Author Archives: Explore Australia

7 campsites to stay at before you die

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Red Bluff camping area, Quobba Station, courtesy of Lyndon Sparrow

Sometimes travelling isn’t about the journey, it’s about the destination – especially when that destination is a camping area.

Campsites in Australia can be very hit and miss, but we’ve picked seven sites that are among the best in the country and will always deliver, for their settings, views, amenities, and that feeling of truly getting back to nature.

What other campsites make your camping bucket list?

Red Bluff camping area, Quobba Station, Western Australia

Red Bluff, Quobba Station, courtesy of Lyndon Sparrow

With views like this, you’d think you were at a luxury spa retreat instead of on a working cattle station. And just like at a spa retreat, shoes aren’t necessary. Kick them off and relax at Red Bluff camping area, where chilling out comes as naturally as the spectacular scenery.

The camping areas are positioned right behind the beach at Red Bluff, which gives you an uninterrupted view of the turquoise sea, craggy outcrops and the spectacular, ever-changing sky.

The sunsets here rank among the best in Australia and there’s nothing quite like the natural light show of watching day turn into night on this section of the Western Australian coast.

Once you’ve finished admiring the scenery, get out and explore it. Red Bluff is only a short distance from Ningaloo Reef, and boasts a similar abundance of marine life. And when you’ve finished swimming, you can jump into a hot shower – one of the surprisingly luxurious amenities at this otherwise basic campsite.

Camping in Southwest National Park, Tasmania

Southwest National Park, courtesy of Tourism Tasmania

Camping in Southwest National Park isn’t for the faint-hearted. While a couple of campsites in the park are accessible by car, most of the camping areas can only be reached by foot.

But the walks to these campsites aren’t just any treks. Two of the walks, the Port Davey Track and the South West Track, are extended hikes through tough landscapes with even tougher weather conditions. But these hardy bushwalks are just what you’d expect for one of the wildest places in Australia.

And what will you get after you’ve put in all of this effort? Well, definitely not many facilities. But you will get to camp in splendid isolation at what feels like the bottom of the world with some of the most spectacular views of the ocean, sky and craggy ancient mountains you’ll ever see.

Cockatoo Island, Sydney, New South Wales

Cockatoo Island camping, courtesy of Destination NSW

Over its two hundred years of white settlement, people waking up on Cockatoo Island have included some of the worst convicts in the colony, schoolgirls and shipbuilders – and now recreational campers. There’s a sizeable campground on the foreshore of the island, which is Sydney Harbour’s largest, with both permanent tents and space to set up your own.

Wake up in the middle of the harbour and experience the stunning beauty of Australia’s first city from a vantage point that not many people get to experience. Clamber around the island to explore the remains of its fascinating history (enjoy great views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney’s pretty inner suburbs), and then settle in front of your tent at night to watch the life of the harbour happen around you.

When you decide it’s time to say goodbye to the island, it’s only a ten-minute ferry ride back to Circular Quay and the hub of the city.

Ormiston Gorge camping area, West MacDonnell National Park, Northern Territory

Ormiston Gorge, courtesy of Tourism NT

Whether it’s the red sand of the desert, the red hue of Uluru at sunset, or the red rocks of Ormiston Gorge, the Red Centre really does live up to its name. But you won’t just be seeing red when you visit the centre of Australia. You’ll see unexpected colours, from shades of green and blue to purple. The best way to experience these colours is by getting amongst them on Larapinta Trail.

The Larapinta Trail starts at Alice Springs, and travels over the stunning ranges and gorges of West MacDonnell National Park, with clearly marked campsites for you to set up tent at night along the way. One of the best campsites along the trail is the Ormiston Gorge camping area.

This camping area is also accessible by car, so non-hikers can camp here as well. It’s the perfect place to set up to visit the gorge. This famous red gorge encloses a peaceful waterhole that’s safe for swimming. You’ll feel a world away from your regular life.

Craigs Hut camping areas, Alpine National Park, Victoria

Craigs Hut, courtesy of John Langley

Victoria’s High Country may not be on the radar of international travellers, but it’s firmly on the bucket list of domestic camping enthusiasts for its large scenic sites and range of activities. And the camping areas that most campers have their eyes firmly set on are at Craigs Hut.

