14 Best Multi-Day Hikes in Queensland 2026

Saphira’s hand-picked 14 of the best multi-day hikes in Queensland, spanning over ten national parks – and they include a few gems that might not be on your radar yet.

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.

With year-round hiking, diverse landscapes, and world-class walking tracks, Queensland has epic multi-day hikes that need to be on your bucket list.

Read more: Remember to leave no trace

Hike Safety in Queensland

Queensland is a big state and conditions can be very different from one region to another. It’s important that hikers are well-prepared for the track and weather conditions they will face before heading off, which may include extreme heat, lightning storms, and fast-changing weather.

Read more: A Hiker’s Guide To Lightning Safety

Queensland can get bloody hot, so never skimp on water, and hike slowly in high temperatures, avoiding the middle of the day. Time frames may vary depending on fitness and weather.

Check the Queensland Parks alerts page for anything that may be relevant to the region, national park, or track you plan to walk. It’s also a good idea to fill out a Trip Intention Form before heading out as well.

To help you better understand the difficulty of some hikes, the trails marked with an asterix (*) indicate that they’re only suitable for advanced hikers who are fully self-sufficient, and have good navigation skills and off-track experience.

Read more: How to Hike in Hot Weather

Essential Gear for Multi-Day Hikes in Queensland

• Hiking pack
• Lightweight tent
• Sleeping system (mat, bag, liner, pillow)
• At least 2-3L of water carrying capacity and water treatment
• PLB
• First aid kit
• Waterproof jacket
• Hiking pants
• Grippy walking shoes or hiking boots
• Plenty of food and snacks
• Camera!

Read more: Overnight Hiking Packing List: 20+ Must-Have Hiking Essentials

Multi-Day Hikes South East Queensland

1. Mt Superbus, Lizard Point, and the Steamers*

Duration: 2 days
Distance: ~ 15km
Highlights: Iconic and remote SEQ landmarks
Challenges: Hard and off-track

At some point as a Queensland hiker, you’ll want to bag the tallest peak in South East Queensland: Mt Superbus. Since there’s no view at the summit, tack it onto two other points nearby: the iconic Steamers lookout and Lizard Point, with its expansive views of the Main Range and a spectacular remote area bush camp. Head two hours south-west from Brisbane and park at the end of Spring Creek Road to begin this epic weekender.

Read more: How To Hike Off-Track

@_danno_29

2. Stinson Track*

Duration: 2 days
Distance: 38km
Highlights: Historic and remote track
Challenges: Navigationally and physically difficult

This is a serious bush-bashing style track that follows in the footsteps of Bernard O’Reilly’s search for the survivors of the 1937 Stinson Crash. Located in Lamington National Park, it features the remains of the Stinson wreck and is best accompanied by a reading of Green Mountains by Bernard himself.

You can camp at the old rescue campsite near the plane wreck. This is a great hike for experienced Explorers with an appreciation for history and a desire to challenge themselves.

@hikertrashling

3. Eastern Peaks Circuit

Duration: 2 days
Distance: 40km
Highlights: Unique and remote national park
Challenges: Unclear tracks in some sections and steep

If you want to get the full experience at Girraween National Park, walk the lesser-known Eastern Peaks Circuit. Highlights include a butt-tonne of scrambling, seas of golden wattle, and rocks that look like giant marbles dropped from the heavens.

On the menu are the imaginatively named Bald, Little Bald, South Bald, Middle Bald, and West Bald rocks. Come in September to see why Girraween means ‘place of flowers’.

Read more: Best Trails in Girraween National Park

@_thelittleadventurer

4. Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk

Duration: 2-3 days
Distance: 58km
Highlights: Wild swimming
Challenges: Mostly flat track passing through towns

Just two hours north of Brisbane in the Blackall Range, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk is best enjoyed in the summer wet season when the creeks and waterfalls are full. It’s home to the Jinibara people, which roughly means ‘the people of the lawyer vine’ (you’ve been warned).

There are three campsites on the walk and the track passes through the quaint townships of Flaxton and Mapleton, making it beginner-friendly. The best views are from Thilba Thalba camp, and the rock pool above Kondalilla Falls is one of South East Queensland’s best spots for wild swimming.

Read more: 14 Best Swimming Holes Near Brisbane

If you’re short on time, you can still enjoy Kondalilla National Park by checking out the Baxter Falls Walk.

