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AustraliaView all
New South Wales
Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains
Lord Howe Island
Lord Howe Island
Snowy Mountains & the Snowies Alpine Walk
Snowy Mountains & the Snowies Alpine Walk
Queensland
Carnarvon Gorge
Carnarvon Gorge
Fraser Island (K'gari)
Fraser Island (K'gari)
Gold Coast Hinterland
Gold Coast Hinterland
South Australia
Flinders Ranges
Flinders Ranges
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island
Tasmania
Flinders Island
Flinders Island
Bruny Island
Bruny Island
Cradle Mountain
Cradle Mountain
Freycinet Peninsula
Freycinet Peninsula
Three Capes
Three Capes
The Tarkine
The Tarkine
Victoria
Grampians Peaks Trail
Grampians Peaks Trail
Great Alpine Walk
Great Alpine Walk
Great Ocean Walk
Great Ocean Walk
Great South West Walk
Great South West Walk
Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
Western Australia
Bibbulmun Track
Bibbulmun Track
Cape to Cape
Cape to Cape
Northern Territory
Red Centre
Red Centre
Top End
Top End
Popular Walks
  • Three Capes, Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur in Style - 4 Days
    Three Capes, Tasman Peninsula and Port Arthur in Style - 4 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Blue Mountains Highlights - 3 Days
    Blue Mountains Highlights - 3 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Cape to Cape in Style - 10 days
    Cape to Cape in Style - 10 days
    Self-Guided
  • Cradle Mountain & Lake St Clair Walk - 6 Days
    Cradle Mountain & Lake St Clair Walk - 6 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Flinders Ranges - 8 Days
    Flinders Ranges - 8 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk - 7 Days
    Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
New ZealandView all
Abel Tasman
Abel Tasman
Bay of Islands
Bay of Islands
Fiordland
Fiordland
Queen Charlotte Track
Queen Charlotte Track
South Island
South Island
Popular Walks
  • Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days
    Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Abel Tasman Walk: End to End - 6 Days
    Abel Tasman Walk: End to End - 6 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Ultimate South Island Hikes - 14 Days
    Ultimate South Island Hikes - 14 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Fiordland’s Classic Walks: Milford, Routeburn, Kepler & Hollyford - 6 Days
    Fiordland’s Classic Walks: Milford, Routeburn, Kepler & Hollyford - 6 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Abel Tasman Walk & Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 11 Days
    Abel Tasman Walk & Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 11 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Fiordland’s Great Walks: Milford, Routeburn & Kepler - 7 Days
    Fiordland’s Great Walks: Milford, Routeburn & Kepler - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
ChinaView all
Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
Popular Walks
  • Great Wall of China - 7 Days
    Great Wall of China - 7 Days
    Group-Guided
JapanView all
Kumano Kodo
Kumano Kodo
Kunisaki
Kunisaki
Kyoto
Kyoto
Michinoku Coastal Trail
Michinoku Coastal Trail
Nakasendo Way
Nakasendo Way
Nikko
Nikko
Shikoku
Shikoku
Hakone
Hakone
Shio no Michi
Shio no Michi
Popular Walks
  • Kumano Kodo Nakahechi - 8 Days
    Kumano Kodo Nakahechi - 8 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Nakasendo Way - 8 Days
    Nakasendo Way - 8 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Nikko, Waterfalls and Yumoto Onsen - 4 Days
    Nikko, Waterfalls and Yumoto Onsen - 4 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Shikoku Pilgrimage - 7 Days
    Shikoku Pilgrimage - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Kunisaki Pilgrimage: Kyushu's Historic Shrines and Sacred Mountains - 7 Days
    Kunisaki Pilgrimage: Kyushu's Historic Shrines and Sacred Mountains - 7 Days
    Group-Guided
NepalView all
Annapurna
Annapurna
Everest
Everest
Popular Walks
  • Annapurna Foothills & Himalayan Vistas in Style - 9 Days
    Annapurna Foothills & Himalayan Vistas in Style - 9 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Everest Base Camp & Kala Patthar - 14 Days
    Everest Base Camp & Kala Patthar - 14 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Annapurna Circuit Thorong La & Lake Tilicho Extension - 17 Days
