Australia’s Longest Hike: Trekking the Bicentennial National Trail

At 5,330 km, the Bicentennial National Trail is Australia’s longest trekking route. It runs from Cooktown in far north Queensland to Healesville in Victoria, following the Great Dividing Range through Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, passing near Canberra along the way.

It opened in October 1988 as part of Australia’s Bicentenary celebrations. In 2020 it was officially renamed the National Trail, but most people still know it by its original name.

Who is it for?

The trail was first imagined as a route for long-distance horse riders. Today it’s shared by horse riders, cyclists and walkers. It’s a non-motorised trail, and much of it follows old stock routes, fire trails and quiet country roads.

That history matters if you’re walking. Some sections are better suited to horses or bikes than feet, so research your section before you go.

What you’ll see

The trail follows the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and the eastern escarpment, through some of the most varied country on the east coast. Along the way it passes through or near:

• the Wet Tropics of far north Queensland

• Kroombit Tops National Park in Queensland

• New England and Guy Fawkes River National Parks in NSW

• the Greater Blue Mountains

• Kosciuszko National Park and the high country

Several sections cross World Heritage areas, including the Wet Tropics and the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

How the trail is organised

The trail is divided into 12 sections, each several hundred kilometres long. Very few people walk the whole thing in one go. Most tackle it a section at a time, over years if they like.

Maps and trip-planning information come from the National Trail organisation, a volunteer-run not-for-profit. Start at nationaltrail.com.au.

Planning a section walk

Pick your section carefully. Terrain, water and resupply points vary a lot from one section to the next.

• Get the official maps, and check for track updates before you go.

• Plan your water. Some sections are remote, with long gaps between reliable sources.

• Tell someone your plans, and carry a personal locator beacon in remote areas.

• Check permits and campsite rules for any national parks along your section.

• Train with a loaded pack on hills before you go.

Looking after your feet over 5,000 km

On a trail this long, your feet decide how far you get. Break your boots in properly, carry spare socks, and protect your usual hot spots before they flare up. A pinch of hikers wool weighs next to nothing in your pack.

For more, see how to prevent blisters when hiking, or explore more of Australia’s best multi-day hikes