Camping at Craigs Hut is almost more about the drive than it is about the camping. It’s a stunning trip through the changing landscapes of Alpine National Park, from gullies populated with ferns to mountains peppered with snow gums.

There are three sites around Craigs Hut. The sites are all basic, with no facilities. They are also not marked, although you’ll know the sites when you come across them. The first site is around 400 metres from the hut on Clear Hill Track on your way up to the hut, the second is around 200 metres further up the road towards the hut, and the final area is around 1 kilometre down the other side of the track, past the hut.

Whitehaven Beach camping area, Whitsundays National Park, Queensland

Catching a boat to your own private island in the Whitsundays where you can camp right behind the beach sounds like one of those travel dreams that will never come true. Well, if you camp at Whitehaven Beach, we can’t promise that you’ll have the area completely to yourself – there are seven defined sites – but we can promise that it will be one of the most incredible camping areas you’ll ever stay at. And it’s only accessible by boat.

While Whitehaven Beach is crowded during the day with visitors, at night only campers are allowed to remain on the beach. The sites are situated in the bush right behind the beach, and have basic facilities of toilets and picnic tables.

Once you wake up in the morning, you’ll have one of the whitest beaches in the world to play on, and the Great Barrier Reef at your feet. Just another day camping in paradise.

Cullyamurra Waterhole camping area, Innamincka Regional Reserve, South Australia

By all appearances, Innamincka is one of the driest and most barren areas of Australia. But don’t be fooled. Drive past the plains and you’ll eventually find yourself at Cullyamurra Waterhole, which is one of the most spectacular waterholes in Australia, and might just challenge the idea that Australia’s best water views are from the coast.

While there aren’t many facilities, the upsides are that you can bring your dog, your caravan and your fishing gear and binoculars – both the fish and birdlife are abundant.

The secret is out about Cullyamurra, so if you’d like to enjoy the surprisingly lush scenery of the area, you can also camp at Minkie Waterhole or at the even more remote wetland of Coongie Lakes. Although Cullyamurra is a permanent waterhole, try and visit the waterhole in a wet year so you can see the region when it is blooming with life.

     

Top 10 free things to do in Sydney

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Sydney Harbour from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, Hamilton Lund; Destination NSW

While Sydney has a reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, some of the best attractions in the city are free – and we’re not just talking about the views.

Art Gallery of New South Wales

Art Gallery of New South Wales, Destination NSW

This art gallery is worth visiting for the location alone. Situated on a hill overlooking the harbour at Woolloomooloo, you can see the eastern suburbs ranged out behind the gallery, as well as the city gleaming in front.

While you have to pay to visit some of the exhibitions, including the famous Archibald Prize, the gallery’s permanent collection is always free to visit. This collection has a fantastic selection of Australian art, including work by the renowned Heidelberg School.

On Wednesdays the gallery also hosts free Art After Hours events, which can be anything from artist talks to movie screenings to performance art.

Bondi to Coogee Walk

Eastern suburbs coastal walk, Hamilton Lund; Destination NSW

Get million-dollar views for free while walking along the ridge of Sydney’s coast from Bondi to Coogee.

It’s a famous stretch of coastline, and deservedly so, revealing not only the more famous beaches, such as Bondi, but also enchantingly small beaches, like the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Tamarama (‘Glamarama’ to the locals).

And of course, there are the views. There’s nothing quite like Sydney’s merge of ocean and sky, which is expansively beautiful. On a clear day it almost feels as if you could see all the way to New Zealand. The walk also passes through Waverley Cemetery, which has to have the best view of any cemetery in the world.

Walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Afternoon on Sydney Harbour, Steve Back; Destination NSW

 

There’s no better way to appreciate the natural and built beauty of Sydney than by walking across the Harbour Bridge. On one side of the bridge you can see the Sydney Opera House jutting out over the harbour, with the Royal Botanic Gardens and the city rising behind.

The walkway on the other side of the bridge might not offer you a glimpse of anything as iconic, but you’ll see the grand sight of the waterways winding and twinkling their way through the inner suburbs. There’s also the structure of the Harbour Bridge itself. Surprisingly graceful from a distance, from close up the bridge reveals itself as an imposing steel construction.

Free CBD shuttle bus

This free bus travels the loop between Central Station and finishes at Circular Quay. Using this service as a hop on/hop off bus, you’ll find yourself in easy walking distance of the best attractions in the CBD, including Darling Harbour, Hyde Park, Queen Victoria Building, the historic buildings along Macquarie Street, and of course, Circular Quay.

