Explore the most popular views trails in Australia with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
Set out around 8am from the top of the Golden Stairs and arrived at the Castle around 945am. Coming down is mostly easy and the middle section through the forest is nice and mostly flat with a slight uphill effort to get to the castle. Scramble to the top is rather easy when you find the right section to climb. The hardest part was the climb back up the Stairs at the end. I was carrying a 12kg pack for training but is rather hard regardless. Take some rests on the way back up and you will get there fine but you will have some tired legs. Took us 3.5 -4 hours round trip. View on top of ruins was amazing.
Easy on the way down tough on the way back up but very enjoyable.
Great easy walk, paths are well kept! Has other hiking options, if you enjoy testing yourself head up to the lookout
The Byron Bay lighthouse is a must-see if you're in the region, as is the walk down to Wategos Beach. While the lighthouse area will get crowded for sunset, mostly friendly backpackers, not many take the track down to the beach.
The trail is popular for locals training in the morning, often parking at Wategos and running up and back. But any time of the day is beautiful.
One small suggestion if hitting the lighthouse first is to park in either in the lower lighthouse carpark (on the way up, before the first boom gate - which they lock at night), or on the way down (when then one way road goes down, there's another and less full car park a little ways along). From either it only adds five to ten minutes walk and saves hassle with gates being locked.
Sunset at the end of the trail is beautiful, but likewise sunrise is special. Often photographers stake out this spot, as dolphins nearly always been be spotted in the region playing, and this is the most easterly point of the Australian mainland after all. Enjoy.
The Mount Edwards trail is a nicely formed track with a consistent gradient to get the heart pumping. While it is an easy walk for the most part, anyone walking with children might consider warning them about the cliff edges, as this trail is thankfully kept natural (limited artificial steps and no railings).
The trail is predominantly a short hike for those visiting Moogerah Dam, and in fact begins by first crossing the dam and then following the clearly marked stairs up onto the track. From there it's a single well-trodden dirt trail with some loose rocks to mindful of kicking down in the steeper sections. Largely covered by trees it is shady for the most part, although would be hot in summer. Add to your winter hiking list like most of the nearby peaks.
Highlights include a section of beautiful Grass Trees (aka Blaga / Xanthorrhoea / Black Boy) in the final section before the summit, which can take 100s of years to grow. The summit view is beautiful, looking across to Mount French in the distance (including the edge of the face we call "Frog Buttress" in our climbing community - a popular trad climbing spot). The cities of Fassifern and Aratula can be viewed below, and Ipswich is beyond the range after.
A worthwhile hike - don't dismiss it because of the short duration or lack of technicality. What it lacks in length or epicness it makes up for in consistent steepness/gradient, which we included in our hiking plan as part of training for the alps. Glad we did - a beautiful afternoon.
Marvellous view!
Walked at low tide, really enjoyable views and great beach walk, best with offshore winds
Track well maintained with nice work on the bike trail part of the walk. Not overly strenuous with it taking just over 2 hours to do the walk
Gorgeous walk where my gf and saw all sorts of wildlife from lyre birds to lizards, a snake, wallabys and more! Beautiful change in forest from bush at the top to rainforest down low by the creeks.
Spectacular views over the Furneaux Islands. Can be cloudy on top. Worth the effort. Moderate difficulty if you have some fitness level.
Great workout with fabulous views from the top. Have to agree this shouldn’t be rated as easy/for families (with children under about 8 yo), since involves quite a lot of steep rock scrambling and is quite slippery in places. Would grade as a Moderate short walk/climb.
The map and details provided here makes it really easy to stay on the right track!
Had an early start, leaving camp around 3am. Arrived at the summit at around 6am to watch the sunrise. Challenging hike with 10kg packs but well worth the reward!
Be prepared to walk up hill! It’s beautiful. Go to Bald rock and soak up the views while you refuel. It’s all downhill from there ;-)
We saw three Lyrebirds along the way!
Sick brodda
Stunning location close to the heart of SYDNEY.
Beautiful views down side trail
good workout and enjoyed the changing landscape.
New track through the forest is much nicer than the previous fire trail route. A few step sections along the way but nothing technical or exposed, although some base level of fitness would be recommended ie. probably not advised for the old or infirmed.
The trail terminates at the Yellowpinch summit at a cliff edge with a dramatic outlook on Mt Barney. Small children should be supervised closely here as there is no safety fence. New info sign points out the peaks and main points of interest.
Great work QPWS, this walk is now very much improved.
Began this hike/climb at 4AM. It was dark, but with torches it was doable. The first 15 minutes of the climb were the hardest (in my opinion) as it’s pretty steep but it levels out and becomes more gradual after that. My partner disagrees and says the last 15 minutes of the ascent was the hardest as you have to climb one handed or in the dark. The chain helps here a fair bit.
We saw and heard many birds, and as we went in winter.
When we arrived at the top, the sun was just about to rise. The experience was breathtaking and would definitely do it again.
Notes: Please don’t take a drone and ruin it for everyone else. The path is quite muddy so hike boots are advisable. Gloves would be nice at the top as there is a bit of wind.
I love this climb up the side of Mt Dandenong. Definitely a hard climb though and a suggestion to go down Zig Zag track for an easier and safer descent
Beautiful little walk with some challenging stairs and incline to get the heart rate up. Views of the headland are worth the walk up. Very popular any time of the day, suitable for all fitness levels and ages
Great walk to get you moving.
Really great hike up and amazing views. A shame they have planted that ugly radio tower facility at the summit
kids friendly
Super nice walk with beautiful scenery
I did this hike in preparation for Mt Kilimanjaro and thought it was a bit basic for my goal but the scenery was beautiful. Not very hilly and quite well signposted but a nice walk.
This trail has beautiful views but it is not 16.6km as indicated here. The official sign at Lamington National Park states Ships Stern as 19km but my GPS said it was more than 20km. Lots of big fallen trees so be prepared to climb and pull yourself up over them. Scary bits up high on the trail but worth it for the views.
Love it