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Australia’s most loved hikes of the year revealed

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
Which hikes are you adding to your list in 2026?

Australia’s walking tracks are having a moment, and the latest data from AllTrails reveals exactly where hikers went in 2025. Based on user ratings from millions of walkers, the list highlights the highest-rated hikes in Australia right now, from alpine Tassie circuits to outback canyon climbs, and coastal cliff walks.

If you’re planning a hiking trip this year, these are the trails earning near-perfect scores.

1. Crater Lake, Marion’s Lookout, Lake Lilla and Dove Lake Loop, Tas

Crater Lake and Cradle Mountain
This Cradle Mountain classic packs a lot into one walk. (Image: Tourism Tasmania / Luke Tscharke)

Distance: 9.2km loop
Difficulty: Grade 3

One of Tasmania’s most scenic alpine circuits, this Cradle Mountain classic packs a lot into one walk. Expect glacial lakes, button grass plains and a steep climb to Marion’s Lookout, where jagged peaks and alpine valleys stretch into the distance. It’s demanding in sections, but the views make it one of the most rewarding day walks in the country.

2. Kings Canyon Rim Walk, NT

Would you stand on the edge of this breathtaking Australian landscape? It's all part of a guided Kings Canyon Rim Walk, through ancient red domes and towering cliffs in the heart of the Northern Territory.

Distance: 6km loop
Difficulty: Grade 4

This iconic Red Centre hike climbs out of the canyon via a steep staircase before tracing the rim high above the sandstone walls. Along the way, walkers pass waterholes and ancient rock formations, with sweeping desert views the whole way around. It’s short but challenging, especially in the heat.

3. Cradle Mountain Summit and Hansons Peak via the Overland Track, Tas

Cradle Summit Walk
The Cradle Summit Walk is for more experienced walkers. (Image: Tourism Tasmania / Matty Eaton)

Distance: 13km return
Difficulty: Grade 5

A tougher option for experienced walkers, this route uses sections of the Overland Track to reach two of the region’s most impressive lookouts. Weather can change quickly here, but on a clear day, the panoramic views over alpine wilderness are hard to beat.

4. North Gorge Walk, North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah), Qld

North Gorge Walk on North Stradbroke Island
The North Gorge Walk is an easy stroll. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland / Jesse Lindemann)

Distance: 1.2km
Difficulty: Grade 2

This self-guided coastal circuit delivers big pay-off for relatively little effort. Clifftop boardwalks and rocky headlands frame turquoise water below, making the North Gorge Walk one of Queensland’s most photogenic short walks and a standout for travellers chasing scenery over distance. There are some sections with steps along the boardwalk and viewing platforms.

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5. The Pinnacle, Grampians National Park, Vic

The Pinnacle in Grampians National Park at sunset
The Pinnacle is striking at sunset.

Distance: approx. 4.2km return
Difficulty: Grade 4

A steep climb through bushland leads to one of Victoria’s most dramatic viewpoints in Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. From the summit, the rocky outcrop looks out over deep valleys and layered ridgelines, especially striking at sunrise or sunset.

6. Bald Head Walk Trail, Torndirrup National Park, WA

Bald Head Trail and Bluff Knoll, Stirling Range National Park
Bald Head Walk Trail is a memorable hike. (Image: Tourism Western Australia)

Distance: 12.5km return
Difficulty: Grade 4

This rugged coastal walk near Albany follows a narrow ridge between two beaches, with constant ocean views and wild southern coastline scenery, and during wildflower season, it’s covered in blooms. It’s exposed and windy in places, but it’s easily one of Western Australia’s most memorable day hikes.

7. Bungoona Walk, Bald Rock National Park, NSW

The Bungoona Walk in Bald Rock National Park, NSW
The Bungoona Walk rewards hikers with sweeping views. (Image: Leah Pippos / DCCEEW)

Distance: 5.7km return
Difficulty: Grade 3

Climbing Australia’s largest exposed granite rock, the Bungoona Walk rewards hikers with sweeping views across the New England region. 30 kilometres outside of Tenterfield, the final ascent is steep but well worth it, especially on clear days when the surrounding countryside stretches endlessly.

