What Makes a Great Walk of Australia – Great?
Great Walks of Australia is a collective of premium, guided, multi-day walks run by reputable Australian operators in iconic locations, with a strong focus on sustainability, expert guiding, and thoughtful hospitality. Walks typically run 4 to 6 days, use lodge-based or point-to-point accommodation, and feature curated local food and wine that reflects the place you are walking through.
If you’re new to multi-day walking in Australia, you might have a few questions about “Greats”? There’s a TV show called Great Walks, a magazine called Great Walks, and you may have heard about Great Walks of Tasmania or NSW.
So what exactly makes a Great Walk of Australia truly great?
In Summary
The collective is a selected group of premium Australian guided walks united by high standards of sustainability, guiding, safety, and hospitality.
Some key core elements:
- Iconic and immersive locations
- Leave No Trace-aligned practices
- EcoTourism Australia certification appreciated
- Environmental governance and community responsibility
- Multi-day premium walking experiences, often 4 to 6 days
- Expert guides with deep knowledge and genuine care
- Lodge-based or point-to-point itineraries
- Meals and beverages that showcase local provenance
The Great Walks of Australia, a Tourism Australia Signature Experience’s collective brings together independently run, premium guided walks across the country. Each walk meets agreed standards around environmental care, quality guiding, safety, and highly thoughtful guest experience. While the magazine and TV show share stories and inspiration about walking, the collective refers to the collective and collaboration between actual operators and their guided, bookable multi-day experiences across Australia.
Why this matters for first-time walkers?
When you pick a walk inside this collective, you are choosing a trip designed with care for both the environment and the traveller. That means considered routes, trained guides, an emphasis on safety, and an experience that feels complete from the first briefing to the final shared meal.
Key Elements That Make a Great Walk of Australia – Great!
Iconic, immersive locations
The settings are the reason you lace your boots each morning. Expect landscapes that feel distinctly Australian: wild coastlines, ancient ranges, cool temperate forests, highland tarns, red desert light. These walks are designed to bring you into the rhythm of place. Think dawn birdsong as you shoulder your daypack, the soft give of sandy tracks, the scent of eucalyptus after rain. Routes are chosen to offer variety, quiet moments, and a sense of unfolding story.
Sustainability and Leave No Trace practices
Care for country is non-negotiable. Operators use Leave No Trace principles across daily operations, route planning, and guest briefings. You will likely notice clear guidance on staying on track, pack-in pack-out practices where appropriate, and thoughtful infrastructure that minimises impact. This is about walking well and leaving the landscape as you found it.
EcoTourism Australia certification
EcoTourism Australia certification that is relevant to member’s product is highly regarded. This independent certification signals ongoing commitment to environmental performance and continuous improvement. For travellers, it is a simple way to know the walk has been assessed against recognised sustainability criteria.
Environmental governance, conservation, and community responsibility
Behind the scenes are permits, partnerships, and policies that protect sensitive environments. Many operators contribute to conservation initiatives, respect cultural heritage, and prioritise local employment and training. You benefit from access that is carefully managed and relationships that have been built over time. It adds depth to what you see and learn on the track.
Multi-day premium walking experience, typically 4 to 6 days
Time matters. With four to six days, you settle into a comfortable pace. You feel your body adjust to steady movement. You sleep better. You notice more. The itinerary length allows for a complete arc: gentle introduction, a few big moments, a relaxed final day. For many travellers, especially those who prefer to plan with confidence, this structure supports fitness, comfort, and enjoyment.
Expert guides with knowledge and hospitality
Guides are the heart of the experience. They know the local geology, plant life, bird calls, weather patterns, and safety protocols. Just as important, they read the room. They set a pace that suits the group, create space for quiet, and bring warmth to shared meals. You get story-rich interpretation, patient coaching on tricky sections, and the kind of calm presence that builds trust.
Point-to-point or lodge-based experiential accommodation
Some Great Walks of Australia take you from point to point. Others return you to a private lodge or a series of eco-accommodation each night. Either way, the stays are intentionally designed for comfort and connection with place. Expect hot showers, a welcoming common area, and details like drying rooms and boot stations that make walking life easier. You rest well and begin each day refreshed.
