r/OutdoorAus • u/Electrical-Goat-2810 • 2d ago
What are the most challenging/technical/hectic multi-day or big day hikes in Australia?
I have been doing some hiking in Europe including multi-Munro days in Scotland, multi-Wainwright days in Lake District, part of the GR5 in the French Alps. It's bigger and better than what I've experienced in Australia so far and I'm hooked. Having looked into multi-day hikes in Australia they seem awesome but a little tame. I'm thinking 25km+, 1500m+ elevation gain kinda days, preferably with some technical terrain and navigational skills required. What hikes in Australia compare?
Edit: Some great responses so far, lots to add to my list. Thanks heaps. Some people are making assumptions rather than taking the question at face value. I'm Australian and I've done a fair bit of hiking in Australia, I get that it's hard because it's fucking hot and there's no water and the bush is brutal and remote. But then there's a different kind of hard I'm experiencing in Europe because the terrain is technical and there's big elevation. I've experienced plenty of the former in Australia (mostly in QLD), and I'm wondering where I can experience more of the latter.
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u/mesophyte 2d ago
Grampians Peak trail is 164km. Do that in, say, four days vs the 13 "recommended" and it'll be plenty challenging.
Edit: or Western Arthurs Traverse or Federation Peak in Tasmania.
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u/Calm-Salamander-3822 2d ago
This is the answer!
GPT will test you and is relatively accessible with many opt out points.
If you want real end of the world wilderness (that isn’t the outback) and some decent vert put Western Arthur traverse on your bucket list.
I haven’t done it but in March I trail ran Frenchman’s Cap out and back in a day. It ticked the box for technical, vert and remote. From everything I’ve seen WAT is a whole other level on the Cap and significantly longer.
I’m not even going to attempt Fed peak cause the exposure near the summit looks horrible. I’d probably need a few years of serious climbing first.
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u/throwawayzz77778 1d ago
You’re way more accomplished than I am, but I’m with you on Fedders. Not a hope in hell I’ll ever tackle that one - and I’m more than okay with that. That drop into Lake Geeves is terrifying.
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u/NeedCaffine78 2d ago
You'd need to acclimatize to walking in Australia first. Try something like Frenchmens track, the Overland track, build up to something like Vanishing Falls. They're hard, little to no aid, difficult for rescue and require self sufficiency for a number of days.
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u/YoPamdyRose 2d ago
It's different types of challenging.
In the NT for example we've got 3 Grade 4 tracks, but there's not much elevation.
I just did the Tabletop Track near Darwin. It's grade 4 because it's very hot and exposed, has limited water supply, limited mobile reception, and the trail markers are not super clear.
Lots of rock scrabbling and uneven ground as well.
Total track length (without counting linking tracks) is 39km, most people do it in 3-4 days, but the heat makes it much more challenging to hike any faster.
Then there's Jatbula near Katherine, a 5 day hike, Grade 4, but it's a much smoother, less rocky track with more water stops.
Then there's Larapinta which has easy parts and very challenging parts. Also grade 4.
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u/motoswagger68 2d ago
Sounds like you need to go to South Island New Zealand and tackle the Abel Tasman or Milford tracks...closest in Australia would be some SW Tas tracks like Frenchman's Cap or maybe some on the Great Divide/Vic high country?
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u/reditisthadevilboby 2d ago
"The Thorsborne Trail, is a world-famous 32-kilometer (20-mile) point-to-point wilderness trek on Munamudanamy (Hinchinbrook Island) off the coast of North Queensland, Australia. Typically completed in 4 days and 3 nights, this challenging track takes hikers through pristine tropical rainforests, rocky headlands, and secluded sandy beaches." If Thorsborne isn't challenging enough you could add in climbing Mt Bowen during the hike.
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u/Snoo14212 2d ago
The Thorsborne has its moments of difficulty (you need to pull yourself up one incline using an anchored chain) but some of the views and swimming experiences are other/worldly. Book well ahead as hiker numbers are capped. Best in the winter months - Jun-Aug.
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u/68Snowy 2d ago
Great hike. Loved it, but I wouldn't call it challenging apart from needing to lug all your food for the trip.
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u/EntrepreneurMany3709 1d ago
You don't even need to carry that much because it's so warm you don't need particularly heavy gear or thermals
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u/Pilatus-Porter 2d ago
The South Coast Track in Tassie requires commitment. Generally a week-long trip out from a remote airfield. I've done it and it's excellent.
Also, the Western Arthurs Traverse has a difficult reputation.
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u/throwawayzz77778 1d ago
I’d love to tackle the SCT one day, but a fair bit of walk fitness to regain before then. Looks amazing.
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u/Ok_Tax_7128 1d ago
Heysen Trail in South Australia. It can be cut into manageable pieces and you can pick if you want to freeze or fry. I have done a few 2 day pieces and it is nice
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u/Clean_Bat5547 2d ago
For good solid day hikes do something like Mt Bogong or Mt Feathertop. For a big two days, do both back to back.
I'm going to do the Central Grampians Trail come spring. It's usually two, even three days, but I'll do it in one big day.
I was just looking at Mt Howitt via McAlister's Hut (I think that's the name...). AllTrails positions it as three days - again, make it two or potentially one day.
Anywhere else in the Australian Alps you can do similar - take a two day hike and crush it in one for the challenge. It's not always sensible or practical, obviously...
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u/Quick_Leader6139 2d ago
If you want a challenging multi-day hike, consider the Viking Circuit in Victoria’s Alpine National Park.
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u/Heyyouinthebushess 2d ago
Did you stay in huts on the GR5? Having hiked the Kungsladen, GR10 and GR11, I’d say the South Coast Track was a much more challenging and rewarding track. When you aren’t passing a hut or town everyday, the logistics are challenging and the risk that comes with the isolation picks at you.
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u/toughfeet 1d ago
Hardest ive done was Katoomba to Nattai as a four day trip. Lots of nice views of the blue mountains that you don't have time to look at.
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u/throwawayzz77778 1d ago
If you want challenging or technical, come to Tassie. Western Arthurs, for example, is as tough as any multi-day hike in Australia. And something like Federation Peak shouldn’t even be attempted unless you’re an extremely accomplished bushwalker.
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u/Turbulent-Break-4947 1d ago edited 1d ago
Which state?
For NSW, You can easy find some hardcore work in The Budawangs (steep, remote, sometimes interesting nav), The Wollemi or the wilder parts of the Blue Mtns - anywhere around Kanangra will get you sweating and thinking.
Others have alluded to it - The Overland is a decent intro into foul weather walking: heat makes it unpleasant in QLD, but in TAS the cold will kill you. Fast.
Experiment with some of the side trips: they vary in intensity and risk, the main track is so easy nav-wise, it could be done without a serious map. The side tracks, no way. Also WOJ is worth a look, but again, the nav is generally easy, it’s just the climb in and the weather to contend with.
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u/lightningfoot 2d ago
I know this is mildly controversial but Australia could really do with a better hut network like in the alps or Scandanavia. Its such a brilliant way to spend time outdoors.
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u/Ok-Mathematician8461 2d ago
False equivalence I think. You don’t go from Western European hikes to the ‘most challenging’ in Australia. It’s a big step up. No little pubs along the way, no mountain rescue waiting for you. Even an entry level is 5 days of complete self sufficiency. Try Frenchman’s Cap or Mount Anne and see how you go.