From green trails around waterfalls to stunning coastal walks, we have come up with a few activities that will keep your inner explorer content during the winter.
These four trails are ideal for a weekend walk during the winter months.
1) National Pass, Blue Mountains, New South Wales
This is one of Australia’s most famous walks with its near vertical descent down the side of the three-tiered waterfalls. The Grand Stairway’s strides were carved out with picks, shovels and explosive during the mid-1900s. You get a breathtaking view of the Blue Mountains along this trail. It will generally take about 3 hours to finish the 5.4 km trek on this path. Winter is a good time to plan this trek, as the chances of rain are relatively low.
2) Beach-front trail, Noosa National Park, Queensland
Noosa National Park is generally busy during summer and long weekends. The ideal time to visit is the winter as you’ll have some breathing space to contemplate the beauty of this place. You may even spot migrating whales if you visit during the winter.
The walk from the main beach in Noosa Heads is the longest continuous stretch of rocky coastline in south-east Queensland. This walk begins with the fragrant eucalyptus forest with koalas. The trail then passes through paperbark woods clustered with endangered swamp orchid, that only blossoms between August and October. There is a rich Birdlife along this track.
For those who are wheelchair bound, you can get up to Dolphin Point (around 2km from the shoreline). Ensure you push on to the trail’s highlight, Hell’s Gates.
3) Eastern Sherbrooke backwoods, Dandenong Ranges, Victoria
The Dandenong range is just an hour’s drive from Melbourne.
This is the most accessible trail on our list (you even have the option to take public transport from Melbourne to get here). With fern-filled gullies and numerous picnic spots, the eastern Sherbrooke is an excellent winter getaway.
This two-hour trek passes through tree fern glades, and you will cross various streams along the way. It is ideal for anyone with a decent fitness level, although you may need to be quite alert in the steep sections that may sometimes be slippery along the Paddy Road and Welch Track.
The MountainAsh Woods encompassing the 7.1km track is the ideal habitat of the heavenly lyrebird. The ideal time to spot them is between June and August as this is their peak mating season, during which they sing with high intensity for up to four hours a day. Also, look out for treecreepers – small birds that stick to the trunks of trees, hunting small insects. If you’re fortunate enough, you will be able to spot the elusive blue-winged parrot as well.
4) Yarra Bend Park, Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne’s largest territory of natural, inner city bushland is big enough to harbor 12km of the Yarra River, five marked walking tracks, two full-size golf courses, and vast birdlife spotting opportunities.
If you want to experience nature and do not have any means or time to travel, it can’t get much better than this. This 260ha park is just 4km from the CBD in Kew.
Unlike most parks where pets are strictly forbidden, most regions of Yarra Bend are open to dogs.
Related blog: 6 Tips for Solo Travellers to Australia
