
Trailblazing news: Two of the world's best hikes are in Australia
It's a little wild to consider the fact that people drop thousands of dollars or travel hundreds of kilometres just to go for a walk. But when you actually think about it – something to ponder on your next stroll, perhaps – it's one of the most rewarding ways to spend your money and time. From guided multi-day pilgrimages to calming coastal walks and backyard bush bashes, Mother Nature has blessed us with millions of epic trails. Picking the best of the best is about as challenging as summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. But lucky for you, Time Out's global team has done the hard yards to bring you the ultimate list of the world's top 20 best hikes – and two of them are right here in Australia.
The list spans the globe, featuring everything from the historic Camino de Santiago in Spain to the breathtaking Tour du Mont Blanc in the Swiss Alps and the cliff-hugging Lycian Way in Turkey. It also happens to feature two Aussie gems, including Victoria's windswept Great Ocean Walk and Tasmania's secluded Maria Island Walk.
The Great Ocean Walk, Victoria
While the Great Ocean Road is well-known as Australia's favourite road trip, many are surprised to discover that you can actually shadow the entire sea-swept stretch from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles on foot. Spanning 104 kilometres, the Great Ocean Walk takes up to eight days to complete in full, but there are plenty of pick-up points throughout the trail that are perfect for shorter overnight stretches. Along the way, you'll pass some of Victoria's most iconic sights, from the lush rainforests of Great Otway National Park to the rugged cliffs of Port Campbell, before finishing up at the world-famous limestone stacks known as the Twelve Apostles.
The Maria Island Walk, Tasmania
Recently named one of the world's most beautiful destinations, Maria Island is a hiker's paradise, shaped by honeycomb-coloured cliffs, pristine white beaches and protected national park. The island's cross-country trek, The Maria Island Walk, stretches between 25 to 43 kilometres from Darlington to Robey's Farm and back. The full hike takes four days for the average Joe to finish, with plenty of wildlife encounters along the way, including Forester kangaroos, Bennett's wallabies, wombats and even fairy penguins.
Feeling inspired to take a hiking holiday? You can check out more of the most incredible walks around the world below.
These are the 20 best hikes in the world, according to Time Out
The French Way, Camino de Santiago
The Lycian Way, Türkiye
West Highland Way, Scotland
The Nakahechi Route, Kumano Kodo, Japan
The Great Ocean Walk, Australia
Kungsleden, Sweden
The Jordan Trail, Jordan
Mount Snowdon, Wales
Kalalau Trail, USA
Dientes Circuit Trek, Chile
Gotemba Trail, Japan
Waitukubuli National Trail, Dominica
Whale Trail, South Africa
Wales Coast Path, Wales
Mount Meru, Tanzania
Ratikon High Trail Hut-to-Hut Circuit, Austria/Switzerland
Coast-to-Coast Path, England
Maria Island Walk, Australia
Paria River Canyon, USA
Tour du Mont Blanc, Switzerland/Italy/France
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time Out
5 hours ago
- Time Out
Lost Kingdom
Photo by Jurassic Encounter Although officially a new attraction, it's clear that Lost Kingdom is a new name for Jurassic Encounter, a show that did the rounds in the summer of 2021 (you can read our old review here). Essentially it's a large scale outdoor attraction wherein audiences wander around – and occasionallty sit on – dozens of life-sized dinosaurs, some of them animatronic. Back then we found it impressive in scale but a bit lo-fi compared to other similar dinosaur attractions; however we can't speak for its renamed 2025 incarnation. Fri, 25 Jul 2025 Sat, 26 Jul 2025 Sun, 27 Jul 2025 Mon, 28 Jul 2025 Tue, 29 Jul 2025 Wed, 30 Jul 2025 Thu, 31 Jul 2025 Fri, 1 Aug 2025 Sat, 2 Aug 2025 Sun, 3 Aug 2025 Show more By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. 🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed! Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Discover Time Out original video


Time Out
11 hours ago
- Time Out
Lisbon is officially home to the world's best luxury hotel
You can have a brilliant holiday hopping between hostels or budget rental apartments, but if you're celebrating something special or just fancy splashing out, a luxury hotel is a proper treat. Thankfully, TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice Awards have been announced, and the online review platform has curated a roundup of stellar places to stay based on hotels that garner the most 'above-and-beyond' reviews from users over the last year. Of the site's eight million listings, less than one percent acquired this accolade, but the best of the best hotels claiming first place overall was the Santiago De Alfama Boutique Hotel, a stunning stay in Lisbon. It's already claimed a spot on Time Out's roundup of Lisbon's coolest hotels, boasts seriously outstanding views of Old Alfama and the Tagus River, and is surrounded by lovely, historic streets. Oh, and it's only a 15-minute walk from Lisbon's famous Praça do Comércio. 'The hotel's luxe amenities, charming décor, artistic vibe, and reasonable prices create a memorable stay. Guests can relax on the peaceful patio, sample delicious dining, or explore nearby attractions with the help of the knowledgeable concierge,' writes TripAdvisor. However, that's far from all: hotels in the UK, India, Mexico and South Africa also made the top 10, so read on to find out which ones. These are the 10 best luxury hotels in the world, according to TripAdvisor Santiago De Alfama Boutique Hotel, Lisbon, Portugal Gokulam Grand Turtle on the Beach, Kovalam, India Chandys Windy Woods, Chithirapuram, India Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, Akumal, Mexico Gidleigh Park, Chagford, United Kingdom Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, A Belmond Hotel, Great Milton, UK Petit Hotel Confidentiel, Chambéry, France Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Private Game Reserve, South Africa Hotel The Cliff Bay, Madeira, Portugal Hotel Arlberg Lech, Lech, Austria Want to read about them in more detail? Do so on TripAdvisor's website.


Time Out
15 hours ago
- Time Out
The five quiet, beautiful European islands that have avoided overtourism
Plenty of Europe's islands, be them famous Spanish party spots or lovely Italian islets, tend to get pretty crowded during the high season – but there's a handful across the continent that have managed to avoid overcrowding. Holiday booking platform BookRetreats has analysed data from the European Commission on overnight stays in tourist accommodation per square kilometre, and produced a list of the least crowded islands in Europe. Included in that list is Svalbard in Norway, which has a tourism density of just 2.4 per kilometre squared, making it the quietest European island by far. We reported recently that the country has just implemented a brand-new tourist tax, and the report cites Norway's strict regulations as one reason why Svalbard is so untouched: two-thirds of the archipelago is protected by nature reserves and national parks. Despite being Greece 's fifth-largest island and around the same size as Lanzarote, Chios has a tourism density of just 353.81 per square kilometre, and around 21,000 fewer overnight stays than its Canary Island counterpart. Why? Well, its economy relies not on tourism like plenty of Greece's other islands, but on local industry like the unique mastic (a natural resin) trade, and when travellers do pay the island a visit, it's to stay in guesthouses and little villages as opposed to mega-resorts. The five European islands that have avoided overtourism Svalbard, Norway Åland, Finland Chios, Greece El Hierro, Spain Azores, Portugal Check out Time Out's list of five countries that could really use our tourism in 2025. Plus: .