Australia's answer to the Camino de Santiago is hiding in SA

Forget crowded Spanish pilgrimage routes. South Australia’s Aussie Camino offers long-distance walking, country pubs, volcanic landscapes and a deeply Australian story of resilience.

Europe has the Camino de Santiago, Japan has the Kumano Kodo and tucked away on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, Australia has its own pilgrimage trail, one that swaps medieval villages for country pubs, volcanic craters, pine forests and paddocks stretching towards the horizon.

The Aussie Camino isn’t a wilderness survival challenge. There are no mountain passes to conquer, tents to pitch or dehydrated meals to endure. Instead, walkers spend five days travelling between Port MacDonnell and Penola, carrying only a daypack while their luggage is transferred ahead. Nights are spent in comfortable country accommodation, meals are shared, while stories are exchanged, and somewhere between the blisters and belly laughs, something shifts.

Walkers on The Aussie Camino, Limestone Coast, South Australia — The Aussie Camino follows in the footsteps of Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop. (Credit: Liam Mills)

“Travellers have sought out pilgrimages for thousands of years," says Natasha Dawson, owner of Walk the Limestone Coast. “Walking calms the mind and opens the heart. Slow, meaningful travel experiences are deeply enriching. They stay with a person far longer than a standard travel experience, warming the soul and lighting a fire in the belly for more."

It’s a sentiment that feels increasingly relevant in a world obsessed with speed.

Trail overview

The Aussie Camino follows the footsteps of Australia’s first saint, Mary MacKillop, retracing part of her journey through the Limestone Coast. The guided walk covers approximately 71 kilometres over four walking days, averaging between 12 and 21 kilometres per day.

Distance: 71 kilometres.

Duration: Five nights / four walking days.

Difficulty: Grade 2–3 (moderate).

Best suited to: Beginner and intermediate walkers who are comfortable covering up to 20 kilometres in a day.

Accessibility: Unlike many of Australia’s iconic long-distance walks, the Aussie Camino is designed to be accessible. There are luggage transfers, accommodation bookings, meals and support along the way. Walkers receive a Camino passport, shell and guidebook, collecting stamps throughout the journey before receiving a completion certificate in Penola.

Where the trail goes

Little Blue Lake, Limestone Coast, South Australia — The trail passes the famous Blue Lake in Mount Gambier. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

The route traverses Bunganditj and Boandik Country, beginning in the fishing village of Port MacDonnell before winding inland through some of South Australia’s most underrated landscapes.

Day one follows the coastline before heading towards Mount Schank, an extinct volcano offering sweeping views of lush farming lands back towards the sea. The trail then passes the famous Blue Lake in Mount Gambier, a striking volcanic crater that turns cobalt blue during summer.

From there, walkers move through pine plantations, farmland and stringybark forests towards Mingbool before continuing through red gum country and agricultural landscapes dotted with wetlands, orchards and grazing cattle. One highlight is the eucalyptus-lined avenue known locally as Lovers Lane on the approach to Kalangadoo.

The final day leads into Penola, where Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods established St Joseph’s School in 1866 – the birthplace of a movement that would transform education for rural and disadvantaged Australian children.

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What it’s like to walk

The beauty of the Aussie Camino lies in its simplicity. There are no dramatic alpine ascents or technical sections demanding specialist skills; instead, the landscape unfolds slowly. Limestone roads give way to bushland, and volcanic craters emerge unexpectedly from farmland. Small towns appear just when a coffee or cold drink feels most needed.

“What surprises people most is how quickly they relax and connect," says Dawson. “The friendships that are made, the characters they meet along the way and how the history and landscape eases them."

There is a rhythm to walking here, and phones are often set to silent while conversations drift among fellow walkers. Sometimes the group spreads out, each person finding their own pace and space. The Limestone Coast seems designed for contemplation.

“What makes people slow down almost immediately?" says Dawson. “Space. Fresh air. Open countryside. Less people, noise and traffic."

