The best walks and hikes in Australia

Grotto Point Lighthouse is a small historic navigation light built in 1910 to help guide vessels through Sydney Harbour. The unusual stone structure sits atop a rocky headland at the southern tip of Balgowlah Heights, and is sometimes nicknamed the “Disney Castle” because of its turreted design. Surrounded by bushland, this location offers fantastic, expansive views across Middle Harbour and out through Sydney Heads toward the Tasman Sea.

Katoomba Falls is a fantastic multi-tiered waterfall that cascades over sandstone cliffs into the Jamison Valley, and is one of the Blue Mountains’ most recognisable waterfall locations. The falls are surrounded by rugged escarpments, and from here, there are beautiful expansive views across the eucalyptus-covered ridges that stretch through the valley. The combination of plunging water, towering cliffs, and wide valley scenery makes it especially impressive if you're lucky enough to be here after it rains.

Federal Pass Walking Track is a historic and relatively challenging route that follows the base of the Jamison Valley cliffs between Leura and Katoomba, passing under dramatic escarpments and connecting several iconic walking routes. The track winds through cool forest, fern-filled gullies, creek crossings, and waterfall areas, with access to Leura Forest, the Giant Stairway, Scenic World, and routes toward Ruined Castle. The towering sandstone cliffs combined with the lush valley vegetation, and changing views of the escarpment create an ideal immersive walk that contrasts with the busy exposed lookouts high above you.

Spooners Lookout is a quieter viewpoint along the Three Sisters Walk near Echo Point, offering a slightly different angle of the iconic Three Sisters rock formation with extended views across the Jamison Valley. Reached by a short detour on a paved path through eucalypt forest, this lookout provides a more peaceful vantage point than the main Echo Point platform while still capturing the impressive escarpment scenery. Sandstone cliffs, forested ridges, and expansive valley views make it an excellent spot for appreciating the scale and beauty of the Blue Mountains landscape.

Manly Scenic Walkway is a 10 kilometre one-way coastal walk from Spit Bridge to Manly, following the edge of Middle and North Harbour. The Grade 3 track takes around 3.5 to 4.5 hours, passing bushland, harbour beaches, and lookouts along the way. Highlights include Clontarf Beach, Reef Beach, Grotto Point’s Aboriginal engravings, and views from Dobroyd Head.

Cotterill’s Lookout is one of the most dramatic viewpoints along the Kings Canyon Rim Walk in Watarrka National Park. Reached via a short side detour from the main rim trail, the lookout sits on the edge of the canyon and offers sweeping views of the towering sandstone walls on both sides of the gorge. From here you can look down into the deep canyon and across to the rugged north and south rims, giving a real sense of the scale of Kings Canyon. It’s widely considered one of the best viewpoints on the entire rim walk.

Along the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, you'll pass a striking cluster of rounded sandstone domes often compared to beehives, or otherwise known as the “Lost City.” These unusual shapes formed as the ancient Mereenie Sandstone, laid down about 400 million years ago, fractured into blocks that were gradually rounded by wind and rain over millions of years.

Hidden within Kings Canyon, the Garden of Eden Waterhole is a rare permanent water source surrounded by lush vegetation and towering sandstone walls. To reach it from the Kings Canyon Rim Walk, a side track descends into the gorge via a series of wooden steps and boardwalks, followed by a small bridge crossing the creek. The shaded canyon floor feels noticeably cooler than the exposed rim above. The waterhole is culturally significant and an important refuge for wildlife, so swimming is not permitted.