60 Great Short Walks

40-50 minute return, 1.6km, Grade 2

Enjoy a quiet country stroll to a forest lookout perched high above the Mersey River, as it flows beneath the Alum Cliffs. Combine this walk with a visit to the Mole Creek Caves.

2-3 hr return / 4-5 hr circuit, 5.6km if returning along same track (grade 2 walk). Approx. 7km if returning via the river in dry conditions (grade 3 walk), Grade 2

Gently stroll through open woodland before reaching Apsley River at the waterhole, stop here and take a dip. Or cross the river on a walk through dry, open forest before descending back to the river at the Apsley Gorge.

3-3.5 hours circuit (9km) via Bakers Beach, or 2–2.5 hours return. The Bird Hide walk is 30 mins return, Grade 2

See some of the best views in the Park from the superb Archers Knob lookout. This walk is a beautiful combination of birds, beach, and paperbark swamp.

4-5 hours return, 11km, Grade 4

A challenging walk offering exhilarating cliff-top and ocean views from the towering dolerite summit.

4 hours return, 10km return, Grade 3

Visitors to Bivouc Bay, in Tasman National Park, can enjoy a peaceful, coastal walk starting from the white sands of Fortescue Bay.

30 minute return, 1.3km, Grade 2

Unusual, fascinating and mysterious is how the limestone features that make up the Calcified Forest are often described. This walk is a must for all visitors to King Island.

4 hours return, 9.4km return, Grade 3

The Cape Hauy Track starts from Fortescue Bay. The walk passes through a variety of heath and woodland before opening out to spectacular cliffs with magnificent coastal views.

5 hours return, 14km, Grade 4

Stunning coastal seascapes that include rock platforms, towering cliffs and columns, off-shore islands and swirling seas. Take your lunch, spend some time and gaze in awe at majestic views.

20 minute circuit, 600m circuit, Grade 1

If you don't have much time on your hands while visitng Freycinet National Park, this easy walk offers remarkable coastal views in a short amount of time.

1.5 hours return, 6.6km, Grade 3

Castle Rock is a massive granite boulder by the shoreline on Marshall Beach. A wonderful beach walk.

1-2 hours return, 2km, a 300m section at the start of track is wheelchair accessible, Grade 2

Take a short walk around this picturesque site on the Tasman Peninsula, which once housed up to 600 convicts, labouring in the the inky blackness of underground tunnels.

8 hrs return, 12.8km, 600m climb in elevation. Walk includes crossing large rocks, Grade 5

A challenging track to the summit of the picturesque Cradle Mountain.

2 hour circuit, 5.7km circuit, Grade 3

Explore a series of delightfully different alpine lakes. A better option for days when the higher altitude tracks are being lashed by cold winds and heavy rain.

40 minutes return, 2.2km, Grade 2

Enjoy views of wilderness, rugged mountains and the Franklin River. The track climbs a small hill at an easy grade and leads you to the lookout, perched on a rocky pinnacle.

2-3 hour circuit, 6km circuit, Grade 3

A great introductory walk to the park. Enjoy iconic views of Cradle Mountain and walk through the tranquil Ballroom Forest on one of Tasmania’s premier short walks.

1.5 hours return, 6km, Some short uphill sections and approx. 190 steps (stairs), Grade 3

Follow the South Esk River from Launceston’s famous Cataract Gorge to the historic Duck Reach power station. This walk will generally suit groups with children.

1.5 hours return, 4.2km return, Grade 2

An enjoyable addition to a visit to Hastings Caves or the Arve River Forest Drive. Take an easy stroll through a forest of stringybarks and stretches of tea tree swamp to an idyllic lake.

3-4 hours one way, 11km, 20 mins by ferry (fee applies) and then walk one way to Cynthia Bay. , Grade 3

Combine a ferry cruise on Lake St Clair with a walk through the rainforest beside the lake. You leave from, and return to Cynthia Bay at the southern end of Lake St Clair.

20 minute circuit, 1.1km circuit, Grade 2

A walk to suit all age groups—featuring a cascading river and magical old-growth rainforest.

