Walking Down Under

Overview

Australia has some remarkable trails - most notably in Tasmania - which can be walked independently, or with a guide who’s not only there to lead the way but also, more importantly, to help unravel the geographical mysteries and cultural legacies of your surroundings. Along several trails you can stay each night in a comfortable lodge, with good food and wine all part of the experience. Our four and five-day escorted walks, at their best from November to April, can easily be dovetailed into other holiday experiences Down Under.

Bay of Fires walk

A four-day walk along Tasmania’s wilderness coastline and through the Mount William National Park, with two nights spent at the spectacular Bay of Fires Lodge. It’s a walk of deserted beaches, rocky headlands, offshore islets, sand dunes and headlands, with the opportunity to spend a day kayaking along the tranquil Ansons River.

Price from £1164 pp including all transport, accommodation and meals.

Cradle Mountain Walk

‘Time for you to rediscover your nomadic ways in a truly amazing place’ is how the organisers describe this splendid guided Overland Track hike- either a 3, 4 or 6 day experience - through Tasmania’s mountains, lakes and dark forests, staying in huts along the way. After a drive from Evandale (near Launceston), the walk begins in Cradle Valley, often with a gathering of wallabies to see you on your merry way. It takes in classic alpine landscapes of glacial lakes, saw-tooth peaks, high plateaux and pine forests, as well as waterfalls, tumbling streams and woods.

Price 3 days from £824 per person, 4 days from £1088 pp and 6 days from £1454pp including all transport, accommodation and meals.

Maria Island Walk

Just 10 miles off Tasmania’s east coast, Maria Island is a national park famous for its abundant bird life. It’s also home to Tasmania’s latest guided walk, a four-day, gentle to moderate, escorted journey – with two guides and never more than eight guests – through stunning coastal and mountain landscapes. The walk, around 20 miles in total, features secluded beaches, marine life, forest communities, a wildlife refuge, the world’s second rarest goose, endangered birds and, at the northern tip of the island, a convict settlement that pre-dates Port Arthur. And you’ll have virtually the whole island to yourself. It also features fine Tasmanian food and wines, accommodation in private beachfront camps and a banquet followed by an overnight stay in the restored, heritage-listed Bernacchi House at the Darlington settlement. Walking times range from two to six hours a day, except for day three when there is an option to climb the spectacular peak of Bishop & Clerk.

Price from £1112 per person including all transport, accommodation and meals.

Great Ocean Walk

Opened in 2006, the 91km Great Ocean Walk follows one of the world’s most stunning coastlines - long famous as a breathtaking drive. The trail itself passes through two national parks, overlooks a marine national park and a marine sanctuary and will take you to beaches ‘that make you feel like Christopher Columbus!’ We can offer two options. The three-day ‘Cape to Cape’ trip starts at Blanket Bay and finishes at Cape Otway with spectacular cliff tops, secluded beaches and paths that cut a swathe through the coastal heath and forests in between. Or you can opt for the four-day version from Apollo Bay to Cape Otway, which takes in a little more of the wild side of the trail; both include a visit to the Twelve Apostles on the final day. If you already walk for fitness, swim a little, play golf or regularly climb a few stairs you will manage these walks with ease.

Price from £907 per person for a 3 day walk, including accommodation at Bothfeet walking lodge, transfers to and from Melbourne CBD, all meals, wine with dinner, use of a weatherproof jacket and day packs and entrance fees to any attractions. All you need to carry is water, sometimes your lunch, your camera and a sense of curiosity.

The Blue Mountains

Located just two hours from Sydney, the Blue Mountains are a walkers’ paradise, with trails leading along the depths of remote canyons tightly hugged by sheer cliff faces, through wild heathlands and rainforests, and along tracks dramatically sited on the edge of the escarpments. In parts you’ll retrace the journey taken by early European explorers in search of fertile pastures. Our independent, self-guided, inn-to-inn walking holidays allow you to travel between overnight accommodation carrying just a light day pack. Distances range from 8kms to 20kms a day, taking four to six hours, and are suitable for healthy people of all ages.

Price from £657 per person for a five-day itinerary and £547 per person for a three-day option, including B&B accommodation, lunches and dinners, national park fees, walking notes and maps. Luggage will be transported for you and you’ll be collected at the end of the trip and taken either back to the beginning to collect your car or to the train station for your return to Sydney.

*Guided walks can also be arranged, as can inn-to-inn independent itineraries in the Grampians, Hawkesbury and Lamington Traverse (nr Brisbane).