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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.

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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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The perfect mid-week reset an hour from Melbourne

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
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    Winding down in the Yarra Valley, where ‘work from home’ becomes ‘work from wine country’.

    Steam from my morning coffee curls gently into the cool valley air, mist-veiled vineyards stretch out in neat rows below me. Magpies warble from trees, and the morning’s quiet carries the soft bleating of lambs from a nearby paddock. Midweek in the Yarra Valley has its own rhythm. It’s slower, quieter, with more empty tables at cafes and cellar doors, and walking trails I can claim all to myself. It’s as if the entire region takes a deep breath once the weekend crowd leaves.

    walking trails in the Yarra Valley
    You’ll find walking trails are less crowded during the week. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    I haven’t come here for a holiday, but to do a little work somewhere other than my home office, where I spend too much time hunched over my desk. Deadlines still loom, meetings still happen, but with flexible work evolving from ‘work from home’ to ‘work from anywhere’, I’m swapping the view of my front yard to the vineyards.

    A quiet afternoon at Yarra Valley Dairy

    holding a glass of wine at Yarra Valley Dairy
    Wine time at Yarra Valley Dairy, where you can enjoy a toastie or bagel in the cafe. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    With the Yarra Valley just over an hour from the CBD, many Melburnians could drive here in their lunch break. I arrive late in the afternoon and am delighted to discover the Yarra Valley Dairy still open. On weekends, I’ve seen queues spilling out the door, but today there’s only one other couple inside. There’s no need to rush to secure a table; instead I browse the little store, shelves stacked with chutneys, spices, artisan biscuits and gorgeous crockery that would look right at home in my kitchen. It’s hard not to buy the lot.

    a cheese tasting plate atYarra Valley Dairy
    A cheese tasting plate at Yarra Valley Dairy.

    I order a coffee and a small cheese platter, though the dairy has a full menu, and choose a wooden table with bentwood chairs by a wide window. The space feels part farm shed, part cosy café: corrugated iron ceiling, walls painted in muted tones and rustic furniture.

    Outside, cows meander toward milking sheds. If pressed for time, there’s the option of quick cheese tastings – four samples for five dollars in five minutes – but today, I’m in no rush. I sip slowly, watching a grey sky settle over the paddock. Less than an hour ago I was hunched over my home-office desk, and now my racing mind has slowed to match the valley’s pace.

    Checking in for vineyard views at Balgownie Estate

    Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate
    Restaurant 1309 at Balgownie Estate has views across the vines.

    As my car rolls to a stop at Balgownie Estate, I’m quietly excited, and curious to see if my plan to work and play comes off. I’ve chosen a suite with a spacious living area and a separate bedroom so I can keep work away from a good night’s sleep. I could have booked a cosy cottage, complete with open fireplace, a comfy couch and a kettle for endless cups of tea, but as I am still here to get some work done, I opt for a place that takes care of everything. Dinner is served in Restaurant 1309, as is breakfast.

    oysters at Restaurant 1309, Balgownie Estate
    Oysters pair perfectly with a crisp white at Restaurant 1309.

    On my first evening, instead of the usual walk about my neighbourhood, I stroll through the estate at an unhurried pace. There’s no need to rush – someone else is preparing my dinner after all. The walking trails offer beautiful sunsets, and it seems mobs of kangaroos enjoy the view, too. Many appear, grazing lazily on the hillside.

    I wake to the call of birds and, after breakfast, with the mist still lingering over the vineyards, I watch two hot-air balloons silently drift above clouds. Perched on a hill, Balgownie Estate sits above the mist, leaving the valley below veiled white.

    kangaroos in Yarra Valley
    Spotting the locals on an evening walk. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Exploring the Yarra Valley on two wheels

    the Yarra Valley vineyards
    Swap your home office for a view of the vineyards. (Image: Visit Victoria/Cormac Hanrahan)

    Perhaps because the Yarra Valley is relatively close to where I live, I’ve never considered exploring the area any way other than by car or on foot. And with a fear of heights, a hot-air balloon is firmly off the table. But when I discover I can hop on two wheels from the estate and cycle into Yarra Glen, I quickly realise it’s the perfect way to step away from my laptop and experience a different side of the region.

    COG Bike offers pedal-assist e-bikes, and while the bike trail and paths into town aren’t particularly hilly, having an extra bit of ‘oomph’ means I can soak up the surroundings. Those lambs I heard calling early in the morning? I now find them at the paddock fence, sniffing my hands, perhaps hoping for food. Cows idle nearby, and at a fork in the bike path I turn left toward town.

    It’s still morning, and the perfect time for a coffee break at The Vallie Store. If it were the afternoon, I’d likely turn right, in the direction of four wineries with cellar doors. The ride is about 15 kilometres return, but don’t let that put you off. Staying off the highway, the route takes you along quiet backroads where you catch glimpses of local life – farmers on tractors, weathered sheds, rows of vines and the kind of peaceful countryside you don’t see from the main road.

    A detour to the Dandenong Ranges

    legs hanging over the sides of the train, Puffing Billy Railway
    The iconic Puffing Billy runs every day except Christmas Day.

    The beauty of basing myself in the Yarra Valley is how close everything feels. In barely half an hour I’m in the Dandenong Ranges, swapping vineyards for towering mountain ash and fern-filled gullies. The small villages of Olinda and Sassafras burst with cosy teahouses, antique stores and boutiques selling clothing and handmade body care items.

    I’m drawn to RJ Hamer Arboretum – Latin for ‘a place for trees’. Having grown up among tall trees, I’ve always taken comfort in their presence, so this visit feels like a return of sorts. A stroll along the trails offers a choice: wide open views across patchwork paddocks below, or shaded paths that lead you deeper into the quiet hush of the peaceful forest.

    The following day, I settle into a quiet corner on the balcony of Paradise Valley Hotel in Clematis and soon hear Puffing Billy’s whistle and steady chuff as the steam train climbs towards town. Puffing Billy is one of Australia’s most beloved steam trains, running through the Dandenong Ranges on a narrow-gauge track. It’s famous for its open carriages where passengers can sit with their legs hanging over the sides as the train chugs through the forest. This is the perfect spot to wave to those on the train.

    After my midweek break, I find my inbox still full and my to-do list not in the least shrunken, just shifted from one task to another. But I return to my home office feeling lighter, clearer and with a smug satisfaction I’d stolen back a little time for myself. A midweek wind-down made all the difference.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    Balgownie Estate offers everything from cellar door tastings to spa treatments and fine dining – all without leaving the property.

    Playing there

    the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Yarra Valley
    Visit the TarraWarra Museum of Art. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Wander through Alowyn Gardens, including a stunning wisteria tunnel, then explore the collection of contemporary artworks at TarraWarra Museum of Art. Cycle the Yarra Valley with COG Bike to visit local wineries and cellar doors.

    Eating and drinking there

    Olinda Tea House offers an Asian-inspired high tea. Paradise Valley Hotel, Clematis has classic pub fare, while the iconic Yering Station offers wine tastings and a restaurant with seasonal dishes.

    seasonal dishes at the restaurant inside Yering Station
    The restaurant at Yering Station showcases the best produce of the Yarra Valley. (Image: Visit Victoria)