10 minute return or 20 minute circuit, 400m return or 1km circuit., Grade 2

A short stroll amongst the magnificent white gums of Evercreech, the tallest of their type in Australia.

15 minutes to 1 hour return, 1km return, Grade 1

Fern Glade is a magnificent walk among large, spectacular tree ferns along the Emu River. If you are lucky you may see a platypus.

2.5 hours return, 4km, walk clockwise only. A shorter, easier walk to Grass Point is also an option, Grade 4

A rich history, spectacular scenery, close-up wildlife and a variety or walking opportunities make Bruny Island a wonderful destination. You can see a lot on a day trip but, if you can, stay overnight as there’s plenty to see and do. The Grass Point walk is easy, will suit children and features some stunning coastal scenery.

1.5-2.5 hour circuit, 4.5 km, Grade 3

This stunning set of cliffs on Maria Island hold stories both ancient and modern.

25 minutes return, 1km, Grade 1

Those travelling between Queenstown and Derwent Bridge will cross this well-known wilderness river on their way. Plan a rest stop here and enjoy the tranquillity of water and rainforest.

5 minutes to 5 hours, 100m to 5km, Grade 2

Located in Freycinet National Park, this spectacular white sandy beach with turquoise waters begs for long, slow exploration.

20 minute circuit, 400m circuit, Grade 1

The Goblin Forest Walk is an easy, wheelchair accessible track located in the beautiful rainforest of the Blue Tier Forest Reserve.

3-5 hours return, 7.4km, 400m climb in elevation, Grade 4

This relatively accessible peak in the Hartz Mountains National Park takes the walker through a landscape carved by glaciers.

40-50 minutes return, 2.4 km return, Grade 2

Located in the Strahan township, the Hogarth Falls walk is a short, tranquil exploration through mixed forest.

15-40 minute circuit, 2km circuit, Grade 1

Hollybank has spacious picnic facilities and walking tracks nestled amongst ash and pine trees.

20 minutes return, 600m return, Grade 1

The Huon Pine walk takes you along a wide boardwalk through thick rainforest, by the banks of the Pieman River.

3-4 hours return, 10.8km return, Grade 3

Walk with history down the route of the former railway line to Kelly Basin. Where once 1000 people lived, today only historic remnants of the former town of Pillinger can be seen amidst lush green mosses and tree ferns.

5.5-6.5 hour circuit, 18km return, Grade 4

This track circuits the Labillardiere Peninsula, within the South Bruny National Park, one of the more remote corners of Bruny Island. The coastal and bush walk provides some great views of the Southern Ranges.

1.5-2 hours return, 3.4 km return, Grade 3

Hartz Mountains National Park is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The region abounds in alpine plant species that are found nowhere else on Earth.

45 mins-1.5 hours, 4.7 km circuit. Depending on your choice of tracks: Watersmeet Track Grade 2; Platypus Bay and Larmairremener tabelti, Grade 3

Lake St Clair offers three short walks for you to choose from. Pick one or do the full circuit, the choice is yours!

45 minute circuit, 1.2km circuit, Grade 3

It is rare in the world to find such a powerful place as the Leven Canyon, that is so easy to access. Enjoy spectacular sweeping views from Cruickshanks Lookout 275m above the Leven River.

45 minute return, 2km, from the top car park, Grade 2

The Liffey Falls are the major attraction of the Liffey Falls State Reserve, located on a track that meanders through tall, wet eucalypt forest.

40-60 minutes return by same route or a circuit via footpaths, 2.3km circuit, Grade 2

Right in the heart of Swansea is a walk that offers stunning coastal scenery. Named after the local Aboriginal people, this track takes you from Waterloo Beach to Shouten Beach.

4.5-6 hours return, 10km return, Grade 4

A full day’s walk that gets you away from the more popular areas and into the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

3 hours return, 8km return, Grade 2

An easy rainforest walk along the route of the historic North East Dundas Tramway. At 104m, Montezuma Falls are one of the highest waterfalls in Tasmania and the track takes you right to the base of the falls.