Hyde Park and St Mary’s Cathedral

Hyde Park Fountain, Sydney, David Druce; Destination NSW

This central park is also one of Sydney’s most enchanting. While it might not be as big as its namesake in London, our Hyde Park certainly holds up in the beauty stakes.

Bookended by a fanciful fountain at one end and the ANZAC Memorial at the other, Hyde Park’s central artery is a graceful walkway lined with old trees and benches where you can sit and admire the park.

Once you’ve taken your photo next to the fountain, you can challenge regulars to a game at the giant chess set or pay your respects to the unknown soldier at the memorial.

St Mary’s Cathedral is just across the street from Hyde Park. Built with local sandstone, the Gothic structure of the cathedral lights up with a golden glow when hit by the sun. You can go in and take a look around, or even sit in silent contemplation.

The cathedral lets down its stately hair every now and again, with light shows projected on the facade during the Vivid Festival and other events.

The Rocks tour and Museum of Contemporary Arts

Panorama of The Rocks, Sally Mayman; Destination NSW

The Rocks is one of the oldest European settlements in Australia so history pops up even where you least expect it in this part of town – there’s an archaeological dig on display underneath the Sydney Harbour YHA.

One of the best spots in the Rocks is Foundation Park, which is hidden behind Playfair Terrace. It’s tricky to find, but it’s worth persisting until you stumble upon it. Not only does the park offer great views over the Rocks, but you can also clamber around the ruins of some terrace houses from the 1840s. Once you’ve finished getting up close and personal with history at the park, make your way onto the Gloucester Walk to continue your exploration of this fascinating part of Sydney.

Had enough history? Cross the street and enter the starkly modern Museum of Contemporary Art, which has recently reopened after an extensive renovation. The permanent exhibition is free, and the building is worth visiting to gawk at the architecture alone.

Royal Botanic Gardens and Government House

Royal Botanic Gardens, Robert Wallace; Destination NSW

Unlike the other historic houses on this list, you don’t have to pay to enter Government House, although you can only enter the house on a tour. But it’s well worth getting an expert’s guide to this ornate structure.

Although the building itself is impressive, it’s the building’s location in the middle of the Royal Botanic Gardens that makes it truly spectacular. The gardens are a beautiful display of native Australian plants leading down to the harbour.

Take in the view of the harbour from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair – you’ll be astounded by the panoramic majesty of Sydney from this spot.

Inner harbour beaches

Milk Beach, Vaucluse , Andrew Gregory; Destination NSW

Whichever side of the harbour you’re on, there are treasure troves of inner harbour beaches if you just know where to look. One of our favourites has to be Nielson Park, which is only a hop, skip and a jump away from Vaucluse House in the exclusive suburb Vaucluse. Luckily, you can enjoy this beach for free.

Being an inner-harbour beach, there aren’t many waves, and the swimming area is enclosed by a shark net. There’s also a pretty kiosk right on the beach where you can get a snack after your swim.

Further along the coast towards the city from Nielson Park is the delightful Milk Beach, which is at the bottom of the grounds surrounding the historic building of Strickland House.

On the other side of the harbour you’ll find beaches including Balmoral Beach, which is particularly good if you’d like to eat fish and chips with a view.

Walking around Parramatta Park and Elizabeth Farm

Lake Parramatta, Jeffrey Drewitz; Destination NSW

Bustling Parramatta is the heartbeat of the booming western suburbs. But before it was a thriving mini-metropolis, Parramatta was one of Sydney’s original settlements, and the site of Old Government House. While you can’t enter the building itself for free (unless you are a member of the National Trust), you can wander around the outside of the house and peak in the windows.

Old Government House is surrounded by the idyllic Parramatta Park, and together they are part of the Australian Convict Sites on the World Heritage list.

You’ll also find the historic site of Elizabeth Farm in Parramatta. While you have to pay the enter the building, you can walk around the grounds for free. The house was built for the Macarthur family, the first wool dynasty in Australia, and is well worth a visit to experience a part of Sydney’s history.

