Five great mountain hikes to make a day trip from
Australia might well be a land of sweeping plains, but if you want a more challenging bushwalk, try our rugged mountain ranges instead.Enough of the poetry: everyone knows hilly terrain offers better scenery and sweeping views so if you’re looking for a moderate to challenging mountain hike, why not hop in the car this weekend try one of these five for size.
Mount Kosciuszko, NSW
Here’s one for the bucket list: climbing Australia’s highest mountain. At 2228 metres the peak of Mount Kosciuszko isn’t exactly Everest but it’s accessible by a walking track with no pitons needed. Do it in summer to avoid the snow, and the first part is easy with the express chairlift from Thredbo to Eagles Nest. Then it’s a well-made path passing Lake Cootapatamba and the headwaters of the Snowy River to some spectacular views. Give yourself most of the day and leave with a story to tell the grandkids.
The Grampians, Victoria
The Grampians chain of mountains rises from Victoria’s otherwise flat Western Districts like the spine of a giant dragon, with heaps of walking trails – some short, some challenging – and if you’re based in picturesque Halls Gap, you could spend days exploring. Looking for altitude? The Pinnacle is 720 metres above sea level and the views are spectacular, but from the Sundial car park, it’s only a four-kilometre, two hour round trip. From Halls Gap it’s more like 10km and five hours but also takes in the Venus Baths rockpools and Splitters Falls.
Glass House Mountains, Queensland
The abrupt peaks of the Glass House Mountains (inland from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast) look more like a Hollywood set than a typical Aussie landscape. For an easy but spectacular walk, head for the Tibrogargan Trailhead car park and do the four-kilometre circuit that goes around (not over!) the 364-metre peak. Dedicated hikers can scale the 556-metre Mount Beerwah (allow four hours) or try the longer Yul-yan-man and Soldier Settlers return walk from Beerburrum for a proper scramble over spectacular landscape.
Mount Amos, Freycinet National Park, Tasmania
The trek to the top of Mount Amos is not for the fainthearted, being a 1.8km uphill slog, but the reward is one of the best views in Tasmania, and possibly Australia. This 440-metre mountain overlooks Wineglass Bay on the east coast’s Freycinet Peninsula and the arc of beach and colourful granite boulders are perfectly Instgrammable. Allow 2-3 hours return from the Wineglass Bay walk car park, don’t even think about attempting the slippery rocks in wet weather, and be prepared to be wowed.
Bluff Knoll, Western Australia
At just under 1100 metres Bluff Knoll isn’t quite WA’s highest peak but given it can snow there in winter, it’s tall enough. It’s in the Stirling Range National Park inland from Albany and, together with the nearby Porongurup ranges, offers ample bushwalking opportunities. To scale Bluff Knoll you’ll need 3-4 hours (it’s a 6.8km return trail) and determination to tackle the 600-metre ascent from the car park. Yes, it’s steep, but the views are awesome, the banksias, grass trees and wildflowers picturesque and the challenge is worth boasting about afterwards.
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