The best tree-top walks in Australia
Enjoy a new perspective on the forest by getting up close and personal with a canopy walk through the tree-tops. Instead of looking up from the ground, or down at the forest from a plane, you can get amongst the foliage and find yourself face to face with the sights and sounds of nature.
We have pulled together a list of the best of canopy walks around the country. Take in a new angle and you might be surprised at what you can discover.
Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, Queensland
If you’re in south east Queensland you can wander through the canopy of the rainforest on Tamborine Mountain. See the many butterflies as you walk the 1.5 kilometre track 30 metres above ground level.
Get there: 1 hour drive from Brisbane or 50 minutes from the Gold Coast
Tickets: Adult $19.50, Child $9.50, Family $49.50
Opening hours: 9.30am – 5pm
O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk, Queensland
If you’re after a more thrilling walk, the nine suspension bridges on the O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk in Queensland should fit the bill. Swaying 15 metres above the ground, the bridges run for 180 metres. You can also take in the view from the two observation decks another 15 metres above the walkway. There’s plenty of bird life to enjoy, with over 160 known species.
Get there: 2 hour drive from Brisbane or just over an hour from the Gold Coast
Tickets: Free
Opening hours: All day, year round
The Valley of the Giants Treetop Walk, Western Australia
Wander through the last forest of red tingle trees in the world and see some stunning eucalypts that are over 400 years old. At its peak the Treetop Walk reaches 40 metres above the ground, with a lightweight structure that sways in the breeze. The walk loops for 600 metres through the trees.
Get there: 5 hour drive from Perth
Tickets: Adult $15, Child $7.50, Family $37.50
Opening hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk, New South Wales
It’s the only canopy walk in New South Wales, and you’ll be impressed by the stunning sandstone cliffs of the Illawarra escarpment as you wander through the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk. The steel platforms are 30 metres above the ground and the trail runs for 500 metres. At the end of the walk climb the spiral tower almost 50 metres above ground level to enjoy the sweeping views to the ocean.
Get there: 1.5 hour drive from Sydney or 2 hours from Canberra
Tickets: Adult $25, Child $10, Family $64
Opening hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Otway Fly Treetop Walk, Victoria
If it’s records you’re after, visit the longest and highest steel canopy walk in the world. Start at the visitor’s centre and do the 2km round trip which takes in the forest floor as well as a 600 metre walkway that sits 25 metres above the ground. The 47 metre-high spiral tower gives you a fantastic view over the tops of the trees. If you’re brave you can even let the wind sway you on the cantilever over Young's Creek.
Get there: 2.5 hours from Melbourne or a 1.5 hour drive from Geelong
Tickets: Adult $25, Child $10
Opening hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Tahune AirWalk, Tasmania
If breathtaking views are your thing, the Tahune AirWalk in Tasmania should be on your to-do list. Walking through the eucalypt treetops you’ll soon find yourself on suspensions bridges over the Huon and Picton rivers. The solid steel structure is 29m above ground level and runs for nearly 600 metres. The grand finale is a stunning 24m-long steel cantilever where you perch out over the rushing river.
Get there: 1.5 hour drive from Hobart
Tickets: Adult $26, Child $13, Family $52
Opening hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Image credits: Queensland.com/Illawarrafly.com/Discovertasmania.com.au
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