10 Best Thru Hikes in Australia

From the 655km Australian Alps Walking Track to WAs Bibbulmun Track, Australia has many multi-day thru-hikes to enjoy. Make your way through this list and you’ll have plenty of tales to share around the campfire.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Countries on which these adventures take place who have occupied and cared for these lands, waters, and their inhabitants for thousands of years. We pay our respects to them and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.

About Thru-Hiking in Australia

While Australia doesn’t have a thru-hiking culture or the massive length of trails like America does, we do have some of the best places to put your feet. And what we lack in distance we certainly make up for in views and variety!

Australia’s scenery showcases its diverse range of flora and fauna and stunning geographical features. From the beautiful beaches of the Golden Coast to the majestic mountains of the Great Divide, and from the world-famous Great Barrier Reef to the breathtaking Kakadu National Park, this country is a paradise for nature enthusiasts, enticing them to embark on an exploration of its natural wonders. And one of the best ways to do that is to get out amongst it on a hiking trail.

What’s the definition of a thru-hike?

Thru-hikes are typically defined as any long-distance hike that’s completed in a single continuous journey from start to finish. As you can see, this definition is pretty murky, and has led to more than a few debates about what hikes are and aren’t a thru-hike.

The main question we need to clear up is ‘How long is long-distance?’. In the US, any hike over 100miles (160km) is considered to be long-distance. But most undisputed thru-hikes in the US are also waaaaay longer than that with the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide all way over 3,000km in length.

But the other factor is difficulty. A 100km hike that’s on flat terrain is wildly different to one that’s 100km of changing incline and varied terrain. Does difficulty factor in? Do trails with huts count? Does it count if you use food drops? There are a lot of unanswered variables.

Hiking a multi-day trail end-to-end is a pretty big achievement however this gets sliced.

For simplicity, we’re counting a thru-hike as any trail that’s multi-day and is longer than something you could achieve in three days.

Let’s took a look at the list!

Australia’s Best Thru-Hiking Trails

1. Bibbulmun Track

Distance: 1000km
Duration: 6-8 weeks
States: Western Australia

Oooft at an average of 54 days completion time when hiked end-to-end, the Bibbulmun Track is one hell of a commitment! But with so much terrain to cover it stands to reason that there’ll be an equivalent increase in highlights. 

Beginning in Perth Hills the trail meanders on and off the coast to finish in Albany. Explorer Caroline took on the trail in spring and if her photos of the gorgeous wildflowers she found along the way aren’t enough to convince you to check this one out, nothing will.

You can also expect to walk through stunning jarri forests, up and down many hills, and slog through sand dunes. Civilisation drops away pretty quickly when you start from the northern end near Perth, so the remoteness hits hard and fast.

Read more: How To Use a PLB

Photo by Caroline Grandjean-Thomsen

In Carline’s words ‘This hike was all about the journey. That timeless slipstream with no past or future represented living in the present and embracing every moment: joy and tears; inspiration and dejection; feeling invincible then falling over, hairy armpits and wet stinky socks, swatting a million flies and being at peace – all at the same time’.

Sounds perfect.

Photo by Benjamin Ho

2. Australian Alps Walking Track (AAWT)

Distance: 655km
Duration: 5-8 weeks
States: Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory

The Australian Alps Walking Track is a tough trail through alpine regions in Victoria, New South Wales, and the ACT. This trail isn’t for the faint-hearted—its demanding paths and unpredictable weather test even seasoned hikers. Is it worth the challenge? Absolutely.

As most of the trail is covered in snow during the colder months, and bushfires are a significant risk in summer, the peak times to enjoy this one are in spring and autumn. Weather is notoriously unpredictable though so even if you choose a shoulder season you might still encounter snow, especially at higher points on the trail like Thredbo and Mount Hotham. Conducting training before you set out so that you’re prepared to encounter surprises like this is essential.

Challenges aside, this hike is a chance to explore what true solitude feels like – especially if you’re hiking alone. It’s not uncommon to hike multiple days on this trail without seeing another person. Instead you’ll be accompanied by rugged terrain, dramatic peaks, and lush valleys. Not a bad substitute! Trail markings are less prominent on this one so you will need to be a confident navigator.

3. Heysen Trail

Distance: 1200km
Duration: 7-9 weeks
States: South Australia

The longest marked hiking trail on this list, the Heysen Trail is another whopper of a trail that’ll take you between 50-60 days to complete. Starting at Parachilna Gorge in the Flinders Ranges, it passes through Clare Valley, the Barossa Valley, and Adelaide Hills, before reaching Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula. 

Check out the views: The Abundant Landscapes of Australia’s Longest-Marked Hiking Trail

@dodd_life

First-time thru-hiker Explorer Elisha learnt a lot hiking the Heysen. She describes the days as being pretty simple, with dinners getting gradually earlier and the concept of time becoming hazy. Importantly she acknowledges that it doesn’t necessarily get easier, and it often isn’t so fun in the moment.

