Australia’s top-rated hikes of the year revealed

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

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.

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.

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.

Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk, NSW
Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach Circuit, Tas
Grand Canyon Track, NSW
Cape Byron Walking Track, NSW
Werribee Gorge Circuit Walk, Vic
Cape Woolamai Circuit, Vic
Mount Ngungun Summit Track, Qld
Twin Falls Circuit, Qld
Lyrebird Loop Track, Vic
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.

Wind through fern tunnels, stop for a wine in a tram bar, or chase giant murals across the wheatbelt. These drives and rides prove Victoria’s best stories are found off the straight and narrow.

There’s something unmistakably Australian about a road trip: car packed, playlist on, landscapes shifting. Travelling down the highway toward Healesville, in Victoria’s Yarra Valley , the mountains rise, flanking me on both sides. I feel its embrace, a silent invitation to explore what lies beyond.

Moss-covered embankments rise on either side, and towering mountain ash trees form a green tunnel overhead. Road signs warn of wombats and cyclists but with giant ferns lining the roadside, the landscape feels prehistoric, as if a dinosaur might suddenly emerge. This, the Black Spur , is one of my favourite road trips.

The Black Spur

Location: Yarra Ranges
Duration: 30 kilometres / 30 minutes

The Black Spur is short compared to other Victorian road trips, just 30 kilometres, stretching from Healesville to Narbethong. But what it lacks in distance, it makes up for in scenery. Just outside Healesville, Maroondah Dam offers bushwalks and scenic views. However, if pressed for time, Selover’s Lookout is an easy roadside stop offering uninterrupted views of the dam.

In Narbethong, close to the Marysville’s snowfield, is the Black Spur Inn , a charming double-storey brick hotel that’s been welcoming travellers since 1863. Here, diners cosy up by the roaring fire or gaze through the floor-to-ceiling windows, imagining horse-drawn coaches carrying hopeful gold seekers to the eastern goldfields.

Victoria’s Silo Art Trail

Location: Various towns across the Wimmera Mallee region
Duration: More than 200 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days

What began as a way to draw travellers back into town bypassed by highways – places such as Nullawil, Sea Lake and Patchewollock – has grown into a celebrated outdoor art movement. The Silo Art Trail now includes 23 silos, each transformed with large-scale mural portraits sharing local stories, celebrating community heroes, Indigenous history, farming life, or regional identity.

The Nullawil silo, for example, is a portrait of a local farmer in a chequered flannelette shirt alongside his loyal kelpie, painted by artist Sam Bates (AKA Smug). And the silos at Albacutya in the Grampians, painted by artist Kitt Bennett, depict her joyful memories of growing up in the countryside. Many of the murals sit right in the heart of small towns, such as Rochester and St Arnaud , making them perfect spots to pause for a country pub meal or something sweet from a local bakery.

Metung to Mallacoota

Location: Gippsland
Duration: Approximately 220 kilometres / 4 hours

The Gippsland Lakes are a much-loved holiday spot in Victoria, but road-tripping further east reveals much more. Begin in Metung and time your visit with the monthly farmers’ market, or simply linger over lunch on the lawn of the Metung Hotel. Twenty minutes away is Lakes Entrance , where you can watch the fishing boats return with their catch.

Lakes Entrance. (Image: Visit Victoria/Iluminaire Pictures)

Continue to Marlo, where the Snowy River spills into the sea, and Cape Conran for its many beaches and walks. If needing to stretch your legs, Croajingolong National Park is home to the historic Point Hicks Lighthouse and the Wilderness Coast Walk. Birdwatching and rainforest trails near Bemm River are worth a pit stop before arriving in Mallacoota, where the forest meets the sea.

Great Ocean Road

Location: South-west Victoria, from Torquay to Allansford
Duration: Approximately 250 kilometres / 4–5 hours but best over a minimum of three days

Victoria’s most famous road trip delivers it all: world-class surf breaks, rainforest walks, clifftop lookouts and wildlife encounters. The journey begins in Torquay, the state’s surf capital, then hugs the coast past Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay, before curving inland through the lush rainforest of the Otways. Stop at Cape Otway Lightstation or take to the treetops at Otway Fly.

Between Cape Otway and Port Campbell lies the most photographed stretch – seven of the Twelve Apostles still standing, alongside the golden cliffs of Loch Ard Gorge. Further west, Warrnambool is a winter whale-watching hotspot, before the road winds to Port Fairy, a charming fishing village of whalers’ cottages, walking trails and offshore seal colonies further along the coast.

Bellarine Taste Trail

Terindah Estate. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

Location: Bellarine Peninsula
Duration: Approximately 80 kilometres / 2–3 hours

The Bellarine Taste Trail is a feast for the senses, winding through coastal towns, past boutique wineries and artisan producers. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure style trail – simply grab a map and build your own delicious journey.

You might wander historic, seafront Queenscliff, sip wine in a converted tram bar at Terindah Estate , sample a locally distilled whisky at The Whiskery in Drydale or pick up a jar of honey at Wattle Grove in Wallington. Seafood lovers can head to Portarlington, famous for its mussels. Eat them fresh at local restaurants or head out on the water with Portarlington Mussel Tours.

O’Keefe Rail Trail – Bendigo to Heathcote

Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)

Location: Central Victoria
Duration: Approximately 50 kilometres / 4 hours cycling

Travellers first journeyed between Heathcote and Bendigo in 1888, when the railway line was built to link the towns. Trains stopped running in 1956, but today the route has a new life as the O’Keefe Rail Trail . The path is mostly level for easy riding, and along the way you’ll cycle past bushland, waterways and reserves. There are plenty of places to picnic, birdwatch, and if you’re lucky, spot a platypus.

The trail is well supported with water stations, bike repair points, shelters, and signage. Axedale makes a great halfway stop, with the pretty Campaspe River Reserve for a rest and local cafes for refuelling. Begin in Heathcote, known for its wineries and cafes, or in Bendigo, which is easily reached by train from Melbourne/Naarm. Shorter sections, such as Heathcote to Axedale, are also popular.

Goldfields Track – Ballarat to Bendigo

Location: Central Victoria
Duration: Approximately 210 kilometres / 2–3 days cycling

The Goldfields Track traces a route once so rich in gold it made Melbourne one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Starting at Mt Buninyong, south of Ballarat, the trail leads mountain cyclists and walkers north through Creswick, Daylesford and Castlemaine before finishing in Bendigo. Along the way, you’ll encounter granite outcrops, eucalypt forests, rolling farmland and remnants of the region’s mining past.

As it passes through the lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung and Wadawurrung people, the track shares gold rush history and Indigenous stories brought to life by interpretive signs. Walk or ride the full trail or choose from one of its three distinct sections. With cosy stays, cafes and pubs, it’s easy to mix wilderness with comfort.

Australia’s most loved hikes of the year revealed