The best Australian bushwalks to enjoy this winter

Bushwalking is a great part of being Australian. There are so many beautiful, untouched places right on our doorstep and bushwalking is a wonderful way to explore them.

Winter is the best season for bushwalking. There are less pesky insects around, the cooler weather means the walks are easier on the body and it’s a great way to spend a day being active without exerting too much energy.

We’ve found this years’ best bushwalks to enjoy over the cooler months. They are all a little off the beaten track but are only a few hours drive outside of the capital cities. Make a day of your bushwalk and pack a picnic lunch. Or, get going early and enjoy a late lunch at a local café after your morning walk.

Queensland

O’Reilly’s, Lamington National Park is home to some of Queensland’s best bushwalking tracks. There are so many to choose from that connect to the Guest House and main tourist area. The best walk for a day trip is the Box Forest Circuit. The walk does have some unpathed areas that require you to step across stones to cross a small creek, but you can fill your water bottle up with fresh, running water at the waterfall and sit down on the rocks to enjoy a spot of lunch.

Box Forest Circuit, Lamington National Park, 10.9km.

New South Wales

The National Pass in the Blue Mountains is a beautiful walk that shows you some of New South Wales’ most incredible sights. Walk under waterfalls and watch them from across the gorge. Enjoy native wildlife like rock wallabies and lizards. Gaze out into the distance and see the great Australian landscape in amongst the gorges. It is an easy walk with fences, paths and proper bridges the whole way throughout.

National Pass, Blue Mountains, 6km.

Victoria

The Tarra-Bulga national park is home to several walking tracks of varying lengths. Our pick is the Forest Track that can be completed within two hours. The track winds its way through Mountain Ash forest and a rainforest gully. Beautiful scenery is all around so take the time out to enjoy the view and the rainforest ambiance.

Forest Track, Tarra-Bulga National Park, 4.4km.

Western Australia

The Margaret River is home to some of the most beautiful Western Australian scenery. Full of heritage homes, parks and buildings you can enjoy a beautiful bushwalk on secure paths. The Rails to Trails travels from Margaret River Cowaramup. The return trip is quite long but if you arrange to have a pick up at the other end it is a great way to spend the day before enjoying a local bottle of red.

Rails to Trails, Margaret River, 13.5km.

South Australia

South Austalia is home to the Mawson Trail, an extensive bushwalking track that covers hundreds of square kilometres all over the state. A particularly beautiful part is the Clare Valley. The trail here is about 85km long, but there are many small walks you can enjoy by doing part of the trail via different entry points. The track climbs through the Camelhump Ranges to give you spectacular views over the valley.

Mawson Trail, Clare Valley.

Tasmania

The Mt Field National Park is full of beautiful walks that cater to a wide variety of abilities. One of the easiest and most picturesque walks is the Lady Barron Falls Circuit. The walk takes you to explore the rich diversity of Tasmanian plants. You arrive at a platform that shows you the beautiful Lady Barron Falls and you can watch the water rush into the streaming creek bed below. You can treat it as a full day or half day walk and you can easily pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it at the waterfall.

Lady Barron Circuit, Mt Field National Park, 6km.

Northern Territory

The landscape and environment in the Northern Territory is different to any other part of Australia. The Watarrka National Park is one of the best places to see and understand this diverse land. The Giles Track is a 22km walking track through the Watarrka National Park that has one end into Kings Canyon and another at Kathleen Springs. It is marked by bright red arrows but it is advised that walkers should carry the fact sheet with them. You can get this by clicking here. Since it is quite long, it is advised to do it over night, or you can walk in as far as you like and then return when you are ready.

The Giles Track, Watarrka National Park, 22km.

So try something new this winter and explore your beautiful country on foot. Find a place that suits you and make sure your plan your journey.

Where are your favourite bushwalking locations? What walks would you recommend other people do? Tell us in the comments below…