8. Grand Canyon Track, Blue Mountains, NSW (Second  year in a row)

The scenic Grand Canyon Walking Track in the Blue Mountains National Park, Blackheath.
The Grand Canyon Track is always a favourite. (Image: Destination NSW)

Distance: 6.3km loop
Difficulty: Grade 3

A long-time Blue Mountains favourite, this shaded loop winds through lush rainforest, sandstone walls and fern-filled gullies. Waterfalls, creek crossings and cool canyon air make it a popular choice year-round. It is also the only walk on the list to have been awarded a spot on the most loved list for two consecutive years.

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9. Bishop and Clerk Track, Maria Island, Tas

Views from Bishop and Clerk peak in Maria Island, Tasmania, Australia
The views from the Bishop and Clerk Track are unbeatable. (Image: Getty Images / estivillml)

Distance: 11km return
Difficulty: Grade 4

One of Maria Island’s most rewarding hikes, this track climbs steadily from the Darlington settlement to a rocky summit with sweeping views across the island and out to the Tasman Sea. Expect a mix of open woodland, coastal vistas and a final steep scramble to the top. Wildlife sightings, including wombats and kangaroos, are common along the way, making this a standout hike for walkers visiting the island.

10. The Pinnacle via Wonderland Car Park, Grampians National Park, Vic

The Pinnacle in Grampians National Park
This slight variation of The Pinnacle also made the list.

Distance: approx. 4km return
Difficulty: Grade 4

A more demanding variation of The Pinnacle walk , this route adds steep rocky areas, which can be slippery in the wet and extra elevation before reaching the same jaw-dropping lookout. Ideal for walkers wanting a fun challenge.

The most popular hikes Australians are walking right now

Couple enjoying the coastal view, Tamarama
The Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk is Australia’s most popular hike. (Image: Destination NSW)

While the highest-rated hikes lean towards more remote and challenging terrain, AllTrails data also shows which walks Australians are actually tackling in huge numbers. These are the most popular trails of 2025.

  1. Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, NSW
  2. Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit, Tas
  3. Grand Canyon Track, NSW
  4. Cape Byron Walking Track, NSW
  5. Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk, Vic
  6. Cape Woolamai Circuit, Vic
  7. Mount Ngungun Summit Track, Qld
  8. Twin Falls Circuit, Qld
  9. Lyrebird Loop Track, Vic
  10. Mount Lofty Loop, SA

Whether you’re chasing five-star ratings or well-worn favourites, this year’s AllTrails list proves Australia’s best hikes range from easy classics to serious wilderness adventures.

Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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Good food, beautiful nature & history: your guide to a long weekend in West Gippsland

(Credit: Rob Blackburn)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    From rainforest walks and scenic drives to historic gold-rush towns and standout regional dining experiences, you can find it all in West Gippsland.

    Hover over West Gippsland on Google Earth and you’ll see vast tracts of land spread out like green velveteen around the Toorongo Falls Reserve. It’s a landscape that feels almost impossibly lush for a region sitting little more than an hour from Melbourne.

    Track southeast in late autumn and early winter and you’ll see pockets of the Mt Baw Baw Plateau dusted in snow. In addition to the forests of mountain ash veined with creeks and rivers, there are pastures and farmland cross-stitched together to form pretty patchworks.

    But West Gippsland isn’t defined by scenery alone: in addition to its awe-inspiring nature, a Venn diagram of the region includes gold-rush history and great culinary experiences.  Spend a long weekend here and it quickly becomes clear how often these three overlap.

    Getting there

    Messmates Dining west gippsland
    Spend the weekend eating and exploring in West Gippsland. (Credit: Messmates Dining)

    Getting to West Gippsland involves as easy drive – it’s just over an hour out of Melbourne along the Monash Freeway.

    Not driving? Catch the train from Melbourne on the Gippsland line, terminating at either Traralgon or Bairnsdale, and hop off at Warragul or Drouin.

    Visit historic villages

    Walhalla historic township
    Wander into Australia’s Gold Rush history at Walhalla. (Credit: Rob Blackburn)

    The West Gippsland region is on the Traditional Lands of the Kulin and Kurnai nations, specifically linked to the Bunurong, Gunaikurnai and Wurundjeri Peoples, whose connection to Country stretches back thousands of years.

    European settlement occurred in the 19th century as timber cutters, farmers and gold seekers pushed into the region’s dense forests. Small towns grew around sawmills and railway lines, and many of those gold rush settlements, timber towns and railway villages still shape the character of the region today.