Who this walk is best for

Aussie Camino walk — Walkers experience a sense of self-reliance without having to go completely off-grid. (Credit: Walk the Limestone Coast)

The Aussie Camino is ideal for travellers curious about long-distance walking but intimidated by Australia’s more demanding multi-day hikes.

Because accommodation, meals and luggage transfers are organised, walkers can focus on the experience rather than logistics. It appeals equally to solo travellers, groups of friends and couples looking for a challenge without roughing it.

“You will be supported," says Dawson, and that reassurance is part of the appeal.

Unlike the Camino de Santiago, where extensive infrastructure supports walkers every few kilometres, Australia’s version feels more remote and self-reliant.

“There are less people and less infrastructure," Dawson explains. “People need to plan and be comfortable travelling through the countryside without access to many facilities along the way, though they’re only ever about 30 minutes from a town."

What is the accommodation like?

Forget tented accommodation, the Aussie Camino accommodation can change due to availability and include cabins, converted Churches, hotels, and small-town lodgings with beds, linen and shared facilities. Depending on group size, walkers may enjoy private rooms or twin-share arrangements.

After spending the day walking through open countryside, there’s something deeply satisfying about arriving at a warm room, a hot shower and a shared dinner. The walk is designed to offer the rewards of a pilgrimage without the discomfort often associated with one.

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What is the food like?

Breakfasts are simple, nourishing and designed for days on the trail, with porridge or muesli, yoghurt, fresh fruit, toast and eggs setting walkers up each morning. Lunches typically feature freshly made wraps and salads, while evenings alternate between home-cooked meals and hearty country pub fare. Dietary requirements can be accommodated, but one piece of advice: pack more snacks than you think you’ll need. After hours on the track, you’ll be surprised how quickly hunger catches up with you.

More than the food itself, it’s the communal aspect that stays with walkers. Shared meals become part of the experience, creating space for stories, laughter and connection.

How to plan your walk

Training is recommended but achievable for most reasonably active people. Organisers suggest gradually building up to a 15-kilometre walk while carrying a backpack and wearing your intended footwear before departure. Hiking poles are also recommended.

Expect to carry only a daypack. Luggage is transferred daily between accommodations. Walkers should bring comfortable, worn-in footwear, wet-weather gear, sun protection, a water capacity of at least two litres, a blister kit and snacks.

Good to know

Aussie camino weather — Layering is key. (Credit: Rebecca Foreman)

Best time to walk: May and September–November. The walk operates in the cooler months, as autumn and spring offer the most comfortable temperatures.

Weather: Summer temperatures in Mount Gambier average 24°C, while winter highs typically reach around 16°C. Walkers should be prepared for changing conditions, including rain and strong winds. Waterproof layers are essential.

Mobile reception: Limited for Optus and Vodafone users around Kalangadoo.

Water and food: Carry at least two litres of water daily. Meals are included on most walking days.

Toilets: Limited in some rural sections. Carry toilet paper and hand sanitiser.

Parking: Available in Penola for walkers leaving vehicles during the journey.

Accessibility: Suitable for reasonably fit walkers but not wheelchair accessible.

Safety: Ambulance cover is recommended. Check your insurance before travelling.

The verdict? The Aussie Camino proves you don’t need to fly to Europe to discover the transformative power of pilgrimage. Sometimes, the journey starts with simply putting one foot in front of the other on a quiet country road in South Australia.

Makers, bakers, artists, chefs, crafters – Ballarat and its surrounds are overflowing with creative spirits. All dedicated to keeping traditional skills alive for a city that is humming with artful energy.

Modern makers: a new generation of artists and artisans

“Keeping craft alive is a noble cause,” says Jess Cameron-Wootten, a charming and passionate master leathercrafter and cordwainer, who handmakes traditional leather boots and shoes in Ballarat’s old Gun Cotton Goods Store.