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5. Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk

Duration: 2-3 days
Distance: 54km
Highlights: Close to Brisbane with World Heritage Rainforests
Challenges: Great first multi-day with a few steep bits

Starting from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, you’ll hike through volcanic landscapes to views of Wollumbin/Mt Warning all the way in NSW. It’s also the best hike for admiring Antarctic beech rainforests. You’ll get to check out Kurraragin/egg rock, an Aboriginally significant and distinctive rock feature on day two.

There are steeper sections towards the end, but you’ll be rewarded with a suspension bridge, the stunning Purling Brook Falls, and wild swimming at Warringa Pool. Start at the Border Track just two hours south of Brisbane.

Read more: Staying Safe Around Swimming Holes and Waterfalls

6. Mt Donaldson Circuit*

Duration: 2-4 days
Distance: ~30km
Highlights: Remote red gorges, waterholes, and wild camping
Challenges: Seriously off-track bushbash

If you want to get away from it all and experience true solitude, look no further than Sundown National Park, big sister to Girraween. At four hours drive away, it’s possible for a weekend trip at a squeeze for the motivated Brissie Explorer.

You’ll trace the Severn River to pass Permanent, Red Shelf (a real beauty), and Wallaby Rocks waterholes (pitch your tent here), before summiting Mt Donaldson for literally one of the best summit views in all of South East Queensland.

The bushbash back will test your navigation skills, with a few sketchy traverses to avoid waterfalls. If this sounds too rough for you, just go back the way you came from the summit. One of Sundown’s perks is that you can purchase remote camping permits and camp wherever suits.

Make sure to leave no trace when remote camping.

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@hikertrashling

7. Cooloola Great Walk

Duration: 5 days
Distance: 100km
Highlights: Coastal and longest multi-day hike in QLD
Difficulty: Long, flat, and sandy

As far as multi-day hikes in Queensland go, if you were to only do one, it’d be this! The Cooloola Great Walk hike is the longest, official, continuous hike you can do in Queensland. It features amazing sand dunes, rainforests, misty eucalypt woodlands, and a heap of inland lakes! You’ll be traversing the 500,000 year old Cooloola sandmass, with great lookouts from Mt Seawah (technically a side trip) and Double Island Point.

While it’s pretty flat, the sand is its own challenge. Keep in mind that the four campsites are at least 15km and up to 30km apart, so you’ll need to be confident you can make the distance.

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@photobohemian

8. Border Track

Duration: 7 hours (across 1-2 days)
Distance: 21.4km
Highlights: Gondwanan rainforest, waterfalls, and a speccy campground
Difficulty: Intermediate

Walked and written by Bonnie Scott

Famed for its ancient Gondwana rainforest, natural lookouts, abundant waterfalls, and rare species, the Border Track transports you into another realm.

This enchanting hike consists of seven hours of walking through the awe-inspiring sights of this World Heritage area, including several lookouts where you can see Wollumbin/Mount Warning, the Tweed Range, and Limpinwood Valley.

Although you can walk the track from either direction in one day, why not break it up by staying at one of the bush camps along the track? Both Binna Burra and O’Reilly’s have camping options too. I highly recommend the campground. It’s the most luxurious campsite I’ve ever stayed at! All meals come with a view.

Just 110km south of Brisbane, Lamington National Park sits on the border between QLD and NSW and serves as a crucial protected habitat for about 58 species of threatened plants and over 22 threatened animals.

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@actually.bonnie

9. Scenic Rim Trail 

Duration: 4 days
Distance: 47km
Highlights: Quiet trails, Scenic Rim views
Difficulty: Advanced

Walked and written by Anne Van Beukering

The Scenic Rim Trail is a highlight-filled multi-day hiking trail along rugged mountain ridges and through lush rainforests.

Hikers can sleep under the stars and wake to incredible views over the Scenic Rim. You’ll often be the only one on the trail so absolute serenity is just waiting to be enjoyed.

For the ultimate ending, finish of the last day on the trail with Bare Rock and Mt Cordeaux.

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@thesaltyroad

10. Double Peak

Duration: 2 days
Distance: 30km
Highlights:
Difficulty: Advanced

Walked and written by Lisa Owen

@_thelittleadventurer

Central Queensland

11. K’gari Great Walk

Duration: 6-8 days
Distance: 90km
Highlights: Secluded experience of K’gari’s wonders
Challenges: It’s a long walk, beware of dingoes

Formerly known as the Fraser Island Great Walk, you can spend a week on the world’s largest sand island and never know you’re at one of Australia’s most frequented spots. If you’re looking for an intimate way to experience K’gari – which means paradise in Butchulla language – this is it. The walk passes Boorangoora/Lake McKenzie, an absolute dream in crystal blue, and Lake Boomanji, dashing in tea tree red.

