Group-guided

OVERVIEW

This Gold Coast Hinterland area is the largest area of protected subtropical rainforest in the world, with sizeable areas of warm temperate rainforest and nearly all of Australia’s remaining cool temperate rainforest.

We start the trail in the Springbrook National Park, traversing a prehistoric landscape that links the World Heritage-listed Lamington and Springbrook plateaus. We have selected the most scenic Gold Coast walks through this unspoilt rainforest, presenting you with the most beautiful locations to bask, eat lunch and simply just relax.

With two guides to look after you on this Gold Coast walk, there will be the opportunity to shorten some of the walking days if you so desire. The wonderfully unique lodgings make up an essential part of this incomparable journey.

Highlights

  • Massive Strangler Figs, ancient Antarctic Beech, Red Cedar, Rosewood and Booyong trees
  • Admire hundreds of different species of palms, vines, ferns and orchids
  • Pass cascading streams and towering waterfalls on tracks that crisscross creeks
  • Reach peaks of over 1100m with stunning views
  • Walk the volcano rim, do the Treetops walk and climb the huge Strangler Fig tower

WALK OVERVIEW

TYPE OF WALK
GROUP GUIDED
TRIP LENGTH
6 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate

Grade 3 – Moderate

Short, steep hill sections. Chance to ride out on longer walks greater than 12km. A moderate active lifestyle and some walking experience is recommended.  C

PRICE FROM
$ 3195

per person twin/double share

SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$ 995

Accommodations charge the same price per room regardless of whether there are one or two people occupying it. To cover the cost of a room when occupied by one person we need to charge the single occupancy fee.

per person

Book now

ITINERARY

  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6

DAY 1
FROM GOLD COAST TO SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK AND PURLING BROOK FALLS

This trip starts at the Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta) at 9:30 am. Travel to Binna Burra stopping in Springbrook National Park along the way. The Gold Coast hikes start with a delightful circuit walk high on the plateau through fragrant forests of New England ash and ancient lepidozamias to spectacular Purling Brook Falls. On the way to Binna Burra, we do shorts walks at various lookouts on the way.

Walking: Easy / 5 km / 2 hrs

Meals: Lunch at a local cafe and three-course buffet dinner at Binna Burra lodge restaurant.

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 2
LONG OR SHORT WALK AT BINNA BURRA

You will have a choice of two circuit walks today of varying difficulties. Both circuits will pass through several vegetation types. Waterfalls are also plentiful today on either circuit choice. Tracks crisscross rainforest creeks for much of the day and pass many waterfalls. But it’s the forest that will leave you spellbound with some of the biggest trees seen anywhere in Australia among other things.

Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 5 hrs / easy option of 11 km available

Meals: Cooked breakfast, lunch on the track and three-course buffet dinner at Binna Burra lodge restaurant

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 3
GOLD COST HINTERLAND GREAT WALK TO NUMINBAH VALLEY

Today we will walk on the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk and head down into the Numinbah Valley. The track takes you to the remote eastern escarpment for great views into the valley.  There’s a good chance that the striking black and yellow Regent Bowerbird will appear. In the evening, Red-necked Pademelons, possums and Sugar Gliders are commonly seen around the lodges.

Walking: Moderate / 19 km / 7 hrs / 11 km easier option available

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Binna Burra restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course buffet at Binna Burra restaurant

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 4
BORDER TRACK WALK BINNA BURRA TO O'REILLY'S

Full day Lamington Traverse. Walk across the rainforest plateau on the Border Track to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat – at 22 km it’s a long way but the route is reasonably flat and the going is easy. The track emerges from the subtropical rainforest at several panoramic escarpment lookouts along the way. The forest is a mysterious melting pot of fauna and flora and largely an untouched environment with new plants being found, classified and named even today. Outstanding bird life like the striking Regent Bowerbird and more than 160 species of other sub-tropical birds will keep everyone engrossed. Many of them are easy to see and unafraid of people.