One day you might be climbing hills through torrential rain and strong wind, basically on the verge of having a breakdown, and the next day you’ll be laughing about it.

If any trail is going to teach you to keep walking, even when the going gets tough, it’s this one. One step at a time.

Read more: Wild South Coast Way: A 5 Day Teaser for the Heysen Trail

4. Bicentennial National Trail (BNT)

Distance: 5,330km
Duration: 6-7 Months
States: Victoria, NSW, ACT & Queensland

Bet you weren’t expecting to see a trail this long! The Bicentennial National Trail is technically more a multi-use trail than a dedicated hiking trail, which is why it rarely comes up in conversation as one of the long multi-day hikes ‘to do’ in Australia.

It was originally a horse trail but a small group of hikers, listed on this Wikipedia ‘wall of fame‘, have completed the trail end-to-end from Cooktown in Far North Queensland to the finish in Healesville, Victoria.

The BCT is interspersed with many sections along roads so it’s not as consistently scenic as most of the other hikes on this list, but with a distance exceeding 5,000km, that has to be expected.

Have you completed this one? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!

@teddymetzler

5. The Larapinta Trail

Distance: 230km
Duration: 14-20 days
States: From Alice Springs to Mount Sonder, Northern Territory

This might just be the most Australian of all the Aussie thru-hikes on this list. While it’s lacking in pubs at the end of each day of walking, you’ll be treading on that iconic red dirt (and enjoying true blue landscapes) the entire way. Don’t worry about forgetting your time there either, you’ll be reliving the memory of your experience every time you get you gear out for the next year. The red sand loves us as much we love it apparently.

Photo via Caitlin Weatherstone,

The Larapinta Trail isn’t for the faint of heart, and while it’s not as long as those listed above, it’s still a challenge. The ascents and descents are rocky, the heat is very real, and you’ll need to be comfortable being remote, and potentially far from help. Don’t let that put you off though. It’s a special place, right in the heart of Australia and you’ll cherish your memories out there forever.

The trail is commonly walked self-guided by experienced hikers, but if you’re new to thru-hiking there are plenty of companies who run guided trips too.

Read more: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Hiking The Larapinta Trail

Photo via @bree.townsend

6. Grampians Peaks Trail

Distance: 164km
Duration: 13 days
States: Victoria

This is the newest thru-hike on this list but that don’t discount it because of that! The Grampians Peaks Trail is a tough multi-day hike encompassing over 8600m of elevation. Phew! This one is a bit easier to navigate than those in the triple crown and is well marked with dedicated campsites provided every night.

You’ll need to follow Parks Victoria’s 13-day recommended itinerary, a requirement that’s loved by some and hated by others. While having a strict format on distance hiked per day can be irritating to the purists, it’s not the worst thing in the world to have all the planning already done for you.

@disco_steww

The Grampians region of Victoria has been home to the Djab Wurrung and Jardwardjali people for 20,000 years and contains the densest concentration of rock art paintings and the largest assemblage of Aboriginal art motifs in the state. The biodiversity is amazing. Even though the ascents are hard, you will get more than a few blisters, and the weather will continually knock you around – it’s all worth it for the views only hikers can earn.

Plus, if you hang out for a few days either side of your hike you’ll have the chance to check out everything else the Grampians National Park has to offer.

Read more: The Ultimate Explorer’s Guide to The Grampians

7. Hume & Hovell Track

Distance: 425km
Duration: 18-26 days
States: From Yass to Albury, New South Wales

NSW’s Hume & Hovell Track is a whopper of a trail but a great example of a thru-hike that can easily be broken into sections and accomplished over time. Yeah, yeah, I hear you complaining that doing it that way defeats the purpose of a thru-hike. But this puppy is so long that even broken into sections, each section would qualify as a thru-hike! So shhh.

The trail has sections that pass through State Forest, which means you can bring your trail loving doggo along for those sections if you decide to split it up. That’s what Explorer Kate did on a short overnight section between Paddys River Dam and Buddong Hut.

@evadavisboermans

The full length of the track roughly follows the route explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell took on their expedition to Port Phillip in 1824. Most of the walking track we use today, which was completed in 1999, has been laid out less than 5km from the original route taken by Hume and Hovell, which is pretty cool. Anyone for a walk back in time?

8. Cape to Cape Track

Distance: 135km
Duration: 7 days
States: Western Australia

The Cape to Cape Track runs from Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia’s Margaret River region. At the time of writing it’s Australia’s longest coastal walking trail. If you like feeling the wind in your hair, (and the sand at your feet!), you’ll love it. The nightly sunsets over the Indian Ocean aren’t half bad either.

