Seven epic walking trails across New South Wales

Best for: Early morning walks

If you’re just getting into a walking kick, then you need to start off with a classic, easy walk. The Bondi to Coogee Walk is an iconic walking trail that takes you along Sydney’s stunning coastline.

Along the six-kilometre walk, you’ll get some of the best views of the beaches and plenty of spots to grab a coffee or ice cream – because walking doesn’t have to be a workout every time. If you want to beat the busy crowds and catch a serene glimpse at the sunrise over Bondi, then be sure to attack the walking trail early in the morning.

Best for: a day trip to the Blue Mountains

Escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney for the unmatched serenity of the Blue Mountains in Sydney’s West. At the top of the Blue Mountains in Blackheath is the Grand Canyon Track – it’s an absolute must for anyone making a day trip to the mountains.

Taking around 3-4 hours to complete, this trail winds through rainforests, deep canyons, and sandstone cliffs. There are a few semi-ledges which makes this a moderately challenging trek, but it is still one of the rare locations where you don’t need specialist hiking or abseiling equipment to explore a canyon.

Best for: great views and walks with ocean swims

Starting from Putty Beach, the Bouddi Coastal Walk takes you through bushland and along the coastline of Sydney’s central coast. Stretching 8.5 kilometres one way, there are plenty of opportunities to stop off and cool down in the ocean.

Unlike other coastal walking trails in NSW, this one is fairly under the radar, which means you won’t be walking amongst throngs of other people.

Best for: a solo adventure to Australia’s peak

Looking for a more challenging walking trail? Then how about conquering Australia’s highest peak? The Kosciuszko Summit Walk starts from Thredbo and leads you up to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko.

Though this is a fairly challenging walk, although it isn’t a steep walk as the walk climbs higher very gradually. it’ll be worth it once you’re at the peak where you’ll be treated to 360-degree views of some of NSW’s best natural landscapes. Taking just 6-8 hours to complete, this walk is well-marked and relatively gentle for a mountain climb, so it can be done in a day with a group or as a solo adventure.

Best for: rainforest walking

The Minnamurra Rainforest Loop Walk is an easy, short but sweet trail that will totally immerse you in the beauty of the rainforest. You’ll walk along an elevated walkway where you’ll be surrounded by towering trees and bush wildlife. Taking only 1-2 hours to complete, the best part of the walk is the hidden waterfall and canyon views that you can watch from observation points along the way.

Best for: imagining life in Summer’s Bay

Any Home and Away fans out there? The Barrenjoey Lighthouse Walk at Palm Beach is a short trail that takes you up to the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse, where you’ll get uninterrupted views of Pittwater and the Central Coast. Though it’s a bit of a steep climb, you’ll certainly recognise the sights along the way as being the fictional landscape of Summer Bay.

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Snowies Alpine Track

Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging

Best for: an epic four-day walking trip

NSW’s newest walking trail is the recently opened Snowies Alpine Track on Monero Ngarigo Country. This epic 56-kilometre trek snakes through mountain valleys, along the banks of the Snowy River, before climbing to the peak of Mount Kosciusko. It’s the big sibling version of the Kosciuszko Summit Walk.

The best way to tackle this walking trail, according to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is in four day-long pieces. It recommends that you trek from Guthega to Charlotte Pass (9 km) on day one; from Charlotte Pass to Charlotte Pass via Main Range (a whopping 22 km) on day two; from Charlotte Pass to Perisher (12.7 km) on day three; and finally Perisher to Bullocks Flat (12 km) on day four.

There are camping sites and cabins along the track — you can find out more on the NPWS website.