Walking is one of our favourite ways to exercise. It’s easy, free and relatively low impact. But when you go from strolling your suburban streets to a hiking holiday, you level up in every way. We speak to two walking pros on the benefits of hiking in Australia.
1. Boost your mental health
Walking is a great stress-buster and mood booster.
“I think walking is one of the simplest but most powerful things most of us can do for our entire state of wellbeing,” says Liz O’Rourke, the executive officer for Great Walks Of Australia and a certified forest therapy guide. Great Walks of Australia is a collection of 12 walks and tour operators around the country.
“As well as releasing endorphins and serotonin, walking is very grounding. Getting into the flow and rhythm of walking is deeply relaxing and calming – it can become almost meditative. Your feet take over, and do this one basic action. That’s it. It gets you out of your head and into your body,” says O’Rourke.
2. Boost your physical health
Walking doesn’t just burn kilojoules. The many physical benefits of walking include better heart health, brain function, mobility, bone health, sleep and even longevity. Yes, walking could help you live longer.
“It’s great for your cardiovascular system, it strengthens the muscles in your body, and increases your fitness massively in a low-impact way. Bonus: your legs always look really, really good after a multi-day walk!” says O’Rourke.
3. Strengthen your connection with nature
Research has found wide-ranging benefits of spending time in nature, from lower stress and blood pressure to boosting your immune system.
One small study reported that we could lower stress with just 20 minutes spent in nature.
“So, you can imagine how good people can feel after a long walk and a few days of being in the wilderness,” says O’Rourke.
Kayla Fleming, general manager of Walk into Luxury, says guests on her tours love “disconnecting to connect”, losing phone signal and gaining perspective.
“Often you are in a remote location with reduced connectivity, allowing you to switch off from the outside world and truly immerse yourself in the experience at hand.”
4. Travel sustainably
The global 2023 Sustainable Travel Report from Booking.com discovered that 76% of tourists say they want to travel more sustainably in the future.
Walking can be a sustainable travel choice, especially if you’re respectful of the natural environment.
“Walking is typically a highly sustainable travel experience. It’s very low-impact on the environment, as long as you follow leave-no-trace principles wherever you go and stick to any marked tracks,” says O’Rourke.
“Everyone has a role to play in respectfully looking after the natural environments where you walk, helping preserve them for the future,” she says.
5. You’ll have something to train for
Different walks or group tours will have different fitness requirements.
Fleming says that “as with any active holiday, the fitter and healthier you are when you start your walk, the more enjoyable you will find it."
“If you’re not a regular walker, we recommend starting your training at least three months prior with a 45-minute walk a few times a week, with a mix of surfaces, inclines, and uneven terrain such as tree roots – a local national park or reserve will be ideal for this.
“Gradually build up to tackle a moderately challenging 14km bushwalk, which should take you about five to six hours at a relaxed pace, factoring in breaks. Consider choosing a lodge-based ‘pack free’ walk or portered walk for your first journey, to reduce the weight you carry.”
6. Keep fit on holiday
Holidays are not usually our fittest time. We tend to drink too much, eat too much and even sometimes sit by the pool too much. On a walking holiday, you’ll keep fit in the most scenic way possible.
7. Explore more of Australia
You may be dreaming of Italy’s cobbled streets or Japan’s onsen for your next holiday but we forget how much our own backyard has to offer. Hiking Australia makes you realise how diverse our nation is, as well as how much natural beauty it offers.
“We’re so lucky to have some of the best walks in the world in Australia and so much diversity in terrains and climates,” says O’Rourke.
Here are some of Australia’s best walks to inspire you.
The Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
“This is extraordinary and one of Oz’s standouts. Whether doing a section as a day hike or as a multi-day, I can't recommend highly enough experiencing the outback on foot – it’s epic and unforgettable,” says O’Rourke.
The Cape to Cape Track, Western Australia
“The Cape to Cape Track is one of the Great Walks of Australia and the only within WA. This coastal track connects Cape Naturaliste with Cape Leeuwin over approximately 150km. Our luxury walk combines the best bits with Margaret River wines, world-class cuisine, and ocean-view villas. We are so lucky to have this stunning scenery on our doorstep,” says Fleming.
Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
"Tasmania is rugged and full of pristine, stunning national parks – a hiking mecca. From the Tarkine, to Maria Island and Cradle Mountain, you can’t go wrong. Every time I catch my first glimpse of the pink-tinted Hazards on the way into Freycinet National Park, it takes my breath away," says O'Rourke.
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