    The most evocative of these is Walhalla Historic Township , a remarkably preserved gold-rush township tucked deep in the mountains. In the late 1800s, it was one of Victoria’s richest goldfields. Today visitors can step inside that history at the Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine, where underground tours reveal the scale of the mining operation that once powered the town’s prosperity. Nearby, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway retraces part of the original narrow-gauge line through the valley, offering a slow journey past forest and river scenery.

    Further west, Noojee is a classic mountain village. It’s surrounded by dense forest and waterfalls and has become a natural base for exploring the Baw Baw region. Just outside town, Noojee Trestle Bridge stands as one of West Gippsland’s most striking relics of the rail era. The towering wooden structure is the tallest surviving trestle bridge in Victoria and today forms the centrepiece of an easy scenic walk with wide views across the valley.

    Alpine Trout Farm west gippsland
    Catch your own lunch at Alpine Trout Farm. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)

    At Alpine Trout Farm near Noojee, visitors can fish for trout in mountain-fed ponds before enjoying the catch prepared fresh onsite. It’s a simple experience that reflects the area’s long connection to the surrounding waterways.

    Back in Warragul , the region’s main service town, the story shifts from heritage to modern regional life. With galleries, restaurants and sweeping views across the rolling farmland of Gippsland, the town has become a lively hub linking the district’s past with its evolving food and cultural scene. Drive through the town and you’ll find heritage buildings, old pubs and weatherboard cottages that hint at the area’s early days as a frontier landscape.

    In other towns the past survives in quieter ways – a historic hall here, a century-old bakery there.

    Walks, waterfalls and wild places

    Toorongo Falls in west gippsland
    Stroll Toorongo Falls Reserve. (Credit: Nicky Cawood)

    Even simple roadside stops can feel cinematic in West Gippsland. The region also delivers plenty of opportunities to lace up your walking shoes.

    One of the region’s most rewarding nature escapes lies just outside Noojee at Toorongo Falls Reserve . A network of walking tracks winds through the cool-temperate rainforest where towering mountain ash trees filter the light and the air smells of rich, damp earth. The 2.2-kilometre trail to the viewing platform overlooking Toorongo Falls is short, but spectacular, as the water cascades down over moss-covered rock faces into a cool, green gully in Little Toorongo River.

    Further north, the Mount Baw Baw Alpine Resort offers year-round adventures. In winter, the mountain attracts skiers and snowboarders. The warmer months are just as compelling, with scenic drives to see alpine wildflowers, mountain bike trails and panoramic hiking routes that open across the plateau.

    Cyclists and walkers looking for a more relaxed pace can follow the Rokeby Neerim Rail Trail , which traces a former railway line through farmland and small Gippsland villages. The mostly flat trail passes rolling paddocks, creeks and historic bridges, making it an easy way to drop it down a gear when exploring the countryside.

    Taste the best eats of West Gippsland

    Hogget Kitchen west gippsland
    Taste the best of the region at Hogget Kitchen.

    For many travellers, the real drawcards of West Gippsland are the food and wine. The region sits in the heart of Victoria’s fertile dairy country, and that agricultural backdrop has helped shape a dining scene where seasonal produce and local provenance take centre stage.

    Hogget Kitchen has helped put Warragul firmly on the radar for serious regional dining in West Gippsland. Here, head chef and owner Trevor Perkins runs the kitchen alongside well-known winemakers William (Bill) Downie and Pat Sullivan. Hogget Kitchen lives up to its promise of exceptional destination dining; what lands on the table depends largely on what nearby farms have harvested that week as well as a wine list from Wild Dog Winery and other Gippsland producers.

    Warragul is also where you’ll find Messmates Dining where the kitchen team is led by Michelin-trained chefs. The Euro-leaning bistro and wine bar brings a polished edge to the local dining scene using produce sourced from across West Gippsland.

    For something more casual, the century-old Noojee Hotel is the kind of hub that every traveller dreams of finding after a long drive. Expect generous pub classics served on the sunny deck in summer or beside the crackle of a log fire in winter.  Nearby, rustic Toolshed Bar, Bistro & Cabins is the place to go for a wood-fired pizza topped with smoked local trout paired with Gippsland wine, making it a rewarding stop for lunch or an overnight stay.

    Time your visit with the Truffle Festival

    Food lovers visiting in winter should consider timing their trip to coincide with Noojee Truffle Festival , running from 10 July to 2 August 2026. The inaugural event celebrates the region’s emerging truffle industry with tastings, special menus and events built around one of winter’s most prized ingredients.

    Start planning your long weekend in West Gippsland at visitgippsland.com.au .