5 Essential Australian Trails For Every Kind of Hiker

One of the best ways to explore Australia and keep fit is by lacing up your boots and covering terrain you can only reach by foot. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned hiker, the country is filled with trails that suit every level of fitness and can keep you in shape while you’re travelling. Here are some of Australia’s must-do trails to get you inspired. 

Natural Bridge Circuit, Springbrook National Park, Queensland

Distance: 1.1 kilometres
Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: easy
When can I go: year-round

This loop in Springbrook National Park, a one-hour drive from the Gold Coast, is ideal for rookie hikers and travellers looking to break a sweat, delivering spectacular scenery along the way. Start the trail from the car park (head in a clockwise direction to make it easier) and weave through the ancient Gondwana Rainforests, spotting kookaburras and southern angle-headed dragons. Halfway through the loop, you’ll reach the Natural Bridge, where a waterfall has eroded the surrounding rock to cascade into a cave below – perfect for a photo op. 

Fitness tip: Easy hiking is a great way to keep fit while travelling. If you’re hiking with a friend you can keep track of the intensity by ensuring you can hold a conversation throughout the journey. 

The Pinnacle, Grampians National Park, Victoria

Distance: 4 kilometres
Time: 3 hours
Difficulty: easy to moderate
When can I go: year-round

There are a few ways to tackle this peak, a little over three hours west of Melbourne by car, but we promise it’s not as tricky as it looks. Beginners should start at the Sundial car park, while more experienced hikers should set off from the Wonderland car park. In the latter direction, you’ll climb through the Grampians version of the Grand Canyon, crane your neck to see rock formations overhead and get the chance to catch some water spray beneath Bridal Veil Falls. There are plenty of steps involved, with roughly 280 metres of elevation to overcome, but spotting koalas, kangaroos and echidnas is good motivation. The payoff is the lookout perched on a rocky outcrop, with incredible views of the Grampians region, and knowing it's (mostly) downhill on the way home.

Fitness tip: Train up for the elevation from the comfort of your local gym by practising walking on an incline. Slow and steady exercise is the key to conquering the hills. 

Main Range Walk Kosciuszko, New South Wales

Distance: 22 kilometres
Time: 7 to 9 hours
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
When can I go: December to March

Fields of wildflowers, alpine lakes, crystal-clear streams and granite-strewn stretches — the hike to Australia’s highest point is as picturesque as it sounds. Around a 2.5-hour drive from Canberra, Charlotte’s Pass is where you’ll begin a thigh-burning climb to the peak (start early to avoid the crowds) with an elevation gain of 844 metres. The summit of Mt Kosciuszko offers 360-degree views across the Snowy Mountains.

Fitness tip: Don’t forget to warm up your muscles before you hit the hills. A simple 10-minute routine that targets the primary movers in your legs will make all the difference in your recovery. 

The Tabletop Track, Northern Territory

Distance: 39 kilometres
Time: 3 to 5 days
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
When can I go: June to September

If you’re ready for a multi-day wilderness hike, this trail is a winner. It loops around the tabletop of Litchfield National Park in the heart of the Northern Territory 1.5 hours from Darwin, and features a laundry list of iconic Australian landscapes. Start at Florence Falls and wind your way up 989 metres of elevation through rugged ochre terrain and savannah woodland, past pandanus-lined creeks and plenty of swimming holes where you can cool down after a hard day’s hiking.

Fitness tip: Multi-day hiking requires that you carry a pack. Work on your core strength before hitting the trails at a gym near you and practice with a similarly loaded pack to what you’re planning to carry. 

Cape to Cape Track, Western Australia

Distance:123 kilometres
Time: 5 to 7 days
Difficulty: moderate to difficult
When can I go: year-round

Ready for a week’s worth of whale spotting along sparkling coastlines and traversing dense karri forests? This trail between Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, a three-hour drive from Perth, is one of the best multi-day hikes in Australia and a great way to keep fit while sightseeing. Several tour operators, like Auswalk, offer fully-guided walks with camping or more luxurious accommodations in nearby towns. While most of the hike is moderate in difficulty, there are some challenging sections with soft sand and rocky scrambles. Treat yourself with a much-deserved vino or two from the local Margaret River region when you’re done.

Fitness tip: Consult a trainer before heading out on a trail as challenging as the Cape to Cape. Work with them on your goals, ways you can build strength and fitness in the gym and how you plan on building up to the challenge.