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One of the best parts about exploring Australia is that you’ll never run out of incredible walks. With one of the world’s longest coastlines and more than 500 national parks, our Great Southern Land is packed with places to venture off the beaten track and take in its natural beauty. If you really want to see it all, the ultimate way to do so is on a multi-day hike – and thanks to AllTrails, we’ve got a list of the ten most popular treks right here in Australia.
Unlike the most navigated overnight hikes, these ten epic multi-day walks range from three to 15 nights, and can be tackled solo or with a guide. We reckon strength in numbers is the way to go when venturing into the Aussie bush, and you’ll have a whole lotta fun camping under the stars with your mates, sharing freeze-dried stroganoff and saying “wow” at least every 50 steps.
1. Overland Track, TAS
If your legs and glutes are crying out for a challenge, appease them by tackling the Overland Track in Tasmania. From the famous Cradle Mountain to serene Lake St Clair, this trek will take you through valleys, meadows, up mountains, and past hidden glacial lakes and waterfalls. Permits and bookings are required from October to May, and hikers must carry their own food, gear and supplies.
Distance: 78.5km
Duration: 5-6 nights
Difficulty: Hard
2. Thorsborne Trail, QLD
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. The one-way Thorsborne Trail – capped at 40 visitors at a time and booking out months in advance – takes you through cloud-covered mountains, thick rainforest and white sandy beaches, letting you soak it all up in peace and quiet.
Distance: 30.3km
Duration: 3-4 nights
Difficulty: Hard
3. Great Ocean Walk, VIC
Named by Time Out as one of the 20 best hikes in the world, this coastal walk is every bit as fabulous as its famous road trip counterpart. Starting in Apollo Bay, the trail winds past some of Victoria’s most iconic sights, including the lush rainforests of Great Otway National Park and the rugged cliffs of Port Campbell, before finishing at the iconic Twelve Apostles.
Distance: 97km
Duration: 6-8 nights
Difficulty: Hard
4. Cape to Cape Track, WA
Spanning more than 120 kilometres from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin, this spectacular walking odyssey showcases one of the most beautiful stretches of Western Australia’s rugged coastline. Expect wild cliffs, remote beaches and sheltered woodlands, with nights spent at marked campsites or the option to tackle it on a guided hike if you’d rather leave the logistics to the pros.
Distance: 126.5km
Duration: 5-7 nights
Difficulty: Hard
5. Larapinta Trail, NT
Often hailed as Australia's premier long-distance trek, the Larapinta Trail is a strenuous but rewarding pilgrimage through the ancient, rugged heart of the Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges. People are drawn to this challenging multi-day trek for its incredible colours, sacred beauty, ancient landscape and Indigenous history that has to be seen to be believed. Self-guided hikers must carry a three-day emergency water supply and an emergency communication device. That said, we reckon this one’s best tackled on a guided trek with The Great Walks of Australia.
Distance: 222.2km
Duration: 3-15 nights
Difficulty: Strenuous
6. Jatbula Trail, NT
From start (Nitmiluk Gorge) to finish (Leliyn/Edith Falls), this hike in Nitmiluk National Park has it all: cascading waterfalls, sandstone escarpments and monsoon forests. The trail is limited to just 15 people per day during the walking season from June to September, and it’s recommended to book and pay for campsites in advance.
Distance: 61.6km
Duration: 5-6 nights
Difficulty: Hard
7. Bibbulmun Track: Pemberton to Northcliffe, WA
Western Australia’s Bibbulmun Track is widely regarded as one of the world's great long-distance walks, stretching a mighty 1,000 kilometres from Kalamunda on the outskirts of Perth to the coastal town of Albany down south. The trail is divided into nine official sections, with 49 campsites dotted along the way. The sixth section from Pemberton to Northcliffe is ideal for those after a shorter but equally spectacular experience, winding through karri forests, sand dunes, swimming holes and the famous Gloucester Tree.
Distance: 54.6km
Duration: 2 nights
Difficulty: Hard
8. K’gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk, QLD
Explore the world’s largest sand island, K’gari, on this spectacular one-way, multi-day hike. You’ll walk along sugar-white sand beaches, swim in crystal-clear perched lakes and explore the green serenity of hidden forests. Watch out for dingos, and if you're doing it solo, make sure to arrange permits and campsites in advance through Parks QLD.
Distance: 75km
Duration: 5-7 nights
Difficulty: Hard
9. Kanangra to Katoomba (K2K), NSW
The Blue Mountains are brimming with beautiful day walks, but the K2K is a fantastic overnight expedition for hikers keen to level up. This rugged, off-track route takes you across around ten rocky peaks – including Mount Cloudmaker and Blackhorse Mountain – before rolling into Katoomba, where a well-earned celebratory bevvie awaits.
Distance: 45.1km
Duration: 2-3 nights
Difficulty: Hard
10. South Coast Track, TAS
This legendary trek through Southwest National Park is one of Tasmania’s most challenging and remote trails, accessible only via a mandatory flight to Melaleuca. The terrain is brutally difficult and the weather wildly unpredictable, so it’s strictly suited to highly experienced hikers. Due to the isolation, walkers must be fully self-sufficient, carry a Personal Locator Beacon and emergency gear, and have advanced knowledge of tides and navigation.
Distance: 85km
Duration: 5-7 nights
Difficulty: Strenuous