Getting Around: Cross Country Walking
Because of the nature of cross country walking, it would be foolish and foolhardy of us to try and give full instructions on the many walking and hiking paths built specifically for cross country travel on foot around Australia.
Local knowledge or that learned by hiking club members who have done these walks before is essential for your safe passage through some of the isolated wilderness areas they traverse, so the information we have given here is just to let you know about these localities and the walks others have made through them.
Bushwalking Information: State By State
NSW | Vic | Tas | SA | WA | NT | Qld | ACT
Top Cross Country Walks
Heysen Trail: SA
Hike all the way from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula to the mountain town of Parachilna on the 1,200 kilometre Heysen Trail. Or mix and match day and multi-day walks, choosing from dramatic coastlines, farmland and forests, picture-book towns, vine-lined valleys and rugged mountain ranges. Like a quality box of chocolates, this trail offers the best of South Australia���s wildly assorted scenic beauty. Walk next to waterfalls in Deep Creek Conservation Park and visit the historic German village of Hahndorf. Head into the Flinders Ranges, where fossils date back millennia and Aboriginal rock art is as old as the Dreaming.�� Walk over Mt. Remarkable and to the rim of the ancient, awe-inspiring crater of Wilpena Pound.
Larapinta Trail: NT
The grand-daddy of Northern Territory walks, this epic walk is a trek along the backbone of the West Macdonnell Ranges to attractions such as Thompsons Gap, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Ormiston Gorge and Glen Helen Gorge. Made up of a chain of day walks, the trail stretches more than 223km from the old Alice Springs Telegraph Station to Mount Sonder and Mount Razorback. The walk takes in ancient escarpments and vast ochre-coloured landscapes, sheltered gorges, cool waterholes to swim in. It visits sites sacred to the Arrernte Aboriginal people. Outback camping is one of the trail���s highlights, along with the diversity of desert habitats, native birds, animals and nearly 600 species of rare flora. Tailor your walk along 12 sections, which range from effortless to arduous and have four wheel drive access. Or give yourself three weeks and a challenge yourself on the end-to-end trek.
The Overland Track: Tas
Travel through the heart of Tasmania���s World Heritage-listed wilderness on this famous 65-kilometre trek from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. Walk the entire Overland Track in six days or do short and day walks from the Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre and Dove Lake. Remember the end-to-end walk requires planning. You���ll need to book in advance with Tasmania���s Parks & Wildlife Service and take with you a good tent and warm sleeping bag. While the route has eight basic stove-heated huts, there���s no guarantee of space. The best time to walk the track is between November and April, when the weather is milder and days are longer for Daylight Saving. During April, you can see the spectacular changing colours of the deciduous beech. As well as a physical challenge, this walk is a true communion with nature. You���ll see lakes, forests and gorges, mountains and moors, spectacular waterfalls and steep, stony peaks.
Wilsons Promontory: Vic
Walking is the best way to explore the natural sanctuary of Wilsons Promontory. Known as ���The Prom��� to locals, it embraces 50,000 hectares of coastal wilderness on mainland Australia���s southernmost tip. The many well-marked trails traverse empty beaches and eucalypt forest, heath and swamp, cool rainforest gullies and rocky mountain tops. Opt for short and scenic trails, like the Loo-Errn Track, ideal for families and the mobility-impaired. Do a day trek to the lighthouse or spend three days on the Wilsons Promontory Circuit Trail, which starts from the main tourist hub of Tidal River. Scale Mount Oberon or hike out to remote and beautiful Millers Landing. Stay at campsites throughout the park and get up close to the park���s incredible array of native plants, birds and animals. You can also dive and snorkel with magical marine life in the clear, protected waters offshore. Multi-day walks.
Australian Alps Walking Track: ACT, NSW/Vic
Cross three states, four national parks and some of Australia���s highest peaks on this tough long-distance walk. The trail follows the crest of the Australian Alps for 65km, from Walhalla in Victoria to Tharwa just south of Canberra. Wind up and down the Baw Baw Plateau, Mt. Hewitt, the Bogong High Plains and the Cobberras in Victoria. Traverse the rugged mountains of Kosciusko National Park in New South Wales and the rocky wilderness of Namadgi National Park near Canberra. Pitch your tent in the wilderness, stay in camping grounds, historic huts or alpine resorts close to the track. Do day treks or combine shorter, more manageable sections of the trail.�� The end-to-end walk takes about 50 to 60 days and is strictly for the intrepid traveller. 650km/up to 50 days/day and multi-day walks.
The Bibbulmun Track: WA
Discover towering forests, tranquil farmland and wild beaches on this award-winning walk through Western Australia���s south-west. The gold snake signs that mark the trail stretch almost 1,000 kilometres, from the Perth hills to Albany on the south coast. Scale Mt. Cooke in the Darling Range and lose yourself in the lush forest fringing the Darling River. Visit vineyards in the Blackwood Valley, walk next to waterfalls and wildflowers in Beedelup National Park and clamber over granite boulders on the Pingerup Plains. Walk through sky-scraping karri trees in the Valley of the Giants, swim from Peaceful Bay and watch migrating whales from Albany. Do the walk in sections, or mix and match day and multi-day treks according to your time, the scenery you want to see, and your energy.�� Keep in mind it would take around two months to follow the snake markers all the way! The track is well-equipped, with hikers' huts or camping sites situated a day's walk apart. 965 km/up to 60 days/day and multi day walks.