Walking: Moderate to challenging / 22 km / 7 hrs / shorter walk available

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Binna Burra restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course a la carte dinner prepared by the chefs at O’Reilly’s

Accommodation: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in rooms with ensuites

DAY 5
BOX FOREST WALK AND WALKS AT OREILLY'S

This morning there will be an option to start your day off with a bird walk guided by a local expert. Both Gold Coast walks take us through the lush sub-tropical rainforest with impressive stands of brush box and piccabeen palms. You will find yourself surrounded by the giants of the forest with waterfalls aplenty. Finish the day with a soak in the heated outdoor spa pool. Get up close to a 3000-year-old tree. These ancient Antarctic Beeches provide evidence of Australia’s beginnings when it was connected to the Antarctic as part of the Gondwanaland super-continent. There is even a palm forest in the middle of this rainforest.

Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 6 hrs / shorter option either 5 or 10 km

Meals: Cooked breakfast at O’Reilly’s restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course a la carte dinner prepared by the chefs at O’Reilly’s

Accommodation: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in rooms with ensuites

DAY 6
TREE TOPS WALK BACK TO GOLD COAST

After breakfast, there will be an opportunity to climb the giant fig tree and explore the different levels of the rainforest on the Tree Tops Walk before travelling back to the Gold Coast arriving around 1.00 pm.

Walking: Easy / 2 km / 1 hr

Meals: Cooked breakfast at O’Reilly’s restaurant

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • Pack-free walking

  • 25+ years experience

  • Customised

  • Eco Travel

  • Genuine all inclusive pack free walking holiday
  • Hike the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk
  • 2 engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
  • 5 nights’ comfortable ensuite accommodation
  • Chef prepared cooked breakfasts, two and three-course dinners and comprehensive walkers lunches
  • All transport from Coolangatta (Gold Coast), including all luggage transport
  • National Parks admission

ACCOMMODATION & DINING

OVERVIEW

You will be fully supported when walking these Gold Coast hikes staying in two luxurious accommodations. The first is best described as 5-star luxury, the Sky Lodges at Binna Burra. The Sky Lodges have two or three bedrooms (each with their own ensuite bathroom) and large communal living areas which open up to a spacious decking area overlooking the Coomera & Numinbah Valleys. The rooms with the view will be allocated to the bookings that are received first. You can view a floor plan for the three-bedroom Sky Lodge here. Then it’s on to O’Reilly’s where we experience a different kind of luxury, in the form of a much more rustic feel but with similar incredible views

The dinners are three courses prepared by the chef at the lodge and retreat restaurants with a focus on local fresh organic produce. Every day you will wake to a cooked breakfast in the restaurant to ready yourself for the upcoming days’ walk. You’ll lunch at incredible locations. Indeed, the walkers lunches complete the circle ensuring that your appetite is always kept satisfied. Our walkers’ lunches are substantial; we provide you with your own insulated lunch bag, ice pack and a silicone collapsible tub for your convenience. A walkers lunch may include a high protein type salad, a roll or a wrap, a muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit. Each day is slightly different. Lunch is always augmented by Auswalk’s famous trail mix.

Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).

  • NIGHTS 1, 2 & 3

  • NIGHTS 4 & 5

FITNESS GUIDE

It’s well worth investing some time and effort preparing for your walking holiday. The graph shows the average daily distance, elevation and terrain difficulty for your hike. The dotted line indicates the average across all our walks, which will give you a feel for how challenging your walk is compared to all – and the recommended type, and amount, of preparation needed.  Of course, you can adapt this according to your existing fitness levels and lifestyle.

The graph and the information below can be used in conjunction with the fitness guide to help you prepare for your walking adventure. Across all walks, average daily distance is 16.8km, average daily elevation is 448m, average terrain difficulty is 5/10.

ngraph

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ~AVERAGE

Elevation training should be a consideration in your overall training program.

Try to include some form of elevation in more than 40% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand or up and down small hills is incredibly useful. Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems, opposed to distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

UNEVEN TERRAIN

Preparation for hiking on uneven terrain demands a blend of physical and mental readiness.

