in the world. The southern end of the trail is at Healesville, Victoria, a town 52 km north-east of Melbourne. It follows a self-reliant multi-use route through bush, wilderness and mountain areas. It is suitable for horse riders, walkers and mountain bike riders. The Trail winds through some of the most magnificent terrain in Australia; unsurpassed views, wilderness valleys and the feeling of the Australian pioneering spirit as you travel along the Trail or any section of it.
By state: NSW | Vic | Tas | SA | WA | NT | Qld
New South Wales
From rainforest to desert; from mangrove swamp to alpine meadow; from coral reef to coastal heaths to mountains of eucalypt forests. Few other places in the world have the diversity of landscapes that New South Wales offers the bush or cross country walker. There are over two hundred national parks and reserves across the state, covering nearly five million hectares of land, all with walking tracks. Of these, more than twenty two national parks and over a million hectares of protected land lie within 150 km of Sydney itself, making the city a mecca for bushwalking. If you look on a map, a belt of green surrounds Sydney on all sides. Further afield, the coast of NSW and adjacent ranges are dotted with national parks and nature reserves.
Main areas where cross country hiking is popular
Some specific walks
Barrington Tops: This rugged park is full of contrasts. Carved out of an ancient volcano, it rises from near sea level to over 1500m. In the lower valleys, you'll find World Heritage-listed subtropical rainforests. Up on the plateau, there is sub-alpine woodland which regularly sees snow in winter. Most of the area is declared wilderness, and it's a well-known destination for bushwalkers. But the park is accessible even to those with limited mobility. Its excellent track network extends from short, easy walks to steep overnight treks. The park's varied environments are home to a wide range of plants and animals, and it protects more than 50 rare or threatened species. In this area, many northern and southern plants meet the limit of their range. Walking tracks | The Tops to Myall's Heritage Trail
Blue Mountains: Because of its close proximity to the city of Sydney, the Blue Mountains are a mecca for both locals and visitors who enjoy bushwalking, canyoning or mountaineering to any degree of ease or difficulty. More than three million people come to Blue Mountains National Park each year. For many, it's enough just to find a lookout and gaze across the park's chiselled sandstone outcrops and hazy blue forests. Others walk or cycle along the cliff-tops and in the valleys, following paths that were created for Victorian-era honeymooners, or discovered by Aboriginal hunters many thousands of years ago.
Over 140 km of walking tracks of all grades (some accessible for people with a disability) in diverse settings make the Blue Mountains a bushwalker's paradise. Many walking tracks wind their way through the area. Above the walking tracks, the cliff lines of the Blue Mountains stretch for hundreds of kilometres and there are plenty of people who like to haul themselves up them. Canyoning is extremely popular in Blue Mountains National Park, where there are picturesque chasms to suit every skill level. The Grand Canyon Track, for example, can be enjoyed without without specialised equipment or skills. With some 400 canyons, Sydney canyoners are certainly spoilt for choice here. Adventure recreation | Walking tracks | Canoeing | Walking track notes | Wentworth Falls walks | The Six Foot Walking Track
Warrumbungles NP: The Warrumbungles, located in inland northern New South Wales, were part of a shield volcano that was active from 18 to 15 million years ago. The main features of the Warrumbungle mountains are a series of huge, jagged outcrops, surrounded by hilly bush and woodland forest. The Grand High Tops is a section of the range where volcanic remnants are especially clustered. These vents and rocky formations are all named - Belougery Spire, Belougery Split Rock, Crater Bluff, Bluff Mountain, The Breadknife and Mount Exmouth. The Breadknife, a straight wall of jagged rock nearly 100 metres high, is particularly rare. There is an extensive network of nine walking tracks across the central peaks. The Siding Spring Observatory is situated on an eastern peak. The area has little light pollution to disturb astronomical viewing. The Warrumbungles hosted the 2006 World Rogaining Championships Bluff Mountain Circuit | Photos
Bouddi National Park: a small park lying on NSW's Central Coast about 60km north of Sydney, on the north side of the mouth of the Hawkesbury River and Broken Bay. It protects an area of coastal heath and moors, as well as a number of delightful beaches, and like most of the other parks in the Greater Sydney Region, it is largely sandstone. The park can be reached by car or by bus from Gosford or Woy Woy station, or by ferry from Palm Beach to Wagstaff. Numerous short walks can be done from the park boundaries to the various beaches of Maitland Bay, Putty Beach, Little Beach and Tallow Beach. Longer walks often involve some road walking or a car shuffle, but good loop walks to Maitland Bay can be done via Putty Beach or Little Beach. About the park | Bouddi Wild Walk | Putty Beach and Maitland Bay walk
Wollemi NP: This is the largest wilderness area in NSW and forms part of the recently declared Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area — a maze of canyons, cliffs and undisturbed forest. Descend to the Colo River on Bob Turners Track (4 km, 200 m descent, some steep sections) and enjoy the beaches in one of the state's longest and most scenic gorges. There are historic ruins at Newnes, across the Wolgan River from the camping area. The Glow Worm Tunnel is part of the old railway that serviced the area; access is from Clarence on the Bells Line of Road. Dunns Swamp has easy walks and plenty of opportunities for canoeing. Backpack camping is permitted throughout the park. Bookings and permits for camping are not required.
