Join Sorrel Wilby as she pulls on her walking boots to see the Best of Australia from walking tracks that wind through our great and varied land.


National Pass
An icon of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the National Pass walk clings to the sheer cliffs bordering the Jamison Valley at Wentworth Falls, west of Sydney. Walkers revel in spectacular views and a range of Blue Mountains habitats, from eucalypts and heath on the dry cliff tops to shady rainforest species in the damp, sheltered gullies. Starting and ending at Valley of the Waters Conservation Hut, the 5.4 km walk usually takes about four hours to complete. In 2008, after a lengthy refurbishment program was completed, the National Pass won a National Trust Heritage Award for conservation. The judges’ citation described the work as “a conservation project of a heroic scale”.


Heysen Trail
Diverse and beautiful, the 1200 km Heysen Trail winds across South Australia from Cape Jervis, on Fleurieu Peninsula, to Parachilna Gorge, in the Flinders Ranges. It passes through some of SA’s greatest natural and cultural attractions – including the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and Wilpena Pound – and takes in a staggering range of landscapes, including windswept coasts, quiet native bush, ancient ranges, farm lands and vineyards. Maintained by the not-for-profit organisation The Friends of the Heysen Trail, the Heysen has been designed to cater for both dedicated long-distance backpackers tackling long sections, and for day walkers who prefer to dip into different sections of the trail.


Lamington National Park
A key part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area, Lamington National Park, in southern Queensland, is a lush green refuge of outstanding natural beauty, justly lauded for the critical importance of its ancient rainforests. It’s also a spectacular place to walk, with two distinct sections – Green Mountains and Binna Burra – crisscrossed with half-day or full-day tracks that lead to the park’s best attractions. Best known of the walks is the 21.4 km Border Track, which connects the Binna Burra and Green Mountains sections and is the spine of the park track system, with most walks radiating from it. The Border Track passes through diverse rainforest habitats and provides access to lookouts with spectacular views. Details of Lamington NP walking tracks are available from the Green Mountains or Binna Burra information centres.


Bay of Fires
One of Australia’s best known guided treks, the Bay of Fires walk skirts the beautiful coastline south of Mt William National Park, in north-eastern Tasmania. Walkers spend the best part of four days on the coast covering a relaxed 23 km walk, mostly along secluded beaches. Comfortable accommodation in standing camps and at magnificent Bay of Fires Lodge is a major part of the attraction.


Sydney Harbour Walks
Secluded paths, wharves, hidden coves and bayside pockets of bush make Sydney Harbour one of the most entrancing places in the world for urban walkers. Over many years, dedicated volunteers have scouted the best routes around the harbour and produced free walking maps for those that follow in their footsteps. To access a complete set of maps contact Walking Coastal Sydney. For more information on the walks, click here.

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