7 hour circuit, 19km circuit, Grade 4

Mount Rufus is a challenging walk that rewards well-equipped walkers with breath-taking mountain views on all sides.

20 minutes return, 1.4km return, Grade 1

Located in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, visitors can reach the delightful Nelson Falls after a gentle walk. Break the long drive and stretch your legs—you won’t be disappointed.

3 hours return, 7.4 km return, Grade 3

One of a range of beautiful kunanyi / Mount Wellington walking tracks. This walk leaves from the Springs and takes walkers beneath the fluted columns known as the Organ Pipes.

1.5-2.5 hours return, 4.3km return, Grade 3

One of Maria Island's most beautiful features, these cliffs lack height but they more than make up for it with their amazing colours and swirling patterns.

30-40 minute circuit, 1.5km, Grade 2

A delightful green oasis nestled beneath the ski slopes of Mount Field.

30 minute return, 800m return, Grade 1

The Pine Lake walk offers a rare opportunity to get close to one of Tasmania’s rarest trees without having to go on an extended bushwalk. The pencil pine is an ancient species that evolved before flowering plants and which is only found in the Tasmanian highlands.

20 minute return or 50 minute circuit via Cashs Gorge, 2.4 km return or 4km circuit, Grade 3

Visit Tasmania's highest single drop waterfalls, a short and easy walk through time from mystical rainforest to broadleafed scrub, teatree forest to buttongrass moorlands.

25 minutes return, 1.4km return, Grade 1

Russell Falls is one of Tasmania’s most treasured places. The falls delight every visitor and can be reached by a wide, very easy track suitable for wheelchair users and those with strollers.

4-5 hours circuit, 13km circuit , Grade 4

Located in the Lake St Clair National Park, the Shadow Lake walk will take you on a circuit through rainforest, sub-alpine moorland and highland eucalypt forest.

4 hrs return, 15.4km return, Grade 3

Located in Southwest National Park, this walk starts from the end of Australia’s most southerly road and is the eastern end of the popular South Coast Track to Port Davey. It’s a great place, so take your lunch and make a good day of it.

20-30 minute return, 1.2km return, Grade 2

This walk leads to the base of St Columba Falls, one of Tasmania's highest falls. The walk is on a high-quality track through cool and shady rainforest.

4-5 hours return, 5.6km return, Grade 4

The large granite massifs of Strzelecki National Park dominate the southern part of Flinders Island and offer amazing views.

50 minutes return, 1.6km, Grade 1

The Tahune Airwalk offers a rare chance to gain a perspective on a part of the forest that is rarely seen by people - the canopy.

30 minutes circuit, 1km circuit, Grade 2

Located in Mount Field National Park, the Tall Trees walk allows you to wander among the tallest flowering plants in the world.

1.5 hours return, 4km return, Grade 1

Just 10 minutes drive from the heart of Launceston in the Tamar River Conservation Area is the Tamar Island walk. For company you’ll have pelicans, swans, cormorants and numerous other bird species as well as frogs, dragonflies and lizards.

1 hour circuit , 4.6 km circuit, Grade 3

The Nut is a 143 metre high massif, rising from Bass Strait, that towers above the picturesque town of Stanley. You can reach the top by either walking track or chairlift.

2-2.5 hrs circuit, 6km circuit, Grade 3

Uncover the beauty of this trio of waterfalls located in Mount Field National Park.

1.5 hours circuit, 2km circuit, Grade 2

Flinders Island is rich with breath-taking scenery. The Trousers Point walk, within the Strzelecki National Park includes unusual rock features, views to off-shore islands and two beautiful beaches.

1-1.5 hours return, 3.4km return, Grade 3

Vantage points that show cliffs plummeting into the sea and swirling ocean waters make this an exciting coastal walk within the Tasman National Park.

4-5 hours circuit, 11km circuit, Grade 4

Embrace the crystal-clear waters of Wineglass Bay and Hazards Beach.

1-1.5 hours return, 2.6 km return, Grade 3

The Wineglass Bay Lookout gives you the chance to enjoy one of Tasmania’s most celebrated views in the picturesque Freycinet National Park.