Access: 100-250 km north-west of Sydney. Dunns Swamp is 20 km from Rylstone along Narrango Road; Newnes is 47 km north of Lithgow along Wolgan Road; and Bob Turners track starts off Putty Road 15 km north-west of Colo. Coorongooba is accessed from Glen Davis 35km north of Capertee. All roads are unpaved. 9 recommended walks | 5 Colo River Gorge walks
The Great North Walk: a 250 kilometre bush walking track linking Sydney city with the Hunter Valley and Newcastle, The Great North Walk is a ‘one-stop-shop’ of the best scenery highlights NSW has to offer. Passing through a diverse range of natural habitats and bushland as well as rural and urban settings, including Sydney Harbour, Berowra Valley, Hawkesbury River, Watagan Mountains, Lake Macquarie and the Newcastle coastline, The Great North Walk is a must-see for bushwalkers and nature lovers alike.
Wine lovers are also catered for, with 75 kilometres of link tracks connecting the walk to the Pokolbin vineyards and to the Sydney-Newcastle bus and railway lines. With camping grounds, water stations and other facilities scattered throughout, the walk boasts lookouts, rainforest, a plethora of diverse native flora and fauna, sandstone ridges, coastal terrain and well-maintained boardwalks. More ...
NSW Bushwalking online: Wild Walks | Bushwalks in NSW's National Parks | Hiking the Budawangs | Wombat Hiking Club walk reports | Canyoning near Sydney | David Noble abseiling, bushwalking and canyoning notes |
Victoria
Victoria's walking and riding trails provide a diversity of scenery rare among Australian states, including everything from picturesque rainforests, secluded waterfalls, coastal heathlands, alpine high country and outback desert. As Victoria is one of Australia's smallest states, most of these walking trails are within relatively short, easy driving distance of the state's capital, Melbourne.
Main areas where cross country hiking is popular
The Great South West Walk: this is an extended 250 km circular track in the south-west of Victoria that provides some very pleasant walking. The 14 day walk passes through a region of undulating terrain close to the coast and has very few hills to climb. The track passes through three distinctly different terrain styles. The first section is through woodland, the second follows a river gorge for several days then the final half is along the southern coastline which ranges from long sandy beaches to rugged headlands. With its many access points, the walk is also suited to shorter trips. The track can be walked by anyone with sufficient fitness. It is suitable for less experienced walkers and travellers as the weather is rarely extreme and much of the walking is on firm tracks or old roads. There are four days of beach walking in soft sand which can fairly tough but as this is encountered in the second week, you should be fit enough by then to handle it with few problems. More ...
Otway Ranges: The Otways are a heavily forested range running along the southern coastline of Victoria 100 km south-west of Melbourne. The major features of the area are its rainforest and numerous waterfalls - the range contains more than half of all the waterfalls in the state. At the last election the government promised to create a national park to protect the range but this has not yet happened. There are no recognised overnight walks and local bushwalkers have a variety of routes they use. The more popular overnight walks are the tracks to the waterfalls around Lorne (camping restrictions apply), Cape Otway and Joanna Beach and the Upper Cumberland Falls area. If planning an overnight walk in this range you will need either local knowledge or a careful study of an appropriate guide book. More ...