Visit the Nicholson Museum and University of Sydney Main Quadrangle

You wouldn’t expect to find one of Sydney’s best museums in the corner of a university quadrangle, but that’s just where the Nicholson Museum makes its home. Of course, this isn’t just any quadrangle. Sydney University is the oldest university in Australia, and the graceful sandstone quadrangle with its view over the inner west is one of the best places to have a picnic in Sydney, as the thousands of students who have passed through its arches well know.

What makes the Nicholson Museum worth visiting – apart from being accessibly free – is its significant collection of antiquities, which the museum claims is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. But more than a fascinating glimpse at the lives of the ancients, the museum brings a sense of fun to history. One of the featured attractions in July will be a model of the Acropolis made out of Lego.

     

Top 5 dog-friendly camping spots in Western Australia

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Home Valley Station, courtesy of Lyndon Sparrow

Home Valley Station, courtesy of Lyndon Sparrow

Dogs are a man’s (and woman’s) best friend, but it often doesn’t feel that way when you go camping, as dogs are banned from many caravan parks and national parks.

But in the wide stretches of Western Australia, you’ll find some truly spectacular camping areas that do welcome dogs.

We’ve picked our top five, but be sure to let us know your picks in the comments.

Alexander Bay camping area

Sandwiched on the stretch of coastline between Cape Le Grand and Cape Arid national parks, Alexander Bay camping area is 85 kilometres east of Esperance.

Nestled in the native bush just behind the beach, this camping area is in an enviable position, with panoramic views of the pristine sand and sparkling ocean for which this region is known.

While Alexander Bay camping area might not have the facilities of nearby Lucky Bay camping area (in Cape Le Grand National Park), campers will feel lucky to stay at this beauty of a spot – and not have to leave their dogs at home.

Of course, there are some compromises. There are limited facilities at this campground, and you’ll need to bring your own firewood and drinking water. Sites cost around $10 a night. But those are compromises we are more than willing to make to stay at this beautiful location with our four-legged friends.

Alexandra Bridge camping area

Alexandra Bridge camping area, courtesy of Paul Smedley

Alexandra Bridge camping area, courtesy of Paul Smedley

While Alexandra Bridge might not have the turquoise water of Alexander Bay, this charming spot just north of Augusta has drawcards of its own.

Situated next to the Blackwood River and ensconced by the Blackwood River forest, Alexandra Bridge is a popular camping area, and not just because dogs are allowed.

Apart from its enchanted setting, there’s drinking water, cold showers, toilets, caravan and camper trailer access, as well as a range of water-based activities. The only thing hairy about camping here will be your dog.

Cosy Corner (east) camping area

Cosy Corner, courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

Cosy Corner, courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

If you’re visiting Western Australia, you’ll probably have Albany on your itinerary. And once you’re in the area, it’s only 30 kilometres further to west to the ten campsites at Cosy Corner.

These free sites are near the foreshore, and peak out from the surrounding trees. As is the case at many dog-friendly camping areas, the only amenities at these sites are the toilets. The sites are also big enough to accommodate camper trailers and caravans, so you can bring some facilities along with you.

Once you are sitting back with your dog beside you, admiring the inspiring view of the Western Australian coastline, the lack of amenities won’t seem like such a hardship. It will feel like the way camping was meant to be.

Ellendale Pool camping area

Ellendale Pool camp area, courtesy of Paul Smedley

Ellendale Pool camp area, courtesy of Paul Smedley

Sometimes when you are camping you really hit the jackpot with a campsite that has a scenic place to set up tent, great facilities, various nearby activities and is dog friendly. At camping areas this good, you find yourself asking – what’s the catch? And we’re pleased to report that with Ellendale Pool camping area, there isn’t one.

You’ll find this fantastic camping area around 47 kilometres east of Geraldton, which is to the north of Perth. It’s pleasantly situated under gum trees, next to an impressive sandstone cliff that overlooks a freshwater pool.

As you’d expect at a waterfront campsite, the activities are mainly water-based, including swimming and canoeing, although you’ll have to bring your own drinking water.

Home Valley Station

Pentecost River, Home Valley Station, courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

Pentecost River, Home Valley Station, courtesy of Tourism Western Australia

The Gibb River Road is often seen as the last frontier in Western Australia. But along with the river crossings, dirt roads and crocodile sightings is something that many visitors forget to pass on in their epic tale of adventure – that the Gibb River Road is lined with working stations that offer some of the best camping facilities this side the Great Dividing Range.

