The Best Hiking Trails in Australia — A Complete Guide

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Australia is one of the world’s great hiking destinations — a vast, ancient continent of extraordinary landscape diversity that rewards those who lace up their boots and venture beyond the carpark. From the red rock gorges of the Northern Territory to the dramatic sea cliffs of Tasmania, the lush rainforests of Far North Queensland to the windswept coastline of Western Australia — Australia’s hiking trails offer experiences that are genuinely world class. Here is a complete guide to the best hiking trails in Australia — from day walks to multi-day epics — for every fitness level and every corner of the country.

Before you hit the trail — make sure your gear is sorted. See our complete guide to the best hiking gear for seniors.

1. Larapinta Trail — Northern Territory

The Larapinta Trail is one of Australia’s great long distance walks — a 223-kilometre trail through the ancient West MacDonnell Ranges west of Alice Springs, following the spine of one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges through a landscape of extraordinary red rock gorges, crystal clear waterholes, and skies so dark at night that the Milky Way is visible with the naked eye.

The trail: The Larapinta is divided into 12 sections ranging from easy half-day walks to challenging full-day stages — making it accessible as either a multi-day thru-hike or a series of day walks from Alice Springs. Most walkers complete the full trail over 14-17 days, camping at designated sites along the route.

What makes it extraordinary: The Larapinta passes through some of Australia’s most dramatic landscapes — Simpsons Gap’s towering quartzite walls, Standley Chasm’s narrow gorge glowing orange at midday, Ormiston Gorge’s permanent waterhole, and the extraordinary panoramic views from Mount Sonder at the trail’s western end.

Best time to visit: April to September — the cooler months. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 45°C in the West MacDonnells — the Larapinta is genuinely dangerous in summer and not recommended.

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging — remote, exposed, requires good fitness and navigation skills

2. Overland Track — Tasmania

The Overland Track is Australia’s most iconic multi-day walk — a 65-kilometre trail through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania’s central highlands, through a landscape of ancient glacial lakes, alpine moorland, towering dolerite peaks, and some of the most extraordinary wilderness in the Southern Hemisphere.

The trail: The Overland Track runs from Cradle Mountain in the north to Narcissus Hut on the shore of Lake St Clair in the south — typically completed over 6-8 days in the southbound direction. Huts are available along the route — private tent camping is also permitted.

What makes it extraordinary: The Overland Track passes through the full range of Tasmania’s extraordinary highland landscapes — the iconic silhouette of Cradle Mountain reflected in Dove Lake, the ancient pencil pine forests of the Ballroom Forest, the extraordinary waterfalls of Pelion Gap, and the remote wilderness of the southern sections that feel genuinely untouched.

Best time to visit: November to April — the summer walking season. A booking system operates from November to April with a daily quota of walkers. The track is passable year round but winter conditions require mountaineering experience and equipment.

Difficulty: Moderate — good fitness required, weather can be extreme

3. Cape to Cape Track — Western Australia

The Cape to Cape Track is Western Australia’s premier long distance walk — a 135-kilometre coastal trail running between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in the Margaret River region, along some of the most dramatic Indian Ocean coastline in Australia.

The trail: The Cape to Cape Track typically takes 5-7 days to complete, passing through karri and jarrah forest, limestone headlands, granite outcrops, pristine beaches, and the extraordinary coastal heath of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park.

What makes it extraordinary: The combination of dramatic ocean scenery, wildflower displays in spring, ancient karri forest, world class surf beaches, and the proximity to Margaret River’s extraordinary food and wine region makes the Cape to Cape one of Australia’s most enjoyable and most varied long distance walks.

Best time to visit: September to November for wildflowers, or March to May for autumn conditions. Summer can be very hot and water is limited on some sections.

Difficulty: Moderate — some sections require basic navigation skills

4. Three Capes Track — Tasmania

The Three Capes Track is one of Australia’s newest and most spectacular walking experiences — a 48-kilometre multi-day walk along the dramatic Tasman Peninsula south of Port Arthur, featuring some of the highest sea cliffs in the Southern Hemisphere and extraordinary coastal scenery.

The trail: The Three Capes Track is completed over 4 days, with purpose-built huts at each camp providing shelter — walkers carry only their personal gear and food. The track visits Cape Raoul, Cape Pillar, and Cape Hauy — three extraordinary dolerite headlands rising dramatically from the Tasman Sea.

