Spectacular places in Australia you can only reach on foot
Put your hiking boots on. These trails take you to some of the most stunning destinations in Australia – and the only way to get there is on your own two feet.
Zoe Falls, Queensland
Just 40 hikers a day are permitted on the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island, part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, so you’re unlikely to spot anyone else. The whole island is a national park, meaning there are no resorts or cars, but you can organise a boat transfer to take you to the start of the 32-kilometre trek. Around the halfway point the stunning Zoe Falls thunders down a cliff and into a deliciously cool rock pool, perfect for a refreshing dip.
Kings Canyon, Northern Territory
With Uluru as your neighbour, it can be hard to get your own moment in the sun but Kings Canyon is not to be missed. The walk is short – just six kilometres – and fairly easy, though there is a tough 500-step climb to the plateau. The track follows the horseshoe-shaped canyon rim, passing vast cliff walls, natural rock sculptures and permanent waterholes.
Mt Kosciuszko, New South Wales
Standing at 2,228 metres, Mt Kosciuszko is Australia’s highest peak. It’s covered in snow in winter, but during summer you can walk the 14-kilometre round trip trail from the top of the Thredbo chairlift. The walk is fairly easy (and often fairly crowded) but the scenery is rewarding enough, bursting with wildflowers, rocky granite outcrops and Lake Cootapatamba, carved by glaciers. Fun fact: until 1977 you could drive to the top of the mountain.
Bay of Fires, Tasmania
Ok, technically you can get a boat here, but then you’d lose that sense of achievement that you can only get with a few hours (or days) of hard work. The walk is split into four days of around 10 kilometres each, passing isolated coves and pristine beaches, before you reach the incredibly beautiful Bay of Fires. This is one walk you can do in style, with plush glamping sites and lodges dotted along the way.
Piccaninny Gorge, Western Australia
Stark, desolate and awe-inspiring, a 15-kilometre trail runs through the centre of Piccaninny Gorge, close to the famed Bungle Bungles. To get the most out of the experience, set up camp in the gorge and spend a couple of days exploring the smaller, interconnecting gorges, known as the Fingers. You can even belt out a tune in Cathedral Gorge to make the most of the incredible acoustics.
Related links:
6 of the best Australian mountains to climb
Australian travel to-do list: 2015