10 great walks to try this Spring
Ready to get out of the house with Mother Nature? Well to help you make the most of the beautiful weather to come, here’s 10 walks to try across Australia.
A walk a day can keep the doctor away! Walking is great for your health. It’s low impact, improves cardiovascular fitness, reduces risk of heart disease and creates stronger bones! Plus, Australia is a beautiful country, with a variety of national parks, coasts and bush trails to choose from. Whether you’re looking for short walks or adventurous multi-day treks, there’s something for every fitness level in the country. To help you narrow the list of where to go, here’s our list of the top 10 walks to try this spring!
Day walks
If you’re up for a scenic day walk to get the blood pumping in your legs, try one of these easy walks that will only require a moderate level of fitness.
Kings Canyon Rim Walk, NT
It may be one of the world’s best short walks, but you’ll still need to tackle a 500-step climb to the top. But, don’t be deterred. This six-kilometre walk around the rim of Kings Canyon in the dusty red outback of the Northern Territory offers some truly spectacular views. Go for the awe-inspiring 100-metre sheer cliff faces and weathered dome-like structures called the Lost City, and stay for the amazing sunset over the Central Australian desert. Top tip: stay overnight before waking early to get a head-start on the day since you’ll want to avoid the midday sun and the intense heat it brings with it.
Ghost House Trail, WA
With an interesting name like Ghost House Trail, who wouldn’t want to undertake this walking track? This 10 kilometre loop around the wetlands of Yanchep National Park, about a 40-minute drive north of Perth, is one of the city’s best-kept walking secrets. Best done in winter or spring when there is some water in the lakes, walkers will be able to see stunning views over the wetlands, emu and kangaroo sightings, and beautiful limestone formations near a shelter that sits roughly at about the halfway point. Keep an eye out for the Yanget (bullrush), which is used by local Nyoongar people for food. If you’re feeling particularly energetic, you can always aim for the 60 kilometre Coastal Plain Walk, which overlaps the Ghost House Trail.
Manly to Spit Bridge, NSW
Along with the world-famous Sydney Harbour, this beautiful city is also blessed with some of the best day walks in the country. A popular short walk is the 10 kilometre one-way Manly to Spit Bridge track through Sydney Harbour National Park. It’ll take about three to four hours but time will just slip away as you take in some of the breathtaking views of the entrance to the harbour and the city. There’s no need for a guide on this well-tended walkway, with manlyguide.com providing a great map to show you where to go. Opened in 1988, walkers are able to juxtapose the old and new of Australia passing both Aboriginal sites and the modern harbourside. Catch your breath or pause to take in the views at a number of quiet beaches along the way, such as Castle Rock.
Wineglass Bay to Hazards Beach, Tasmania
Wherever you look in Tasmania, you’re bound to see a postcard-perfect landscape. For those who love immersing themselves in breathtaking scenes of Mother Nature, Wineglass Bay has to be on your walker’s bucket list. Considered one of the top 10 beaches in the world, this flawless spot of dazzling white sand and sapphire-coloured sea set against pink and grey granite peaks offers the perfect point to embark on a picturesque walk. The 12 kilometre track is part of the Freycinet Peninsula, an outcrop of pristine coastland on Tasmania’s east coast. The circuit bypasses a number of picturesque coves, which are perfect for taking a quick dip if you’re feeling like a refresher before climbing gently uphill on the return.
Wangarra Lookout and Hills Homestead Walk, SA
Get your bushwalking boots on to experience some of the country’s pioneering past on the Wangarra Lookout and Hills Homestead Walk in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges National Park. This popular 7.5 kilometre track goes along Wilpena Creek into the Wilpena Pound, via Sliding Rock and Hills Homestead. Beyond the entrance to the pound, you’ll find the restored homestead of the Hill family. In 1899, the family took out a lease over the entire pound and cleared it for wheat farming. They lived in the area until 1914. There’s some great panoramic views of the area from nearby lookouts, such as the Wangarra Lookout. If you want to save your legs on the way back, there’s a shuttle bus part way into the pound which can pick you up two hours later.
Multi-day walks
Feeling especially adventurous and want to test your fitness? Why not give a multi-day hike a try? Take these tracks at your own pace and enjoy the beauty and peace that being out in nature can provide.
Thorsborne Trail, Queensland
The cloud-covered mountains of Hinchinbrook Island can be found eight kilometres off the Queensland coast. Here, you’ll find the Thorsborne Trail, a 32 kilometre track that meanders through an untouched tropical paradise. Take in a passing panorama of jungle-like rainforest, melaleuca swamps and pristine white beaches, with wildlife peeking through the foliage every so often. Spot the bright colours of birds and butterflies to dugongs and dolphins in the clear blue waters. The track is better suited to more experienced walkers because much of the path isn’t graded or hardened, so it can be difficult to traverse in places. However, for those who love a challenge, this trail is a must. The best times to go are from April to September when it’s a little cooler.
Six Foot Track, NSW
A shorter track than some of the other popular walks in Australia, the Six Foot Track goes through a lovely part of the world – the Blue Mountains. The 44-kilometre track follows the route of the original 1884 horse track between Katoomba and Jenolan Caves. Starting at the Explorer’s Tree, the track takes about three days to complete and passes through landscapes of sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and richly-forested valleys. If you’re feeling in the mood to experience NSW’s rich history and its evolution over the past 200 years, the Six Foot Track is worth a visit. It’s suitable for walkers of average fitness and can be taken as quickly or as slowly as you like.
Larapinta Trail, NT
Immerse yourself in the ancient landscape of the Northern Territory on the Larapinta Trail, a 223 kilometre trail located in Australia’s rugged heart. The track begins from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station and winds its way through sheltered gorges and over rugged ranges, bypassing stunning views and popular attractions, such as Simpsons Gap (one of the most prominent waterholes in the region). One of the highlights of this walk is camping out under a sea of stars, with nothing to distract the eye from the mesmerising scene above. As you can guess, this track is remote so it’s best approached on a group tour. To get from end to end, it’ll take about 14 days but there is a six-day option, with support vehicles to reduce the total walk.
Overland Track, Tasmania
The peak walking season for the picturesque Overland Track may not start until October 1, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start getting your walking shoes ready. Stretching 65 kilometres through the world famous Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair National Park, this walk is for hardy souls looking to completely escape into the beauty of Mother Nature. This track is a significant undertaking and not for the faint-hearted since a large part of it is above 1000 metres in elevation. But, if you’re feeling fit and strong and ready for a challenge, the Overland Track is well worth it. When the weather permits, great views of the Cradle Mountain can be seen from Marion’s Lookout. Walkers can either book themselves on one of the many guided tours of the track or go independently, but you’ll need to book with Parks & Wildlife Services before you go.
Bibbulmun Track, WA
If you’re an old hand at walking, why not challenge yourself to the award-winning Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia? This long-distance walking trail stretches a whopping 965 kilometres from Kalamunda in the Perth hills to Albany on the southern tip of the country’s largest state. It passes through the rustic townships of Dwellingup, Collie, Balingup, Pemberton, Northcliffe, Walpole and Denmark. While many people opt to complete a shorter section of the track, if you’re feeling up to it, go the full hog and join the elite group of walkers who’ve completed the entire track. If you do, plan to be away for around six to eight weeks.