AUSSIE HIKERS

Hiking in heat and bushfire season: Fire Danger Ratings, park alerts and when to stay home

Last updated: 1 November 2026

Australian summers bring long days and warm evenings, but they also bring heat and bushfire risk. A walk that's easy in spring can become dangerous on a 40°C day with a hot northerly wind. The good news is that most of the risk can be managed with a few checks before you leave home and a willingness to change plans.

This guide focuses on fire danger and park alerts. For heat illness and snake safety on the track, see our companion guide, Snakes, heat and safety.

Understand the Australian Fire Danger Rating System

Since 2022 every state and territory has used the same national Australian Fire Danger Rating System. It has four levels, shown on a coloured dial:

On days when the fire risk is very low, there may be no rating at all. Ratings are issued by fire district, so the rating in the city may differ from the rating where your walk starts. Check the district for the trailhead, not your home.

Know the difference between ratings and Total Fire Bans

A Total Fire Ban is a separate legal declaration. On a ban day you can't light fires in the open, and in most places that includes portable gas stoves at campsites. If you're planning a multi-day walk such as the Six Foot Track or the Great Ocean Walk, check for bans each day, because you may need meals that don't need cooking.

Check park alerts before every walk

Each park agency publishes alerts about closures, fires, planned burns, flooding and track damage. Closures can be announced at short notice, and some parks close for planned (hazard-reduction) burns in autumn and spring as well as summer. Bookmark the alerts page for the state you're walking in:

Every Aussie Hikers listing links to its official park page, so it's a quick tap from the listing to the latest alerts.

Build a hot-day plan

If you decide to walk on a warm day, these habits make a big difference:

Know the warning levels for an actual fire

Separate from the daily rating, fire agencies issue warnings when a fire is burning:

Download your state's emergency app before you go, and keep notifications on. Mobile coverage is patchy in many parks, so check before you lose signal.

If you're caught near a fire

Prevention is the real plan, but it helps to know the basics. If you see smoke or flames:

  1. Call 000 if you can. From a mobile without coverage on your network, 112 may still connect.
  2. Move away from the fire, ideally downhill and away from the wind direction the fire is travelling.
  3. Head for cleared or already-burnt ground, a wide rock area, a large creek or a car park.
  4. Cover exposed skin with natural-fibre clothing and drink water.
  5. Follow any instructions from rangers or emergency services.

Fires travel faster uphill, so a steep slope above a fire is the most dangerous place to be.

Heat illness is the more common risk

Even with no fire nearby, heat sends walkers to hospital every summer. Early signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea and cramps. Stop, get into shade, cool down with water and rest. Confusion, hot dry skin or collapse can mean heat stroke, which is a medical emergency, so call 000.

Choose the season to suit the region

The safest fire plan is often to walk somewhere else. Northern Australia's best hiking months are the cooler dry season, roughly May to September. Central Australian walks like Kings Canyon Rim Walk have early closing times on hot days. Meanwhile Tasmania's high country, such as Cradle Summit, is usually at its best in summer. Our state pages note the best season for each listing.

Quick checklist

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