8 Best Treks of Australia You Can’t Afford To Miss
Trekkers! Let’s Discover the Best Treks of Australia!
Hiking can be the best way to immerse yourself in Australia’s most stunning natural environment. From a short hike to Australia’s best trek through World Heritage listed National Parks, Australia has some of the most excellent treks in the world. These great hikes are an exclusive collection of Australia’s best trekking experiences. Some of the best treks of Australia are independently owned, guided, and are multi-day walks. All together they cover up Australia’s most iconic landscapes from the beautiful Victorian coastline, Tasmania’s wilderness and scenic beaches, primordial time’s volcanic plateau and rainforest of Queensland to vivacious coastline of Western Australia.
So gear up your trekking shoes and get ready to embark on the best treks of Australia.
1. The Overland Track, Tasmania
The Overland Track is a great combination of beautiful landforms, diverse wildlife, natural and cultural history. Firstly, let’s explore the factual details –
Location – Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park
Distance – 80 km
Type – One-way hiking trek
Elevation Gain – +4,793 ft / 1,461 m
Elevation loss – 5,160 ft / 1,573 m
Highest Point – Plateau between Marion Lookout and Kitchen hut
Lowest Point – Forth River Crossing
Difficulty – Easy to Moderate
The 6-day overland track is one of the most demanding and best treks of Australia; it is advised that before hitting the ground, you should go for some training as much as you can before the tour. The more you train yourself for a walk the easier you will handle the terrain and the more you will enjoy. Quality bag packs, rain jackets, sleeping bags all should be within your reach.
2. Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
The Larapinta Trail is just outside the Alice Springs traversing 231 km of the West McDonnell Range national park, being the traditional homelands of the Central Arrernte. The trek alternates between high, exceedingly rocky ridges that have spectacular views along the range which makes it one of the best treks of Australia.
Walk along one of the best treks of Australia.
Details about the Larapinta Trail
Location – Outside the Alice Springs
Distance – 231 km
Beginning/End Points – Alice Springs (east); Mount Sonder (west)
Elevation Gain – 1,000 metros 7 times along its length
Highest Point – Mount Sonder: 1379m
Lowest Point – Alice Springs Telegraph Station
Larapinta Trail consists of twelve stages extending from Alice Springs to Mount Sonder, the 4th highest mountain in central Australia. This hike in Australia is for families, kids, and everyone provided that every hiking safety is followed carefully.
3. The Great Ocean Walk, Victoria
Hiking is never easy, whether you are camping on track or staying off the track, it has never been easier to experience the best treks of Australia.
The Great Ocean Walk is eco-certified Advanced Ecotourism. It offers a natural based tourism experience which is social, economically, and environmentally responsible. The Great Ocean Walk enables you to trek through – the Great Otway National Park and the Port Campbell National Park.
Everyone has their own idea of going around the best treks of Australia. Some trekkers walk a lot while others only do a section or two. This depends on a host of factors like – time availability, level of fitness, and weather conditions.
Location – Great Ocean Road and Region, Victoria
Distance – 100 km
Beginning Point – Apollo Bay
Finishing Point – Gibson Steps
Trail Difficulty – Easy-medium
Lowest Point – Beaches
Note: The Great Ocean walks Information and Map is available from Parks Victoria or from the Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay Visitor Information Center.
The Great Ocean Walk is in the Southwest Victoria has 4 different seasons. Within these 4 seasons, the weather can vary quite considerably. You can even experience 4 kinds of weathers in a single day. High and low pressures move across the state from west to east, bringing with them very changeable weather patterns.
4. Six Foot Track, New South Wales
The Six-foot Track is Australia’s one of the best trek areas. It is a classic Blue Mountains long-distance track that runs from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves. The track was built around 100 years ago which was about 2 meters wide.
The trek takes you through Cox’s River, Black Range, Nellie’s Glen, Megalong Valley, and Jenolan Caves. This track is widely recognized as one of the best multi-day bushwalks in the greater Sydney. It can be walked as a series of day walks or multi-day hike. For the ones, who are keen to do the whole track in one go, it can be hiked over 3 days.
Details about the track –
Location – New South Wales, Australia
Distance – 44.3 km
Elevation Change – 1,600 m
Trail Difficulty – Medium
Highest Point – Black Range, 1,200 m
Best time to Trek – Spring, and autumn, when you can avoid the summer heat and cold winter nights.