Gold Coast Hinterland Great walk: Qld
Walk through lush Gondwanan rainforest and along the rim of an ancient, eroded volcano on this spectacular series of day walks. The trail traverses a landscape as old as the dinosaurs, linking World Heritage-listed Lamington and Springbrook plateaux with Egg Rock and Turtle Rock in the scenic Numinbah Valley. See the Tweed Volcano which erupted around 25 million years ago and the powerful, crystal-clear streams and waterfalls that continue to erode it today. Explore Woonoongoora, known to the local Yugambeh people as ���Queen of the Mountains���. Learn their ancient ancestral legends of how the rivers and valleys were formed.�� Camp in the rainforest at Green Mountains, Woonoongoora and The Settlement or in the private camping area at Binna Burra. The best time to walk this track is between March and October, when temperatures are milder. 54km/4 days/day walks.
Six Foot Track: NSW
Take in breathtaking Blue Mountains scenery and 200 years of history on this original 1884 horse track from Katoomba to Jenolan Caves.�� Suitable for walkers of average fitness, the 45km route can be broken into day walks or conquered comfortably in three days.�� True athletes can sign up for the tough and iconic Six Foot Marathon, but walking is the best way to absorb the scenery. Wind through fragrant bushland, past cliffs, caves and waterfalls. Spot kangaroos, wallaroos, echidnas, wombats, butterflies and many of the 150 bird species that live along the track. Camp along the way at three campgrounds, two with basic facilities, or pitch your tent in the tranquil bushland. The best time to walk is during spring and autumn, when you can avoid the summer heat and cold winter nights. 45km /3 days / short walks.
South Coast Walking Track: Tas
The South Coast walking track passes through the Southwest National Park in Tasmania. The Park is an unforgettable, enormous area of World Heritage wilderness that is remote, ancient, and epic in its proportions. The Roaring Forties lash the park for much of the year, adding to the drama. This walk is recognised as one of the world's great wilderness walks and its reputation is justified. The track takes walkers through the heart of over 600,000 hectares of wild, untouched and challenging country into which, unlike the famous Overland Track, there are no roads. Most people take approximately 6 - 8 days to complete the South Coast Track.
The Walls of Jerusalem: Tas
This mountainous area is part of the extensive central plateau of Tasmania. The plateau is covered with thousands of lakes which are depressions that were gouged out by an ice cap during recent glaciation.�� The Walls are a series of higher craggy hills on the western side of the plateau and are a significant feature of the area. Initially the higher peaks seem to be the feature but once in the Walls you quickly realise the major features are the 'u' shaped glacial valleys and the pretty lakes. A good track is provided from the closest road and the main valley of the Walls around Lake Salome can be visited as a day walk. Most prefer to explore further and two day walks with an overnight campsite is the most popular trip. Camping platforms have been provided in the entrance to the Walls below Herods Gate. This is also a good area for experienced walkers as there are multiple multi-day approaches across the Central Plateau to the Walls.
The Great Ocean walk: Vic
The Great Ocean Walk, on Victoria���s spectacular west coast, stretches 100 kms from the idyllic resort town of Apollo Bay to Glenample, 1.5km before the 12 Apostles visitor area (the homestead is unfortunately currently closed). The walk passes through the beautiful National Parks and overlooks the Marine National Park and Sanctuary. The Great Ocean Walk has been designed so that walkers can ���step on and step off��� the trail at a number of places, completing short, day or overnight hikes.
The Great South West Walk: Vic
This is an extended 250 km circular track in the south-west of Victoria, between Portland and Nelson, that provides some very pleasant walking. The 14 day walk passes through a region of undulating terrain close to the coast and has very few hills to climb. The track passes through three distinctly different terrain styles. The first section is through woodland, the second follows a river gorge for several days then the final half is along the southern coastline which ranges from long sandy beaches to rugged headlands. With its many access points, the walk is also suited to shorter trips and can be walked by anyone with sufficient fitness. There are four days of beach walking in soft sand which can fairly tough but as this is encountered in the second week, you should be fit enough by then to handle it with few problems.
Wet Tropics Great Walk: Qld
The Juwun (Wet Tropics) Walk starts at Blencoe Falls in Girringun National Park, a spectacular three-tiered waterfall, which cascades 300 metres down into the Herbert River Gorge below. The walk follows the Herbert River downstream to Yamanie, with no designated walking track in the gorge. Be aware that beyond Blanket Creek, no designated bush camping sites have been identified. As you walk, look for emus and kangaroos resting from the heat and listen for laughing kookaburras or screeching sulphur-crested cockatoos. On the track to Big W, keep a lookout for bird life such as shags, cormorants and sea eagles that reside in the gorge. The walk, which covers 51km, has a difficulty rating of hard. Recommended duration time is 4 to 6 days.
Mackay Highlands Great Walk: Qld
Stunning scenery including dense rainforest, deep gorges, steep escarpments and tranquil farming communities make the Mackay Highlands Great Walk a very special experience. The track traverses Eungella National Park, Crediton State Forest, and Homevale Resources Reserve and National Park. Eungella National Park is a nature lover's paradise as it is located close to the boundary between subtropical and tropical rainforest, the area supports species from both vegetation types. The track is 50kms in length and graded moderate in terms of difficulty. Allow 4 to 6 days to cover the fill walk, or do sections.
The Kidman Trail: SA
The Kidman Trail is a multi use horse riding, cycling and walking trail that traverses 225 kilometres of roadsides, quiet farm routes, forest tracks and unmade road reserves. The trail passes through the Fleurieu Peninsula, Adelaide Hills, Murraylands, Barossa and Clare Valley tourism regions. The trail is proudly named after Sir Sidney Kidman, a prominent local pastoralist and horse breeder. Kidman was a pioneer of his time with unparalleled forethought in business and interminable community spirit. The Kidman Trail highlights the natural beauty, cultural history and major points of interest along the Mount Lofty Ranges. It utilises existing tracks and trails through Forest Reserves and other accessible public land, quiet roads and unmade road reserves with trail markers indicating the route.
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