    Annapurna Circuit Thorong La & Lake Tilicho Extension - 17 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Everest & Kongde The Royal Himalayan Trek - 12 Days
    Everest & Kongde The Royal Himalayan Trek - 12 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Annapurna Circuit Over Thorung La - 14 Days
    Annapurna Circuit Over Thorung La - 14 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake & Cho La Pass - 17 Days
    Everest Base Camp via Gokyo Lake & Cho La Pass - 17 Days
    Group-Guided
VietnamView all
Northern Vietnam
Northern Vietnam
Popular Walks
  • Northern Vietnam: Sapa and Halong Bay - 9 Days
    Northern Vietnam: Sapa and Halong Bay - 9 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Northern Vietnam: Mai Chau to Ninh Binh - 8 Days
    Northern Vietnam: Mai Chau to Ninh Binh - 8 Days
    Group-Guided
AustriaView all
Austrian Alps
Austrian Alps
Austrian Lake District
Austrian Lake District
Popular Walks
  • Crossing the Austrian Alps - 8 days
    Crossing the Austrian Alps - 8 days
    Self-Guided
  • Panoramic Peaks of the Kitzbuhel Alps - 8 days
    Panoramic Peaks of the Kitzbuhel Alps - 8 days
    Self-Guided
  • Lakeside Trails of Austria's Lake District - 8 days
    Lakeside Trails of Austria's Lake District - 8 days
    Self-Guided
  • Alpine Trails of Austria's Lake District - 8 days
    Alpine Trails of Austria's Lake District - 8 days
    Self-Guided
BalkansView all
Balkans
Balkans
Popular Walks
  • Peaks of the Balkans Highlights - 7 Days
    Peaks of the Balkans Highlights - 7 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Peaks of the Balkans With Kolata Summit - 7 Days
    Peaks of the Balkans With Kolata Summit - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Peaks of the Balkans With Taljanka Summit - 7 Days
    Peaks of the Balkans With Taljanka Summit - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
Camino de SantiagoView all
Camino del Norte
Camino del Norte
Camino Finisterre
Camino Finisterre
Camino Frances
Camino Frances
Camino Ingles
Camino Ingles
Camino Le Puy
Camino Le Puy
Camino Primitivo
Camino Primitivo
Camino Via de la Plata
Camino Via de la Plata
Portuguese Camino
Portuguese Camino
Via Francigena
Via Francigena
Popular Walks
  • The Camino in Style - 13 Days
    The Camino in Style - 13 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Portuguese Camino de Santiago - 14 Days
    Portuguese Camino de Santiago - 14 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Via Francigena Camino Italy: Last 100km to Rome - 8 Days
    Via Francigena Camino Italy: Last 100km to Rome - 8 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Camino Primitivo: The Original Way - 11 Days
    Camino Primitivo: The Original Way - 11 Days
    Self-Guided
CroatiaView all
Croatia
Croatia
Popular Walks
  • Croatia: Split to Dubrovnik and the Islands - 7 Days
    Croatia: Split to Dubrovnik and the Islands - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Croatia: Dubrovnik and Islands - 7 Days
    Croatia: Dubrovnik and Islands - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
FranceView all
Alsace
Alsace
Aravis Range
Aravis Range
Brittany
Brittany
Burgundy
Burgundy
Corsica
Corsica
Dordogne
Dordogne
Provence
Provence
Popular Walks
  • Provence: Alpilles & Luberon Villages – 7 Days
    Provence: Alpilles & Luberon Villages – 7 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Dordogne Uncovered - 10 Days
    Dordogne Uncovered - 10 Days
    Self-Guided
  • A Taste of Burgundy - 5 Days
    A Taste of Burgundy - 5 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Provence From the Alps to the Sea Highlights - 5 Days
    Provence From the Alps to the Sea Highlights - 5 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Goelo Coast Trails of Brittany - 6 days
    Goelo Coast Trails of Brittany - 6 days
    Self-Guided
  • Mountains & Vineyards of Alsace - 8 days
    Mountains & Vineyards of Alsace - 8 days
    Self-Guided
ItalyView all
Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast
Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre
Dolomites
Dolomites
Lake Como & Maggiore
Lake Como & Maggiore
Sicily
Sicily
Tuscany
Tuscany
Popular Walks
  • The Sesto Dolomites with Three Peaks & Lake Braies - 8 days
    The Sesto Dolomites with Three Peaks & Lake Braies - 8 days