The other fantastic thing about these stations? From El Questro to Ellenbrae to Diggers Rest, all of these stations are dog friendly.

Take Home Valley Station. Spanning three million hectares of the Kimberley region, this working station offers two camping options. You can set up near the homestead, and take advantage of the facilities including hot showers and powered sites, or you can take your tent 4 kilometres down to the Pentecost River and make your camp in the midst of the spectacular wilderness that is the Kimberley.

Check out the top five dog-friendly camping areas on the east coast.

 

     

Discover free ways to explore Australia’s capital cities

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Federation Walkway in Kings Park, Tourism WA

Federation Walkway in Kings Park, Tourism WA

You don’t have to spend a fortune to see the best of Australia. Travel writer Lee Atkinson reveals her favourite freebie in each capital city. You can find more free and dirt cheap ways to explore Australia in her new app, Australia on the Cheap.

Sydney Freebie: Nicholson Museum

Nicholson Museum, Newtown Grafitti

Nicholson Museum, Newtown Grafitti

It might be tiny, but this 3-room museum in a corner of the Sydney University Quadrangle is home to the largest collection of antiquities in Australia.

Most of the antiquities were collected by one of the university’s founders, Sir Charles Nicholson, although the museum has been added to over the past 150 years through the finds of various university archaeological excavations.

My favourite exhibit is on the Egyptian mummies, although there is a treasure trove of ancient pottery, sculpture, glass and tools from Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Egypt and the Middle East.  

Darwin Freebie: MAGNT

Tjanpi Grass Toyota, MAGNT/Duane Brown

Tjanpi Grass Toyota, MAGNT/Duane Brown

 

The Museum & Art Gallery of the Northern Territory is free (and air-conditioned so it’s a great place to escape the heat), but even if it wasn’t, the museum would still be worth visiting for the Indigenous art collection and the cyclone Tracy display.

There is an excellent exhibition of Aboriginal bark paintings, a collection of stone axes (some of which are estimated to be 22,000 years old) and Tiwi Island Pukamani Burial Poles, as well as some great contemporary Aboriginal art, including a full-sized 4WD Toyota made from grass.

A highlight of the cyclone Tracy exhibition is the small, dark room where you can listen to a terrifying tape recording of the cyclone’s screeching winds. There is also TV footage from the day after it hit and photographs of iron roofs crumpled up like tissues on front lawns.

Keep an eye out for Sweetheart, a huge saltwater crocodile infamous for attacking boats at a popular Darwin fishing spot in the 1970s. Sadly, the 5-metre croc drowned while he was being captured, but his body is on permanent display.

Canberra Freebie: National Archives of Australia

National Archives, The Shopping Sherpa

National Archives, The Shopping Sherpa

 If the idea of visiting a building that holds the records of all Australian government activities since Federation, as well as a huge amount of documents from the 19th century, sounds boring, then think again. The Australian National Archives puts together some great exhibitions that are well worth seeing, from Antarctic exploration to Royal Commissions, war, immigration and fashion. Expect to see letters, photos, books, bowls, guns, clothes and suitcases, among other things.

Queensland Freebie: Broadwater Parklands

Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Tourism

Broadwater Parklands, Gold Coast Tourism

 

Finding somewhere to take the kids on the Gold Coast (other than the beach) that won’t hurt the wallet can be a challenge, which is why I love the Broadwater Parklands, a fun 3-kilometre-long park at Southport.

Kids love the Rockpools, a collection of shallow wade-height pools with spouting water animals and waterfalls, a variety of pool areas and creek beds that fill and empty on timers, and jets that squirt water.

The Washington Waters Park at the southern end of the parklands has a variety of fun play equipment – like swings, a giant lizard, bike education track, monorail peddle bikes and a flying fox – as well as a special Liberty swing for children of all abilities. The jumping pillow is also sure to be a favourite.