Ballarat was recognised in 2019 as a UNESCO Creative City of Craft and Folk Art, and today it’s a place where craft traditions converge with contemporary needs. Nothing quite captures this convergence as a visit to Wootten, the workshop and store of Jess Cameron-Wootten and his partner Krystina Menegazzo.

heritage buildings in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets are lined with heritage buildings. (Image: Matt Dunne)

Jess’s father was an artisan bootmaker, or cordwainer. Now Jess and Krys and their small team of artisans continue the tradition, but with a modern spin. The company’s boots and shoes, made completely from scratch, are renowned for their quality and longevity. Wootten also craft shoes, bags, belts, leather aprons, wallets and more.

Cosy beanies, gloves, alpaca socks, “unbreakable” shoelaces and various other goods – many from local craftspeople and small-scale makers – fill the shop’s shelves. “We’re always happy to support a mate,” says Jess. “People love to see the workshop and where things are made. Our clients care about quality and sustainability,” Krys comments. The company slogan ‘Made for generations’ says it all.

Ruby Pilven’s ceramics at Ross Creek Gallery. (Image: Tara Moore)

For Ruby Pilven, craft is also in the DNA – both her parents were potters and with her latest porcelain ceramics, Ruby’s young daughter has been helping add colour to the glazes. “I grew up watching my parents in the workshop – I’ve always been doing ceramics,” she says, although her Visual Arts degree was in printmaking. That printmaking training comes through particularly in the rich layering of pattern. Her audacious colour, unexpected shapes and sudden pops of 12-carat gold are contemporary, quirky – and joyful.

You can see Ruby’s handcrafted ceramics, and work by other local and regional artists, at Ross Creek Gallery, a light-filled space surrounded by serene bushland, across from the mudbrick house her parents built in the 1980s. A 10-minute drive from Ballarat, it’s a tangible link to the region’s well-established craft traditions.

How Ballarat is preserving the past

artisans making crafts at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — The Centre for Rare Arts & Forgotten Trades holds workshops to preserve crafts and skills.

While tradition is ongoing, there’s a danger that many of these specific type of skills and knowledge are fading as an older generation passes on. Step forward the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

The seven purpose-built studios occupy a fabulous modern building adjacent to Sovereign Hill, with state-of-the-art facilities, enormous windows and landscape views across to Warrenheip and Wadawurrung Country.

artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades, Ballarat — Check out artisanal works at the Centre for Rare Arts and Forgotten Trades.

Practising artisans run hands-on workshops. Fancy making your own medieval armour? Or trying your hand at blacksmithing, spinning wool, plaiting leather, weaving cane or craft a knife? Book a class and learn how. “It’s about creating awareness and also sharing knowledge and skills before they are lost,” explains Deborah Klein, the centre manager.

A city steeped in food and flavours

Chef José Fernandez preparing American streetfood at Pancho — Chef José Fernandez creates vibrant South American street food at Pancho. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

One skill that hasn’t been lost is that of cooking. Ballarat’s burgeoning gastronomy scene runs the gamut from an artisan bakery (the atmospheric 1816 Bakehouse) to cool coffee shops, speakeasy cocktail bars and distilleries to fine-dining venues. But I’m still surprised to find Pancho, José Fernandez’s South American street food restaurant, serving fried cheese tequeños, fiery fish tacos, Argentinian grilled chicken.

The room is as lively as the food – a whirl of colour filled with gifted and thrifted paintings, photos, tchotchkes (trinkets), plants. There’s a Mexican abuela aesthetic going on here. Even before the music and mezcal kick in, it’s fun. Heads up on the drinks menu – an authentic selection of mezcal, tequila, South American wines and Mexican cerveza.

a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits, Ballarat — Enjoy a cocktail at Itinerant Spirits. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

The spirit is willing, so after lunch we head towards the gold rush-era Ballarat train station and across the line to the old 1860s Goods Shed for Itinerant Spirits. At one end, a massive German copper still looms behind a wall of glass. The fit-out embraces deep olive-green tones, original bluestone walls, steamer trunks as coffee tables, heritage timber floors, oversized lamp shades and cognac-hued modernist leather seating.