    Self-Guided
  • Best of the Dolomites - 7 Days
    Best of the Dolomites - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Classic Hikes in the Dolomites - 8 days
    Classic Hikes in the Dolomites - 8 days
    Group-Guided
  • Dolomites: Highlights of Val Gardena - 8 days
    Dolomites: Highlights of Val Gardena - 8 days
    Self-Guided
  • Hilltop Towns of Tuscany - 6 Days
    Hilltop Towns of Tuscany - 6 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Cinque Terre and Portofino: Liguria - 8 Days
    Cinque Terre and Portofino: Liguria - 8 Days
    Self-Guided
Mont BlancView all
Tour du Mont Blanc
Tour du Mont Blanc
Popular Walks
  • Magical Tour du Mont Blanc - 8 Days
    Magical Tour du Mont Blanc - 8 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Aravis Range: St Jean de Sixt to Lake Annecy - 7 Days
    Aravis Range: St Jean de Sixt to Lake Annecy - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Classic Tour du Mont Blanc In Comfort - 13 Days
    Classic Tour du Mont Blanc In Comfort - 13 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Tour du Mont Blanc South: Chamonix to Courmayeur - 7 Days
    Tour du Mont Blanc South: Chamonix to Courmayeur - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
NorwayView all
The Lofoten Islands
The Lofoten Islands
Popular Walks
  • Norway's Lofoten Islands Hike - 8 Days
    Norway's Lofoten Islands Hike - 8 Days
    Self-Guided
SloveniaView all
Julian Alps
Julian Alps
Popular Walks
  • Highlights of the Julian Alps - 7 Days
    Highlights of the Julian Alps - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Lakes and Rivers of the Julian Alps - 10 Days
    Lakes and Rivers of the Julian Alps - 10 Days
    Self-Guided
SwitzerlandView all
Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
Popular Walks
  • Switzerland: Best of Bernese Oberland - 8 Days
    Switzerland: Best of Bernese Oberland - 8 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Via Alpina: Bernese Oberland & The Jungfrau – 8 Days
    Via Alpina: Bernese Oberland & The Jungfrau – 8 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Switzerland's Wildstrubel Tour: Valais & Bernese Oberland – 7 Days
    Switzerland's Wildstrubel Tour: Valais & Bernese Oberland – 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Walker's Haute Route: Arolla to Zermatt – 8 Days
    Walker's Haute Route: Arolla to Zermatt – 8 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Lakeside Trails of Lake Thun & Interlaken – 6 Days
    Lakeside Trails of Lake Thun & Interlaken – 6 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Alpine Trails of Lake Lucerne - 7 days
    Alpine Trails of Lake Lucerne - 7 days
    Self-Guided
  • Via Engiadina: St. Moritz to the Swiss National Park – 7 Days
    Via Engiadina: St. Moritz to the Swiss National Park – 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Tell Trail: Central Switzerland with Mt Rigi & Mt Pilatus - 7 Days
    Tell Trail: Central Switzerland with Mt Rigi & Mt Pilatus - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
TurkeyView all
Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Lycian Way
Lycian Way
Popular Walks
  • Lycian Way West - 7 Days
    Lycian Way West - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Lycian Way East - 7 Days
    Lycian Way East - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Cappadocia Walk & Cave Hotels - 7 Days
    Cappadocia Walk & Cave Hotels - 7 Days
    Self-Guided
United KingdomView all
Coast to Coast
Coast to Coast
Cotswolds
Cotswolds
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall
West Highland Way
West Highland Way
Popular Walks
  • Wainwright's Coast to Coast in Style – 14 Days
    Wainwright's Coast to Coast in Style – 14 Days
    Group-Guided
  • Cotswold Way – 9 Days
    Cotswold Way – 9 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Coast to Coast: The Lake District – 9 Days
    Coast to Coast: The Lake District – 9 Days
    Self-Guided
  • West Highland Way Uncovered – 11 Days
    West Highland Way Uncovered – 11 Days
    Self-Guided
  • Hadrian's Wall - 8 Days
    Hadrian's Wall - 8 Days
    Self-Guided
MoroccoView all
High Atlas Mountains
High Atlas Mountains
Popular Walks
  • Morocco: High Atlas Valleys & Villages – 8 Days
    Morocco: High Atlas Valleys & Villages – 8 Days
    Group-Guided