Great Dividing Trail: located in central Victoria, west of Melbourne, this trail passes through what was once the richest gold mining area of the world. The trail design itself is very unusual as it has three arms, which meet at the historic town of Daylesford. This means that if you walk this as a through track, you will only complete two of the arms. The walk goes from either Bendigo, Ballarat or Bacchus Marsh to Daylesford. It has been proposed to extend the track further west to the Grampians and a route has been suggested and publicly displayed. The track can be walked by anyone with average fitness. It is suitable for less experienced walkers and travellers as the weather is rarely extreme and much of the walking is on firm tracks or old roads. More ...
Australian Alps Walking Track: Formerly called The Alpine Walking Track, the Australian Alps Walking Track is a long route that passes through the mountains of Victoria and New South Wales. It is primarily a wilderness style walk as it passes through natural landscapes and there are no major facilities. The track essentially follows the crest of the alpine range (the Alps) from southern Victoria through to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). On the way it crosses all the highest mountain regions from the Baw Baw Plateau, the Mt. Howitt area, the Bogong High Plains, the Cobberras then the Kosciuszko National Park and finally into the Namadgi National Park near Canberra. In many ways, it is the grandest and most difficult of all the long distance tracks in Australia. It is not the longest but with over 37,000 metres of climbing and descending it is indeed a tough walk (equivalent to 4 ascents and descents of Mt. Everest!). This equates to between 700m and 1000m of climbing and descending each day - definitely not a flat walk! It also crosses a lot of Australia's best alpine scenery making it a very scenic varied walk. More ...
The Great Ocean Walk: The Great Ocean Walk, on Victoria’s spectacular west coast, stretches 100 kms from the idyllic resort town of Apollo Bay to Glenample, 1.5km before the 12 Apostles visitor area (the homestead is unfortunately currently closed). The walk passes through the beautiful National Parks and overlooks the Marine National Park and Sanctuary. The Great Ocean Walk has been designed so that walkers can ‘step on and step off’ the trail at a number of places, completing short, day or overnight hikes. More ...
Wilsons Promontory: also known as "The Prom", Wilsons Promontory is the furthest southern point of Australian mainland. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Victoria, Wilsons Promontory is situated 200 km south-east from Melbourne. A surprisingly wild area, the Prom is the place where you can go hiking for a few hours or a couple of days without any trace of civilization. Guided bushwalks | Park information
The Grampians: The Grampians National Park in the state's west, is one of Victoria’s most popular holiday destinations. Renowned for its breathtaking rocky views, rich Aboriginal culture, European heritage and stunning spring wildflower displays, there is plenty to see and do in this rugged ancient landscape. Declared in 1984, the 168,000 hectare National park is home to a rich diversity of plants and animals, many of which are endemic to the park. Hosting over 1 million visitors each year, popular activities include bushwalking, camping, picnicking, nature study, rock-climbing, bike riding and fishing. The extensive network of roads makes car touring to surrounding villages another great way to explore. Three walking maps retail for $3.30 each and are available from Brambuk the National Park and Cultural Centre at Halls Gap. Overnight hiking | Guided bushwalks | Park Information
Mount Buninyong: an extinct volcanic mountain 719 metres above sea level, Mount Buninyong is a great landmark of the district. Standing out from the vast Western Plains next to its sister Mt. Warrenheip, it is visible from the Grampians, the Otways and the sea-cliffs at Barwon Heads, providing a sure sign of home to countless generations of local people. Walks through the crater and up to the lookout tower are a popular recreation, particularly in winter when the mount is sometimes covered in a blanket of snow. More ...
Victorian bushwalking online: Bushwalking Victoria | Walking and cycling in Victoria | Melbourne Bushwalkers | Victorian Bushwalking Clubs
Tasmania
Tasmania is the only island state in Australia and is claimed to be one of the world's most mountainous islands. While this claim could be debated, it is certainly true that there is very little flat land in the entire state. Less than a quarter of it is flat enough for agriculture and farms - much of the state is undeveloped. The mountains are never very high reaching only 1600 metres. Despite the low elevation, the landscape is surprisingly rugged and the effects of recent ice ages are evident. The scenery is so good that bushwalkers ignore mountain ranges that in any other part of Australia would be ranked amongst the best. Most head into the Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area. This is actually four large national parks, South West, Wild Rivers, Cradle Mountain and Walls Of Jerusalem, plus some small reserves and covers 20% of the entire state. There are many other parks and reserves elsewhere in the state that are also worth visiting.
