Australia is bursting with amazing and diverse landscapes, and while we love a good road trip, sometimes exploring on foot is the best way to fully appreciate it all.
Walking opens up access to places often inaccessible any other way, and then there is the simple fact that it immerses you deeply in the land. On foot, the pace is slow and quiet — great for spotting wildlife and noticing the little details like crazy fungi growing on a log, birdsong or the scent of tree oils.
With more than 600 national parks scattered across the country, offering thousands of kilometres of walking trails to explore, choosing just 10 walks isn’t easy but these represent some of the highlights, from outback to mountains and coast. It’s a big country so keep them in your back pocket for when you’re passing through. We've also found some handy campsites or caravan parks nearby where you can park the van or camper trailer while you explore the walk.
1. Hartz Peak, Tasmania
Located in Hartz Mountains National Park, Hartz Peak is only 90 minutes south of Hobart and this half-day walk gives you a perfect sampler of wild Tassie landscapes. With much of the walk above the tree line, the buffet of excellent views is near constant.
Glaciers shaped this land and the walk to Hartz Peak starts with a gentle incline past several idyllic glacial tarns backed by a rocky ridge, the Devils Backbone. After this, things get steeper as the track puts you en route to Hartz’s 1254m summit. But rest assured, you don’t have to reach the top before you’re rewarded with truly epic views across the rippling Southwest Wilderness Area, punctuated by iconic Federation Peak. Just looking at it lets you feel connected with Tassie’s wild interior.
CMCA RV Park in nearby Geeveston has sites from $5 per night for members or $15 for non-members.
2. Grampians Peaks Trail, Victoria
The Grampians have long been a great place to explore, but when the Grampians Peaks Trail opened in late 2021 it opened up loads of previously unseen terrain and spectacular views. This long line of tilted sandstone mountains is renowned for incredible rock formations, sheer escarpments, waterfalls and expansive views. While epic scenery is guaranteed, so are a few climbs and descents. The good thing is that even though the entire route is 164km, done over 13 days, you can easily opt for bite-size overnight adventures or day hikes.
The northern section offers the best combination of impressive scenery and a reasonably well-defined trail. The central section has plenty of wow moments but is best suited to very experienced bushwalkers. The south offers the easiest walking with relatively short climbs and a well-defined trail.
Parks Victoria’s website gives plenty of itinerary suggestions. If you do decide on an overnight section, most campsites have super-cool communal huts for cooking, plus some handy USB charging points. Popular day walks on the trail visit Mount Difficult and Briggs Bluff, Mount Stapylton, the Wonderland and Signal Peak.
Free camping is available at Plantation Campground at Mount Zero, at the northern end of the trail, or go super central at Breeze Holiday Park – Halls Gap.
3. Breadknife and Grand High Tops walk, New South Wales
There’s nothing like a volcano for creating a dramatic landscape of lava domes, plugs, spires and blade-like dykes. Walk this 4–6-hour hike in Warrumbungle National Park and you’ll be pausing to say "Wow!" what feels like every five minutes.
The Breadknife is an impressive blade of rock rising 90m from woodland. But climb all the way to the Grand High Tops and the panorama stretches far, taking in the enormous Crater Bluff and Tonduron Spire. The route can be done as an out-and-back hike, or you can make it a loop and take the side trip up Bluff Mountain. From Bluff Mountain’s impressive height, you can see the volcanic lines of rock from which the park’s features spring.
On the drive into the park, pause at the impressive Warrumbungle Visitor Centre to learn all about the geology, flora and fauna, and the park’s standing as a Dark Sky Park (celebrated and protected for its exceptionally starry skies and minimal light pollution). This is also the place to book a campsite at Camp Blackman, 2km away.
Nearby Coonabarabran is the stargazing capital of Australia, so while you’re in the area I recommend visiting Sliding Springs Observatory or organising a night sky tour with Donna the Astronomer.
4. Toolona Creek Circuit, Queensland
While the Gold Coast is known for its high-rise-lined beaches and surfing, if you venture inland you’ll find a wonderland of lush rainforest and waterfalls. One of nearly a few dozen excellent hikes within Lamington National Park is the Toolona Creek Circuit. Located in the Green Mountains section of the park, the Toolonga Creek Circuit is a six-hour loop walk that climbs the flanks of an ancient volcano before skirting the rim of the Tweed Caldera to return. It all feels very wild and jungle-like, packed with supersized trees, hidden waterfalls and enormous swinging vines. A real treat is the gnarled and moss-covered Antarctic beech trees, descendants of those that flourished on what was part of Gondwana 200 million years ago. Visit during the warmer months of summer and you might spot a bright blue Lamington crayfish in the creek. Plenty of shorter walks range from 30 minutes to an hour.
O’Reilly's Campground positions you right at the trailhead but if you want to avoid towing the van up the narrow and winding road there, you can camp en route at Canungra Showgrounds on the banks of Canungra Creek.
5. Carnarvon Gorge Walk, Queensland
Anyone who’s travelled through the outback knows that there’s a lot more than red dirt out there yet still, Carnarvon Gorge seems especially full of surprises. This is a day hike that winds between towering sandstone walls as you follow the creek that cut the gorge over 30 million years.
It’s a 19km return if you choose to walk all the way to Big Bend, but the real magic lies in seven short side trips that deviate to the extensive ancient Bidjara and Garingbal rock art and flourishing side gorges. The cool Moss Garden drips with moss and ferns, Ward’s Canyon hides a waterfall and ancient king ferns, and the spectacular Amphitheatre is a cool hideaway accessed by a narrow fissure in the rock. Leave early and take time to soak it all up.
