10 Best Scenic Trails & Hikes in Australia

There’s a trek on our list of Australia’s top trekking adventures to suit everyone, from easy day trips to challenging multi-day journeys.

We have selected routes that provide some of the most physically demanding terrain and also showcase some of Australia’s most famous landmarks.

Keep in mind that each of these trails is different, making it difficult to compare and rank them. No matter whatever path you take, you’ll have a fantastic time.

1. Kosciuszko Walk – New South Wales

Mount Kosciuszko in the Australian Alps is the highest peak in Australia, rising 2,228 meters above sea level. The extended route to its summit is a popular summer trail for hikers and mountain bikers, though the latter must dismount for the final 1.4 kilometers.

Starting at the Kosciuszko Express Chairlift, the walk travels along an old gravel road through a vast landscape of desolate granite outcrops, sweeping mountains and hills, and sporadic weathered snow gums.

You can also anticipate a stunning variety of wild flowers, such as silver snow daisies, marsh marigolds, buttercups, and mountain roses, if you plan your excursion for late spring.

You can find a spot for a picturesque picnic before crossing the Snowy River once you have walked for a while and have reached the river. The 90-year-old Seaman’s Hut will then be passed as you proceed to Rawson’s Pass.

Although the final ascent to Mount Kosciuszko’s summit is not particularly difficult, combining this walk with the longer Main Range walk may make for a more challenging outing. Otherwise, take the same route home.

2. Valley of Echoes – Lamington National Park

In O’Reilly’s, there are more than 320 km of walking trails that wind through the rainforest to breathtaking viewpoints, waterfalls, and other noteworthy landmarks. The Valley of Echoes (also known as the Albert River Track) walk is one of these trails.

There are a variety of route options, from an 800-meter treetop stroll along a suspended walkway to a 5-kilometer hike to the surreal Morans Falls to multiple full-day excursions like the walk along the Valley of Echoes, depending on how much time you have to spend in the wilderness.

The Albert River Track, which begins by traveling alongside the Main Border Track for about 5 km before diverging at a fork, is followed by walkers on the Valley of Echoes. The track descends from here to the spot where Lightning Falls plunge into

Antarctic Beech, light-colored Coachwood, and a wide variety of fern life are features of the nearby rainforest. The path eventually leaves the dense rainforest and begins to follow the Valley of Echoes’ edge, from which you can see Mount Wapawn, Mount Durigan, and some of Mount Warning’s ancient volcanic crater.

In the end, the route rejoins the Border Track and leads back to Queensland.

3. Bay of Fires Lodge Walk – Tasmania

You can explore secluded coves, bays, and protected lagoons while hiking Tasmania’s north-east coast on the Bay of Fires hike. If you so choose, you can also kayak in Anson’s River.

The Bay of Fires Lodge walk, which is named after the only eco-friendly hotel in the region, is the most well-known walking option that allows tourists to experience this Eden.

The walk is planned by the lodge so that the final night in base camp and the beach camping provide the ideal blend of luxury and adventure. You will have an immersive, soothing, and slightly glitzy experience with the native wildlife and vegetation.

4. Cradle Mountain – Tasmania

The massive Dove Lake, Lake Wilks, and Crater Lake are dwarfed by Cradle Mountain (1,545 m), which is situated in Tasmania’s Central Highlands in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park. Grassland and ancient rainforest, home to the endemic King Billy pine and the rare deciduous beech, make up the region’s vegetation.

This region is also ideal for spotting some of Tasmania’s distinctive wildlife, including the renowned Tasmanian devil, quolls, and platypuses, in addition to a number of fascinating bird species.

There are several trekking options available in the park, including a two-hour walk around Dove Lake and the more difficult option of climbing Cradle Mountain. Climbing Cradle Mountain is more suitable for seasoned hikers and people with no vertigo issues.

The summit offers breathtaking views from Hanson’s Peak to Marion’s Lookout, but you should be prepared to scramble up a few dangerous rocky outcrops. Take your time on this section as the well-defined trail becomes increasingly unstable as you near the mountain’s summit. After admiring the views from the peak, return to the starting point by taking the same path down.

5. National Pass – Blue Mountains National Park

The National Pass, which is expertly carved into the ridge of a cliff, provides unrivaled views of many of the Blue Mountains’ iconic landmarks.

Before Europeans arrived in the 1700s, the Gundungurra Aboriginal people lived in these beautiful mountains for millennia, which gives a fascinating historical context to the site.

The blue haze that forms when oily droplets from evaporating eucalyptus leaves mix with airborne dust and water vapor is what gave the mountains their name.