Main areas where cross country hiking is popular
The Overland Track: Australia's most famous walk runs for 73 km across the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. The northern start is at Waldheim in the north and the southern terminus is at Cynthia Bay beside Lake St Clair. The track crosses the highest region of Tasmania passing many of the highest peaks in the state. The scenery is glacial with many magnificent lakes, cliffs, cirques and waterfalls. One of the tracks biggest attractions is that the scenery keeps changing as you pass through the park - there is a wide variety of landforms and vegetation and every day is different. More ...
Penguin Cradle Trail: While walking tracks cover much of Tasmania, there was always a gap between the major national parks and the northern coast. To fill this gap the North West Walking Club, marked a walking track from the seaside town of Penguin to the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair National Park. This is known as the Penguin Cradle Trail. It runs for 76 km and primarily follows the valley of the Leven River to near its source then follows the crest of the Black Bluff Range to the Cradle Mountain area. It can be combined with the Overland Track into an excellent 2 week walk.
The track is not well known with visitors. The most spectacular section of it, is where it passes through the Leven Canyon - this has scenery as good as anywhere else in the state. In the north, parts of the track are often obscured by bracken and fallen trees. Experienced walkers will have little trouble following it but do not expect the well marked track and regular signposts that are seen on the Overland Track. More ...
Federation Peak: This is the most spectacular peak in Tasmania and for many walkers is one of the ultimate goals. Part of this is because it is visible from much of the south-west and dominates the area. It is not the highest peak but its rocky thumb like profile make it unmistakable. Of course, the mountain stands in one of the worst weather regions of Tasmania and many groups are defeated from standing on the summit by the often appalling weather.
While it is only 1300 m high (just over 4000 feet), Federation Peak is surrounded by cliffs. These cliffs reach 600m to the north and south and the only feasible approach is along the two razorback ridges. Even then, the final 200m is a near vertical climb. It is normally climbed without ropes but this is dangerous. There have been several fatalities already. The peak is located in a large wilderness area. You need to allow between 5 and 9 days to walk to the peak, climb it and return. Of course the weather might dictate no ascent and this happens to about half of the parties who attempt the climb. I suggest allowing extra time to wait for suitable weather and 7 to 12 days is suggested. Fuel stoves must be used as this has been declared a fuel stove only area and camp fires are banned. More ...
West Arthur Ranges: The Western Arthurs is a small mountain range in South West Tasmania. The range was heavily glaciated during recent ice ages and is an almost continuous series of steep cirque headwalls. While it is only 15km long, the range contains 22 major peaks and 30 lakes. The scenery is spectacular with glacial tarns surrounded by towering cliffs. The range is the best example of glaciated scenery in Tasmania (and Australia). Along the range there is an established walking route. This follows the serrated crest of the range from one end to the other. The route follows a complicated path and at first glance it looks highly improbable that anyone could pass through.
The track is very rough and at times dangerous. It ascends and descends many steep gullies which are at times more like a rockclimb than a walk. There are no handrails, ladders or any safety aids as this is a wilderness area and such improvements are contrary to the area. The distances may seem short but a typical 4km day will take from 4 to 7 hours to walk. More ...
The Walls of Jerusalem: this mountainous area is part of the extensive central plateau of Tasmania. The plateau is covered with thousands of lakes which are depressions that were gouged out by an ice cap during recent glaciation. The Walls are a series of higher craggy hills on the western side of the plateau and are a significant feature of the area. The higher peaks at first seem to be the feature but once in the Walls you quickly realise the major features are the 'u'-shaped glacial valleys and the pretty lakes. A good track is provided from the closest road and the main valley of the Walls around Lake Salome can be visited as a day walk. Most prefer to explore further and two day walks with an overnight campsite is the most popular trip. Camping platforms have been provided in the entrance to the Walls below Herods Gate. This is also a good area for experienced walkers as there are multiple multi-day approaches across the Central Plateau to the Walls. More ...
