7 of Australia’s best urban hikes

ARTICLE

17 February 2023

3 min read

Discover some of Australia’s best walking spots – perfect for the time-restricted urban dweller.

For as long as there’s been urban-induced stress, there’s been a sure-fire remedy: nature.

Every culture has its own term for the calming power of immersing yourself in the wilderness, climbing a mountain or walking along a beach. In the 1980s, the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku (‘forest bathing’) emerged and revealed the incredible physical and mental benefits of spending time in green spaces – ranging from decreased blood pressure to disease prevention¹. It’s even been found that breathing in phytoncide, a chemical that comes from trees and plants, can improve your immune system².

Then, there are the physical benefits³ that come from lacing up your walking shoes, strapping on your smartwatch, and gathering up those steps in the great outdoors. The hardest part, usually, is finding the time. Don’t sweat it, though – we’ve come up with seven easy options for a quick urban retreat, and none require straying too far (if at all) from Australia’s main centres. All you need to do is pack the trail mix and hope it doesn’t rain.

Adelaide

Morialta Conservation Park

Distance: 1.7km / 7.5km

Steps: ~2,231 / ~9,843

Three waterfalls and the spectacular Morialta Gorge are just a few of the bushland highlights at this popular conservation park, a short 10km from central Adelaide.

There are multiple walking options that vary in length and difficulty. If you’re after a light walk, the Morialta Falls Valley walk is a 1.7km return trip into the gorge itself – which, following rainfall, produces a plunging 30m waterfall.

For a more intensive trek, the Norton Summit to Morialta walk (7.5km one way) is part of the Yurrebilla Trail – a well-known 54km track – and gives walkers a proper taste of the area, including a look at historic barns and spectacular views over Morialta.

Brisbane

Mt Coot-tha Forest

Distance: 1.9km

Steps: ~2,494 steps

There’s a strange serenity to escaping a city just to look back over it. Mount Coot-tha Forest is the best of both worlds: one minute you’re immersed in a scenic eucalypt forest – with spectacular waterfalls and abundant wildlife – and the next you’re atop a lookout, gazing over Brisbane from high above.

The area, which gets its name from the Turrbal Aboriginal word for honey, is only 10km from central Brisbane and joins onto the enormous D’Aguilar National Park to its northwest.

There are plenty of great walks to choose from to suit walkers of all fitness levels. The 1.9km Summit track begins at the JC Slaughter Falls picnic area and continues uphill to the lookout.

If you want a more substantial trek, you can make a circuit by adding the Mahogany trail onto the route. This'll take you through even more scenic bushland and gives you access to the nearby Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha via the Citriodora trail.

Darwin

East Point Reserve

Distance: 2.7km / 10.9km

Steps: ~3,543 steps / ~14,304 steps

A trip to Darwin is incomplete if you don’t visit Kakadu or Litchfield national parks, but there are still fabulous in-city options for a quick and easy wander through the NT.

East Point Reserve stretches around Darwin’s sandy inner-city coastline – a few blocks from the airport – and has excellent walking tracks. It’s replete with mangroves and wildlife, and there’s even (safe) swimming at Lake Alexander along the way.

The reserve boasts views of the magnificent Fannie Bay from the Dudley Point lookout, which, come sunset, offers a sight to behold. There are numerous ways to walk to and from Fannie Bay, ranging from a 2.7km trek to a 10.9km option.

Hobart

Wellington Park

Distance: 9.2km / 2.4km

Steps: ~12,073 steps / ~3,150 steps

This sprawling protected park encompasses a vast area of land, yet its borders are a mere 6km from downtown Hobart.

There are lots of great walking options. For the intrepid hiker, there’s the Organ Pipes track – a 9.2km walk on the eastern side of Kunanyi / Mount Wellington that takes you along the base of the awe-inspiring Organ Pipes.

If you’re looking for something more mellow, the Cascade track is a gentle 2.4km walk through rich, ferny bushland on the eastern fringe of the park – a short drive from the striking 19th-century Gothic Cascade Brewery, another Hobart-visit essential.

Melbourne

Dandenong Ranges

Distance: 3km / 2.4km

Steps: ~3,937 steps / ~3,150 steps

With more than 200km of walks, there’s plenty to explore in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges, about an hour’s drive from the CBD.

For those seeking endurance over leisure, the infamous Kokoda Track memorial walk (also known as the ‘1,000 Steps’) is a gruelling walk up, as you’d guess, around one thousand steps (and then you need to go down). The 3km trek is worth it, though – there’s an abundance of tree ferns and manna gums, plus lots of wildlife along the way.

For a more leisurely wander, the Sherbrooke Falls walk (2.4km) provides a tranquil, accessible taste of what the magnificent ranges have to offer.

Have you earned your weekly AIA Vitality Active Benefit?

A hike is a fantastic way to get your daily exercise in. Plus, you can earn up to 100 AIA Vitality Points that count toward your weekly Active Benefit.

Each day, you can earn 50 points for taking between 7,500 and 12,499 steps, and 100 points for taking 12,500+ steps (up to 100 per day, and up to 15,000 per membership year).

If you’re missing some points for this week’s Active Benefit, it might be a great idea to plan a small hike or a brisk walk through nature on the weekend. There are plenty of benefits – both physical and mental – to be had, and you can treat yourself to the rewards at the end, thanks to AIA Vitality!

Perth

Bells Rapids Park

Distance: 2.5km / 3km

Steps: ~3,281 steps / ~3,937 steps

Around 35km from central Perth, Bells Rapids Park is a world away from urban life. The park’s main draw is Bells Rapids: an incredible white-water rapid that the Swan River gushes through.

Accessible walking options include the 2.5km River walk and 3km Goat walk. The park also boasts jaw-dropping views, magnificent native flora, and – at certain times of the year – glimpses of the majestic grey kangaroo.

Sydney

Lane Cove National Park

Distance: 1.3km / 5.3km

Steps: ~1,706 steps / ~6,955 steps

Located in Sydney’s northwest, Lane Cove National Park is a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city.

If you’re just looking to immerse yourself in bushland, the 1.3km Lane Cove Weir to Boat Shed walk is a nice way to explore the scenic Lane Cove River, which meanders through the park.

For a higher-endurance walk, the Fairylands Loop track (5.3km) begins and ends at Fullers Bridge and passes historic sites like the once popular Fairyland Pleasure Grounds.

Footnotes

_{¹ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8834905/}

_{2https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/08/forest-bathing-japanese-practice-in-west-wellbeing}

_{3 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/walking-for-good-health}

Staff Writer

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances

Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.

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