the Itinerant Spirits Distillery & Cocktail Bar, Ballarat — The distillery operates from an old goods shed. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Gallivanter Gin, Vansetter Vodka and Wayfarer Whiskey – the key spirits distilled – star at the bar. The spirits are crafted using grains from the Wimmera Mallee region, and native botanicals foraged in the Grampians. Seasonal cocktails are inspired by local people and places (I loved The Headland, inspired by Sovereign Hill and flavoured with old-fashioned raspberry drops). Sample the spirits, and join a cocktail masterclass or a distillery tour. It’s a seductive setting – you’ll likely find yourself ordering a charcuterie platter or pizza as the evening progresses.

The Ballarat stay combining history and luxury

one of the rooms at Hotel Vera, Ballarat — The rooms at Hotel Vera have a contemporary style. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

New lives for old buildings keeps history alive. Vera, Ballarat’s boutique five-star hotel, has taken it to the next level: it’s a palimpsest, a subtle layering of early 1900s and 1930s Art Deco architecture with a sleek new wing. There are seven spacious suites, each a dramatically different colour, with designer chairs, blissful bathrooms. High-end pottery and hand-picked artworks imbue the spaces with personality.

Vera’s intimate, award-winning restaurant, Babae, is subtly theatrical with sheer drapes and gallery lighting, its bespoke timber furniture and brass-edged marble bench setting the stage for food with a sharp regional focus. “We have goat’s cheese from a local supplier, handmade granola from local Vegas & Rose, truffles from nearby Black Cat Truffles, fresh food from our garden, and regional wines,” says joint owner David Cook-Doulton.

Celebrating the local makers, bakers, growers and producers, and the master chefs who work their magic is all part of the rich tapestry that links Ballarat’s history to its vibrant present.

A traveller’s checklist

Getting there

It’s 90 minutes from Melbourne, either on the Western Freeway, or hop on a V/Line train from Southern Cross Station.

Staying there

Hotel Vera is a centrally located Art Deco boutique hotel. Consider Hotel Provincial, which feels like a sleek country house, but with its own restaurant, Lola.

a contemporary room at Hotel Provincial, Ballarat — Hotel Provincial has country house vibes.

Eating there

dining at Mr Jones, Ballarat — The table is set at Mr Jones. (Image: Tony Evans/ Visit Victoria)

Culinary whiz Damien Jones helms Chef’s Hat winner Mr Jones Dining with quiet assurance. His modern Asian food is deceptively simple with deep, intense flavours. Low-key, laid-back ambience, lovely staff, thoughtful wine list.

Cocktails are definitely a thing in Ballarat. Reynard (fox in French) is foxy indeed, a clubby space with top-notch cocktails and small bites. Grainery Lane is extravagantly OTT with its massive 1880s bar, myriad chandeliers, brass gin still, Asian-inspired food and lavish cocktails.

dining at Grainery Lane, Ballarat — Dining at Grainery Lane.

Playing there

a laneway filled with artworks in Ballarat — An artful laneway in the city. (Image: Ballarat Tourism)

Check out local design legend Travis Price’s wall murals in Hop Lane with its colourful canopy of brollies, or in Main Street. The Art Gallery of Ballarat’s off-site Backspace Gallery showcases early-career artists in a stylish, contemporary space. First Nations-owned and run Perridak Arts connects people to place, bringing together art and crafts in this gallery/shop.

a woman admiring artworks at Perridak Arts Gallery — Perridak Arts is a First Nations-run gallery. (Image: Tony Evans)

The wineries of the Pyrenees are close at hand with their welcoming cellar doors and robust reds. Join a behind-the-scenes tour at the Centre for Gold Rush Collections.

Don’t forget the giant bluestone Kryal Castle, ‘the land of adventure’, for a little medieval magic, and not just for the kids: get ready for Highland-style feasting, jousting, even overnight stays.

Australia’s answer to the Camino de Santiago is hiding in SA