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Get your boots muddy along the great bush walking areas of Australia
Sydney has the Blue Mountains, Melbourne has the Dandenong Ranges and the Grampians, also Devonport and Launceston have the Overland Track in the Cradle Mountain – Lake St.Clair NP. Even for city-dwellers, bush walking opportunities are limitless.
It’s a wonderful thing that so many types of bush and nature walks are only a short drive from Australian cities which allows everyone to get their boots muddy.
With short walks for the beginner and long walks for the experienced, anyone can experience both calming or exhilarating scenery and intriguing wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
With far to many Aussie walks being nothing short of amazing, it is impossible to cover them all here, but we thought we would review 2 of the best short and overnight walks near Australian cities.
Australia's Best Short Walks:
Dandenong Ranges, 1 Hour East of Melbourne, Victoria.
The Dandenong ranges offer countless walks around its mossy and shaded valleys. From small ferns to 4m tall tree ferns, from lowland shrubs to towering gum trees all this can be experienced on a variety of walks in the Dandenong Ranges.
The Harbour Circle Walk, Sydney, New South Wales.
The Harbour Circle Walk explores west of the Harbour Bridge. Although this is a 26km route it is most frequently done in stages. This magnificent walk focusing on the harbour itself - the expanse of the water, the bridges, islands, urban bushland and city skyline makes for an unforgettable introduction to this famous city.
Australia's Best Overnight Walks:
The Overland Track, Cradle Mountain – Lake St.Clair NP, Tasmania. 60 kms – 50 minutes from Devonport.
The Overland Track, Tasmania takes you past Tasmania's highest peak, Cradle Mountain and finishes at Tasmania's deepest lake, Lake St Clair. Whilst there are shorter walks, the entire 65km walk takes 6 days to complete.
'The Prom' Wilsons Promontory, Gippsland Region of Victoria. 200 kms – 3 hrs drive from Melbourne
The majestic coastline and botanical abundance of 'The Prom' contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria. Experiences to be found along the 150km walking tracks include over 700 flowering native plant species growing in diverse habitats.
The best thing about many of these walks is not only do you get some great exercise and take some memorable photographs, walking is largely a cost-free activity.
The money you save can be put toward a hearty meal in the local town to refuel your body and talk about your adventure!
If you have a walking track you’d like to share why not start a discussion in the planbooktravel forum
or add an article.
Reference :
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Cradle Valley
- Tasmania's most recognisable landmark is the craggy profile of Cradle Mountain, at the northern gateway to the Overland Track linking Cradle Valley to Lake St Clair, 4 5 days walk south. On the park boundary is the visitor centre with its interpretive display, ranger station, park information, walker registration and up-to-date weather reports. Alpine weather changes rapidly always carry waterproof gear, even on summer day walks.
