NSW‘s 7 ‘Great Walks’ revealed: How many have you ticked off?

Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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Australia has some incredible multi-day hikes. But this list is putting NSW front-and-centre a hiking destination.

Australians love a hike, and we’re certainly spoiled for choice with an abundance of epic trails in each state. But Parks NSW is bringing the state front-and-centre with a new, official list of NSW’s ‘Great Walks’. The list consists of the state’s best multi-day hikes, and comprises diverse landscapes from mighty alpine peaks to coastlines abundant with opportunities for spotting marine life. So, how many have you done? We break down the list below (from easiest to most difficult).

1. Grand Cliff Top Walk

The Grand Cliff Top Walk in the Blue Mountains has made a bit of a splash since it officially opened in March 2024, immediately topping AllTrails’ round up of the most popular hikes of the year. Indeed, the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains are known for its excellent hiking. Immerse yourself in this multi-day walk, which traces the clifftop taking in splendid views over two days. Best of all, the walk never strays far from mountain villages, so walkers have plenty of food and accommodation options.

  • 2 days, 1 night
  • 19 kilometres
The Grand Cliff Top Walk Undercliff Track in the Blue Mountains
Ditch the crowded lookouts on the new Grand Cliff Top Walk. (Image: R Brand/DCCEEW)

2. Tomaree Coastal Walk

Meander along the coast of Tomaree National Park in Port Stephens. Keep your eyes on the ocean – you’ll likely spot dolphins and whales here. Finish at Anna Bay and witness the fantastic Stockton sand dunes – the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. You also don’t have to rough it on this hike, as there are local villages and cafes along the way to cover all your accommodation and food needs.

  • 2-3 days, 1-2 nights
  • 27 kilometres
Spot whales on the Tomaree Coastal Walk.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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3. Murramarang South Coast Walk

Take some time out on the glorious South Coast with this walk that traverses the coast between Ulladulla and Batemans Bay. Start at Pretty Beach and make your way to Maloneys Beach over 3-4 days, passing through forests of towering spotted gums. There are plenty of campsites and cabins for ease.

  • 3-4 days, 2-3 nights
  • 34 kilometres
an aerial view of NSW’s Murramarang South Coast Walk
Enjoy the scenery while following the Murramarang South Coast Walk. (Image: John Spencer/Department of Planning and Environment)

4. Light to Light Walk

Connect the coast along Beowa National Park between two heritage lighthouses that bookend the start and end of the hike. This walk in the far south of the state is close to the whale-watching town of Eden, so keep your eyes peeled for the marine wildlife that can often be seen from the shore.

  • 3 days, 2 nights
  • 32 kilometres
aerial views overlooking Bittangabee Bay in Beowa National Park, Green Cape
The beaches on the Light to Light Walk are lapped by turquoise waters. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Snowies Alpine Walk

The Snowies Alpine Walk connects pre-existing trails to create a one-of-a-kind multi-day hike that takes walkers through wildflower meadows and snow gum forests before summiting Mount Kosciuszko. There are accommodation options in historic towns like Thredbo (the off-season for skiiers is on-season for hikers).

  • 4 days, 3 nights
  • 56 kilometres
snowies alpine walk
The Snowies Alpine Walk takes walkers through idyllic alpine landscapes before ascending the highest peak tin Australia. (Image: RBrand/DCCEEW)
Last month, the Snowies Alpine Walk in Kosciuszko National Park opened, and we hit the trail to check it out! This four-day hike is a must-do, showcasing why this famous skiing destination is also perfect for a summer escape.

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6. Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk

This hike in the Northern Rivers feels like being encased in a giant emerald. On the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk, you’ll pass through World Heritage Gondwana rainforest and across ancient volcanic landscapes. There are secluded and beautiful campsites to stay at, but you’ll need to book them in advance to secure a spot.

  • 4 days, 3 nights
  • 42 kilometres
Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk Minyon Falls
The trail follows the rim of an ancient shield volcano and culminates at the spectacular Minyon Falls. (Image: D Parsons/DCCEEW)

7. The Green Gully Track

This remote loop in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park is for experienced hikers only. But it more than makes up for the challenge with breathtaking scenery, pristine wilderness, dramatic gorges and rivers. There are even heritage-listed stockmans huts to offer some reprieve: you don’t need a tent, just book a spot in a hut.

  • 4 days, 5 nights
  • 65 kilometres
Elizabeth Whitehead
Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
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These new small group tours allow intimate access to Australia’s best experiences

    Lee Mylne Lee Mylne
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    Big skies and otherworldly landscapes are the hallmarks of Australia. Discovering them in-depth becomes easier with the experts.

    Australia’s extraordinary landscapes make this vast continent like no other place on Earth, offering an unforgettable feast for the senses as you traverse deserts, cruise on vast inland lakes and dine under star-studded skies. What makes this land special is the people you’ll meet along the way, and the chance to forge a deep connection with the country and its people. The new AAT Kings small-group tours focus on the incredible experiences available in remote places that might otherwise seem daunting.

    With an average of 16 guests and a maximum of 24, the tours offer intimate access to the best Australia has to offer, with special behind-the-scenes encounters led by knowledgeable experts.

