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Maybe due to the rise of gorpcore, maybe due to the wild state of the world – whatever the reason, it’s undeniable that hiking is on the up and up in Sydney and NSW. If you’re keen to get amongst it but not sure where to begin, we’re here to help. A few years ago, the good people at NSW National Parks and Wildlife set about on a project called NSW Great Walks: a series of epic trails designed to make hiking more accessible. If you’re a fan of Time Out Sydney’s hiking content (we see the clicks – there are a lot of you out there), you’ll have seen the Great Walks mentioned in a lot of our stories over the past few years, so we thought it was about time we deep dive into what that title is actually referring to.
What are the NSW Great Walks?
Think of them as NSW’s answer to the world’s most iconic long-distance hikes – a curated collection of seven multi-day trails stitched through the state’s most impressive pockets of wilderness. Rolled out by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Great Walks span around 275 kilometres of track, with routes graded from easy-going to properly lung-burning. You’ll find everything from cruisy coastal rambles to remote alpine treks – all designed to be tackled over a few days, with options for camping, cabins or nearby village stays.
Where are the NSW Great Walks?
They’re scattered across regional NSW like a greatest-hits album of scenery. You’ve got the Tweed Byron Hinterland for rainforest magic, the Sapphire Coast and South Coast for salty sea breezes, the Snowy Mountains for high-altitude drama, plus inland escapes across the Northern Tablelands and beyond. Closer to Sydney, you’ll find gems in the Blue Mountains and Port Stephens.
The existing NSW Great Walks are:
Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk, Tweed Byron Hinterland
Light to Light Walk, Sapphire Coast
Snowies Alpine Walk, Snowy Mountains
Grand Cliff Top Walk, Blue Mountains
Tomaree Coastal Walk, Port Stephens
Murramarang South Coast Walk, South Coast
Green Gully Track, Northern Tablelands
Which is the closest of the NSW Great Walks to Sydney?
That would be the Grand Cliff Top Walk. Just a couple of hours from the city (and train-accessible), it’s the ultimate low-effort, high-reward escape – serving up escarpment views, magical waterfall moments and adorable village pit stops (our tip: make it a weekend with an overnight stay in Blackheath).
What is the easiest of the NSW Great Walks?
If you’re dipping a toe into multi-day hiking, the Grand Cliff Top Walk and Tomaree Coastal Walk are your best bets. Both sit in that sweet spot of “easy to moderate”, clock in under 30 kilometres, and let you sleep (and eat) in nearby towns – meaning no heavy packs or expert survivalist tendencies required.
Why were the NSW Great Walks created?
In short: to make NSW’s wild places more accessible without dumbing them down. The initiative by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is all about opening up world-class, multi-day walking experiences to a broader range of people – from first-timers to seasoned hikers. It’s equal parts tourism play and nature flex, showcasing everything from ancient rainforest to rugged coastline, while giving you the tools (and trails) to actually experience it. There are more in the works for the next few years – you can check out the full list over here.
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