What makes it extraordinary: The sea cliffs of the Tasman Peninsula are among the most dramatic in the world — sheer dolerite columns rising 300 metres from the ocean. The Three Capes Track delivers access to these extraordinary landscapes via well-maintained tracks with outstanding purpose-built huts at each camp.

Best time to visit: October to April — the track operates year round but summer conditions are most reliable.

Difficulty: Moderate — huts provided, suitable for most fit adults

5. Blue Mountains — New South Wales

The Blue Mountains west of Sydney are one of Australia’s most accessible and most rewarding hiking destinations — a vast sandstone plateau deeply incised by dramatic gorges, waterfalls, and the extraordinary eucalyptus forest that gives the mountains their characteristic blue haze.

The best walks:

• Grand Canyon Walk — 6km loop through an extraordinary hidden gorge — one of the Blue Mountains’ most spectacular walks
• Six Foot Track — 45km from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves — classic 3-day walk
• National Pass — dramatic clifftop track between Wentworth Falls and Valley of the Waters
• Prince Henry Cliff Walk — Katoomba to Leura along the clifftops — magnificent views

What makes it extraordinary: The Blue Mountains are just two hours from Sydney — yet feel completely remote. The scale of the gorges, the extraordinary rock formations of the Three Sisters, and the vast sea of eucalyptus stretching to every horizon create a landscape that never loses its power to impress.

Best time to visit: Year round — spring and autumn are most comfortable, summer can be hot, winter is crisp and clear.

Difficulty: Easy to challenging — wide range of options for all fitness levels

6. Grampians — Victoria

The Grampians — or Gariwerd — are one of Victoria’s most extraordinary natural landscapes — a series of dramatic sandstone ranges rising from the Western District plains, home to some of Victoria’s best hiking, extraordinary Aboriginal rock art, and some of the most spectacular wildflower displays in Australia.

The best walks:

• MacKenzie Falls — one of Victoria’s most spectacular waterfalls — accessible short walk
• The Pinnacle — spectacular views across the Grampians from a dramatic rock formation
• Mount William — the highest point in the Grampians — extraordinary panoramic views
• Halls Gap Gorge — beautiful gorge walk near the main township

What makes it extraordinary: The Grampians combine dramatic sandstone scenery, extraordinary biodiversity — over 900 plant species — the largest collection of Aboriginal rock art in southeastern Australia, and excellent facilities at Halls Gap making it one of Victoria’s most complete and most accessible natural destinations.

Best time to visit: August to October for wildflowers, or March to May for autumn. Summer can be very hot.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate — wide range of options

7. Great Ocean Walk — Victoria

The Great Ocean Walk is one of Victoria’s premier long distance walks — a 104-kilometre trail from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles along Australia’s most famous and most dramatic coastline, through temperate rainforest, past remote beaches, and above extraordinary sea stacks and rock formations.

The trail: The Great Ocean Walk is typically completed over 8 days, with campsites and lodges available along the route. The walk can also be completed as a series of day walks from the Great Ocean Road.

What makes it extraordinary: Walking the Great Ocean Walk delivers access to sections of coastline that are completely inaccessible by road — hidden beaches, remote headlands, and extraordinary views of the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge that are simply impossible to experience from the carpark.

Best time to visit: October to April — summer conditions are most reliable, though the Great Ocean Walk is walkable year round.

Difficulty: Moderate — some long days, exposed coastal sections

8. Freycinet Peninsula Circuit — Tasmania

The Freycinet Peninsula Circuit is Tasmania’s most popular multi-day walk — a 30-kilometre circuit around the extraordinary Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s east coast, combining the world-famous Wineglass Bay with remote beaches, pink granite peaks, and some of the clearest water in Australia.

The trail: The circuit is typically completed over 3 days, with camping at Wineglass Bay and Cooks Beach. Day walkers can access the extraordinary Wineglass Bay lookout on a 2-hour return walk from the carpark.

What makes it extraordinary: Wineglass Bay — consistently ranked among the world’s most beautiful beaches — is reason enough to visit Freycinet. The full circuit adds the extraordinary pink granite peaks of the Hazards, the remote wilderness of the peninsula’s southern end, and the extraordinary clarity of Tasmania’s east coast water.

Best time to visit: November to April — summer walking season. The circuit can be walked year round but weather can be extreme in winter.

