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Australia is a walking wonderland! If you trekked 20 kilometres every day for roughly 3.5 years, you could technically circumnavigate our entire coastline. But to truly explore every nook and cranny – from blazing outback deserts and tropical rainforests to alpine peaks and secluded beaches – you’d need a lifetime (and then some).
One of the best parts of travelling around Australia is that there’s always a new hike to do – and 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for boot-scooting adventures. From a landmark five-day walk in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park to a jaw-dropping three-day trek in the Whitsundays, we’ve rounded up all the best new and reopened hikes to explore on foot this year.
Uluṟu–Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk, NT (NEW)
Launching this April, the five-day Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Signature Walk will be the first experience to let guests stay overnight inside the World Heritage-listed national park. Hikers will adventure across 54 kilometres of desert trails, native mulga woodlands and cresting red dunes until they reach the final destination: Uluṟu. Bookings are already open with the award-winning Tasmanian Walking Company, which developed the trek in close collaboration with the Anangu Traditional Owners.
Ngaro Track, QLD (NEW)
In May, The Whitsundays will welcome its first guests on the brand-new Ngaro Track – a 32-kilometre, three-day route that starts at the world-famous Whitehaven Beach and ends at one of the region’s most stunning lookouts, Hill Inlet. Named in honour of the Ngaro People, the Traditional Owners of the land and sea, the Ngaro Track takes hikers on a journey from rainforest to reef. The trail is limited to just 15 hikers at a time, and can be tackled on a guided tour with World Expeditions or self-guided, with overnight stays at two brand-new eco-campsites.
Thorsborne Trail, QLD (NEW)
Step off the beaten path and be one of only 7,000 annual visitors to discover Hinchinbrook Island, the largest island on the Great Barrier Reef. Its 32-kilometre Thorsborne Trail is one of Australia’s most revered remote hikes, capped at 40 walkers at a time. In May 2026, World Expeditions is launching an all-new guided walking experience, developed in close collaboration with the Bandjin people, Traditional Owners of Munamudanamy, and the Girramay People, Traditional Owners of Cardwell. Expect tropical vistas, soaring mountains and a chance to swim at some of Australia’s most beautiful waterholes.
Tidbinbilla Mindjagari Track, ACT (NEW)
Warning: it’s hard, but it’s worth it. The Mindjagari Track is one of the most challenging hikes in the ACT, with steep slopes of up to 30 degrees. Reopened in October 2025, the new 14-kilometre network combines a few existing trails at Fishing Gap and Johns Peak, providing walkers with track options from nine kilometres to the full 27-kilometre loop. At the top of the ridge, you’ll be rewarded with some of Canberra’s most breathtaking panoramic views.
Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk, NSW (NEW)
NSW recently unveiled its sixth Great Walk in just two years – the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk, a stunning 42-kilometre, four-day trail through the Tweed hinterland. The trail’s name was chosen by the Widjabul Wia-bal Native Title Holders and Minjungbal Bundjalung people to honour the ‘Old People’s Track’ walked by Widjabul Wia-bal and Minjungbal peoples for thousands of years. The track leads hikers past lush rainforests, stunning volcanic landscapes and some of the state’s most magnificent waterfalls.
Leeuwin Biddi Trail, WA (NEW)
The West Coast welcomed an epic new accessible trail in December 2025, designed for walkers, joggers, riders, prams and wheelchairs. Augusta’s latest section of the Leeuwin Biddi coastal track stretches 3.1 kilometres from Dead Finish to Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, treating walkers to incredible scenic coastal views along the way.
Twin Bridges Trail, QLD (REOPENED)
After five long years and a $400,000 restoration, Far North Queensland’s beloved Twin Bridges Track officially reopened in December 2025. This 18-kilometre journey, linking Wangetti and Mowbray, was closed in 2020 after bridge deterioration and cyclone damage. Its reopening marks a major milestone for the region’s planned Wangetti Trail that will stretch 94 kilometres from Palm Cove to Port Douglas (expected 2028).
Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail, VIC (REOPENED)
The Noojee Trestle Bridge – Victoria’s oldest surviving wooden trestle bridge – proves that sometimes a human-made structure can make a natural vista even more spectacular. After closing for safety repairs, the 102-metre bridge reopened in August 2025, allowing walkers to once again complete the full three-kilometre Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail from the charming Noojee township.
Adelaide100 Loop, SA (PART COMPLETE)
This legendary loop around Adelaide has been more than a decade in the making. This historic circuit largely traces the perimeter of the ‘Hundred of Adelaide’, a 19th-century land division system based on plots of roughly 100 square miles. Three sections of the loop are now fully open, taking walkers from Norton Summit to Glenthrorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta, via the River Torrens, the city and the coast. Two other sections are partially open, with the full Adelaide100 Loop expected to be completed soon (hopefully).