You can choose how rugged your thru-hike experience is with the option to camp in the bush, stay at caravan parks, or even enjoy hotels every night by booking transfers. This trail is very accessible so it’s common to see people every day, but that’s the case for most of the shorter thru-hikes on this list. It also makes it a great candidate to trial out thru-hiking for the first time as you’re never too far from other people.

@saltybug

One thing this hike does very well is dispel the romantic notion of long walks on the beach. Add a hiking pack and three full days of trail already under your belt and a long beach hike can feel like the slowest, least productive pathway of your life. Make sure you factor in plenty of time to lose the pack and stretch out on the sand to enjoy how far you’ve come.

Read more: How Two Mums Made Space For Adventure (& Walked The Cape to Cape Track)

9. The Overland Track

Distance: 65-78km (minimum, depending if you take the ferry at the end or choose to walk out)
Duration: 6-7 days
States: Tasmania

Tasmania’s Overland Track has got to be one of Australia’s most popular thru-hikes. Getting hiking passes for your time on this trail is often akin to securing Taylor Swift concert tickets – AKA stressful! But once you secure them, the memories of frantic minutes in front of the computer promptly melt as you beginning planning the hike of a lifetime. Every day on this trail takes you through rapidly changing landscapes. It feels like 17 hikes in one. Truly. IYKYK.

The main track is 65km long, but it can be extended by tacking on a variety of optional side excursions. You can summit Cradle Mountain, or Ossa, take a jaunt to some waterfalls, or drift away from a relaxing swim in Lake Will. Whatever you do, don’t miss the opportunity to check out Pine Valley. It’ll add an extra day or two but the scenery is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

Read more: Highlights of the Overland Track

@hikertrashling

Accomodation on the trail has been upgraded in recent years and huts are modern features that integrate well into the landscape. Tent platforms are available and all hikers are required to carry a tent just in case the huts are full. While this is the shortest thru-hike on this list, it’s not a walk in the park – at all.

Temperatures vary widely, weather conditions can change in an instant, and no matter the time of year you need to be prepared for any eventuality. It’s not uncommon to spend 12 hours hiking per day on this trail but every hour is a great one.

Read more: 7 Tips for Rainy Day Hiking

@thedirtydogooders

10. The Great North Walk

Distance: 250km
Duration: 25-30 days
States: New South Wales

The Great North Walk runs between Sydney and Newcastle and is a walk of many extremes. You’ll pass through every type of terrain from multiple national parks to suburban streets, and encounter many hills and remote areas along the way too. Despite the challenge of preparing for a route so varied, as usual, the pay off is worth it.

@jaseinthewild

Hikers are treated to stunning vistas along the coast and because you walk through many suburban areas you get the chance to stop for a few coffees. That’s not a common feature on a thru-hike!

This trail normally takes the average hiker 25 to 30 days to complete, but there are some hikers out there who’ve completed it in as little as 10 days. Don’t attempt to beat records like this unless you’re experienced, have support, and know what to do if things go wrong.

Don’t forget to fill out a Trip Intention Form before heading out! NSW NPWS Intention Form

FAQs Australian Thru-Hikes

Is it healthy to be alone on a hiking trail for so long?

It’s true that it takes a certain personality to enjoy being alone for extended periods. There’s nothing wrong with spending time alone (it can make for a beautiful day!), but it’s important to be mindful of your own safety. Have a read about the 13 things Explorer Elisha learned about herself while walking the Heysen Trail or check out these tips for solo adventures.

What gear do you need to take on a long thru-hike?

Just because you’re hiking for much longer, it doesn’t mean you need more stuff than you’d pack for a typical overnight hike. Sometimes it actually makes sense to take a bit less and lighten your load. This is what I took for 116 days on the Te Arora Trail. But if you remember one thing, make sure you prioritise good hiking boots!

Can you recommend some shorter thru-hikes in Australia?

Absolutely! If there’s one thing Australia has a lot of, it’s multi-day hikes. We have some great lists of the best multi-day hikes in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and even Tasmania. If it’s your first multi-day hike, consider checking out the Three Capes Trail in Tasmania or the Jatbula Trail in the Northern Territory.

How do I find people to go on long hikes with?

Embarking on epic long adventures isn’t for everyone and it can be hard to find mates who are up for the challenge. But hard doesn’t mean impossible! If you don’t find anyone you vibe with in local walking clubs, consider starting your own group or putting out the word on social media to find your people. Start with a few day hikes and build up to longer trips.

Obsessed with hiking? Read on!

• Are Lightweight Hiking Shoes All They’re Cracked Up to Be?
• I Hate Hiking And I’m Tired of Pretending I Don’t
• How Much Should You Spend On Hiking Gear?
• I Took Ten Strangers Overnight Hiking to The Top of Australia

Feature photo by Benjamin Ho