Australia is always a walkers paradise, but where to trek is highly seasonal. In the warmer months, hiking is difficult in all but the coldest places or those at highest altitude. Then, as a chill sets in over the southern states from June through to August, the tropical north becomes far more accessible in the milder, drier weather.
In between, you can time a hiking holiday with bird migrations, wildflower blooms or even passing whales.
January
Cradle Mountain national park, Tasmania
Traversing the alpine wilderness at the heart of Tasmania, the Overland Track deserves its place as one of Australia’s best known, multi-day walks. But you don’t need to tackle the entire week-long trail – which can be done with a group tour, or self-guided – to enjoy the wild mountain scenery.
A network of day walks catering to every fitness level leads to peaty button grass moors, dense forests of ancient trees bearded with glistening moss, and deep glacial lakes overlooked by jagged peaks where snowstorms are a possibility, even at the height of summer.
February
Kosciuszko nbational park in the Thredbo-Perisher area, NSW
The 10 highest peaks on the Australian mainland are clustered around these two ski resorts and in summer it’s possible to summit all of them on a four-day walk. Shorter options range from a 400-metre boardwalk offering expansive views over the rooftop of Australia, to all-day walks through meadows filled with summer flowers and crossed by burbling mountain streams.
March
Covering almost half of the Australian Capital Territory, this wilderness area provides vital habitat for rock wallabies, pygmy possums, dingoes and lyrebirds. Some of these species are represented in the Ngunnawal rock art found throughout the park, where more than half of the walking tracks are once again open after being badly affected by last year’s bushfires.
Alpine national park, Victoria
Fans of The Man From Snowy River may recognise some landmarks in Victoria’s largest national park but that’s no prerequisite for enjoying the region, where every peak seems to yield views of pleated, tree-covered ridges stretching towards the horizon. Sunset only enhances the beauty, making overnight hikes like the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing particularly enjoyable.
April
Blue Mountains national park, NSW
Cooler days, less rain and splashes of crimson foliage around many of the towns make autumn the perfect time to visit the Blue Mountains. In the national park, the dizzying variety of tracks includes a wheelchair-accessible trail to the region’s most famous rock formations, as well as strenuous hikes to the valley floor.
Green Gully Track, NSW
A series of refurbished cattlemen’s huts means hikers don’t need to carry tents on this 65km trail, past fern-filled gorges, tumbling waterfalls and heritage-listed Gondwana rainforest in NSW’s northern tablelands. Several steep climbs and a section that follows a flowing creek mean it’s well suited to the cooler days and lower water levels of early autumn.
May
Grampians (Gariwerd) national park, Victoria
When it launches this April, the 160km Grampians Peaks Trail will traverse the length of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. In addition to rugged mountain scenery, the trail will focus on the long connection to country of Jardwadjali and Djab Wurrung traditional owners, who recognise Gwangal Moronn (the season of honeybees) as a time of red sunrises, flocking birds and easing heat.
Mount Remarkable national park, SA
Only reptiles and flies enjoy summer in the southern Flinders Ranges but the first rains herald cooler days and the start of the walking season. Trails from 15 minutes to seven hours explore creek beds lined with red gums that shelter a plethora of native wildlife near Mambray Creek, while Alligator Gorge’s near vertical orange walls shelter a peaceful, hidden world.
June
Uluru-Kata Tjuta national park, NT
The absence of international tourists means this is an excellent year to visit Uluru, and the 10.3km base walk offers many insights into the region’s natural history as well as the culture of the Anangu traditional owners. Follow it up with the stunningly peaceful Valley of the Winds track that winds through Kata Tjuta, and remember to start early and carry plenty of water even in winter.
Thorsborne Trail, Queensland
Located off the coast between Townsville and Cairns, Hinchinbrook Island’s steeply rising peaks overlook dense rainforest, winding mangrove estuaries and white sand beaches. Even better are the natural infinity pools above Zoe Falls, a fitting reward for the potentially ankle-breaking rocks and roots that make this 32km trail more challenging than it sounds.
July
Larapinta Trail, NT
Sheer walls of vivid red rock, spindly ghost gums and ultramarine skies punctuate this 231km trail that stretches along the spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges from (or to) Alice Springs. Warm winter days mean the swimming holes along the way are refreshing, but the nights still get chilly and the trail’s length makes it a serious undertaking for experienced hikers only. Several operators offer shorter supported walks.
August
Jatbula Trail, NT
When the winter blues become overwhelming, few destinations have the appeal of a tropical waterhole. This 58km track links six such oases in the Nitmiluk national park just outside Katherine, ranging from burbling cascades to lily-filled billabongs. Rich rock art sites in between confirm the trail’s ongoing importance to Jawoyn traditional owners while short days and a flat trail make it an ideal hike for beginners.
Mild temperatures and blooming wildflowers make spring an excellent time to visit this park on Western Australia’s Coral Coast, where the spectacular new Skywalk juts out 25 metres over the Murchison River Gorge. Walks from a few minutes to a few hours lead past deep-red sandstone cliffs, a spectacular natural “window” and beautiful ocean and river swimming spots.
September
Lamington national park, Queensland
At almost 1,000 metres above sea level and significantly cooler than the nearby Gold Coast, this park is beautiful in the relatively warm, dry months of spring. Waterfalls abound in both the Green Mountains and Binna Burra sections, which are connected by the 21.4km Border Track, while shorter walks also access areas of dense rainforest, hidden swimming holes and majestic clifftop views.
Cape to Cape, WA
Western Australia’s Margaret River region is famous for wine, but two other “Ws” make spring the perfect time to tackle this 123km coastal track. Whales and wildflowers both appear in abundance on the Cape to Cape as it traverses a varied landscape of coastal heath, squeaky, white beaches and karri forest between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.
October
Stirling Range national park, WA
Home to southern Western Australia’s only major mountains, the Stirling Range towers high enough over the surrounding plains to get regular dustings of snow in winter. Day walks of 1.3km to 3.5km lead to six of the most prominent peaks, which offer panoramic views of the landscape where 123 types of orchid bloom each spring.
Great North Walk, NSW
City streets bookend large swathes of eucalypt forest on this 250km walk connecting Sydney and Newcastle, which can be tackled in one go or as a series of day hikes. The proximity to urban centres means that with a little planning it’s possible to stay in B&Bs every night, but it’s still worth tackling before the height of summer.
November
Wilsons Promontory national park, Victoria
The fern-filled forests and turquoise bays of mainland Australia’s southernmost point shelter many curious critters, but visit before school holidays and you’ll avoid the human crowds. Shorter tracks and boardwalks are suitable for those with limited mobility (all-terrain wheelchairs are available from Parks Victoria), while more taxing trails head to hidden coves, rocky mountain peaks and the peninsula’s less visited western half.
Deep Creek Conservation Park, SA
The largest section of remnant vegetation on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula combines short loops through old-growth forest and longer tracks with views over Kangaroo Island. If you find the heat getting to you, take a dip in the park’s lone waterfall or at one of the beaches where tannin-stained creeks empty into the Southern Ocean.
December
Maria Island, Tasmania
Wombats and Tassie devils regularly wander through the campsites on this island sanctuary, where birdwatchers can find all of Tasmania’s endemic species as well as migratory birds such as the critically endangered swift parrots that arrive every summer. Trails from gentle one-hour outings to all-day expeditions lead to convict-era ruins, clifftop lookouts and beaches where dolphins and fur seals play in the surf.
