Five hikes to try out on your next day trip

There’s scenery, discovery, fresh air and exercise and all you need is a pair of stout shoes, a hat and a water bottle to enjoy the great outdoors. Add an interesting drive to get to the start of these five favourite rambles, and your next outdoorsy day trip is sorted.

The Marysville area, about two hours east of Melbourne, has long been a destination for day-trippers thanks to its village-like ambience and mountainous scenery. Rather than merely partaking of tea and scones though, try this reasonably challenging 11km walk that leaves town, takes in the whimsical Steavenson Falls, climbs to Keppel Lookout then back into Marysville again. It should take about four hours depending on how long you pause to admire the views.

If you like waterfalls, this four to five-hour hike is just the ticket. Springbrook National Park is about an hour inland from the Gold Coast and the Warrie Circuit is a well signposted ramble through lush rainforest, across rivers and literally behind a couple of waterfalls. You’ll be basically circling a long gully and end up at a point where a number of creeks meet at its bottom. Forget the area’s man-made theme parks, this one is nature’s own.

You don’t necessarily need to hit the west coast of Tasmania to find stunning wilderness scenery. About an hour south of Hobart is Hartz Peak, reached by an eight kilometre hike across heathland with a gentle upwards slope ending in a mad scramble across rocks to the peak itself. The prize is unlimited views across south-eastern Tassie but be warned: if the weather sets in you’ll have to do it all again on a clear day.

Avid bushwalkers may scoff at the idea of a mainly flat stroll through the vineyards of McLaren Vale but for most of us, the Shiraz Trail is heaven on earth. The path sits on a disused railway line and meanders for 14km through vines, farmland and bush, skirts the township of McLaren Vale itself and of course, you’ll want to drop into a few of the cellar doors to taste the region’s famous shiraz. Get a buddy to pick you up at the other end and you can’t go wrong.

Most motorists will stop at a lookout or two in the Blue Mountains and feel they’ve seen everything, but for real immersion in this World Heritage listed area you have to pull on some hiking shoes and walk. The six kilometre Grand Canyon Trail leaves Evans Lookout near Blackheath then loops back to town via a shaded path, taking in waterfalls, sandstone walls and plenty of native vegetation. It’s a great day out from the bustle of Sydney and the perfect antidote to city life.

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