This trail takes you on a fantastic dreamy journey, giving you the opportunity to explore the natural beauty and historical stories of this part of the Blue Mountains. Hikers can easily spot on kangaroos, wallaroos, echidnas, wombats, butterflies and many of the 150 bird species that live along the track.
Note: At the Six-foot track there are three campsites with two with basic facilities or you can even pitch in with a tent in the tranquil bushland.
5. Cape to Cape Walk, Western Australia
Located in Australia’s southwest edge, the Cape to Cape Walk has been rated as one of the best treks of Australia. It is the longest coastal walk of Australia with extraordinary landscapes squeaky white beaches, secluded coves, and the limestone cave.
Towards the north of Cape to Cape walk, the trail will take you through clifftops, deserted beaches, coastal heathlands, villages, and peppermint tree woodlands. This Australian Hiking Area has an added benefit – Margaret River, an area renowned for its excellent accommodation and dining experience.
Details about the track –
Location – Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge
Distance – 135 km
Time Required – 9 to 10 days
Elevation Change - 2,455 m
Trail Difficulty – Difficult
Best time to Trek – March-May (autumn) or September-November (spring)
The Cape to Cape Walk is a world-class trail and is of great challenge. The track has a large number of variations are height, trail quality, and physical condition. If you are ready to embrace all these challenges then it would be a wise decision to plan out a guided adventure beforehand.
Planning the trek will allow more of a focus on simply enjoying the scenic beauty of the landscapes without much focusing on the safety and route.
If you are looking for a getaway from your hectic lifestyle and a way to truly embrace “untouched Australia”, then this is the best trail to walk.
6. Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, Tasmania
Bay of Fires Lodge Walk is situated at the edge of Mt. William National Park in the north-eastern region of Tasmania. The scenic coastline of one of the best treks of Australia offers dramatic landscapes, diverse wildlife, and ecology.
The Bay of Fires offers one of the most pristine environments among Australia’s best trekking regions. You can walk through the soft sandy beaches, explore the cove, kayak the Ansons River and relish the luxurious accommodations in the area.
Details about the track –
Location – Mt. William National Park
Distance – 33 km
Time Required – 3-4 days
Trail Difficulty – Moderate
Best time to trek – Bay of Fires Lodge Walk, Australia – October – April
The Bay of Fires is an excellent palette of colors and natural beauty as you will wander along the beautiful landscapes.
7. Scenic Rim Trail, Queensland
Scenic Rim Trail is located in the foothills of South East Queensland’s Main Range National Park. This region is famous for its magnificent mountains, escarpments, forests, and ancient volcanic plateaus.
The Scenic Rim Region has a diverse ecology, mountains that preserve living links to ancient Australia. Combined with huge portions private land, trekkers enjoy an opportunity to explore that has only been touched by early pioneers. Through the hiking in the ancient Australian terrain, you will hear about stories, ritual, and traditions abiding by indigenous inhabitants.
Details about the trek –
Location – South East Queensland’s Main Range National Park
Distance – 35 km
Time Required – 3 days / 3 nights
Trail Difficulty – Moderate to Hard
Best time to trek – March to November
Type – Bush Trail, rainforest, Rocky sections
Note – Walkers need to have a certain level of fitness level to walk through Scenic Rim Trail as the hiking difficulty runs from moderate to difficult.
8. Binna Burra to Green Mountains (O’Reilly’s), Queensland
The unspoiled rainforest, waterfalls, rugged landscape and abundant wildlife – Lamington National Park is one of Australia’s best trekking destinations.
The area is a combination of high rainfall and rugged topography that has some of the most varied and spectacular rainforests in the country. The trail is not only surrounded by dense jungle but most of the section can be covered in all day walks from the two main trailheads – O’Rielly’s Rainforest Guesthouse and Binna Burra Mountain Lodge.
Details of the Trek
Location – Lamington National Park
Distance – 14 km
Time Required – 6 hours
Starting and Finishing Point – O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse
Maximum Elevation – 686m
The major tracks are all well graded, and mostly branch off the Border Track which runs between Binna Burra and O’Rielly’s. There are also much rougher places to walk in the park.
These listed above hiking destinations are a great choice to opt for a trekking site. Whether you are looking for an intense hiking option or a leisure stroll, these trails are a great option to entice trekkers of all levels, ability, and aim.