Trekking in the Walls of Jerusalem | Caro Ryan
Blog home / The 5 most beautiful Australian walks
There are hundreds of breathtaking spots in Australia to visit, but below are our top five most beautiful treks, guaranteed to leave their mark and make you breathless for all the right reasons. There is a good reason why trekkers brave forbidding terrains, harsh climates and remote wilderness parts of Australia. It's because our natural wonders never fail to deliver, whether it be the forests, deserts, coastlines or majestic riverways.
Bungle Bungles
Famous for its dramatic scenery and spectacular canyons, the Bungle Bungles has got what it takes when it comes to beautiful trekking destinations. The magic of this ancient landscape is endless. Red and black beehive rock formations are situated in the 350 million-year-old prehistoric landscape, a result of millions of years of erosion. Weathered into the shapes we see today, beautiful palms grow around the Bungle Bungles, creating a tropical feel to the dry desert. With a photographic opportunity at every corner, you may find yourself in awe of the landscape, but don’t forget to cast an eye to the sky; the Bungles is full of diverse birdlife, from wild budgies, Great Bowerbirds, Friar Birds, Pheasant Coucals, and so many more.
Experience it for yourself
Walls Of Jerusalem
Known amongst locals as the Land of a Thousand Lakes, the Walls Of Jerusalem National Park in Central Tasmania is a truly magical place of highland tarns and lakes, dolerite peaks and alpine forests. Originally formed by an ice cap during the relatively recent ice age (just 22,000 years ago!), over four thousand lakes can be found amongst beautiful mountain valleys, alpine meadows and forests. Trekkers can climb some of the craggy hills and admire the spectacular views of mountains in the distance including Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Mount Oakleigh and Mount Ossa in the distance, as the thousands of lakes shimmer across the valleys like silver coins scattered across the high plateau. Home to unique flora and fauna, including cushion plants and scoparia flowers, the Walls of Jerusalem is one of the most beautiful parks in Tasmania, if not the world.
Experience it for yourself:
- Walls of Jerusalem Circuit, a six-day comprehensive trek of the park that includes optional summits of King David’s Peak, Mt Jerusalem, The Temple and Solomons Throne.
- Walls of Jerusalem Experience, a four-day adventure that includes a series of day walks in Tasmania’s only true alpine wilderness region.
- Walls Of Jerusalem Self Guided Experience, perfect for those who prefer to travel solo whilst still having all the logistics organised for you. This three-day self-guided adventure gives you the freedom to trek at your own pace, to highlights within the park using our detailed route maps.
- Walls Of Jerusalem Winter Experience, a series of spectacular day walks exploring the alpine wilderness of the Walls of Jerusalem by foot and snowshoe during winter
Kakadu
Kakadu is a vast, remote and untouched wilderness area - just waiting to be explored. With remote gorges, sparkling waterfalls and ancient rock art around every corner, it is home to tropical treasures that visitors will never forget. Often referred to as “timeless”, Kakadu’s combination of coastal and tidal flats, stone escarpment, savannah woodlands, tranquil wetlands and southern hills and ridges never get old. Changing dramatically from one end of the park to the other, it has an incredible diversity of landscapes and habitats and is one of the most genuinely spiritual travel experiences an Australian can ever do. And while you may be very well kept busy with all of the stunning walks and lookouts, keep an eye out for some of the incredible wildlife that inhabit the area. Home to nearly one-fifth of Australia’s mammals, including 120 species of reptiles (including saltwater crocodiles!), there will be plenty of chances for trekkers to get snap happy on their cameras.
Experience it for yourself:
- Kakadu Walking Adventure visits the Top End’s best secret spots over six memorable days. This collection of day walks takes in the highlights of Kakadu, including a cruise on the tranquil Yellow Waters (a favourite haunt of saltwater crocodiles).
Overland Track
If there is one thing that travellers rave about when they return from the Overland Track, it is the spectacular ever-changing landscape. Varying from magnificent lakes, waterfalls, cliffs and lookouts, to button grass plains strewn across alpine meadows, the Overland Track is one of Tasmania’s finest walks, spanning 73kms across the Cradle Mountain St Clair National Park. Over six days, trekkers pass the highest peaks in the state, walking through some of the most spectacular scenery that changes every few hours. This scenic kaleidoscope is beautiful at all times of the year, however, the vibrant colours of autumn are particularly stunning as the colours of deciduous beech add a spectacular display of rusty reds and brilliant golds to the already beautiful landscape.
Experience it for yourself:
The Larapinta Trail
If you’re after a trek along one of the most breathtaking landscapes, also described by
Australian Geographic as "one of the world's best long-distance arid-zone walks", then look no further. The spectacular Larapinta Trail is a desert trek that traverses the ridgelines of the West MacDonnell Ranges from east to west. Situated in Tjoritja, also known as the West MacDonnell National Park, the trail includes many sites sacred to the Arrernte Aboriginal people, with highlights along the track including Simpson's Gap, Ormiston Gorge, Ellery Creek Big Hole, Mount Sonder and more.
Experience it for yourself:
- Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort - While the complete trail spans over 223km and can take up to 14 days, trekkers short on time can opt for a six-day trek that covers the highlights along the trail while staying in comfort at our exclusive multi award-winning semi-permanent campsites.