Here’s When to Book Popular Multi-Day Hikes in AUS & NZ for 2025

Do you want more hiking in your near future? Does your New Year’s resolution involve something along the lines of ‘go on more multi-day hikes’? Well now’s the time to start thinking of what your 2025 adventure calendar will look like. Here’s when to book your hiking trips in 2025.

Where will the new year take you? Maybe you’ll find yourself on a long, desert ramble or navigating unseasonal snow down south. But neither scenario is likely to happen without a touch of prior planning. That’s why we’ve been all over the internet to find exactly when you need to be on your laptop to secure your spot on your dream multi-day hike in 2025. 

Some of these hikes have specific dates that bookings for the entire walking season open, while others have systems that open bookings 6-12 months ahead of time. In these cases, I’ve listed these hikes in the month you’ll need to be ready to book to walk them at the ideal time of year.

Let’s dig in!

January 

Thorsborne Trail, Queensland

Spend four days frolicking in freshwater swimming holes and through rainforests on a tropical island that will immediately give you Jurassic Park vibes.

Read more: The Thorsborne Trail Offers 4 Days of Tropical Trekking

Photo by Andrew Boyle

Bookings open: 6 months before your start date
Track opens: 1st of March – 31st of December
Best time to walk: April – September
Cost: $21.75 per person for 3 nights
$87 per family for 3 nights

Book Here

Three Capes Track, Tasmania

‘The Three Capes Track brings together 48km of breathtaking clifftop sea views, secluded beaches and forests. With a fairly easy walk each day and self-catering cabins along the way, this is a great intro multi-day hike and completely do-able with kids.’ – Caroline Packer

Read more: Three Capes Track Should be Your First Multi-Day Hike

@emmaaregan

Bookings open: Bookings for all of 2025 are now open
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: November – April
Cost: $615 adult, $490 concession/child

Psst! You can walk it for free as well.

Book Here

Walls of Jerusalem, Tasmania 

‘Whilst there’s no doubt that the majestic walls, otherworldly vegetation, and captivating views of Walls of Jerusalem National Park will have you wanting to stay as long as possible, this gorgeous national park is the perfect spot to explore regardless of how much or little time you have.’ – Taylor Dal Ponte

Read more: Choose Your Own Adventure in Tasmania’s Walls of Jerusalem National Park

Bookings open: Month-by-month 10 months in advance
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Summer
Cost: Free! But a Tas Parks Pass is required

Book Here

Lake Rhona, Tasmania

‘The 28km overnight hike to Lake Rhona lands you on a sandy beach between the lake and towering mountains of Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.’ – Lauren McMahon

Read more: Lake Rhona is a Beach Escape in the Tassie Wilderness

@lauren_m_mac

Bookings open: Month-by-month 10 months in advance
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Summer
Cost: Free! But Tas Parks Pass is required

Book Here

February 

Jatbula Trail, Northern Territory

Tickets to hike the Jatbula Trail literally sell out as fast as tickets to see Taytay. Cause who wouldn’t want to spend five days walking through the Top End’s unique savannah woodland and pitching up right next to a private freshwater hole every single night?

Read more: 5 Days on the Jatbula Trail

@dallasfly

Bookings open: 9am ACST on Tuesday 4th of February
Track opens: June – September. The track may be open in the shoulder season this year (April-May) if it’s ready
Best time to walk: June – September
Cost: From $140 per person (5 days/4 nights) + $23 one-way ferry fee

The track can be walked out of season (October-May) but requires proof of your ability to be self-sufficient and stay safe in wet season conditions.

Book Here

Western Arthur Range Traverse, Tasmania

‘Set in a wild and remote corner of Southwest National Park, the Western Arthurs Traverse is one of Tasmania’s most rugged and rewarding multi-day walks. Considered to be one of the island’s most treacherous and challenging treks, it’s more common than not for avid hikers to turn back due to extreme and variable weather.’ – Christine Zelzeny

Read more: A Solo Journey Across the Western Arthurs Traverse

Photo by Christine Zelezny

Bookings open: Month-by-month 10 months in advance
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Summer
Cost: Free! But Tas Parks Pass is required

Book Here

Frenchmans Cap, Tasmania

Read more: A 4 Day Hike to Conquer Frenchmans Cap

Photo by Sarah Barlow

Bookings open: Month-by-month 10 months in advance
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Summer
Cost: Free! But Tas Parks Pass is required

Book Here

March 

Tabletop Track, Northern Territory

This is the shortest of the NT’s multi-day hikes but also the least crowded, easiest to book last minute, and still gushing with swim spots and waterfalls.