Begin with balance-enhancing exercises, such as one-legged stands and stability ball workouts, laying a groundwork for stability and coordination. Strengthening the lower body is especially important, achieved through the incorporation of squats, lunges, and step-ups. Gradually increase the complexity of the terrain on which you walk, moving from gravel paths to rocky trails. Cultivate mindfulness during your practice, directing focused attention to both your immediate surroundings and precise foot placement.

The importance of suitable footwear cannot be overstated; prioritise options that offer robust support and reliable grip to navigate varying terrains with confidence. Build endurance through consistent hikes, progressively increasing distance and difficulty.

GENERAL INFO

The Gold Coast walks we have handpicked including the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk are mostly easily passable and for the most part, the tracks are well graded. There are some opportunities for keen walkers to challenge themselves but in the main, the walks are all moderate, bar the Border Track which is moderate to challenging. This trip operates with two knowledgeable engaging guides so we can offer easier and harder walk options along the way.

Pre and post-tour accommodation: There are many good hotels on the Gold Coast, however, we pick up and drop off at one central accommodation, Calypso Plaza, 99 Griffith Street.. The tour starts at the Calypso at 9.00 am or 9.30 am at Coolangatta airport. We arrive at approximately 1.00 pm back to the Gold Coast.

For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.

WEATHER

We like the late winter/early spring months as there is low humidity and the temperature is usually very pleasant for walking. See the Bureau of Meteorology for information about temperatures and rainfall ahead of time to ensure proper clothing.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

MAP

DEPARTURE DATES

  • DATES
    AVAILABILITY
    PRICE
    PER PERSON
    Single Occupancy
    DETAILS
  • 12 Aug 2024
    ALMOST FULL
    from

    $3195

    SINGLE OCCUPANCY
    $995

    1 room left , 1 spot left.

SIMILAR TRIPS

Flinders Ranges Walk – 7 Days

Group-guided

Walk Alligator, Bunyeroo Gorge, Dutchman’s Stern, Rawnsley Bluff, Black Gap and Bridal Gaps, Tanderra Saddle and Wilpena Pound

Group-guided 7 Days From $3695 Moderate to Challenging What's Included

Flinders Ranges Walk – 7 Days

BACK
What's Included
  • Genuine all inclusive pack free walking holiday
  • The best of the Flinders Ranges walks
  • Luggage transport
  • 2 engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
  • 6 nights’ comfortable accommodation with ensuites
  • Chef prepared restaurant meals, including 2-course a la carte dinners.
  • Champagne and wine at sunset
  • All transport from Adelaide
  • National Park admission
  • Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, lunch bag and container

Private: Great Ocean Walk – 6 Days

Group-guided

Walk from end to end along dramatic coastlines, from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles. Traverse massive sea cliffs, giant Mountain Ash forest & remarkable pristine beaches.

Group-guided 6 Days From $2540 Moderate What's Included

Private: Great Ocean Walk – 6 Days

BACK
What's Included
  • Genuine all inclusive pack free Great Ocean Walk walking holiday
  • Two engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
  • Five nights’ comfortable ensuite accommodation (6 nights in 2022)
  • We shift you along the track from accommodation to accommodation to limit time in a vehicle, creating more time to relax and enjoy the region
  • Daily meals including cooked breakfasts, walkers lunches, two-course dinners and track snacks
  • Luggage transport
  • Tour of lighthouse
  • National park admission
  • Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps & lunch bag

Cape to Cape Track – 8 Days

Group-guided

Walk the iconic long-distance Cape to Cape track from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste. A dramatic coastline, idyllic secluded coves. Majestic Karri forests & pristine beaches.

Group-guided 8 Days From $3395 Moderate What's Included

Cape to Cape Track – 8 Days

BACK
What's Included
  • Rooms with ensuites, enjoy having a hot shower and a good nights rest in the privacy of your own room 
  • 2 professional and experienced guides
  • Fully inclusive ( all breakfasts, lunches and dinners) – including all transport from Perth and on and off the track
  • For 3 nights, we eat 2-course dinners at Margaret River Restaurants (for five nights, we use excellent caterers and include Margaret River wine, beer and gin and tonics for any takers.
  • Continental/cooked breakfasts each day and walkers’ lunches
  • 8 days of pack-free walking,
  • Wine tasting – exploring the great wines of the Margaret River Region
  • The benefit of being located in the Margaret River, an area renowned for its excellent food and wine
  • Security of walking with a company that has nearly 30 years of experience in running group guided walking holidays

