AllTrails reveals the 5 most popular hikes in Australia

The app has just dropped its yearly wrap of Aussie hiking habits in 2024, including the most popular tracks. Here’s what the stats revealed.

It’s well-known that Aussies love getting outdoors. But new data from hiking app AllTrails has shown just how much we really enjoy hitting the trail. According to the app’s roundup, Aussie AllTrails users navigated 11 million kilometres on the app last year. For reference, that’s the equivalent of walking around the Earth over 30 times! And when it comes to the average Aussie hiker, we ranked third globally, both for the amount of time spent on the trail and for the most kilometres clocked per person. It’s no wonder we’re known as a sporting nation!

As for the most popular hikes in Austalia, here are the trails most trodden in 2024.

1. Grand Canyon Track (Blue Mountains, NSW)

Length: 6 kilometres

The Blue Mountains are a World Heritage Site, a gem of biodiversity just a stone’s throw from Sydney. So, it makes sense that AllTrails’s most popular track of the year hailed from this beloved region. The six-kilometre Grand Canyon Track takes in waterfalls, ferns and striking views over the valley. In the right light, the landscape almost shimmers blue, thanks to the haze emanating from the blue gums that lend the region its name. As an aside, we also recommend extending your trip to do the new Grand Clifftop Walk, too.

Explore the Blue Mountains Grand Canyon Walk. (Images: Getty/Katharina13)

2. Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach Walk (Sydney, NSW)

Length: 12.4 kilometres

New South Wales dominates the list with Sydney’s tried-and-true Bondi to Coogee Walk coming in at second place. Starting at Bondi’s photogenic Icebergs pool and taking in some of the city’s prettiest swimming spots, you’ll see plenty of activewear-clad walkers powering along the trail, oat latte in hand. But this a popular walk for good reason, showcasing Sydney’s coveted coastal lifestyle in a nutshell.

Icebergs swimming pool at Bondi Beach — The Bondi to Coogee Walk showcases why Sydney’s Eastern suburbs are among the country’s most-desired locales. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Mount Lofty Loop (Wonga Park, Vic)

Length: 5 kilometres

Rounding out the top three is the Mount Lofty Loop. This is a popular spot for Melbournians to get a dose of greenery, with the trail steering hikers around the beautiful Yarra Valley and taking in serene views of rolling hills. Best of all, wildlife is abundant here and you’ll likely spot plenty of kangaroos and wallabies as you hike. We’ve also rounded up more great hikes around Melbourne.

Wonga Park in Victoria — Melburnians head to Wonga Park to soak in the greenery.

4. Whistlepipe Gully and Lesmurdie Falls Loop (Perth, WA)

Length: 6.8 kilometres

This stunning track in Mundy Regional Park is a go-to for Perth locals. Best of all, your pooch can accompany you on this dog-friendly trail (as long as they are on a leash). As you walk on this waterfall-dotted trail, you’ll be accompanied by the croak of frogs and maybe even spot a kangaroo or two if you’re lucky.

Lesmurdie Falls Loop is a popular dog-friendly walk near Perth. (Image: Getty/Jonathan Carruthers)

5. Enoggera Reservoir Circuit (Enoggera Reservoir, Qld)

Length: 10.9 kilometres

Meander around this moderate track that encircles Enoggera Reservoir near Brisbane. Marvel as the glassy water budding with plant life. And don’t forget your swimmers so you can enjoy a post-hike dip, as this is a popular swimming spot for locals to cool off.

Check out more of Australia’s best hikes here.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.