South Coast Track: This is known as one of the worlds great wilderness walks and this reputation is justified. It is an 84 km walking track along the southern coastline of Tasmania. The track crosses the southern edge of the largest temperate wilderness areas of the world and is a magnificent 5 to 9 day walk. The track itself has no services along it apart from some toilets at the major campsites. There are no huts or shelters, no roads or side tracks, no radios or ranger stations - in fact no signs of civilization apart from some track work to reduce the mud. There are many campsites along the track and walks vary from 5 to 9 days in length. More ...
West Coast: this is without doubt the greatest wilderness walk in Tasmania. This is because the route takes about one month to walk 165 km of coastline - the route is logical and difficult to escape from, there are no tracks or signs of people and the coastline keeps varying. It is not a trivial walk and takes considerable planning and walking experience to be successful. There aren't be many places in the world where you can follow a coastline for a month and be nowhere near anybody or any civilisation for the entire walk. While there are places like Antarctica and Ellesmere Island, these are all icy wildernesses. Tasmania is a temperate wilderness and one of the few such places left in the world. Don't mistake this as the best walk in Tasmania - that would have to be the Overland Track (see above) and a close second is the South Coast Track. The West Coast is a pure wilderness walk - no signs of other people or developments like tracks, campsites etc. For visitors from other countries, this will seem very rare and it is. More ...
Freycinet Peninsula Circuit: With generally fine weather, almost no mud and good tracks, this has been popular with local Tasmanian walkers for a long time. It is a peninsula of magnificent red granite on the east coast. With many deep bays, perfect sandy beaches and extensive sweeps of exposed red granite its easy to see why this is a popular walking place. The entire peninsula has reserved as national park and provides an excellent 2 to 3 day circuit walk. The park has a (relatively) low rainfall compared to other regions of Tasmania as it's in a rain shadow. Any season is suitable for walking here as it's rarely too hot or cold and rainfall is spread fairly uniformly across the year. On rare occasions after long dry spells the rangers close the tracks due to lack of water - if its that dry, it is best to go elsewhere as there will also be considerable fire danger at the same time. Walk information | Walk diary | 3 Day Guided Walk | Shorter peninsula walks | Photo gallery
Frenchmans Cap: This track leads to the summit of the magnificent white quartzite dome of Frenchmans Cap (1443 m), the most prominent mountain peak in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park. The track is considerably more arduous than many other Tasmanian walks, including the Overland Track, so it is recommended that you gain experience on other Tasmanian walking tracks before attempting Frenchmans Cap. The Frenchmans Cap track is exposed to harsh weather conditions at any time of the year. Access to the summit is quite exposed and should not be attempted in adverse weather. Walkers must be fully self-sufficient, well-equipped and experienced. More ...
Tasmanian bushwalking online: Great Bushwalks | Tasmanian bushwalking track notes | Federation Peak | King Island Wilderness Walks | Bay of Fires Walk | Freycinet Experience Walk (Freycinet Peninsula)
South Australia
The driest state in Australia is famous for its fine wines from the Barossa Valley and the Coonawarra. Much of the state is fairly barren and most of the state lies north of Goyder's Line. North of this line, the average rainfall is less than 10 inches (about 250 mm) and cannot reliably support farm crops. This line was established last century after some droughts and was used to limit the spread of farms. For bushwalkers, there are some really great walking places scattered along the ranges but there is also a lot of distance between the interesting parts. You must allow plenty of time for travel and long dusty drives particularly if you venture into the northern deserts.
Main areas where cross country hiking is popular
Gawler Ranges: This range of mountains to the north of Eyre Peninsula, approximately six hours drive north-west of Adelaide, were named by Edward John Eyre after the Governor of South Australia, George Gawler in 1839. The ranges consists of volcanic rock hills over 1500 million years old. The extensive exposure of volcanic rhyolite known as organ pipes, is one of the largest in the world. The vast hill and gully complexes, with rocky gorges and seasonal water flows, create a stunning landscape of natural beauty. More ...
