7 of Australia’s best urban hikes

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

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.

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 at 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 many great walks. 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 will take you through even more scenic bushland and gives you access to the nearby Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha via the Citriodora trail.

East Point Reserve

Distance: 2.7km / 10.9km

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

Sure, no trip to Darwin is complete without visiting 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. Each route teems 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.

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.

Mornington Peninsula

Distance: 4.3km / 7.2km

Steps: ~7,643 steps / ~9,448 steps

Located on the southern coast of Victoria, Mornington Peninsula offers several walks catering to both seasoned hikers and newcomers alike. Of particular note is the journey to Cape Schanck and its iconic lighthouse, constructed from local stone in 1859 at the southernmost tip of the peninsula. You can stop for a guided tour of the lighthouse, as well as check out the marine life swimming in the rock pools below. 

You could also incorporate Bushrangers Bay into the route, which offers unrivalled views of a volcanic plug dubbed Pulpit Rock and other jaw-dropping basalt cliffs on the way. The entire route is seamless and makes for a relaxing 5.3km journey each way. 

For those seeking a slightly longer walk, the Arthurs Seat to Kings Falls Walk features steeper terrain, but the views make it more than worth the effort. The route is peppered with lookout points and sculptures crafted by William Ricketts, and on a clear day, the view extends as far as the city skyline, the You Yangs and Mount Macedon to the far north. 

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 boasts stunning views, magnificent native flora, and – at certain times of the year – glimpses of the majestic grey kangaroo.

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 more challenging walk, the Fairylands Loop track (5.3km) begins and ends at Fullers Bridge and passes historic sites like the once popular Fairyland Pleasure Grounds.