Larapinta Trail Highlights – 5 Days

Group-guided

One of the most spectacular hikes in Australia – West MacDonnell Ranges, Ormiston & Serpentine Gorges, Counts Point, Standley Chasm & Mount Sonder at sunrise

Group-guided 5 Days From $2595 Moderate to Challenging What's Included

Larapinta Trail Highlights – 5 Days

BACK
What's Included
  • Genuine all-inclusive pack free walking holiday
  • Two expert guides
  • 4 nights’ comfortable accommodation with ensuite rooms
  • All meals, including breakfasts, restaurant dinners and walkers lunches
  • All transport from Alice Springs, plus all luggage transport
  • National park admission
  • Champagne sunset
  • Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, map case, insulated lunch bag and container
Overview

OVERVIEW

This Gold Coast Hinterland area is the largest area of protected subtropical rainforest in the world, with sizeable areas of warm temperate rainforest and nearly all of Australia’s remaining cool temperate rainforest.

We start the trail in the Springbrook National Park, traversing a prehistoric landscape that links the World Heritage-listed Lamington and Springbrook plateaus. We have selected the most scenic Gold Coast walks through this unspoilt rainforest, presenting you with the most beautiful locations to bask, eat lunch and simply just relax.

With two guides to look after you on this Gold Coast walk, there will be the opportunity to shorten some of the walking days if you so desire. The wonderfully unique lodgings make up an essential part of this incomparable journey.

Highlights

  • Massive Strangler Figs, ancient Antarctic Beech, Red Cedar, Rosewood and Booyong trees
  • Admire hundreds of different species of palms, vines, ferns and orchids
  • Pass cascading streams and towering waterfalls on tracks that crisscross creeks
  • Reach peaks of over 1100m with stunning views
  • Walk the volcano rim, do the Treetops walk and climb the huge Strangler Fig tower

WALK OVERVIEW

TYPE OF WALK
GROUP GUIDED
TRIP LENGTH
6 DAYS
WALK GRADE
Moderate

Grade 3 – Moderate

Short, steep hill sections. Chance to ride out on longer walks greater than 12km. A moderate active lifestyle and some walking experience is recommended.  C

PRICE FROM
$ 3195

per person twin/double share

SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$ 995

Accommodations charge the same price per room regardless of whether there are one or two people occupying it. To cover the cost of the accommodation when occupied by one person we need to charge the single occupancy fee.

per person

Book now
Itinerary

ITINERARY

  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6

DAY 1
FROM GOLD COAST TO SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK AND PURLING BROOK FALLS

This trip starts at the Gold Coast Airport (Coolangatta) at 9:30 am. Travel to Binna Burra stopping in Springbrook National Park along the way. The Gold Coast hikes start with a delightful circuit walk high on the plateau through fragrant forests of New England ash and ancient lepidozamias to spectacular Purling Brook Falls. On the way to Binna Burra, we do shorts walks at various lookouts on the way.

Walking: Easy / 5 km / 2 hrs

Meals: Lunch at a local cafe and three-course buffet dinner at Binna Burra lodge restaurant.

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 2
LONG OR SHORT WALK AT BINNA BURRA

You will have a choice of two circuit walks today of varying difficulties. Both circuits will pass through several vegetation types. Waterfalls are also plentiful today on either circuit choice. Tracks crisscross rainforest creeks for much of the day and pass many waterfalls. But it’s the forest that will leave you spellbound with some of the biggest trees seen anywhere in Australia among other things.

Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 5 hrs / easy option of 11 km available

Meals: Cooked breakfast, lunch on the track and three-course buffet dinner at Binna Burra lodge restaurant

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 3
GOLD COST HINTERLAND GREAT WALK TO NUMINBAH VALLEY

Today we will walk on the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk and head down into the Numinbah Valley. The track takes you to the remote eastern escarpment for great views into the valley.  There’s a good chance that the striking black and yellow Regent Bowerbird will appear. In the evening, Red-necked Pademelons, possums and Sugar Gliders are commonly seen around the lodges.