Wilpena Pound: The best known National Park in South Australia is the Flinders Ranges National Park. The park contains the large bowl shaped feature known as Wilpena Pound. This is actually a broad valley which gently slopes upward in all directions and is raised above the surrounding country. A band of steep cliffs rims the valley so that from the outside it appears very rugged. While most enter the pound on day walks, there are some good overnight walks in the area. The most popular and easiest is a circuit on tracks with a side-trip to Edeowie Gorge. More ...
Lavender Federation Trail: The Lavender Federation Trail is a linear walking trail through diverse countryside traversing the eastern flanks of the Mt. Lofty Ranges. The trail begins at Murray Bridge and takes a serpentine course of 105 kilometres to Springton in the Barossa Valley. The concept of the Federation Trail came into being after a small group of walkers began to look for interesting walks in the hills to the west of Murray Bridge and found to their surprise a wealth of good walking country with high ridges, dramatic gorges, stately peaks and sweeping panoramas never before explored by walkers. The Lavender Federation Trail is named in honour of the late Terry Lavender OAM, the architect of the trail and the first chairman of South Australian Recreation Trails Incorporated (SARTI). More ...
The Heysen Trail: This 1144 km trail runs from the southern coast, north past Adelaide into the desert ranges. The trail is named after the famous artist, Hans Heysen, who painted many scenes of the Flinders Ranges. The entire track takes around 55 to 70 days to walk. A tent is needed, as while some shelter huts have been built in popular areas, most campsites have no facilities or shelters. Much of the trail crosses private land and there are many restrictions on camping along the way. For some sections, commercial campsites are the only practical overnight stops. There are some huts, hostels and even farms forming part of the tracks accommodation. This is not a wilderness type walk as the track traverses a wide variety of natural and man-altered landscapes. More ...
Western Australia
Being such a vast state, it is impossible to document here every track or path that it is possible to take on foot. That being said, Western Australia is blessed with a number of regions which have good walking if one is willing to venture off-track, the easiest to access being the south-west of WA. and it is on these that we will focus.
Main areas where cross country hiking is popular
Bibbulmun Track: one of the world's great long distance walk trails, it has been designed to be similar to the Appalachian Trail in the US. The Track covers nearly 1000kms from Kalamunda on the eastern outskirts of Perth to Albany (South Coast) via the heart of the scenic South West of Western Australia. There are 48 campsites along the Track, which are spaced a day's walk apart. This site has much than just info on the track, you can also find tips on food and equipment. More ... | alternate
Coastal Plains Walk: a great way to experience the bushland of the Perth region, the Coastal Plains Walk Trail is a 55 km trail located in the northern outer region of the greater Perth metropolis. It starts within the Yanchep National Park (approximately 6 km north of the McNess House Visitors Centre within the park) and ends in the Melaleuca Park, west of Bullsbrook (northeast of Wanneroo). The trail is fairly well established, with four campsites. Each campsite consists of a three sided bunk style shelter, a fire ring, two picnic tables, water tank feed off the shelter roof and tent sites. As the area walked in is a coastal plain (emphasis on plain) the track is sandy. Also the track does not go near water or the coast, hence it is “coastal” in name only, therefore the only source of water are the campsites. More ...
Cape to Cape Walking Track: this extensive yet easy-to-traverse walk runs for 135 km along the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge between the lighthouses of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in the far south west of Western Australia. It features spectacular coastal and forest scenery, a fascinating geology and history, and wonderful wildflowers in spring. Because of its numerous access points, this walk trail offers many alternative walk options ranging from stroll of an hour of two to hikes of several days, while the entire Cape to Cape Track makes a superb 5 to 7 day challenge. You can choose to camp out along the Track, or make use of the wide variety of excellent accommodation available in this popular Margaret River holiday region. More ...
The Nuyts Wilderness Area: Part of Walpole-Nornalup National Park on the state's southern coast, this Wilderness Area is designated walkers only. It contains thickly vegetated sand dunes, towering karri and jarrah forests, extensive heathlands, an abundance of wildflowers and wide ocean beaches. The standard two-day walk follows a well defined track and is suitable at any time of the year. More ...
