Top Australian hikes

Western Australia

Kalbarri National Park, Loop Trail (pictured)⠀⠀

It’s 9km (or 10km if you count from the car park - and by the end I was counting every step..... )

I can totally understand why there are signs warning that people have died on the trail!

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Even on a winters day it was 30 degrees with no shade for the 3.5 hours of walking and climbing (admittedly our intended arrival for sunrise and the hike ended up being a 9am start instead )

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Having said all that - the landscape is truly spectacular and definitely worth it.

Starting on the cliff top you walk via the iconic “Nature’s Window” with the opportunity for some photos in front of the window and also doing a rock hang which makes for some scary looking (although totally safe) instagram photos.

Next part is heading down to the rivers edge where you follow its winding path, looking up at the red rocky cliffs of the gorge contrasting with the green river and white silver gums - and if a cooling off is what you need you can jump into the refreshingly cool waters before the final (killer) steep climb back up!

Yardie Creek Gorge, Cape Range National Park

It’s only a 2km hike, so very doable but some parts are grade 4 so there is some scrambling and climbing up rocks.

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This place is just stunning - walking along on the top of the gorge is an opportunity for spotting Ospreys and Black-Footed Rock Wallabies.

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Whilst down below you can watch people on kayaks and SUPs and if you are keen you can do the gorge this way also.

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Don’t be fooled by the temperature by the beach where you star, once you head inland a bit it certainly heats up!

Manning Gorge, Mt Barnett - Gibb River Road⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Visiting the gorge involves an adventurous walk of approximately 3 kilometres to the top of the gorge, with views over the ranges and savannah woodlands along the way.

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Before you start, however, you need to swim 100 metres across the creek and ferry your bags in an upside down drum.

This was actually quite nice, as even though we started at 7.00am it was already hot and on the return we couldn’t get back in quick enough!

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Once at the Gorge we all (yes even me after a lot of pressure) jumped off the cliffs into the pool below.

Phoenix was by far the most daring, I had to draw the line at him jumping the highest one that had to be 10-12 metres high.

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We spent hours here exploring the pools, cliff jumping, spotting kangaroos and birds and just generally soaking up the unique location and the effort it took to get to somewhere so remote!

Tasmania

Mt Amos, Freycinet Peninsula (pictured)

Definitely not for the faint hearted or for those just starting hiking with kids.

An epic Grade 5 walk in Freycinet National Park to the top of the towering pink granite rocks of Mount Amos is more of a challenging climb than a “walk”.

There must be a reason this collection of mountains are known as the "Hazards".

The was some scrabbling over rocks, in crevices and sliding down on our bums on the way back to avoid tumbling to the bottom. (It is also not recommended this is done after rain or inclement weather)

The climb is said to take around 3 - 5 hours (we did it in 3.5 hours with a then 5 and 8 year old, with a stop at the peak for lunch and to take in the views)

On the way up you have sweeping views of Coles Bay, and reaching the top you are rewarded with 360 degree views of the insta worthy Wineglass Bay.

We all absolutely loved this spectacular part of Freycinet National Park especially the boys - other climbers were most impressed at the boys running like billy goats up the mountain and proclaiming how easy it was. (It’s not!)

Others were probably less enthused by the 5 year old on the way down telling them they had a long way to go and were nowhere near the top - definitely not the motivation they were hoping for!

Wineglass Bay, Freycinet Peninsula

It’s 25 minutes from the car park to the lookout which can get crowded during peak times, but that thins out on the 1000 step walk to the beach

The crescent shaped beach has been frequently ranked in the top 10 in the world, and its easy to see why with its aquamarine waters and white sands met by the granite cliffs and bush.

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Victoria

The Pinnacles Lookout, Grampians National Park⠀

Climbing to the Pinnacle at The Grampians is a nicely challenging hike.

Starting from Wonderland Car Park the 5km walk is a slightly challenging hike that ascends via the impressive Grampians version of the Grand Canyon with its unique Australian rock formations. The walk continues through the Silent Street before rising up to The Pinnacle where we were rewarded with stunning vistas of Halls Gap, the Grampians' many peaks and Lake Bellfield.

If it's just epic views and wildlife you are after seeing, or your kids aren't big hikers, the same peak can be reached via an easier trail from the Sundial Carpark.

Chalwell Galleries Track, Mount Buffalo

If scrambling and squeezing yourself into rock crevices and hanging onto ledges of granite rocks jumbled precariously on top of each other is your idea of a good time, then this hike is for you!

Ascending to an elevation of about 1700 metres above sea level, the views of the Buckland Valley, Mt Bogong - the highest peak in Victoria and the New South Wales Alps are outstanding.

Along with this the changing landscape is beautiful and of course kids will be in their element with the challenge of making it through the passages of rock known as the "galleries".

Reward yourself with a well deserved rest on your return to Lake Catani at the beginning of the trail.

New South Wales

Barrenjoey Lighthouse, Palm Beach

One of my favourite walks is on Sydneys Northern Beaches, from Palm Beach to Barrenjoey Lighthouse.

As this is near our home we've this has been a weekend walk many a time and the kids think it’s a big adventure as there's lots to take in and rock ledges to climb out on (whilst I calmly yell “not so close to the edge” )

The reward once you reach the top are 360 degree views, a heritage lighthouse and lighthouse keeper’s cottages.

The spectacular views here take in the vast stretch of Pacific Ocean to the east, Hawkesbury River to the north and the gorgeous still waters of Pittwater and Broken Bay to the west.

If you take the walk back down via Smugglers Track it looks down over Palm Beach and Pittwater.

Ending the walk with a refreshing and well deserved dip at the beach (aka "Home and Away"s Summer Bay) is a must!

Fitzroy Falls, Morton National Park

The amazing Fitzroy Falls, where water plunges over 80m to the valley below and with vistas of the lush escarpment country of the Southern Highlands is just a short drive from Kangaroo Valley.

The beginning of the trails, including the West Rim Walking track and East Rim Wildflower walking track start at the visitor centre. This has great displays of indigenous history and the local wildlife in the area.

You can pick up a checklist of over 60 birds which inhabit the park, including the Superb Lyrebird and take this to tick of the ones you discover.

There are also lots of lookouts for photo opportunities of the sweeping Yarrunga Valley on this easy bush walking adventure.

South Australia

Right in the heart of the Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park - Wilpena Pound has some breathtaking walks, and if you choose to stay in the campground or accommodation there, you can take a hike straight from your doorstep.

We were pleasantly surprised by the 7.8km Wangara Lookout walk. Although it’s pretty hot out here, especially being just at the end of summer when we visited, most of it was under the cover of big River Red Gum trees taking at least 5 degrees off the temperature!

We spotted kangaroos, feral goats and echidnas but if you head out at the right time, around dawn or dusk you may also be lucky enough to spot the endangered Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby.

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