Curated local produce and wine that reflect provenance
Meals matter, especially at the end of a full day on the track. Dinners may feature local meats or seafood, small-farm vegetables, or regionally roasted coffee, or wines that tell the story of the surrounding country. It is not about extravagance. It is about thoughtful, well-prepared food that tastes of where you are. The table becomes part of the experience, and conversations with guides and fellow walkers deepen what you have seen.
How to choose the right Great Walk of Australia for you
- Terrain and pace: Coastal paths, alpine trails, or arid country feel very different. Consider your comfort with steps, gradients, and daily distance.
- Accommodation style: Do you prefer the rhythm of a different location each night, or returning to a comfortable lodge base?
- Seasonality and weather: Check the typical conditions for your dates and plan layers accordingly.
- Sustainability values: Look for details about certification, local sourcing, and conservation efforts that align with your priorities.
- Group style and support: If you value personal attention, ask about group size and guide-to-guest ratios.
FAQs
What exactly is the Great Walks of Australia collective?
It’s a national collective of premium, guided, multi-day walks delivered by trusted Australian operators. It’s different from the TV show or magazine called Great Walks. Expect considered routes, expert guides, and hospitality that reflects the place you’re walking through.
How long are the walks and what does a typical day look like?
Most sit around 4 to 6 days. Days include steady walking with regular breaks, story-rich guiding, and time to pause for views and photos. You’ll usually carry a daypack unless on a point to point walk, with water, layers, and lunch; check your chosen itinerary for daily distances and what you’ll carry.
Do I need to be very fit, and how should I prepare?
A steady base helps. If you can comfortably walk for several hours with breaks, you’re well on your way. In the weeks before your trip, add a few longer walks even back to back on the weekend, on varied terrain and include some gentle strength for legs and core. Well-fitted shoes you’ve already worn in make a big difference.
Where do we sleep and what are meals like?
Walks are either point-to-point with eco-accommodation or return to a comfortable private lodge. anticipate hot showers, a welcoming common area, perhaps a foot bath and thoughtful details like a cool towel at the end of a walk or drying rooms. Evenings feature considered, locally sourced meals and regional wines that reflect the region you’re visiting. Note some walks provide alcoholic as an optional extra.
How do you care for the environment and local communities?
Behind the scenes are permits, conservation efforts, cultural respect, and local partnerships that guide how we operate. You’ll be briefed on low-impact walking so we leave places as we found them. Read more on sustainability here.
To understand more about our specific walks, head to Our Walks page here and explore each of the different walks in the collective. For any questions, please reach out via the Contact Us.
We look forward to seeing you on the trail!
To find our more about Tourism Australia’s Signature Experience Collectives watch here.
What does it mean to truly know a place? For many, it’s not enough to simply pass through a landscape, we want to understand it, to listen and learn, and to feel a genuine sense of connection. The Arkaba Walk in South Australia’s Flinders Ranges offers this kind of experience: a chance to walk in ancient footsteps, guided by those who know the land intimately, and to absorb stories that stay with you long after the journey ends.
Have you’ve found yourself searching for more than just breathtaking views, hoping for real insight, quiet wonder, and the comfort of being welcomed as part of something incredibly meaningful? The Arkaba Walk is an invitation to learn, to feel, and to remember why we travel in the first place.
Through guided walks, shared stories, and moments of quiet observation, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Australia’s ancient outback, its ecological challenges, and the personal histories woven through this vast landscape. The Arkaba Walk is an extraordinary opportunity to learn, from the land, its wildlife, and the passionate people who care for it. And you’ll find yourself changed – calmer, more connected, and genuinely moved.
Quick Summary
- The Arkaba Walk is more than a hike; it’s a deeply personal, educational experience in the Flinders Ranges.
- Learn first-hand from expert guides about geology, wildlife, and conservation efforts.
- Sensory moments – the colours at sunset and the hush of dawn – these moments stay with you long after the visit.
- Ideal for those seeking space, nature, peace, and perspective.
South Australia in Motion: From Vineyards to Red Ranges
Consider the journey itself as part of the Arkaba experience. Leaving Adelaide, the country opens gently, from vineyards and paddocks to saltbush plains and the first hint of ancient ridgelines ahead. There’s time to settle, to watch river red gums trace dry creek lines, to notice the changing light and the soft scent of eucalyptus through an open window. A relaxed picnic stop sets the outback pace, and the scenic drive home becomes a quiet debrief, with new views and small towns rolling by as you swap highlights with your driver. You might spot emus moving through the scrub or a wedge-tailed eagle riding a thermal, and when in season, roadside bloom adds a wash of colour. By the time you arrive, you’re already tuned to South Australia’s rhythm, and by the time you leave, you understand why the long road feels worth every kilometre.