Stirling Ranges: The Stirling Range is a series of craggy peaks rising above a flat region of farmland to the north of Albany on WA's south coast. The range has been given National park status and is a significant botanical reserve containing a wide variety of altitude. The best known feature, Bluff Knoll is the highest peak in the southern half of the state. A major highway runs through the centre of the park. The peaks west of the highway are isolated towers and mainly visited as day walks. More ...
John Forrest National Park: One of Australia's oldest conservation areas and Western Australia's first national park, the area was first established in 1898 as a reserve to conserve its many natural and cultural features. Located on the eastern outskirts of metropolitan Perth, it provides vistas of the Swan coastal plain and contains walk trails through rugged wilderness, along the old railway line or to quiet pools and spectacular waterfalls. More ...
Western Australia bushwalking online: Bushwalks in the Perth region | Federation of Western Australian Bushwalkers Inc. |
Northern Territory
Most of the Northern Territory's most popular walking trails are an essential part of the Territory's major attractions, and are therefore easy to access from these attractions. Tourists information including brochures and maps of all walks are readily available at visitors centres at these localities.
Main areas where cross country hiking is popular
Giles Track: located in Watarrka National Park, The Giles Track contains the western end of the George Gill Range. It is a 22km overnight walk traversing the top of the range from Kathleen Springs to Kings Canyon with an entrance/exit point at Reedy Creek/Lilla. More ...
Ormison Gorge: This tough but spectacular walk offers the chance to explore the Ormiston Pound and climb Mt. Giles, the third highest peak in the Northern Territory (1389m). It travels across the floor of Ormiston Pound, following the Ormiston Creek bed towards Mt. Giles. Climbing to the peak provides an amazing experience that all walkers will remember. Bowmans Gap provide a magnificent end to this pleasant walk. This walk also offers views of the spectacular northern Pound Wall. More ...
Litchfield National Park Table Top Track: The Tabletop Track is a picturesque long-distance walking track through Litchfield National Park, which is a little over an hours drive from Darwin. The park protects extensive examples of the Territory's key Top End habitats. It also features numerous waterfalls which cascade from a sandstone plateau called the Tabletop Range, intriguing magnetic termite mounds, historical sites, and the weathered sandstone pillars of the Lost City. More ... | Park fact sheet
Larapinta Trail: Running 223 kilometres along the spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges, from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder, is the Larapinta Trail. This walk weaves itself amongst some of the world's most ancient metamorphic and igneous rock and boasts nearly 600 species of rare flora. Guided walking tours, food drops and transfers can be arranged. More ...
Uluru: 440 kilometres south west of Alice Springs, Uluru fascinates and inspires people from around the world. Both Uluru and Kata Tjuta have great cultural significance for the Anangu traditional landowners, who lead walking tours that inform about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal Dreamtime stories of the area. The Anangu people prefer visitors don't climb Uluru because it’s a sacred site, so nowadays many visitors choose to do the Uluru walking trails instead. More ...
Jatbula Trail: a 58-kilometre walking track that crosses through Nitmiluk (Katherine Gorge) National Park. The four-to-five day walk is marked by blue triangles from Katherine Gorge to Leliyn/Edith Falls. The walk encompasses a variety of terrain, including lush monsoon rainforests, savannah grasslands and rocky gorges and includes exceptional displays of Aboriginal rock art. This trail is a “must-do” for avid trekkers and is best completed from May to September. More ...
Edith Falls Wilderness Trail: a 76km track that starts from the Visitor Centre at the foot of Katherine Gorge and runs north then west to the car park at Edith Falls. The walk is not a circuit and requires a considerable car shuffle or hope for a lift out (not advised). This is a well marked and easily followed track and walkers are only allowed to follow the one direction. Katherine Gorge is also known by its aboriginal name of Nitmiluk. The campsites are fixed (they are the waterholes) and everybody takes 5 days to complete the walk. More ...
Queensland
While Queensland is large in size, the national parks that are of interest to bushwalkers are generally quite small and scattered along the eastern side near the ocean. The extensive dry plains that sweep inland are generally of little interest to bushwalkers. The main issues for bushwalkers are the vast distances and the hot humid tropical climate. To camp in any National Park, permits are needed and generally campsites are restricted to a maximum of 12 people at a time. For popular places it is advised to book ahead for permits. More ...
