Easy does it – the best day walks around Australia
Explore some of Australia’s most beautiful landscapes on foot with these great short walks around the country. There are options for every level of fitness but, wherever you are walking, make sure you’re prepared with plenty of water, sunscreen, sturdy shoes and, of course, your camera.
Carnarvon Gorge, Central Highlands, QLD
8 hours / 20 kilometres / Easy
This 200-metre deep, shaded gorge is a playground for walkers, dotted with calm swimming holes, rock art sites, soaring caves and pockets of rainforest. It’ s also home to the king fern, the largest fern in the world with fronds up to five metres in length. The trail is easy but at 20 kilometres it’s certainly a long day, so you’ll need endurance and adequate preparation.
Kings Canyon Rim Walk, Kings Canyon, NT
3.5 hours / 6 kilometres / Hard
Just over 300 kilometres southwest of Alice Springs, Kings Canyon is an imposing oasis of 100-metre red sandstone cliffs, lush groves of vegetation and permanent waterholes in an area called the Garden of Eden. The initial climb up 500 steps is challenging, but once you reach the top the rest of the route is fairly flat. It can get incredibly hot in this part of Australia, so make sure you take plenty of water with you and only attempt the walk in the early morning or evening.
Bouddi Coastal Walk, Central Coast, NSW
4 hours / 8 kilometres / Easy
The Bouddi National Park is a hidden gem just north of Sydney and has a diverse landscape of rugged headlands, eucalypt forest, sparse heathlands and hidden coves. You could happily spend the whole day on this trail, stopping for a swim at one (or more) of the secluded beaches or for lunch at a shady picnic spot along the way. Keep an eye out for the wreck of the SS Maitland that went down in Maitland Bay in 1898.
Bluff Knoll, Albany, WA
4 hours / 6 kilometres / Moderate
Bluff Knoll is not your typical West Australian landscape; at 1,095 metres it’s one of the highest peak in the state, is often shrouded with cloud and is one of the only places in the state to ever see snow. The narrow but well-defined track winds its way to the summit, squeezing between cliffs and with spectacular views over the region. Take the walk in spring to see the surrounding fields in bloom with more than 1,000 species of wildflowers.
Wineglass Bay Circuit, East Coast, TAS
4.5 hours / 12 kilometres / Moderate
This walk starts with a lookout over one of the world’s most stunning beaches – the iconic Wineglass Bay. It descends down across the pink granite of the Hazards mountains to the white sand of the bay, before crossing over a narrow strip of land to Hazards Beach. The track can be rocky and uneven parts, though it is mostly flat and requires only a moderate level of fitness.
Princetown to Glenample Hike, Great Ocean Road, VIC
2.5 hours / 5.5 kilometres / Moderate
The Great Ocean Road walk covers over 100 kilometres, but there are a number of smaller sections that can be walked in a day. This hike follows the cliff tops and coastal scrubland to pass the road’s most famous attraction – the 12 Apostles. You’re also likely to see kangaroos grazing in nearby paddocks and pods of dolphins frolicking off the coast.
Riesling Trail – Clare to Penwortham, Clare Valley, SA
3 hours / 10 kilometres / Easy
If you like a little indulgence with your exercise then this is the trail for you. The trail was developed in the 1960s from a disused rail line and runs 35 kilometres in total, but this short section gives a little taste of the best. Pass through beautiful vineyards, historic villages and lush farmlands, stopping off at local wineries whenever you need refreshment.