If you want to immerse yourself in this beautiful area, you can set up a tent at the Big Bend walk-in camping area. Some continue hiking to join the six-day Carnarvon Great Walk, but you can just do the first bit of it as a day hike using Big Bend as your base. This great hike will lead you between the smooth water-sculpted walls of Boowinda Gorge, dripping in ferns, and up on top of the Consuelo Tablelands where you can easily see the gorge’s wiggly lines cutting deeply into it.
There is camping available in the National Park Visitor Area at certain times of the year, or other options just outside the park. Click here to check out the options.
6. Three Bays Walk, Victoria
Dozens of spectacular trails crisscross Wilsons Promontory National Park but if you had to pick one to give you a snapshot of what it’s all about, Three Bays Walk is the number one choice.
Heading from the tannin-stained Tidal River, around the coast to Squeaky Beach, Picnic Bay and Whisky Bay, this walk really showcases the Prom’s striking granite formations and blinding white beaches. Add clear aqua-blue water on one side and green forests on the other, and you’ve got a heavenly half-day walk. Keep an eye out for wombats as they’re plentiful around Tidal River.
There’s world-class walking here so make sure to tick off a few other trails such as the two-hour return hike to Mount Oberon’s summit, for 360-degree views of the park, or The Big Drift with its vast sand dunes.
If you’re happy to carry camping gear, walk the Southern Circuit (or a variation of it) which will get you away from the masses and let you have this slice of paradise largely to yourself. For an overnight hike without needing to camp, book a stay at the remote Wilsons Promontory Lightstation — the serenity and starry skies are well worth it. The only place to park a van is Park Victoria’s Tidal River Campground, tucked in the tea trees between Tidal River and Norman Beach.
7. Ormiston Pound Walk, NT
Reaching west of Alice Springs is the Tjoritja / West MacDonnell Ranges where rippling burnt-orange mountains hide dramatic gorges, wildflowers, waterholes and (usually) dry sandy riverbeds. Ormiston Gorge is a highlight, beyond which a semicircle of mountains encloses Ormiston Pound, a flat and open expanse of about 45sq m. This is a spectacular 8.5km circuit walk that skirts around ridgelines before descending to trail across the Pound and back through Ormiston Gorge.
There is a real sense of stillness and timelessness here; keep an eye out for the ripples of an ancient inland sea embedded in the rock. Heading anticlockwise is best, allowing you to appreciate the open views and get an overview of the land before entering the sheer red blocky walls of the gorge where white ghost gums have somehow managed to get a foothold in the rock. There’s a short stretch of rock hopping to reach the permanent waterhole at the end — tempting to look at but absolutely freezing. Allow three to four hours to complete.
Ormiston Gorge Campground, run by NT Parks, puts you right near the trailhead, perfect for exploring the area at your leisure.
8. Main Range Walk, New South Wales
Who doesn’t want to stand on the roof of Australia? This circuit walk drizzles atop the mountains of the Main Range in Kosciuszko National Park in the Snowy Mountains, offering unhindered alpine views pretty much the entire time. You get to rock hop across the famed Snowy River (virtually at its source), visit the glacial Blue Lake and several other lakes, and then climb gently towards the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, the country’s highest peak at 2228m. From there, it’s a gentle downhill back to the start point at Charlotte Pass. A few granite outcrops, wildflowers and dollops of snow add to make this a truly spectacular day hike.
If you’re not up for a 22km walk, you can catch the chairlift from Thredbo and do a three-hour return hike to the summit instead. The gorgeous bush camps Thredbo Diggings and Ngarigo, on the banks of the Snowy River, are great spots to stay if you're starting your hike from Thredbo.
If you're doing the full loop, Jindabyne is the closest place to park up. Try Discovery Parks — Jindabyne, on the banks of Lake Jindabyne.
This is a spring-autumn hike only — in winter months it’s the domain of backcountry skiers and snowboarders.
9. Tanderra Saddle, South Australia
With almost 20 routes to choose from, the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park have got to be South Australia’s best playground for hikers, and Wilpena Pound is its centrepiece. Formed by a serrated mountain range that wraps around in a 17km-long oval loop, it looks like a giant soap dish sitting on the vast outback.
The walk to Tanderra Saddle — just beneath the highest point of Wilpena Pound — can be tackled either via the inside route or the outside route (or try it both ways to make a circuit). It’s a reasonably gentle climb traversing the rim of the Pound until the last push to crest it where the views stretching across the interior and surrounding outback are amazing. There is a trail continuing on up to Mary Peak, however the Adnyamathanha, the area’s Traditional Owners, prefer you don’t summit it.
Allow a day for this one. Download the ‘Bushwalking in Ikara-Flinders Ranges’ brochure.
Camp among the trees at Wilpena Pound Resort, which is located conveniently right near the trailhead.
10. Bluff Knoll, Western Australia
The Stirling Ranges are a spectacular sight in Western Australia’s south-west and are also one of the few places in the state to occasionally get dusted in snow. Bluff Knoll is the premier walk here (also its highest point at 1095m), climbing through eucalypts and grass trees to rise above the tree line and on along a ridge towards its rocky summit. The bluff falls away sharply with sheer cliffs on one side and epic panoramic 360-degree views across surrounding mountains.
Despite being a mere 3km one-way, there is approximately 650m of elevation to climb so expect the whole round trip to take three to four hours. Even if you only climb to the saddle at the tree line though, you’ll still be rewarded with great views. If you’ve got hiking poles, your knees will thank you.
Mt Trio Bush Camp & Caravan Park is in a bush setting with stunning views of the mountains, only 10 minutes from the trailhead.
Be prepared
As with any kind of adventure in the great outdoors, it's important to only bite of what you can chew. Some of the long-distance hikes are only suitable to experienced hikers and will require a certain amount of preparation and planning that goes beyond grabbing your walking shoes and a water bottle. Consider your abilities and fitness, and happy walking!
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