Difficulty: Moderate — some steep sections, remote camping

9. Bibbulmun Track — Western Australia

The Bibbulmun Track is one of the world’s great long distance walking trails — a 1,000-kilometre trail from Kalamunda on the outskirts of Perth to Albany on Western Australia’s south coast, through the extraordinary karri and jarrah forests of the Southwest.

The trail: The full Bibbulmun Track takes approximately 7-9 weeks to complete end to end — but the track is equally popular as a series of shorter sections, with 49 three-sided timber shelters spaced approximately a day’s walk apart along the route.

What makes it extraordinary: The Bibbulmun Track passes through the full diversity of Western Australia’s extraordinary southwest — jarrah forest, karri forest, coastal heath, granite outcrops, wildflower plains, and the dramatic Southern Ocean coastline. The shelters make the track genuinely accessible for self-supported walking without tents.

Best time to visit: September to November for wildflowers, or March to May for autumn. Summer is extremely hot and water is limited on many sections.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate on individual sections — challenging as a thru-hike

10. Thorsborne Trail — Queensland

The Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island is one of Australia’s most remote and most extraordinary hiking experiences — a 32-kilometre trail along the eastern coast of Hinchinbrook Island, through tropical rainforest, mangroves, palm-fringed beaches, and coastal heath, with permit numbers strictly limited to 40 walkers at any one time.

The trail: The Thorsborne Trail is typically completed over 4 days, with basic campsites along the route. Access is by ferry from Cardwell — permits must be booked well in advance as demand significantly exceeds availability.

What makes it extraordinary: Hinchinbrook Island is one of Australia’s largest and most pristine national parks — a wild, remote, and genuinely extraordinary island of rainforest mountains and tropical beaches that sees a fraction of the visitors of more accessible destinations. The strict permit limits mean the trail feels genuinely remote even at capacity.

Important note for Queensland hikers: Hinchinbrook Island is a tropical environment — estuarine crocodiles are present on sections of the trail, particularly around creek crossings and mangroves. Follow all safety guidelines and never approach the water’s edge in crocodile habitat.

Best time to visit: May to September — the dry season. The tropical north is extremely hot and wet from November to April — the Thorsborne Trail is not recommended in the wet season.

Difficulty: Moderate to challenging — remote, limited facilities, crocodile awareness required

Essential Gear for Australian Hiking Trails

Before you hit any trail on this list — make sure your gear is sorted.

The essentials:

Hiking poles — essential for knee protection on descents — Australian trails involve significant elevation change on most of these walks. Check current price here 👇

Personal Locator Beacon — non-negotiable for remote Australian trails. The Larapinta, Thorsborne, Bibbulmun, and Cape to Cape all pass through areas with no mobile coverage. A PLB means help can find you anywhere. See our complete PLB guide.

Insect repellent and tick protection — genuinely essential and frequently overlooked. Australian bush walking exposes you to ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects that can carry serious diseases including Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, and Queensland tick typhus. Apply DEET-based repellent to all exposed skin before every walk, reapply every few hours, and check thoroughly for ticks after every hike — particularly after walking through long grass or scrub. If you find a tick — freeze it with a freezing spray rather than squeezing or pulling it out.

Sun protection — Australian UV is among the highest in the world. SPF 50+ sunscreen, a broad-brimmed hat, and sun-protective clothing are non-negotiable on any Australian trail.

Hydration — water availability varies significantly across these trails. Research water sources before you go and carry more than you think you need. A quality hydration pack or water bottles with filtration capability are essential on remote trails.

For a complete guide to hiking gear — see our best hiking gear for seniors guide.

Practical Tips for Australian Hiking

Book permits early The Overland Track, Three Capes Track, and Thorsborne Trail all require advance booking — demand significantly exceeds availability for peak season dates. Book as early as possible — ideally 6-12 months in advance for the Overland Track in summer.

Tell someone your plans Always leave a detailed trip plan with someone at home — including your planned route, campsites, and expected return time. Check in when you return. For remote trails — carry a Personal Locator Beacon.

Check conditions before you go Australian weather can be extreme and changeable — particularly in Tasmania, the alpine regions, and the tropical north. Check weather forecasts and trail conditions before departure and be prepared to change plans if conditions are unsafe.

Carry more water than you think you need Dehydration is one of the most common causes of hiking emergencies in Australia. Research water sources on your trail before departure, carry more than you think you need, and never pass a reliable water source without filling up.

Have you hiked any of these trails? Share your experience in The Good Years Club community — your recommendations could help another hiker plan their next adventure 💙

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