You’ll also get to walk through the fantastical Valley of the Giants with its thousand-year-old satinay trees. Fittingly, you finish at Happy Valley.

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Photo by Niamh Curran

12. Carnarvon Gorge Great Walk

Duration: 6-8 days
Distance: 90km
Highlights: Aboriginal rock art and remote hiking
Challenges: Hot and steep in sections

The Carnarvon Gorge Great Walk features the Aboriginal art of the Bidjara and Karingbal people, mossy gorges, and views of the tablelands (aka the ‘roof’ of Queensland). Dreamtime stories tell how the rainbow serpent Mundagurra carved out the gorges.

The full walk offers great camping, proper Aussie bush, and lots of solitude – perfect for a group trip. There’s a huge drive-in campsite where you can base yourself and explore all the local sights. It’s a full nine-hour drive north west of Brisbane, or seven hour’s west of Bundaberg, so it’s well-suited to a uni break or annual leave.

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@featherfindsafarmer

North Queensland

13. Juwun Walk*

Duration: 4-6 days
Distance: 51km
Highlights: Wild camping and wildlife
Challenges: Remote with no official track, beware of crocs!

Previously known as the Wet Tropics Great Walk, the remote Juwun Walk passes through Girringun National Park, located between Townsville and Cairns. These are the traditional lands of the Warrgamay, Warungnu, and Girramay people, and boast an especially diverse natural environment.

For a tighter timeline, consider doubling up and going from Blanket Creek to the Big W, and/or Yamanie Creek to Yamanie Pickup Point. Beyond the first leg to Blanket Creek, there are no designated campsites – camp anywhere along the gorge. Keep an eye out for Blencoe Falls!

Read more: How To Poo in The Bush

Photo by Jason Clark via Flickr | License

14. Thorsborne Trail

Duration: 4 days
Distance: 32km
Highlights: Pristine world-class track
Challenges: Hot and rocky

Located on Hinchinbrook Island, the Thorsborne Trail is limited to 40 hikers at any given time. Loved for its pristine environment, you can marvel at turquoise waters, cloud-cloaked peaks, and ancient rainforests – a little slice of paradise that was first home to the Bandjin people.

There are a whopping seven campsites along the 32km trail, so you can take your time admiring the island’s beauty. Plan in advance to book the strictly limited camping and the ferry spots, departing from Cardwell or Lucinda. If you’re coming from Brisbane, you can catch a day-long train to Cardwell. From Cairns, it’s a 2.5 hour drive south.

Please note! Hinchinbrook Island is croc country and deaths have occured there. Stick to the designated swimming holes and avoid swimming at the beach or rivermouths.

Read more: How To Stay Safe in Croc Country

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Photo by Andrew Boyle

Feature photo by @miranda_c_fittock

Multi-day Hikes in Queensland FAQs

How hard is Carnarvon Great walk?

The Carnarvon Great walk is 90km long and takes between 6-8 days. The walk isn’t technically difficult but due to the length and amount you have to carry, it’s necessary to have done a few multi-day hikes before you give this one a crack.

How long is the Thorsborne Trail?

The Thorsborne Trail is 32km and should take about four days.

Where can I go hiking in Queensland?

There are so many places to go hiking in Queensland. The area inland from the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast is a particular hot spot for scenic hiking trails including the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast Hinterland walks.

What are the best multi-day hikes in Queensland?

There are so many great hikes in Queensland, with ten of them considered official ‘great walks’.

What is the longest hiking trail in Australia?

The Heysen Trail in South Australia is the longest hiking trail in Australia. It’s 1,200km long.

What other hikes can I do in Girraween National Park?

As well as giving the Eastern Peaks Circuit listed above a go, you can wander around Bald Rock or aim for a bigger climb and summit Mount Norman.

Want more places to explore in Queensland?

• Best Free Campgrounds in Queensland
• Best Coastal Hikes on the Sunshine Coast
• Best Camping Sites in Sunshine Coast
• Top 10 Road Trips in Queensland

Looking Further Afield?

• 12 Best Multi-Day Hikes in NSW
• The 9 Best Multiday Hikes Victoria Has To Offer
• 10 Best Multi-Day Hikes in Tasmania