Walking: Moderate / 19 km / 7 hrs / 11 km easier option available

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Binna Burra restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course buffet at Binna Burra restaurant

Accommodation: Binna Burra in the Sky Lodges in rooms with ensuites

DAY 4
BORDER TRACK WALK BINNA BURRA TO O'REILLY'S

Full day Lamington Traverse. Walk across the rainforest plateau on the Border Track to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat – at 22 km it’s a long way but the route is reasonably flat and the going is easy. The track emerges from the subtropical rainforest at several panoramic escarpment lookouts along the way. The forest is a mysterious melting pot of fauna and flora and largely an untouched environment with new plants being found, classified and named even today. Outstanding bird life like the striking Regent Bowerbird and more than 160 species of other sub-tropical birds will keep everyone engrossed. Many of them are easy to see and unafraid of people.

Walking: Moderate to challenging / 22 km / 7 hrs / shorter walk available

Meals: Cooked breakfast at Binna Burra restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course a la carte dinner prepared by the chefs at O’Reilly’s

Accommodation: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in rooms with ensuites

DAY 5
BOX FOREST WALK AND WALKS AT OREILLY'S

This morning there will be an option to start your day off with a bird walk guided by a local expert. Both Gold Coast walks take us through the lush sub-tropical rainforest with impressive stands of brush box and piccabeen palms. You will find yourself surrounded by the giants of the forest with waterfalls aplenty. Finish the day with a soak in the heated outdoor spa pool. Get up close to a 3000-year-old tree. These ancient Antarctic Beeches provide evidence of Australia’s beginnings when it was connected to the Antarctic as part of the Gondwanaland super-continent. There is even a palm forest in the middle of this rainforest.

Walking: Moderate / 16 km / 6 hrs / shorter option either 5 or 10 km

Meals: Cooked breakfast at O’Reilly’s restaurant, walkers lunch and three-course a la carte dinner prepared by the chefs at O’Reilly’s

Accommodation: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in rooms with ensuites

DAY 6
TREE TOPS WALK BACK TO GOLD COAST

After breakfast, there will be an opportunity to climb the giant fig tree and explore the different levels of the rainforest on the Tree Tops Walk before travelling back to the Gold Coast arriving around 1.00 pm.

Walking: Easy / 2 km / 1 hr

Meals: Cooked breakfast at O’Reilly’s restaurant

What’s Included

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • Pack-free walking

  • 25+ years experience

  • Customised

  • Eco Travel

  • Genuine all inclusive pack free walking holiday
  • Hike the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk
  • 2 engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
  • 5 nights’ comfortable ensuite accommodation
  • Chef prepared cooked breakfasts, two and three-course dinners and comprehensive walkers lunches
  • All transport from Coolangatta (Gold Coast), including all luggage transport
  • National Parks admission
Accommodation & Dining

ACCOMMODATION & DINING

OVERVIEW

You will be fully supported when walking these Gold Coast hikes staying in two luxurious accommodations. The first is best described as 5-star luxury, the Sky Lodges at Binna Burra. The Sky Lodges have two or three bedrooms (each with their own ensuite bathroom) and large communal living areas which open up to a spacious decking area overlooking the Coomera & Numinbah Valleys. The rooms with the view will be allocated to the bookings that are received first. You can view a floor plan for the three-bedroom Sky Lodge here. Then it’s on to O’Reilly’s where we experience a different kind of luxury, in the form of a much more rustic feel but with similar incredible views

The dinners are three courses prepared by the chef at the lodge and retreat restaurants with a focus on local fresh organic produce. Every day you will wake to a cooked breakfast in the restaurant to ready yourself for the upcoming days’ walk. You’ll lunch at incredible locations. Indeed, the walkers lunches complete the circle ensuring that your appetite is always kept satisfied. Our walkers’ lunches are substantial; we provide you with your own insulated lunch bag, ice pack and a silicone collapsible tub for your convenience. A walkers lunch may include a high protein type salad, a roll or a wrap, a muesli bar, cake or muffin and a piece of fruit. Each day is slightly different. Lunch is always augmented by Auswalk’s famous trail mix.

