Great Hikes in the Great Outback
Written by: Dennis Aimes, health insurance specialist with HBF
Australia is home to thousands of destinations for countless adventures. The island continent is home to a variety of options for the hiking enthusiast as well. With hikes ranging from a quick morning walk to those taking a month or more, there are options for hikers of any skill level.
Before taking on any trek, especially one in unfamiliar territory, you should always be prepared. Having the proper gear for safety and travel are a good start in Australia, and because outdoor tourism is one of the biggest draws for vacationers in Australia, there are usually guided or assisted tour options available for nearly every trek, trail, and walk available.
Hiking in Australia
When you’re all set and ready to go, strap on your boots and take a look at some of the many hiking trails in Australia.
The Kings Canyon Rim Walk, Northern Territory
If you’re relatively new to hiking or want a very light warm-up before tackling something tougher, then the Kings Canyon Rim is the place to start. The trail starts with a steep climb to the rim of Kings Canyon. From there the walk is mostly flatland as you make your way along the nearly 4 mile loop takes you around and back again in around four hours, making this a perfect little day trip.
If you’re looking for a little relaxation after such a busy day, there are plenty of nearby resorts offering lavish comforts and a place to hang your boots for the night.
The Kosciuszko Walk, New South Wales
For a bit of a longer trek the Kosciuszko Walk offers beautiful scenery that can be experienced in a day. A chairlift takes you to the starting point at Thredbo where you engage on a roughly nine mile loop that takes you over the Snowy River, through Rawson Pass, to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko and back again. The whole journey takes about five hours from start to finish, but you may want to add on a little bit more for resting and sightseeing.
The Great Ocean Walk, Victoria
beach trails in Australia
This is the perfect place when you’re ready to add a little bit more challenge and test your hiking mettle. The hiker’s answer to the Great Ocean Road, the Great Ocean Walk runs closer to the coast than the freeway and offers some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the country. It is one of the most popular choices for hiking in Australia as the trail passes nearby to natural homes of koalas and many historic sites.
Stretching 65 miles from Apollo Bay to Glenample Homestead, the whole journey takes just a little bit more than one week to complete. However, the trail is divided into three distinct difficulty levels, with the length from Apollo Bay to Cape Otway seen as the easiest, the path to Ryans Den increasing the challenge, and the stretch to the end meant for the hardiest of hikers.
With campsites spaced around every ten miles and transportation available to and from the trail at most of these checkpoints, the Great Ocean Walk is ideal for the pick-and-choose hiker to customize their journey. Check the reports before you take on some of the later parts of the trail, as weather conditions such as high tide can make certain parts all but completely impassable.
The Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
If getting ready for your own personal Australian walkabout is your goal then the Larapinta Trail is how you go big or go home. This lengthy 135 mile quest starts from the Alice Springs Telegraph Station and runs to Redbank Gorge. It is one of Australia’s newer trails but that doesn’t make it any easier as it can take roughly twenty days to complete.
Pamphlets and signs help travelers find camp-sites and nearby water sources. This brutal summer sun makes this an ideal winter journey, as summer temperatures along the trail can easily reach more than 110° Fahrenheit.
The journey offers its own rewards by way of passing through many sacred Aboriginal sites, which the Aranda people have permitted visitors to pass through. It traverses a variety of landscapes along ridge lines, plains, and riverbeds.
However you choose to walk is up to you and when touch ground, you’ll soon find that no matter what kind of adventure you’re seeking, Australia has it.
2 comments
Australia is a wonderful place. I spend 6 weeks there 20 years ago. Go if you can!
That would be “spent” 6 weeks – my error . . . 🙁