What Makes the Arkaba Walk Different?
There are guided walks, and then there’s the Arkaba Walk. Here, learning is inseparable from every step. Fiona from Sydney said after her visit “It’s an extraordinarily special part of Australia. Having travelled extensively around the globe, Arkaba pulls on the heartstrings for many reasons – the expanse, the colours at sunset, the magnificent wildlife in moments both expected and unexpected, and the tireless effort of staff to deliver a profoundly Australian experience. For those living in cities craving space, nature, and peace, or for visitors from overseas, you’ll never feel quite the same again after having lived and experienced a stay at Arkaba.”
Walking with Purpose: Nature as Teacher
From the first crunch of dry earth under your boots, you’re learning. Not just about the Flinders Ranges’ dramatic geological history, incredible ancient seabeds and towering ridgelines, there is an extraordinary delicate balance between wildlife and environment.
Guides at Arkaba are storytellers as much as naturalists. You might find yourself tracing the path of a yellow-footed rock wallaby, pausing in silence while a wedge-tailed eagle glides overhead. The guides share insights into conservation, pointing out where regeneration projects are bringing the land back to life after years of overgrazing.
Walking at Arkaba isn’t rushed. There’s time to stop and notice the scent of eucalyptus warming in the sun, to listen to the distant call of corellas, and to feel the shifting texture of the earth beneath your feet. Dusk brings a hush that invites reflection. It’s peace many city dwellers realise they’ve been missing.
Real Stories, Real People
What sets Arkaba apart is the human element. Staff are passionate and generous with their hospitality and their stories, whether its explaining which wildflowers have returned thanks to conservation, or sharing a favourite spot for stargazing. Every meal is an opportunity to ask questions, swap impressions, and learn from others’ experiences.
Many travellers mention how staying here feels like reconnecting to nature, to community, and to themselves. This is a place where notes are scribbled in travel journals, and where conversations linger over good food and local wine.
Opportunities to Learn and Grow
- Geology: Learn how the Flinders Ranges were formed, and spot ancient fossils.
- Wildlife: Identify kangaroos, emus, and elusive rock wallabies.
- Conservation: Understand the ongoing projects to restore native habitat and reduce introduced species.
- Culture: Hear about the deep connection Aboriginal peoples have with this land, honouring thousands of years of wisdom.
- Personal Reflection: The landscape’s scale and silence invite your own thoughts. What matters most, what you want to remember.
A Walk that Stays with You
Many guests say the real gift of the Arkaba Walk comes later. It’s in the memory of light changing on ancient stone, a surprising animal encounter, or the feeling of belonging to a bigger story. As Fiona from Sydney shared after her visit “You’ll never feel quite the same again after having lived and experienced a stay at Arkaba.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How challenging is the Arkaba Walk?
A: The walk is moderate, covering about 45km over four days with plenty of breaks and support. Guides adapt the pace to suit the group.
Q: What will I learn about wildlife and conservation?
A: Guides share insights into local species, the challenges they face, and practical conservation work happening on the property. You’ll see signs of rewilding and habitat restoration first-hand.
Q: Is this suitable for solo travellers or those over 50?
A: Absolutely. Many guests are solo or in the 50+ age group, valuing the social and reflective aspects of the experience.
Q: What is the accommodation like?
A: Accommodation blends comfort with connection to nature: think swag beds under the stars or a rustic homestead with heartfelt hospitality.
Q: How do I get there?
A: Return road transfers are included in the 4-night Arkaba Walk itinerary. The journey from Adelaide takes around 5 hours with a relaxed picnic lunch enroute. The return follows a scenic route of about 7 hours, with lunch included. Many travellers find the road time becomes part of the Arkaba experience. It’s unhurried time to take in South Australia’s wide skies and changing colours, to shift out of city pace, and to let the outback come gently into focus. Think of it as a soft arrival and a slow, grateful farewell.
