East Coast Hikes

Australia’s East Coast is loaded with bucket-list hikes, from rainforest waterfalls in Queensland to coastal cliffs in New South Wales and wild beaches in Victoria. Below is a guide to 20 standout trails that balance big-name icons with a few quieter gems.australia?

How this list works

To keep it useful for planning, the hikes are grouped north to south and include a mix of easy half-day walks, full-day missions and a few multi-day epics. Distances and grades can change with reroutes and weather, so always double-check current conditions with local park authorities before you go.australia+2?

Queensland coastal and hinterland hikes

1. Toolona Creek Circuit, Lamington National Park (QLD)
 A classic Scenic Rim rainforest loop, Toolona Creek Circuit leads you past a string of waterfalls, mossy gullies and misty ridgelines in the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area. Expect a long, moderately challenging day with creek crossings, lush canopy cover and occasional lookouts across the Border Ranges.awaywithmaja+1?

2. Mount Greville, Moogerah Peaks (QLD)
 Mount Greville is a steep but rewarding summit walk known for its rugged gullies and slot-style ravines that feel far wilder than the distance suggests. From the top you score sweeping views over Lake Moogerah and the surrounding peaks, making it a favourite “mini-epic” within a couple of hours of Brisbane.wolfbearcollective?

3. Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk (QLD)
 This multi-day trail stitches together rainforest, waterfalls and blackbutt forest across the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, with sections that can also be done as day walks. You’ll traverse Kondalilla, Mapleton and Mapleton Falls areas, with designated walkers’ camps if you want the full pack-carry experience.weareexplorers?

4. Mount Ninderry Summit Walk, Sunshine Coast (QLD)
 Short, steep and highly photogenic, Mount Ninderry is the kind of sunrise or late-arvo walk locals return to again and again. The summit platform offers near-360-degree views over the Maroochy River, cane fields and coastal strip, making it a great warm-up hike for visitors to the Sunshine Coast.wolfbearcollective?

Northern New South Wales to Mid North Coast

5. Cape Byron Walking Track, Byron Bay (NSW)
 This loop links rainforest, beach, cliff-top viewpoints and the famous Cape Byron Lighthouse, the easternmost point of mainland Australia. Dolphins, turtles and seasonal whale sightings are common, and the mix of sealed path and bush track makes it accessible to most moderately fit walkers.australia+1?

6. Wollumbin / Mount Warning Summit Track (NSW – currently closed)
 Historically one of the region’s iconic summit hikes, the Mount Warning track climbs through subtropical rainforest to a rocky peak with panoramic views. Access and cultural considerations have changed in recent years, so walkers need to check current closures and respect First Nations guidance before planning any visit.wolfbearcollective?

7. Bouddi Coastal Walk, Bouddi National Park (NSW)
 Between Putty Beach and Macmasters, this coastal trail serves up boardwalks, heathland, cliff-top views and detours to quiet beaches. With moderate distance and rolling terrain, it works perfectly as a full-day hike with plenty of swim stops built in.australia+1?

8. Maitland Bay or Box Head Tracks, Bouddi (NSW)
 Maitland Bay is a short but steep walk to a sheltered, often uncrowded beach, while the Box Head Track delivers big views over Broken Bay, Barrenjoey and the Hawkesbury. Both are brilliant options if you’re based on the Central Coast and want maximum scenery for minimal drive time.londonerinsydney+1?

Sydney and surrounds

9. The Coast Track, Royal National Park (NSW)
 Running between Bundeena and Otford, this 26 km coastal route is a two-day classic with clifftop lookouts, remote beaches, waterfalls and seasonal wildflowers. Fit walkers sometimes push it as a mega day, but most prefer to camp en route and enjoy a slower pace along one of Australia’s best-known coastal tracks.nationalparks.nsw+1?

10. Royal National Park day sections (Wedding Cake Rock to Marley etc., NSW)
 If you don’t have time for the full Coast Track, shorter sections around popular spots like Wedding Cake Rock and Big Marley Beach give you the same sea cliffs and heathland with a lower logistics load. These day walks are easily reached from Sydney and are well-marked, but exposure near cliff edges means care is essential.sydney+1?

