OVERNIGHT HIKES WITHIN 2HRS
OF AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL CITIES
MELBOURNE
WURUNDJERI COUNTRY
TRAIL / Ada camp via high lead and reids tramway
Route / LOOP
LENGTH / 29.6km
ELEVATION / 1044m
Starting and ending 70km east of Melbourne in Powelltown with an overnight camp at Ada walk-in campground. The track can get quite muddy and includes a few climbs not for the faint of heart, but those who persist on the trail will be rewarded with crisp air and solitude among the ferns and mountain ash of Yarra State Forest. While there isn’t drinking water on site, water can be collected and treated from the nearby Little Ada River. Campsites are free and booking isn’t required.
ADELAIDE
KAURNA COUNTRY
TRAIL / HEYSEN TRAIL (S1) - CAPE JERVIS TO COBBLER HILL
Route / POINT TO POINT
LENGTH / 13.8km
ELEVATION / 543m
The full Heysen Trail is 1200km and ends at Parachilna in Flinders Ranges. This first section is moderately challenging but suitable for most beginner backpackers. Hikers will follow the coastline from Cape Jervis to Blowhole Beach before ascending inland to the camp at Cobbler Hill, which is complete with shelter, water, toilets and fireplaces. Less than 2 hours from Adelaide on Kaurna land, why not take in the coastal beauty of this track back to back and turn the walk into an out and back.
SYDNEY
DHARUG + GUNDUNGURRA COUNTRY
TRAIL / FURBER STAIR TO MOUNT SOLITARY
Route / OUT AND BACK
LENGTH / 21.2km
ELEVATION / 1240m
Nestled in Blue Mountains National Park on Dharug and Gundungurra Country, this out and back trail is challenging yet rewarding. Great views are complemented by both ascending and descending rock scrambles. Starting from Katoomba, you’ll camp overnight at Ruined Castle where there are toilets and rainwater. Best times to visit are between September and May, be sure to keep your eye out for native fauna and be mindful of the cultural history and significant land formations.
BRISBANE
Turrbal, Garumngar and Jinibara COUNTRY
TRAIL / AQUILA LOOP
Route / LOOP
LENGTH / 23.3km
ELEVATION / 960m
A moderate loop with a few climbs in D’Aguilar National Park just 90 minutes outside Brisbane. Explore palm groves, tall eucalypt forest and subtropical rainforest while listening to the calls of Bellbirds. Camping overnight in the remote bush camp of Northbrook Mountain, it’s best to avoid this adventure in the hot, summer months as access to water is limited.
CANBERRA
NGUNNAWAL COUNTRY
TRAIL / MOUNT GINGERA WALKING TRACK
Route / OUT AND BACK
LENGTH / 20km
ELEVATION / 1116m
Summit Mount Gingera of the Bindabella Ranges, the second highest peak in the ACT, and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, including Mount Kosciuszko on a clear day. Less than an hour from the center of the city, expect snow in winter and pack poles for the initial ascent. The track starts from Corin Dam with a camp overnight and opportunity to refill water at Pyro’s Hut.
HOBART
LUTRUWITA COUNTRY
TRAIL / NEWDEGATE shelter via lake dobson
Route / OUT AND BACK
LENGTH / 12.1km
ELEVATION / 493m
Just under 2 hours from Hobart in one of Tasmania’s oldest national parks, Mount Field, on Lutruwita land, this track will awe you with its views, glacial lakes and natural splendor. A great option for those new to backpacking, you can camp under the stars at Newdegate Shelter. We recommend packing a few layers, even if hiking in summer, as the temperatures are known to fluctuate and run cool through the night.
