Victoria has an abundance of walking and hiking trails winding through beautiful natural landscapes, and it turns out that despite there being a whopping 15,000 trails to compete with across the country, one of the top five most popular hikes is right here in Melbourne.
The experts at AllTrails have released a list of the top trails across Australia in 2024, compiling data from throughout the year to determine which hikes were the best of the best. The data also revealed that Australia ranked third globally for the most time spent traversing trails in 2024, navigating an impressive 11 million kilometres on trails, so it's clear that Aussies know a thing or two about what makes a good hike.
The third most popular trail in Australia for 2024 was the family-friendly Mount Lofty Loop in Melbourne’s Warrandyte State Park. This hike has a lot going for it – there are plenty of uphills to get the blood pumping, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the Yarra Valley stretching all the way to the Dandenong Ranges. The trail spans a manageable five kilometres, and hikers often spot wildlife along the way. Plus, if you work up a bit of a sweat, you can even take a dip in the Yarra river to cool off.
The most popular hike in the country was the Grand Canyon Track, a challenging yet short hike through the lush rainforest of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, and NSW’s iconic Bondi to Coogee Beach Walk came in second place. Perth's Whistlepipe Gully and Lesmurdie Falls Loop and Brisbane's Enoggera Reservoir Circuit rounded out the top five trails in the country.
Itching to hit the trails now? We're rounded up our favourite day hikes, so you can take in scenic views while stretching your legs.
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