The 8 best hikes to do in Australia in 2024

Nationally lauded for its incredible coastal views, stunning nature and wildly dramatic scenery, the Three Capes trek along the coast of the Southern Ocean in Tasmania is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip that people with moderate to high fitness levels can conquer. You can do bits of the hike as day walks, but if you want to complete the full, overnight hog and sleep in eco-cabins along the way, you'll have to book through the official Three Capes Track website. 

Where: Tasman Peninsula in southwest Tasmania.

Distance: 48km. 

Duration: 4 days and 3 nights.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Good for: Those new to overnight hiking who want to do it style, and those who enjoy sweeping coastal views, rugged vistas and Aussie wildlife encounters. 

Wild, sea-swept and magnificent, this walk is arguably one of the most beautiful things to do in Victoria. Part of the Great Ocean Walk, a 104km trail that winds along its famous road counterpart, the Twelve Apostles is the final stretch – and possibly the prettiest. Walk through cool climate rainforest and along remote beaches, and end at the astounding natural wonders of the Twelve Apostles. You can choose to do the Signature Twelve Apostles trek with a guided group from September to May, or on your own – but you should be making that decision based off your fitness and hiking experience first. 

Where: The Great Ocean Road, Victoria.

Distance: 49km.

Duration: 4 days and 3 nights.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Good for: Amateur to experienced hikers, echindna fans, and lovers of wild coastal environments and big, empty spaces.

This one's not for the faint-hearted. Winding through the red desert rocks and valleys in the heart of the Northern Territory, the Larapinta is achingly beautiful – but also achingly challenging. People are drawn to this multi-day trek in Central Australia for its incredible colours, its sacred beauty, and its ancient landscape and Indigenous history that has to be seen to be believed. You can choose to walk the whole thing, or dip in for segments – whether that be for one day or several nights.

Where: Northern Territory's West Macdonnell Ranges, near Alice Springs.

Distance: 231km.

Duration: From 1-14 days. 

Difficulty: Moderate to highly challenging. 

Good for: Adventurers, outback enthusiasts, and those who like a challenge, red rocks and huge, open skies. 

Love walking, discovering secret beaches and got a free day in Sydney? Hit up the Spit to Manly walk on the city's gorgeous Northern Beaches. A moderate day walk that you can choose to do as much (or as little) of as you'd like, this hike winds through green coastal rainforests, past ancient Indigenous rock carvings and onto four secret beaches – so make sure you pack your swimmers. Plus, you can reward yourself with some seriously delicious food along the way. 

Where: Sydney Harbour National Park, Sydney, NSW. 

Distance: 10km.

Duration: 3-4 hours. 

Difficulty: Easy to moderate. 

Good for: Kids, city locals, new tourists and people looking for an easy but beautiful bushwalk near a major city. 

K'gari is a very special place. The world's largest sand island, this astoundingly beautiful place off the Queensland coast is full of all kinds of magic. The K'gari Great Walk is a spectacular multi-day hike that you can choose to tackle in sections if overnight hiking ain't your thing. Walk along sugar white sand beaches, swim in the crystal clear lake (but not the sea, it's not the safest), and explore the green serenity of the island. Watch out for dingoes, and if you're doing it alone, make sure you're prepared.

Where: K'gari (Fraser Island), Queensland. 

Distance: 90km. 

Duration: From a half-day hike to 6-8 day treks. 

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Good for: Kids, families, clear water fans, and everyone who has ever dreamed of exploring a desert island. 

Kings Canyon is one of the most special places on Earth, and when you're walking around the shockingly crimson rim of this spellbinding desert oasis, you'll agree. Sheer and immense rock faces that are coloured a deep red surround you in this ancient moonscape-like place. You'll walk past plants that have seen dinosaurs, gaze at the huge, rainbow stretches of the desert, and see the Garden of Eden, a secret, sacred waterhole and self-sustaining fertile ecosystem in the heart of the desert. 

Where: Watarrka National Park, Northern Territory.

Distance: 6km loop.

Duration: 3-4 hours. 

Difficulty: Easy to moderate (the hardest bit is the initial steep staircase to get to the top).

Good for: Kids, most fitness levels and those who want to feel like they're in a mini Grand Canyon, with a sacred and secret desert oasis attached.

For new and old hikers alike, the Cape to Cape is a spectacular walking odyssey that is bound to (at some point) take your breath away. You can choose to do this walk in small segments in a day-walk kinda way (there are a number of shorter, accessible paved walking tracks available), or you can go for the full week-long walking challenge. You can do this self-guided, or with a guided company, like Walk Into Luxury. You'll hike in tune with nature on this intimate and stunning walk on the rugged Western Australian coastline. Expect wild cliffs, remote beaches and sheltered woodlands, all in one. 

Where: Margaret River, WA. 

Distance: 123km. 

Duration: 1-7 days, depending on how you choose to do it.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Good for: Spectacular coastal views, people who like quiet and exploring remote beaches, and hikers of all abilities. 

Don't like huge treks or carrying all your earthly possessions on your back for days at a time? Fair enough. If this is you, check out the short and sweet Crystal Showers Walk in the fertile, emerald rainforest of northern NSW. Lush in every sense of the word, this day walk takes you through towering green trees, ancient ferns and past thousands of colourful rainforest birds. Stand behind the waterfall, and then have the choice of making your walk longer or shorter, with Dorrigo having hundreds of gorgeous day hikes on offer. With a paved boardwalk and suspension bridge in the tree canopy, you'll feel like you're a fairy from Fern Gully. 

Where: Dorrigo National Park, Dorrigo Mountain NSW.

Distance: 4.4km return. 

Duration: 1.5-2 hours. 

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Good for: Kids, families, and people looking for a short but stunning walk through rainforest terrain.