Picture the glow on the ranges at day’s end, the hush before dawn, and stories shared over a simple, good meal. Start dreaming about your next adventure. To learn more visit the Arkaba Walk and our Frequently Asked Questions about all of our Great Walks of Australia.
Having walked miles with my dad as a young kid, it’s in my DNA. Throughout my twenties and thirties, friends and I were always out on trails, walking, exploring, and talking. Always talking — a lot!
One of my favourite things about multi-day hikes is the incredibly deep and long-lasting connections we make walking together across days.
The other very special factor? You never return home the same. Inside a little (or sometimes a lot) of you transforms. It shifts as you reconnect with the land, life, and love. With every footstep, we disconnect from the rush, hustle, and noise of everyday life.
That’s why I’m so excited to have stepped into this role — to advocate, educate, and invite both seasoned walkers and those new to the trail to experience the magic of multi-day walking. It’s time to discover the incredible offerings from our diverse and passionate group of walking operators.
About Great Walks of Australia
Great Walks of Australia is a collection of 13 of the country’s most exceptional multi-day guided walks. Each one is located in a spectacular and remote corner of the continent. From Tasmania’s windswept headlands and the ochre ridges of the outback, to tropical islands and rainforests brimming with life — these walks showcase Australia’s awe-inspiring natural beauty.
Why Walk? Why Now?
Walking is one of the most enriching ways to experience the best of what Australia has to offer.
Instead of rushing through destinations, we get to slow down.
With every step:
- We reconnect with the beauty that surrounds us
- We absorb stories of country, culture, and connection
- We build clarity, creativity, and calm
- We foster meaningful conversations and moments
There are many ways to see Australia by plane, train, caravan, coach or car however experiencing Australia on foot creates a deeper, more lasting connection with the places you visit, one self and those you walk with. It is a truly enriching and unforgettable life experience.
What Makes These Walks So Special?
Each walk is operated by trusted local businesses and led by expert guides, storytellers with deep knowledge of ecosystems, Indigenous culture, and the unique character of each location.
Because the experiences are fully supported and small-group, travellers feel safe and connected — while still getting close to nature and the heart of the landscape.
Spanning Australia, with departures scheduled across all seasons, year-round we’ve got something for every kind of explorer whether first-time walkers, seasoned hikers, solo travellers, couples or groups.
Our walks are ideally suited for those seeking comfort with their adventure — think eco-lux stays, incredible regional food and wine, and warm, seamless hospitality from start to finish.
Our Commitment to Walking Tourism
As part of Tourism Australia’s Signature Experiences, Great Walks of Australia is committed to growing walking tourism. Together with our member operators, we’re working to ensure Australia is recognised globally as a top-tier walking destination.
Now more than ever, travellers are seeking experiences that offer wellness, nature, and purpose. Multi-day walks deliver all three — with unforgettable scenery and life-changing perspective along the way.
Whether it’s coastal cliffs, ancient ranges, lush rainforest, or island trails – there’s a walk waiting for you.
If you’re ready to stretch your legs, breathe deeply, and discover a side of Australia that stays with you long after the boots come off, explore the full collection of walks at greatwalksofaustralia.com.au/our-walks and start planning your next extraordinary journey on foot.
Look forward to seeing you out on the trails or email me here: eo@greatwalksofaustralia.com.au
Happy Walking!
Genevieve
Miss the recent Live From Aus special with Matthew Evans, aka The Gourmet Farmer, on the Bay Of Fires Lodge Walk? Catch up with this short video of his Top 3 moments and get a sneak peak at this phenomenal Great Walk Of Australia!
Best known and loved for his work on SBS’s long-running TV show The Gourmet Farmer and cookbooks, Matt has become a proud Tassie ambassador, having moved from the mainland many years back to start up the brilliant Fat Pig Farm and put his chefs skills to good use, growing, producing and entertaining guests at his renowned long lunches on the farm.
We were chuffed to have Matt come to the Bay Of Fires Lodge Walk and have him and Sadie show everyone some of what makes this Great Walk Of Australia so special, including it’s incredibly spectacular and remote location on the North Eastern tip of Tasmania.
A few clouds didn’t deter Matt from wandering the amazing, vast white sand beaches, going for a kayak or even taking a dip in the world’s greatest outdoor bath tub – a special treat exclusively for the use of guests on the walk!
Enjoy this short video or watch the full episode, visit the Tourism Austalia Facebook page.