Katie KesselExplorer

We saw a significant amount of wildlife on this walk, so keep your eyes peeled! Wildlife that we saw included wallabies, dolphins, manta rays, and lots of beautiful birds. Also seen here are wombats, fairy penguins, and possums (though we missed these).The four day circuit can be made harder if you compress the days below, though if you can take the time I would enjoy the gorgeous beach-side ca...

Mt Bogong sits at 1,986m and takes the crown for the highest peak in Victoria and 8th highest in Australia. The views both on the way up and at the top are amazing, especially once you pass the tree line. This hike is not only challenging because of its length and steepness nearing the top, but lack of water for much of the year. Make sure to bring water up with you or research where to find in...

This is a great hike if you enjoy heights and looking out on the ocean, as most of the hike takes you along white rocky cliffs on the edge of the park.Given the majority of the walk is exposed, please make sure to bring sun protection and lots of water.I've started the walk at the Cape Solander carpark, however if you're in Cronulla (as I was), you can walk the 5km along the beach to the other ...

This is an awesome hike with views similar to Roy Peak but more varied terrain (and less of a climb as the mountain only hits 775m. The drive is only ~10 minutes outside Wanaka. From the Diamond Lake trailhead, follow the track from the end of the car park towards Diamond Lake. From the Lake, follow the signs towards the mountain. In the first kilometer, you will see signs for the Lake Lookout....

Starting off at the carpark, walk back the way you came about 500m until you reach Merlo's Lookout. Here, you can take in some great views of the lake before you start the summit.From the lookout, there is a trail that leads uphill directly behind you. The trail is well marked and ascends quickly up the hill. Behind you are some great views of the lake. When you reach the summit, there are some...

This hike has recently been newly built with a spectacular wooden boardwalk winding in and out of the forest and along the cliffs. As with other hikes in Australia, please make sure to book your campsite prior to heading out! The Three Capes Track, a newly built four-day hike starting in Port Arthur, has recently been opened and includes portions of this older hike, though we have not yet done ...

Wilson's Promontory, or "The Prom," is one of the most famous walks in Victoria, just 3.5 hours drive outside of Melbourne. The park has diverse wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, emus, wombats, enchiladas, and possums. Make sure to also keep a lookout for snakes, which love to sun themselves on nice days. They won't bother you if you don't bother them!Water is not as difficult t...

Kakadu National Park is one of my favourite places in Australia. Located several hundred kilometers east of Darwin in the Northern Territory, the park is 20,000 square kms of beautifully preserved wildlife and history. This part of the park is only open during the dry season, as large portions of the road are flooded from November to March. The Ubirr Rock art site is one of many places you can ...

This walk can also be started from the waterfront in Wanaka, which is only a few km from the track start above.  From the car park, follow the track along the lake north. It is quite well marked and follows the coastline offering stunning views of the mountains on both sides of the lake. Depending on the weather, you can often see Roy's Peak to the west of the track.  Follow the track until you...

This is one of the lesser known areas that has the conditions to allow thrombolites to thrive - a biofilm on the rocks that shows you what life looked like at the dawn of time billions of years ago.The walk is quite short (600m), but there is another option to take a 5km loop walk along Lake Clifton. Start from the carpark, heading to the trail near the shelter with information on the area. Abo...

The thing I loved the most about this hike is how isolated it was. It may have been the time of year, but in the spring I saw no one else on the trail for two days, though I did see snakes, monitors, kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, and many birds. Given it was springtime, the forest was full of wildflowers. A majority of the beginning of the trail up to the first lookout was fairly overgrown, bu...

Most of the northern section of Wilson's Promontory is designated as a wilderness zone and as such there are vast sections of the park that have only sparse markers to guide the way. There are sections as well where you may need to cross creeks that are as high as 1.5m. Since this is a difficult hike, it has been classified as expert, as you will need strong navigational skills especially betwe...

The pin that has been dropped is across from the Mt Macedon Hotel, where there are many free public parking areas on the main road. If you park here (on the left side of the road coming in), you can easily circuit the walking track.The walking track can be circuited either way, but I walked the track starting on Anzac Road and finishing the summit of Mt Macedon. Please note that the track cross...

This hike is very short, but since it's so close to Melbourne it's great if you want to head out mid-afternoon for a few hours and be back by dinner. The route I've posted is comprised of two out-and-backs and has fantastic views of the gorge from several lookouts. Please note that the second portion requires good navigational skills, as the path is marked but not well (and the path is not well...

The hike is quite well marked, identified by blue markers, but as this park has several trails that cross paths, make sure to bring your map. It is twelve kms and there are some hills, but it is overall a relatively easy hike. There is lots of wildlife in the park, so look out for lots of beautiful birds and echidnas!  Starting at the picnic area, start the walk by heading along the management ...

Please note that the weather on this walk can change drastically, so be prepared for anything! The first day on our walk was +15 and sunny and we woke up to a blanket of snow and had to walk back in freezing temperatures. Please note that, depending on the year, you may need to buy a permit to drive on the mountain. As well, you may need chains - I advise phoning if you are hiking in the should...

In the summer, this hike can be extremely dry, so make sure to bring lots of water. There are some creeks that offer water, but they can be mere trickles at certain times of year (as we found out!). The first day of the hike is 6km. To start, head to the south section of the car park and follow the signs to the Manja shelter. The shelter has fascinating aboriginal hand paintings, the most promi...

The Otways National Park sits right on the Great Ocean Road, a stunning, lush park with lots of amazing tracks to explore. This track takes you through dense trees and walks along several stunning waterfalls.  Day One (4.8km) From Sheoak car park, follow the track up the hill towards Sheoak Falls. You will reach a junction that indicates Castle Rock to the left (this is the way you will come do...

Since there are many different walkways, I have put together several different ways to get to North Head, though there are many different places to explore along the way. It's a great way to get outside the Sydney and escape for a few hours without a long commute. If you follow the paths around the area, the total walking from the wharf is around 13 kms, but it's as long as you make it! The eas...

Starting in the town of Halls Gap, leave your car in the car park indicated on the map. From here, make your way west, away from the town and towards the forest. You will walk past the botanical gardens and wild kangaroos to the start of the trail. At the start of the trailhead, there is a fork. Follow the path right, following the signs to the Venus Baths and through the Grand Canyon. Follow t...

There are several different ways you can get to Mount Rosea, parking on either side of the Grampians Peaks Trail. As well, you can camp on either side (or create a longer backpacking circuit from Hall's Gap), staying at either Borough Huts or Bugiga Hikers Camp.  Starting from Borough Huts, you can park in the campground. The trail is marked and starts to the left of the campground. The hike is...

These walks allow you to see some of the most spectacular and famous portions of Flinders Chase National Park. The park is well-marked and informative of the different areas, making it very interesting to visit. Make sure to start at the visitors centre, which is on your way into the park, in order to get permits before your trip.The first section of the hike is 3km return. The walk takes you f...

From Ned's Gully carpark, cross the road where you see a small suspension bridge to the campground, taking a left towards the trail once you're on the other side. Follow the trail until you reach a junction and follow the Cathedral Track (rather than the Little River Walk). The trail will quickly begin to ascend up to the peak. The trail is well marked and climbs steadily until you reach Ned's ...

This is a great hike to introduce yourself to scrambling - most of the first day is up on the ridge.I have indicated below where this can be turned into a day hike, which is what a majority of the people we met on the hike were doing. The first day took us around 5 hours (6 kms) and the second day around 2 hours (4kms). Extra time is needed on the first day - the ridge is tricky!On the first da...