Read more: Tabletop Track – Hike a Perfect Multi-day Circuit in the Top End

Photo by Leah Sjerp

Bookings open: 12 months in advance
Track opens: 1st of June 2025 (forecast opening) to 30th of September
Best time to walk: June – September
Cost: $105 per person for 4 days/3 nights

Book Here

Kangaroo Island Wilderness Walk, South Australia

‘Nights are spent under the sparkling Milky Way and days are passed under rainbows, gazing into the wide blue sea on the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail.’ – Saphira Bloom-Quinn

Read more: Kangaroo Island Wilderness Walk

Bookings open: 12 months before start date
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: March – November
Cost: From $199 per person

Book Here

April 

Green Gully Track, NSW 

‘The Green Gully Track is one of the best, if not the best, multi-day hikes NSW has to offer. With 65km of hiking over four days, my friends and I had a lot of time to think and a lot of time to learn.’ – Rachel Dimond

Read more: 10 Lessons Learnt on the Green Gully Track

@wanderer_rachel

Bookings open: 180 days before start date
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Autumn and spring
Cost: $900 between 2-4 hikers, $1500 for 5 or 6 hikers

Book Here

May 

Grampians Peaks Trail, Victoria 

Victoria’s (and possibly Australia’s) hottest new multi-day/thru hike crosses one of the state’s most coveted national parks in a 13-day epic.

Read more: Grampians Peaks Trail – The Ultimate Guide

Bookings open: Bookings are now open to 30th June 2025
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Autumn and spring
Cost: $569.80 for 13 days

Book Here

Murramarang South Coast Walk, NSW

Read more: Murramarang South Coast Walk – A Magical 3 Day Hike Across the NSW South Coast

‘Three days of meandering along this stunning route through forests and along beaches is a fantastic way to explore new parts of a familiar coastline.’ – Mattie Gould

@jonharris_photography

Bookings open: 180 days before start date
Track opens: March – November (7 days a week for camping, Sunday – Wednesday for cabins)
Best time to walk: Mid-spring or late autumn
Cost: From $164 for 1-2 people camping, and $972.73 for 1-4 people in cabins

Book Here

June 

Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory 

Two weeks of undulating desert vistas, well-deserved waterholes, jaw-dropping gorges, and summit sunrises. 

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

Photo by Ruby Claire

Bookings open: 12 months in advance
Trail opens: Year round
Best time to walk: May – September
Cost: Around $265: $125 walking fee + $10 for each campground booked 

Book Here

July 

Overland Track, Tasmania

Tasmania’s most popular multi-day hike and notoriously challenging to secure a spot for – don’t sleep on this one!

Read more: Overland Track – A Guide to Hiking Hut-to-Hut

Photo by Bree Furlong

Bookings open: Early July (for 2025/26 season)
Track opens: 1st of October to 31st of May
Best time to walk: December – March
Cost: $295 (free out of season)

Book Here

August

Wilderness Coast Walk, Victoria

Spend over a week trekking through some of Victoria’s most remote and northern coastline in far-north Gippsland. 

Bookings open: Bookings are open now to 30th of June 2025
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Spring and autumn
Cost: $0 to start before end of May (thanks to free camping in Victoria)

Book Here

December 

Mount Anne Circuit, Tasmania

‘A 16.5km overnight mission up the Queen of the Southwest, Mt Anne, will leave you in awe of Tasmania’s seemingly endless peaks.’ – Alissa Ward

Read more: Mt Anne: Summiting the Queen of Tasmania’s Southwest

@alissa.ward

Bookings open: Month-by-month 10 months in advance
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Summer
Cost: Free! But Tas Parks Pass is required

Book Here

Eastern Arthur Range Traverse, Tasmania

Found in Tassie’s Southwest National Park, this challenging hike passes through the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area over 6-9 days of trekking.

Bookings open: Month-by-month 10 months in advance
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Summer
Cost: Free! But Tas Parks Pass is required

Book Here

Yet to be Announced

New Zealand’s Great Walks are by far the most coveted walking tracks in the whole country. Each year bookings open at a very specific time and date for each individual hike to help control traffic on the Department of Conservation (DOC) website. As such, these dates haven’t yet been announced, but they usually land around May/June. Once DOC has announced the booking dates, we’ll update the article. But it’s still worth thinking about which trails you’re keen to take on. 

Milford Track, New Zealand

Without a doubt, this is New Zealand’s most sought-after Great Walk. Spend four days wandering through magical Fiordland before concluding at the world-renowned Milford Sound. 

