5 hikes in unique Australian landscapes

Australia’s landscapes exude adventure – from craggy mountain tops to UNESCO sand islands and Jurrasic rainforests, it’s as if Australia was designed with the hiker in mind. If you’re ready to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors, experience surreal terrains and immerse yourself in what we like to call, the ‘true wilderness’, then grab your hiking boots and read on. Below are five of Australia’s best hiking tracks through unique landscapes. Oh, and because we love camping, we’ve made sure there are plenty of spots to pitch a tent along the way.

1. Great Ocean Walk, VIC

• Distance: 100km (62 miles)

The Great Ocean Road is no doubt one of the best road trips in Australia, so you won’t be surprised to hear that the Great Ocean Walk is up there with the very best hikes. Even if you’ve hit the drive multiple times before, hiking offers a different perspective. Plus, with your slower pace, you’ll pick up on smaller details you hadn’t even noticed before. Picture vast beaches punctuated with craggy clifftops, wildlife-abundant national parks and golden sunsets that glow over sea-mist-coated beaches. Tackle the whole walk and camp along the way, or choose your favourite section for a gentler day hike. 

2. Heysen Trail, SA

• Distance: 1,200km (745 miles)

If you’re after the whole South Australian experience, the Heysen Trail – Australia’s longest walking trail – serves the best of the state up on a silver platter. While you can opt to walk a section for half a day or a day, the full 60-day track will see you through charming roo-roaming wine regions, wild beaches and historic towns, and culminates in the mind-blowing Flinders Ranges – a highlight of the outback.

3. Fraser Island Great Walk, QLD 

• Distance: 90km (55 miles)

A getaway to the UNESCO-listed Fraser Island (K’gari) is always a good idea – especially for those who enjoy time outdoors. The combination of driving across wide-open beaches and through towering forests imbues a sense of freedom that we long for in our day-to-day lives. Yep, 4WDing on Fraser Island is epic, but you know what’s just as good, if not better? Walking across it on the Fraser Island Great Walk. It’s no small feat, traversing the world’s largest sand island, but when the reward comes in the form of breathtaking blue lakes, otherworldly sand dunes and a new level of adventure you haven’t experienced before, it’s well worth it.

4. Border Track, QLD

• Distance: 21km (13 miles)

Step foot in the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest – the most extensive area of sub-tropical rainforest in the world – to discover Jurassic flora, fauna and wildlife. Lamington National Park’s Border Track offers spectacular scenery across 21 kilometres. Get ready for waterfalls, jaw-dropping lookout spots, mountain peaks and tranquil streams. This walk will open your eyes to nature in a whole new way.

5. Overland Track, TAS

• Distance: 65km (40 miles)

Walking through Tasmania’s rugged wilderness is a sure way to feel grounded in nature. What do we love about the Overland Track? This iconic multi-day hike offers yet another unique landscape to traverse, this time through snow-dusted mountains. Starting at Cradle Mountain (Tasmania’s highest point) and finishing at the rainforest-lined Lake St Clair, this alpine track should be on any experienced hiker’s bucket list.