Discover Australia’s best walks

Australia is home to some of the best scenic drives in the world, but sometimes it’s when you step out of the car that the real excitement begins.

Across the country, walking tracks head onto mountains, along coasts and even through desert areas that vehicles simply can’t reach. But with thousands of walking choices out there, which tracks are the best? Walk this way…

OVERLAND TRACK, TASMANIA
From Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair
How far: 65 kilometres
Why: Tasmania’s craggy mountains are the most spectacular in Australia, and the country’s most famous bushwalk journeys past the highest of them. Beyond the Lego-like summits of the World Heritage area, there are also alpine moors, waterfalls, primeval rainforest and Australia’s deepest lake. Little wonder it’s become so popular that a booking system operates between November and April.
More Info: www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7771

LARAPINTA TRAIL, NORTHERN TERRITORY
From Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Mt Sonder
How far: 223 kilometres
Why: Experience the desert without deprivation, walking through a red land beneath invariably blue skies. This trail, which takes about two weeks to complete, traverses the length of the West MacDonnell Ranges, climbing to knife-edged ridges and dipping into ice-cold gorges. Camp sites, with water sources, are liberally dotted along its path and it’s a chance to see some of the Red Centre’s star natural assets – Standley Chasm, Glen Helen Gorge, Simpsons Gap – at slow pace.
More Info: www.nt.gov.au/nreta/parks/walks/larapinta

THORSBORNE TRAIL, QUEENSLAND
From Ramsay Bay to George Point, Hinchinbrook Island
How far: 32 kilometres
Why: For tropical delights with minimal effort, this walk along the east coast of Hinchinbrook Island (Australia’s largest island national park) may well be the most civilised in the country. Despite its short distance, most walkers stretch the trail out across four days, lapping up the Robinson Crusoe beaches, the waterfalls and the viewpoints. The island took a smashing from Cyclone Yasi, so the trail is currently closed until at least June 30, but it’s