10 HIKES WORTH TRAVELLING FOR TRAVEL
Walking opens up access to places often inaccessible any other way, and then there is the simple fact that it immerses you deeply in the land. On foot, the pace is slow and quiet — great for spotting wildlife and noticing the little details like crazy fungi growing on a log, birdsong or the scent of tree oils.
With more than 600 national parks scattered across the country, offering thousands of kilometres of trails to explore, choosing just 10 walks isn't easy but these represent some of the highlights, from outback to mountains and coast. It's a big country so keep them in your back pocket for when you're passing through.
1. Hartz Peak, Tas
Located in Hartz Mountains National Park, Hartz Peak is only 90 minutes south of Hobart and this half-day walk gives you a perfect sampler of wild Tassie landscapes. With much of the walk above the tree line, the buffet of excellent views is near constant.
Glaciers shaped this land and the walk to Hartz Peak starts with a gentle incline past several idyllic glacial tarns backed by a rocky ridge, the Devils Backbone. After this, things get steeper as the track puts you en route to Hartz's 1254m summit. But rest assured, you don't have to reach the top before you're rewarded with truly epic views across