Main areas where cross country hiking is popular
Mackay Highlands: Cool and cloudy rainforest, towering trees and dense palm groves, and dramatic cliffs, peaks and spires can all be experienced on the 56km Mackay Highlands Great Walk. The Walk encompasses the Eungella and Homevale National Parks, and Crediton State Forest, and passes through rugged mountainous terrain and stunning scenery - dense rainforest, deep gorges, steep escarpments and tranquil farming communities. While the entire Great Walk can take 5 days, you can arrange vehicle support and walk just your chosen sections. Alternately, there are tracks of varying difficulty, so everyone can explore the Mackay Highlands. More ...
Fraser Island: the world’s largest sand island, Fraser Island is ripe to be explored on foot, where one can discover the island's ever-changing landscapes, stunning scenery and fascinating natural and cultural heritage. While the entire 90km Great Walk takes 6–8 days to complete, short easy walks are also available. These range from easy strolls to half- and full-day adventures. More ...
Wet Tropics Walk: The Wet Tropics Great Walk is a continuous walking track that extends 110km from Wallaman Falls to Blencoe Falls. The Great Walk traverses the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area near Ingham and Cardwell, highlighting the natural and cultural features of this unique area. More ...
Mt. Barney: A classic Queensland bushwalking destination, with panoramic views from the summit ridge, Mt. Barney is located within the McPherson Range in south-east Queensland. The South Ridge provides a relatively safe ascent and descent route, and by paying careful attention in the saddle region, navigation is also quite straighforward. Mt. Barney National Park has extremely varied vegetation with open forests around the foothills of the peaks, subtropical rainforest above 600m and montane heath shrublands towards the summits. The summit of Mount Ballow is cool temperate rainforest, and on Mount Maroon it is mallee eucalypt shrublands. More ... | Photos
Blackall Range: the scenery of the Sunshine Coast’s hinterland attracts as many visitors as the more well known coastal regions. The natural beauty of the Blackall Range is on display on the 58km Great Walk through the Range which traverses warm subtropical rainforest, tall open eucalypt forest beside picturesque waterfalls. The complete walk takes 4 to 6 days, but day and part days walks are also possible. More ...
Glass House Mountains: Named by James Cook in 1770 during his epic voyage along Australia's east coast, the Glass Houses are rhyolite plugs formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago. Remnants of the open eucalypt woodland and heath vegetation, which once covered the coastal plains, provide a home for an interesting variety of animals and plants, including 26 rare and threatened plant species. The Glass House Mountains area was a special meeting place where many Aboriginal people gathered for ceremonies and trading. This place is considered spiritually significant with many ceremonial sites still present and protected today. The Glass House Mountains offer some spectacular walking tracks through open woodlands and heaths to panoramic lookouts and mountain summits. The walks range from easy to challenging grades. More ...
Whitsundays Great Walk: There's more to the Whitsundays than the offshore reefs and islands and no visit to the region is complete without a trek through the tropical refuge of the Conway Range. Highlights of the Whitsunday Great Walk include wandering through majestic tropical rainforest besides seasonal creeks, and looking beyond coastal townships to the Whitsunday Islands. The Whitsunday Great Walk takes you on a 30km journey through Conway State Forest, starting at Brandy Creek, and finishing at Airlie Beach. More ... There are also walking tracks on many of the islands of the Whitsunday group. Click here for more information.
Half and full day Walks in the Atherton Tablelands: Chambers Border Walk | Kauri Creek Walk | Lake Eacham Waterfall Walk | Mt. Bartle Frere Summit Walk | Crater National Park Walk | Lake Barrine Walk | Lake Eacham Self Guided Walk | Palmerston Highway Walks | Guided Aboriginal Rainforest Walks | Lake Euramoo Arbor Walk | Malanda Falls Walk | Wongabel State Forest Arbor Walk | Lake Eacham Perimeter Walk | Mobo Creek Crater Walk
Queensland bushwalking online: Great Queensland walks
Bushwalking tracks and information by state: NSW | Vic | Tas | SA | WA | NT | Qld | ACT
Australian hiking and bushwalking websites
