What Is the Best Multi-Day Hike in Australia?
It’s no secret that Australia is a big country and planning a multi-day hike can be a challenge. So, where should you begin? In this brief guide to the best multi-day hikes in Australia, we’ve looked across the land to recommend some of the best walks you can experience here.
From north and south to east and west, we’ll be taking a virtual walk across the epic landscape to recommend four of our top multi-day hikes to help you decide what are the best hikes in Australia. We’ll also discuss the difference between bushwalking and hiking!
While the team at Walk91 is located in Apollo Bay, a stop on the Great Ocean Road at the start of the Great Ocean Walk, our knowledge of the best multi-day hikes across Australia has been informed by our own travel experiences.
If you’re keen to learn more, drop us a line! We’re here to help you plan the hike of your dreams in the Great Otway National Park and the Port Campbell National Park, Southern Australia, trekking along our Great Ocean Walk Tours, but we’re always happy to give you advice on trails further afield.
Multi-Day Hikes in North Australia: Larapinta Trail, Alice Springs
As one of Australia’s newest trails, the Larapinta Trail is first on our list! Beginning at Alice Springs and following the spine of the West MacDonnell Ranges, this 223km track is nestled in Central Australia, giving hikers a slice of the Australian outback.
It’s divided into 12 sections that take one or two days to complete. If you don’t want to do the whole track, there are several ways to tackle the Larapinta Trail. These include multi-day treks or overnight walks to epic landmarks, including Ormiston Gorge, Simpsons Gap, and Mt Sonder.
The best time to walk the track is between May and August when the temperatures reach 22 degrees at their highest and four degrees in the evening. Some bushwalking experience is recommended as the Larapinta Trail can be challenging due to the arid terrain.
Multi-Day Hikes in Southern Australia: The Great Ocean Walk
Starting at Apollo Bay and finishing at Twelve Apostles, the Great Ocean Walk is one of the most famous treks in Australia — and for good reason! The coastal path reveals spellbinding natural landscapes, pristine sandy beaches, and plenty of flora and fauna.
Our Self-Guided Great Ocean Walk Tours cater to a range of hiking abilities. Whether you want to complete the walk in a 4-day, 5-day, or 6-day stretch, our range of tours can accommodate your timeframe. Best of all, we take care of all the planning so you don’t have to!
Highlights include Cape Otway Lighthouse, a place packed with Australian shipwreck history, Rainbow Falls, a refreshing spring-fed waterfall cascades down ancient rocks, and Johanna Beach, an idyllic spot for birdwatching along the rugged coastline. All this and more await on the Great Ocean Walk.
We may be biased, but our personal favourite of ours is the 7-day Great Ocean Walk Tour. This way, you can take your time enjoying the sights and stops along the 104km route. We’ll be ferrying your luggage between accommodations, so you can walk free from a heavy backpack.
However, there are step on and step off points along the trail, so if 7 days is a little too long for you, not to worry! We can always find you an option that will suit you perfectly.
Multi-Day Hikes in East Australia: Bibbulmun Track
Located in Kalamunda, a hilly suburb in Perth’s outskirts, the Bibbulmun Track is one of Australia’s great long-distance hiking trails. At 1,000km, this route showcases Australia’s diverse landscape and wildlife, from beaches and jagged headlands to the towering jarrah and karri forests.
The Nyoongar people are acknowledged as the traditional owners and custodians of the land through which the Bibbulmun Track passes. Learn more about these Aboriginal people online and follow the Waugal, the rainbow serpent of the Aboriginal Dreaming, along the trail.
This well-revered track is the longest one on our list and can take six to eight weeks to complete. Given its popularity, the route is well-managed and offers excellent trekking infrastructure, including campsites, hotels, and plenty of places to stock up on supplies.
The first half of the track traverses through the jarrah forests of the Darling Range, before continuing into the karri forests near Walpole. The remaining part of the track continues through sandy beaches and brush, which takes in several towns and spectacular views.
While the track is open all year round, the prevalence of bushfires in the summer months means hikers should be cautious about planning their trip around this time.
Multi-Day Hikes in West Australia: Australian Alps Walking Track
The final walk on our list is the epic Australian Alps Walking Track. Stretching through the high country of Victoria, it begins at Walhalla and through Tharwa, near Canberra. The 650-kilometre track is an extension of the former Victorian Alpine Walking Track, established in the 1970s.
Not for the faint of heart or those without bushwalking experience, this track takes most groups ten weeks to complete. However, you can opt for shorter stretches of the track including the Baw Baw Plateau, the Bogong High Plains, and the Jagungal Wilderness Area.
Removed from most towns and settlements, this track joins other popular walking trails through the Baw Baw, Alpine, Kosciuszko, and Namadgi national parks. Rugged scenery abounds along this challenging trail and hikers should rely on compasses, a GPS, maps, and the yellow markers dotted along the track.
And that brings our virtual list of multi-day hikes to a close. Are you feeling inspired to start planning your epic adventure to Australia? Whichever corner of the country you choose to explore, we guarantee these walks will be unforgettable no matter what length they are.
If you’ve been tempted by southern Australia and want to begin your journey, get in touch! We’d love to talk you through our self-guided multi-day hikes of the Great Ocean Walk. Put your best foot forward and start planning your next walking adventure today.