Queensland

Queensland's hiking is defined by rainforest, waterfalls, tropical islands and dramatic volcanic peaks. It holds two World Heritage rainforest areas, the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia in the south-east and the Wet Tropics in the far north, plus K'gari (Fraser Island), the world's largest sand island.

In the south-east, Lamington and Springbrook national parks are packed with waterfall walks and ancient rainforest. The Twin Falls circuit at Springbrook is a short favourite, and the Border Track links Binna Burra and Green Mountains (O'Reilly's) through Antarctic beech forest. The Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk (54 km) joins the two parks over three days.

North of Brisbane, the Glass House Mountains offer short summit walks such as Mount Ngungun, and the Sunshine Coast hinterland has the Kondalilla Falls circuit. Noosa National Park's coastal walk is a stunning stroll past headlands and bays. For experienced walkers, Mount Barney offers challenging, unmarked ridge routes.

In central Queensland, Carnarvon Gorge is a highlight. Its main track follows Carnarvon Creek past side gorges, Aboriginal rock art and moss gardens, and the Carnarvon Great Walk (87 km) climbs onto the plateau. In the tropics, the Thorsborne Trail on Hinchinbrook Island is one of Australia's finest island walks. Mount Bartle Frere is Queensland's highest peak, and Mossman Gorge in the Daintree has a gentle rainforest circuit.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service doesn't charge general park entry fees, but camping permits are needed at all QPWS camping areas. Popular walks like the Thorsborne Trail cap numbers.

Seasons are important. The cooler, drier months (April to October) are best almost everywhere. Summer brings heat, humidity, storms, and in the north the wet season, with flooding, cyclones and closures. Crocodiles live in waterways across the north, so obey all warning signs.

How to use this page. Each Queensland listing below shows the official track grade (AWTGS), distance, typical walking time, elevation gain, access and parking notes, fees or permits, the best season, whether dogs are allowed, and the facilities at the trailhead. Use the filters to narrow by region, time available or difficulty. You can also add walks to your favourites or compare up to three side by side. Every fact links back to the managing park agency, so you can check current conditions. If you know a well-loved Queensland walk we've missed, or spot an out-of-date detail, tell us through the Contact page and we'll check it against the official source before updating. New to hiking? Start with our beginner, what-to-pack and safety guides before heading out.

Before you go: check QPWS park alerts, the BOM forecast and fire danger rating. Inclusion here doesn't mean a track is currently open or safe.

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Start with the time you have, then consider terrain, fitness, experience and access needs. Compare official track grades alongside the walk’s distance and published conditions. A short walk can still be technically demanding.

Explore walks across all eight Australian states and territories. Free basic inclusion is available to eligible trails, operators and hiking groups.