Understanding track grades
Aussie Hikers shows the official grade published by each walk's managing park agency. Most Australian agencies use the Australian Walking Track Grading System (AWTGS), a five-level scale that describes how difficult a track is and how much experience you need. Use it with distance, elevation and the weather on the day to choose a walk that suits you.
How grades are decided
Land managers assess several factors: the steepness of the track, the track surface and obstacles, how clear the signage is, the experience required, and the likelihood of meeting challenging conditions. The highest-rated factor sets the overall grade. A short walk with one steep, rocky section can be rated higher than a long, flat one.
The five grades at a glance
| Grade | Who it suits | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Everyone, no experience needed | Flat, even, often hard-surfaced or boardwalk. Often suitable for wheelchairs with assistance. Usually short. |
| 2 | No bushwalking experience needed | Hardened or compacted surface, gentle hills, occasional steps. Up to about 10 km. Good for families. |
| 3 | Some bushwalking experience recommended | Short steep hills, rough surfaces, many steps. Up to about 20 km. The grade of most popular day walks. |
| 4 | Bushwalking experience recommended | Long, rough and very steep sections. Limited signs. Includes many summit walks and multi-day tracks. |
| 5 | Very experienced walkers with specialised skills | Very rough, steep, often unmarked. May involve scrambling and off-track navigation. Severe weather possible. |
Grades in practice
- Grade 1–2 examples: many visitor-centre loops, boardwalks such as Dove Lake, and paved coastal walks such as Bondi to Coogee.
- Grade 3 examples: Cape Hauy, Twin Falls circuit, Kondalilla Falls circuit.
- Grade 4 examples: Bluff Knoll, Wineglass Bay–Hazards Beach circuit, Mount Oberon, the Overland Track.
- Grade 5 examples: Cradle Mountain summit, Mount Tennent (ACT), Mount Barney's ridges.
(Always check the listing for the current official grade. Agencies sometimes re-grade tracks.)
What a grade doesn't tell you
Weather on the day. A Grade 3 walk in 38°C heat or sleet can be far more demanding than its grade suggests.
Your fitness. Grades describe the track, not the walker. A long Grade 3 can be more tiring than a short Grade 4.
Current conditions. Storm damage, flooding, fire and maintenance can change a track temporarily. Check official alerts.
Exposure and heights. Some walks with modest grades pass unfenced cliffs. Read the description.
How we display grades
- We show the grade exactly as the managing agency publishes it.
- Where an agency uses a different system, we show its wording and don't convert it.
- Where no official grade exists, we mark the grade as unknown. Our grade filter only includes walks with a confirmed grade.
Choosing your grade
- New to hiking: start with Grades 1–3 under 8 km.
- Regular day walker: Grade 3 walks of 10–15 km, then short Grade 4 summits.
- Experienced: Grade 4 full-day and multi-day walks.
- Advanced with navigation skills: Grade 5 routes, ideally with experienced companions and a PLB.
Read our full guide to the AWTGS for more detail, and our safety page before any walk.