You can also fish off the 100-metre long pier and enjoy a dip in the swimming enclosure, which has a jumping pontoon. This is patrolled by lifeguards from 8.30am to 4.30pm during school holidays and every weekend in summer. Picnic tables and barbecues are dotted throughout the park. www.gcparks.com.au

Melbourne Freebie: City Circle Tram

City Circle Tram, Kristina DC Hoeppner

City Circle Tram, Kristina DC Hoeppner

 

A trip to Melbourne isn’t complete without a ride on a Melbourne icon: the tram. And the best way to get around the city is on the free City Circle Tram. The City Circle Tram route circles the downtown city area — Fitzroy Gardens, State Parliament, Old Melbourne Gaol, Spencer Street Station, the National Gallery of Victoria, St Pauls Cathedral, Federation Square and all the city sights – and includes a commentary of the city’s attractions.

The circuit takes about 30 minutes but you can get on and off as many times as you want. The trams are burgundy and cream in colour and the stops are specially marked.

Adelaide Freebie: South Australian Museum

Adelaide museum, SATC

Adelaide museum, SATC

 

The South Australian Museum features a wide range of permanent exhibitions including the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery – one of the largest Aboriginal cultural displays in existence.

Other exhibitions include the Footsteps of Mawson exhibition, which pays tribute to one of Adelaide’s greatest explorers and scientists, Sir Douglas Mawson; treasures from ancient Egypt; and lots of stuffed animals, fossils and other interesting stuff on display, although my favourite is the gallery dedicated to the giant squid.

Join a free guided tour of the museum’s highlights at 11am on weekdays, 2pm and 3pm on weekends and public holidays. Special interest tours also run at 2pm on selected days.

Hobart Freebie: Mt Wellington

Mt Wellington, Lee Atkinson

Mt Wellington, Lee Atkinson

 

You haven’t been to Hobart if you haven’t been to the top of Mt Wellington.

Standing sentinel 1271 metres over Hobart and its harbour, the summit of Mt Wellington is just a 20-minute (very) winding drive from the centre of the city. The road to the summit is a popular downhill descent for cyclists, so watch out for bicycles on the road.

At the lookout on a fine day you can see the city spread below, the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, east coast, the Derwent Valley, the south west and the Tasman Peninsula.

There are a number of walking tracks crisscrossing the mountain, but be warned, the wind is often cold so coats and warm weather gear are always needed. In fact, it’s not uncommon to see the top of Mount Wellington dusted in snow, even in mid-summer. www.wellingtonpark.org.au

Perth Freebie: Kings Park

Set beside the Swan River in the heart of the city, the 406-hectare (roughly 1000 acres) park is the heart, lungs and soul of the city.

A mix of bushland, botanic gardens, walkways and grassy lawns, it’s the place to go for lunchtime strolls and weekend picnics or barbecues.

In spring, the park is home to some of the most impressive wildflower displays in the state and in summer, an outdoor cinema. Don’t miss the Federation Walkway which extends 620 metres through the Botanic Garden along a combination of on-ground pathways and a spectacular elevated 52-metre glass-and-steel-arched bridge suspended amongst a canopy of tall eucalypts.

Free guided walks around the park are at 10am and 2pm daily, starting from the Aspects Gift Shop on Fraser Ave. A daily walk at midday is also available between 1 November to 30 June.

Lee Atkinson is the author of 11 travel books, including eight guide books and two apps on travelling in and around Australia. Her app, Australia on the Cheap is available from iTunes and Google Play.

 

 

     

Top 5 coastal walks in New South Wales

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Light to Light walk, Ken Eastwood

Light to Light walk, Ken Eastwood

Walking is one of the best ways to experience Australia’s stunning natural beauty.

And as we move into the cooler months, walking is guaranteed to keep the chill at bay as you explore the famous New South Wales coast.

We’ve picked five coastal walks from the fantastic new book by Ken Eastwood, Top Walks in New South Wales, that will get your blood pumping as you traverse what is arguably the most stunning coastal landscape in the world.

Let us know your favourite coastal walk in the comments.

The Coast Track, Royal National Park

With a name like that, you’d expect the Coast Track to deliver on coastal views – and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s our favourite way to experience the dramatic cliffs, escarpments and spectacular ocean views of Royal National Park.

The track runs the length of the park from north to south, and at 26 kilometres, it’s no stroll in the park (pardon the pun). But you shouldn’t let the length deter you from undertaking the walk.

While experienced hikers might power through in one day, it’s more enjoyable if divided over two days, with a stay at North Era camping area in the middle. You’ll need to be self sufficient to stay at this bush camping site. There aren’t any showers, but you have the whole stretch of the Tasman Sea before you in which to wash off the dirt of a day’s walking (although you’ll get a bit of a cold shock if you go for a swim in winter).