The hike begins at the picnic area near Wentworth Falls, where you can hear the gushing sound of the water cascading down the falls.

Make your way into the Valley of Waters, which is home to more breathtaking waterfalls, by descending the 100-year-old Grand Stairway. Before returning, climb out of the Valley and pause at the Conversation Hut for a hot cup of tea.

6. The Uluru Base Walk – Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park

The massive sandstone monolith that emerges from the surrounding grasslands is called Uluru, also referred to as Ayers Rock. One of Australia’s most recognizable landmarks, Uluru is 348 meters tall and has a circumference of almost 10 kilometers.

Because of the rocks’ remarkable propensity to glow a majestic, otherworldly red at dawn and sunset, the nearby Anangu people have given the location a great deal of spiritual significance.

Even to outsiders, this is understandable given the significance of the site. As a result, even though there is a well-traveled trail that leads to the rock formation’s summit and has a chain for support, we don’t recommend attempting it because it is regarded as culturally insensitive for tourists to do so.

Instead, there are numerous walks that go around the rock’s base, but circumnavigating the entire rock is the most immersive and thorough way to experience this natural wonder. View Ayers Rock from all sides, and find out fascinating information about this iconic outback feature directly from the locals.

7. Larapinta Trail – Northern Territory

The West MacDonnell Ranges are followed by the Larapinta Trail, which is arguably the most breathtaking trekking experience in Australia.

The hike will push you beyond your physical and mental limits, but it will also immerse you in some of the most breathtaking scenery in the nation and give you a very real chance to get to know the culture of the local Arrente people.

The trail is divided into three main biomes: riverbanks, mulga shrub lands, which are home to small endemic acacia plants, and rocky mountainous outcrops.

From the Sturt’s Desert Rose to the Sturt’s Desert Pea, as well as the perentie (a large monitor lizard), Thorny Devil Lizards, and occasionally even a few dingoes, these biomes are each characterized by a variety of their own distinctive wildflowers and animals.

Be aware that if you’re planning a hike, you should go when Australia’s winter is in full swing because the summer months can get dangerously hot.

8. Freycinet Experience Walk – Tasmania

A lavish introduction to paradise, the Freycinet Experience Walk. The hike, which is located along the picturesque Freycinet Peninsula, passes by the pink-tinged Hazard Mountains, lush coastal forests, and snow-white beaches that are bordered by aquamarine water.

You’ll be able to access areas of the park that few people have ever seen thanks to the expert guidance of your small group’s knowledgeable tour guide.

There are options for people of all skill levels, so you can decide whether you want to stick with the easy, leisurely coastline or complete the entire 37 km trek, which includes mountain climbs.

Additionally, visitors only need to carry a small daypack with a lunch for the day because their entire backpack will be transported for them to their overnight lodging.

One of the Friendly Beaches Lodges, which bring world-class service and décor to the most remote of regions, will welcome you each evening with a gourmet meal and glass of fine local wine.

9. Great Ocean Walk – Victoria

The Great Ocean Walk is a trail that meanders along high cliff ridges and sandy beaches in Victoria’s south-west coastline, passing through several locations of significant cultural and historical value.

For thousands of years, the area served as a location for significant feasts and had ceremonial significance to the traditional Aboriginal landowners. As you travel, we advise using the mobile app to learn more about this extensive history and other topics.

There are eco-friendly campsites along the trail that are furnished with sleeping and bathroom facilities, camp benches, and, in most cases, a shelter. The walk’s legendary scenery features dramatic transitions from coastal forests to heathlands and abrasive, rocky shorelines.

Consider the fascinating wildlife you are likely to see if the scenery alone isn’t alluring enough. Koala, echidna, wallaby, kangaroo, and fairy penguins are just a few of the animals that call the coastline you will be traveling through home.

10. Arthur Range Traverse – Tasmania

The spectacular and difficult Arthur Range Traverse is frequently disregarded in favor of the more sober Overland Track. Although the latter is well-kept and manageable, many experienced hikers prefer the Arthur Range Traverse because of the harsher, more untamed environment.

The mountains are a striking collection of serrated quartzite peaks separated by gaping valleys and some of Australia’s best glacial lakes.

From one end of the range to the other, the trail takes a winding path that makes it feel more like a climb than a walk because hikers must climb and descend steep gullies. Expect no safety equipment in this remote wilderness.

This hike is one of Tasmania’s most hazardous due to the difficult terrain and the severe weather, and it is really only appropriate for experienced hikers.

Take note that weather conditions, including snow, heavy rain, and strong winds, can affect how long it takes to complete the traverse at any given time of year.

However, the prime time for hiking is typically from December to March, or during the southern hemisphere summer.