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Two women walking independently on a self-guided walking holiday
All articles
All7 Aug 2018

Change Your View on Independent Travel

Seeking an Australian walking holiday that allows you to remain independent, save masses of time? Then read on.

AT

Auswalk Team

Auswalk Team

If you’re seeking an Australian destination walk that allows you to; remain independent and stress-free; save masses of time at little extra cost; and concentrate on your health without making it a mission, then read on.

Most people hear "independent travel" and picture doing everything themselves, planning every stop while carrying their own gear and hoping nothing goes wrong along the way. That's the assumption most people carry into it, and it's the reason plenty of people rule out walking holidays before they've even looked into what's actually possible.

We're here to tell you that assumption is outdated. Self-guided walking holidays have quietly rewritten what independent travel actually looks like.

Once you see how they work, you'll never think about a walking holiday the same way again.

Think of self-guided tours as flying versus driving.

There’s no point in spending an extra eight hours on a bus when it takes an hour to fly. We can all relate to that logic, can't we? We value the service that airlines provide us, which is primarily the experience of saving time - the most precious commodity of all. So, value is not simply an intellectual concept, it is also an experience.

Let’s apply the same notion of intangible value to a self-guided walk. Why haul 30kgs around the track when you can have your luggage transported ahead? Traveling light will make for a much more enjoyable walk, and if you have a back like mine it may save you ten weeks of osteopath visits.

Missions are for spirited 20-somethings.

Walking and exploring Australia's dreamlike destinations does not have to be a mission. We're smarter than that. Forget about spending countless hours researching, perhaps even weeks, double checking every detail when you can book all your accommodation, food and transfers with one phone call to the experts. Make the details someone else's problem, your time is money after all.

On that note, if it all comes down to a question of money for you, travel companies offer the benefit of discounted prices - sure they take a margin, but that's commerce - the price you pay won’t be much more in the end. So, from a value-for-money perspective, the self-guided proposition is quite robust.

What does ‘self-guided’ really mean?

Self-guided tours enable you to travel independently, with whomever you want, at your own pace, wherever you want to go, and most importantly at the exact time you want to go. With enough notice, you can choose a departure date to suit your group. No fixed departure dates, so no worrying about securing work leave or missing birthdays. You can travel on your time, walking completely unencumbered and free to soak up the serenity of Australia's magnificent landscapes. Not to mention a glass of wine, nourishing meal and a comfortable bed waiting for you at the end of each day.

Tread the path less travelled without the burden of logistics.

Enjoy the advantages and flexibility that come with independent travel, such as choosing your dates and destination, without worrying about the details and nitty-gritty of pulling it all together yourself. Clear your head of all that worry, we’ve got you covered. All you need to do is stretch out, walk light, unplug and explore Australia's most spectacular landscapes at your very own pace.

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