A lot of people have discovered this spectacular walk, and it’s often used for Duke of Edinburgh hikes and scout groups, so go during the week in school term if possible.

Light to Light walk, Ben Boyd National Park

Light to Light walk, Ken Eastwood

Light to Light walk, Ken Eastwood

 

Have you always fancied getting off the beaten track? While you will be walking on established tracks on the Light to Light walk, at 32 kilometres this splendid trek is rarely walked end-to-end. This is probably because there’s limited transport available to and from the walk meaning you really do need to have a car at both ends of the walk (unless you fancy walking 64 kilometres). It’s also recommended that you drop off some bottles of water in advance at whichever campsite you’d like to spend the night. Hikers generally stay at Saltwater Creek, which is the halfway point of the walk.

The Light to Light walk is in Ben Boyd National Park, which is situated on the appropriately named Sapphire Coast. As the walk mainly hugs the coast, you’ll have plenty of time to see the region live up to its name, as the water will sparkle into a million different shades of blue, from azure to navy and every blue in between.

The terrain is relatively flat ground, although you will have to clamber over some rocks and up some stairs. The most challenging thing about this walk is its length.

Make sure you say ‘hi’ to the locals on the trek – the area is heavily populated with native animals, including kangaroos and wallabies.

Angourie Coastal Walk, Yuraygir National Park

Angourie Coastal Walk, Ken Eastwood

Angourie Coastal Walk, Ken Eastwood

Angourie Coastal Walk is in the rarely talked-about Yuraygir National Park.

We don’t know whether the park’s low-key profile is due to its distance from Sydney or the fact that it’s relatively undeveloped, but whatever the reason, it’s good news for hikers. A walk this spectacular would normally be crawling with walks, but as it stands, you don’t have to worry about being overtaken by hordes every time you stop to take in the views.

At three hours the walk is quite short, although some hikers might find the up-and-down nature of the walk challenging. You can also turn this walk into the longer Yuraygir Coastal Walk, which spans the length of the park and is estimated to take four days.

There are plenty of camping areas throughout Yuraygir National Park if you’d like to make a night of it, although most of the campgrounds in the park have limited facilities. Check out the NSW Parks and Wildlife Service for information on other walks you can take in the park if you decide to stay for a few days. 

Spit to Manly, Sydney

This famous walk hardly needs an introduction. The entire 10-kilometre walk starts at the Spit Bridge and continues all the way around the coast of the inner harbour to Manly. The full walk is definitely worth completing, but if you don’t want to commit, this 8-kilometre-return section of the walk is a delightful introductory version.

This shortened walk will primarily take you through Sydney Harbour National Park, which encompasses one of the few remaining areas of (almost) undisturbed bush left in the city. There will be parts of the walk where you will feel like you are alone – a rare experience in a city of over four million people.

Starting at Clontarf Reserve, follow the walk until you reach the lookout near Dobroyd Head. This is roughly the 4-kilometre point, although you can choose to continue on the walk for a bit longer and turn around at Reef Beach or Forty Baskets Beach, but that will involve adding more uphill sections on the return trip.

We think some of the best views of Sydney are to be had on this walk. You’ll catch glimpses of both North and South heads, as well as a stunning overview of the developed areas of the inner harbour. It’s hard not to fall in love with Sydney after completing this walk.

Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island

Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island, Ken Eastwood

Mount Gower, Lord Howe Island, Ken Eastwood

 

You might see the inclusion of this walk as cheating – after all, climbing a mountain doesn’t really count as a coastal walk. Unless that walk is on Lord Howe Island, where it’s hard to avoid the coast.

You’ll walk along the coast for a few sections of the 10-kilometre walk to the top of the mountain, and if you’re lucky and the summit isn’t cloudy, you’ll even see the spectacular Balls Pyramid, which is 23 kilometres out to sea. Make sure to take your camera along for this trek. You’re going to need it.

To climb Mount Gower, you’ll need to take a local guide. The return trip is around eight to nine hours, and there are ropes lining the path so you can steady yourself on your way up to the 875-metre-high summit. It’s a marvellous trek that displays the World Heritage–listed island’s stunning natural beauty.

For more top walks in New South Wales, check out Ken Eastwood’s Top Walks in New South Wales.