11. Blue Mountains cliff and canyon walks (NSW)
 While just inland from the coast, the Blue Mountains are a staple in any east coast hiking itinerary, with trails ranging from short waterfall loops to demanding escarpment traverses. Iconic day walks near Katoomba, Blackheath and Wentworth Falls combine sandstone cliffs, deep valleys and viewpoints over eucalyptus forest that stretch to the horizon.lonelyplanet+1?

South Coast New South Wales

12. White Sands / White Sands Coastal Walk, Jervis Bay (NSW)
 This gentle coastal path links some of Jervis Bay’s famously bright beaches with pockets of scribbly gum forest and regular chances to spot dolphins cruising just offshore. It’s family-friendly, photogenic and pairs well with a post-hike swim or snorkel in the sheltered bay.londonerinsydney+1?

13. Nadgee Wilderness Walk, Far South Coast (NSW)
 For experienced hikers seeking solitude, the Nadgee Wilderness Walk follows remote beaches, lagoons and dunes between Merrica River and the Victorian border. Multi-day, pack-carry and strictly limited in numbers, it offers a rare taste of largely untouched coastal wilderness on the east coast.nationalparks.nsw+1?

14. Great North Walk coastal sections near Newcastle (NSW)
 The Great North Walk runs all the way between Sydney and Newcastle, with some of the most accessible coastal-feeling sections sitting near the northern end. Expect a blend of bushland, river viewpoints and urban-fringe green corridors that can be tackled as individual day walks.visitnsw?

Victoria’s east coast and alpine edges

15. Wilsons Promontory coastal day walks (VIC)
 Wilsons Promontory National Park, on Victoria’s south-east corner, has several of the state’s standout coastal day hikes, including routes like Tongue Point and Sealers Cove. Trails typically wind across forested headlands and sheltered coves with granite boulders and pale sand, and wildlife encounters with wombats and kangaroos are common.australia+1?

16. Wilderness Coast Walk (VIC–NSW)
 On the Victorian side of the far east coast, the Wilderness Coast Walk continues the theme of long, remote beach sections and dune-backed camps. Usually tackled over several days, it demands self-sufficiency but rewards hikers with big-sky ocean views and long stretches of empty sand.beyondwildplaces?

17. Great Ocean Walk (VIC)
 Although technically on the south-west coast rather than the east, many east coast road trippers include this 100-plus kilometre trail in a bigger coastal loop. It shadows the Great Ocean Road but stays closer to the shoreline and cliffs, delivering wild viewpoints over the Twelve Apostles, shipwreck sites and dense coastal forest.australianwalkingholidays+1?

18. East Gippsland coastal and forest hikes (VIC)
 East Gippsland offers a quieter mix of lakes, coastal heath and temperate forest walks, many starting near towns like Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota. Trails vary from short lookouts over inlets to longer link-ups in coastal parks, making it easy to tailor your hiking days to your itinerary.parks?

19. Alpine border multi-day routes (VIC–NSW)
 If you’re happy to stray inland, multi-day hikes in Victoria’s alpine region, such as traverses connecting Mount Feathertop and Mount Bogong, add serious mountain terrain to an east coast trip. These routes feature steep climbs, exposed ridgelines and hut-based camping, best attempted in the warmer months by prepared, experienced hikers.beyondwildplaces?

20. Urban fringe day hikes near Melbourne (VIC)
 Within a couple of hours of Melbourne there is a cluster of well-maintained day hikes in areas like the Dandenong Ranges, You Yangs and Yarra Ranges. These make easy bookends to an east coast drive, with clearly signed tracks, good public facilities and options suitable for beginners through to fit day walkers.weareexplorers+1?

Quick planning tips

?      Always check park websites for fire closures, cultural closures, weather alerts and track upgrades before you lock plans in.nationalparks.nsw+1?

?      Factor in tides and swell for coastal hikes where beach sections or rock platforms are involved, and carry extra water on exposed clifftop or dune sections.nationalparks.nsw+1?

?      For a road trip-style blog or itinerary, you can package these 20 hikes into logical “legs”: SEQ and the Scenic Rim, Northern Rivers to Sydney, Sydney to Jervis Bay, South Coast and Far South Coast, then Gippsland and Victoria.sydney+1?

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