Read more: The Magic of the Milford Track

Photo by Bree Townsend

Bookings open: TBC
Track opens: Great Walk Season 29th October 2024 – 30th April 2025, last departure 28th April 2025
Best time to walk: Great Walk Season
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, season, campground or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Kepler Track, New Zealand

The Kepler Track is a fun but challenging four-day hike with hut or camping options, incredible wild swimming side trips and a definite ‘Frodo and Sam in the woods’ vibe. You don’t want to miss this sweet NZ Great Walk.’ – Nicholas Di Genni

Read more: The Kepler Track is a Really Great alk

Photo by Bree Furlong

Bookings open: TBC
Track opens: Great Walk Season 29th October 2024 – 30th April 2025
Best time to walk: Great Walk Season
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, season, campground or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Routeburn Track, New Zealand

Crossing through two national parks (Mt Aspiring and Fiordland) makes the Routeburn Track unique in the Great Walks line up. The towering mountainscape and alpine lakes will transport you straight to Lord of the Rings.

Read more: Rain Can’t Ruin the Routeburn Track, Right?

@wanderer_rachel

Bookings open: TBC
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: Great Walk Season 15th November 2024 – 30th April 2025
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, season, campground or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Rakiura Track, New Zealand

One of the lesser-tramped Great Walks, in part because it’s hidden away on Rakiura / Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third island. Over three days, the Rakiura Track winds along golden beaches, through temperate rainforest, and offers the chance to spot kiwis in the wild!

Bookings open: TBC
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: October – April
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, season, campground or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Abel Tasman Track, New Zealand

If you like your multi-day hikes with a side of coastal paradise then the Abel Tasman Track is for you! Skimming along the northern coastline of the South Island, this track is one of the most popular of the Great Walks so don’t delay!

Bookings open: TBC
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: October – April
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, season, campground or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Paparoa Track, New Zealand

The Paparoa Track can be trekked on two feet or ridden on two mountain bike wheels! Situated on the West Coast of the South Island, this trail crosses the Paproa Range so expect a blend of alpine mountaintops, lush rainforests, and karst limestone cliffs.

Bookings open: TBC
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: October – April
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, season, campground or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Tongariro Northern Circuit, New Zealand

You may be familiar with the incredibly popular 20km Tongariro Alpine Crossing which is walked as a day hike and becomes one of the three days of this multi-day volcanic epic. Why not tack on a few extra days and see a side of this incredible landscape much fewer people get to see?

Read more: Tongariro Alpine Crossing is New Zealand’s Best Day Hike

Bookings open: TBC
Track opens: Year round 
Best time to walk: Great Walk Season 25th October 2024 – 30th April 2025
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, camping or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Whanganui Journey, New Zealand

The only paddling trip of New Zealand’s Great Walks, the Whanganui Journey is a three-day canoe trip along the verdant and culturally significant Whanganui River, the first river in the world to be considered a living being.

Bookings open: Bookings currently open for departure until 30th April 2025
Track opens: Year round 
Best time to paddle: October – April
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, camping or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Lake Waikaremoana Track, New Zealand

Almost circumnavigating Lake Waikeramoana on the North Island, this 3-4 day hike is one of the more backcountry trails of the Great Walks. This trail will immerse you in culture as you walk in Te Urewera, the very first natural feature of New Zealand to be legally recognised in its own right and the home and ancestor of the Tūhoe people.

Bookings open: Bookings are currently open for departure until 3oth June 2025
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: October – May but anytime is suitable
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, camping or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Heaphy Track, New Zealand

Found on the South Island’s West Coast, the Heaphy Track offers a 4-6 day hike, or if you prefer travelling on two wheels, a 2-3 day mountain bike trip! Wander/pedal through tussock downs, palms, and lush forests, alongside the wild seas of the West Coast.

Bookings open: TBC
Track opens: Year round
Best time to walk: October – April
Cost: Fees depend on citizenship, camping or cabin booking, and age

Book Here

Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track

New Zealand’s newest Great Walk, the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, opened earlier this year and is ready for your hiking boots to hit it! It’s a 60km loop at the southern end of Te Rua-o-te-moko Fiordland National Park. The three-day track has two lodges – Ōkaka and Port Craig. Each day is roughly 20km long with the potential of two side tracks to Port Craig settlement and Ōkaka loop walk.

Read more: NZ’s 11th Great Walk is Open

Bookings open: Requests for bookings are open year round
Track opens: Late October – Late April
Best time to walk: Summer
Cost: From $395 per person

Book Now

Feature photo by @reannajc
Table of Contents photo by Julia Banks