    1. Tasmania and Flinders Island Explorer

    aerial shot of flinders island tasmania
    Fly over beautiful Flinders Island as part of a tour of Tasmania. (Image: Luke Tscharke)

    Escape the tourist trail in north-eastern Tasmania while still seeing everything the island state has to offer. From coastal villages to bucolic rural scenery, the six-day Tasmania and Flinders Island Explorer tour offers world-class food and wine, with the bonus of a flight to Flinders Island.

    From Launceston, the tour winds through the verdant Tamar Valley and includes a stop at Fork It Farm, where guests are given insight into sustainable farming while snacking on a house-made charcuterie platter paired with Tasmanian wines.

    Fly by private plane to secluded Flinders Island, uncovering pristine beaches and savouring local seafood and wine. Explore the main settlement and learn about the history of Settlement Point and Wybalenna before soaking up views of the island and Bass Strait and exploring part of Strzelecki National Park. From there, it’s another scenic flight to Bicheno, flying down the east coast of Tasmania and across the stunning Bay of Fires and Wineglass Bay (a taste of what’s to come by land).

    Other highlights include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Brickendon Estate, still run by the same family since its founding in 1824, where the property’s convict history will be revealed.

    In Devonport, a heritage train ride will track alongside the Don River to Coles Beach before returning to learn more about Tasmania’s railway history and vintage locomotives at Don River Railway.

    2. South Australian Outback Adventure

    aerial of Anna Creek Painted Hills
    Fly over the Anna Creek Painted Hills. (Image: Emile Ristevski)

    From Adelaide, the highlights of the eight-day South Australian Outback Adventure tour open up the rugged grandeur of the Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound and Arkaroola. Home to the Adnyamathanha people for tens of thousands of years, the natural beauty and wide open spaces of this remote region unfold as you explore from both land and air.

    Looking to the skies for a new way to experience South Australia’s outback, a scenic flight over the striking outcrops of the colourful Anna Creek Painted Hills and the shimmering saltpan of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre is an eye-opener like no other.

    Wilpena Pound Resort, owned and managed by the Indigenous community, is a haven in the midst of Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park. It’s worth the hike to enjoy sweeping views over the natural amphitheatre before your journey continues through dramatic gorges, where you may spot endangered yellow-footed rock-wallabies.

    At the award-winning Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, dive deep into the region’s billion-year-old geological history with an expert guide as you tackle the steep ascent of the Ridgetop Track in an open-air 4WD. When the sun goes down, look up at the dazzling wonders of the Milky Way in this International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

    3. Broome and the Kimberley Highlights

    small plane flying over the Bungle Bungle Ranges
    See the iconic Bungle Bungle Ranges from the air. (Image: Tourism WA)

    From Broome’s sparkling beaches to the red dirt of Kununurra, the Kimberley region is one of Australia’s most extraordinary and unforgettable places. It’s a region of contrasts, beginning with multicultural Broome and the history of pearl divers.

    Kick off your Broome and the Kimberley Highlights experience with a tour of Broome led by a local Aboriginal guide. You’ll learn about 40,000 years of culture as you explore historic landmarks, discover bush foods and medicinal plants and enjoy a private didgeridoo performance.

    Learn about Broome’s rich pearling history at Willie Creek Pearl Farm, on the banks of a turquoise tidal estuary that provides the perfect environment for growing the South Sea pearls for which Broome is world-renowned. Then cruise the calm waters to see the oyster farm before a masterclass that reveals the secrets of the pearl industry.

    As you continue your discovery of the Kimberley, fly over the dramatic striped domes of the Bungle Bungle Range, the Argyle Diamond Mine and gorgeous Lake Argyle, Western Australia’s largest freshwater body of water. Take a sunset cruise on the lake, which is dotted with more than 70 islands and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The water teems with freshwater crocodiles, barramundi, bream and cod.

    Complete your seven-day exploration of the Kimberley in Kununurra with a local Aboriginal guide to hear Dreamtime stories and wander through the ‘mini bungles’ of Mirima National Park.

    4. Outback Contrasts

    aat kings small group tours at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience
    Expand your knowledge at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. (Image: Tourism NT/ ArchieSartracom)

    From Alice Springs, the six-day Outback Contrasts adventure includes the wonders of Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, offering premium accommodation and exceptional experiences. Ancient rock art, creation stories and the spiritual essence of the land will be revealed as you discover some of Australia’s most iconic landmarks.

    A highlight of your stay in Alice Springs will be meeting chef Rayleen Brown, who shares her knowledge of Aboriginal native foods with a tasting of the many flavours of Central Australia’s wild harvest bush tucker. More culinary indulgence will follow at Discovery Resorts – Kings Canyon in the heart of Watarrka National Park, where you’ll enjoy a degustation menu and paired fine wines under the desert moon.

    After a sunrise walk on the rim of Kings Canyon, head off to the Wanmarra community to learn about the Luritja and Pertame people’s spiritual connection to the land at Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience. Crossing desert scenes, you’ll arrive at Uluru and end the day watching the setting sun’s changing palette on the ancient landscape.

    More awe-inspiring landscapes will be revealed as you wander between Kata Tjuta’s tallest domes in Walpa Gorge and explore the rugged beauty of Simpsons Gap in the West MacDonnell Ranges.

    Start planning your small group adventure with AAT Kings.