Alcohol or drinks with meals are not included (except tea/coffee and juice with breakfast).

  • NIGHTS 1, 2 & 3

  • NIGHTS 4 & 5

Fitness Guide

FITNESS GUIDE

It’s well worth investing some time and effort preparing for your walking holiday. The graph shows the average daily distance, elevation and terrain difficulty for your hike. The dotted line indicates the average across all our walks, which will give you a feel for how challenging your walk is compared to all – and the recommended type, and amount, of preparation needed.  Of course, you can adapt this according to your existing fitness levels and lifestyle.

The graph and the information below can be used in conjunction with the fitness guide to help you prepare for your walking adventure. Across all walks, average daily distance is 16.8km, average daily elevation is 448m, average terrain difficulty is 5/10.

ngraph

DISTANCE - ABOVE AVERAGE

Distance training is a major consideration in your overall training program. As you progress, incorporate longer walks into your training plan.

Schedule one or two long walks each week, gradually increasing the distance until you can comfortably cover 17-25 km in a single day. Also include walks on consecutive days to help your body adapt to the demands of walking for multiple days in a row. Take every opportunity you can to walk. If you have a fitness watch or phone, you should try to reach >15,000 steps every day.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average distance per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

ELEVATION - ~AVERAGE

Elevation training should be a consideration in your overall training program.

Try to include some form of elevation in more than 40% of your walking and prioritise resistance training, whilst incorporating stairs anytime you can. Walking up and down stairs at work, at a local oval with a grandstand or up and down small hills is incredibly useful. Elevation is often where walkers encounter problems, opposed to distance, as it uses an entirely different set of muscles to everyday flat walking.

Ensure you can comfortably walk the average elevation per day displayed in the graph, at least one month before you undertake your hike.

UNEVEN TERRAIN

Preparation for hiking on uneven terrain demands a blend of physical and mental readiness.

Begin with balance-enhancing exercises, such as one-legged stands and stability ball workouts, laying a groundwork for stability and coordination. Strengthening the lower body is especially important, achieved through the incorporation of squats, lunges, and step-ups. Gradually increase the complexity of the terrain on which you walk, moving from gravel paths to rocky trails. Cultivate mindfulness during your practice, directing focused attention to both your immediate surroundings and precise foot placement.

The importance of suitable footwear cannot be overstated; prioritise options that offer robust support and reliable grip to navigate varying terrains with confidence. Build endurance through consistent hikes, progressively increasing distance and difficulty.

General Info

GENERAL INFO

The Gold Coast walks we have handpicked including the Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk are mostly easily passable and for the most part, the tracks are well graded. There are some opportunities for keen walkers to challenge themselves but in the main, the walks are all moderate, bar the Border Track which is moderate to challenging. This trip operates with two knowledgeable engaging guides so we can offer easier and harder walk options along the way.

Pre and post-tour accommodation: There are many good hotels on the Gold Coast, however, we pick up and drop off at one central accommodation, Calypso Plaza, 99 Griffith Street.. The tour starts at the Calypso at 9.00 am or 9.30 am at Coolangatta airport. We arrive at approximately 1.00 pm back to the Gold Coast.

For what to bring please refer to Gear Advice on our FAQ section.

WEATHER

We like the late winter/early spring months as there is low humidity and the temperature is usually very pleasant for walking. See the Bureau of Meteorology for information about temperatures and rainfall ahead of time to ensure proper clothing.

INSURANCE

We require that you have adequate travel insurance against potential losses, damage or injury, including cancellation costs and loss of luggage.

For all trips that require international travel, you must have purchased travel insurance that also includes medical evacuation coverage.

We also charge a cancellation fee if you cancel your walking holiday after we have confirmed it to cover costs incurred from our suppliers and in the office.  See the FAQ section for more information.

INFORMATION PACK

For nearly 30 years we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you’ll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure outlining all the fine detail and much more.

CONTACT

If you have any questions, feel free to ask one of our destination consultants or to speak with one of our guides. You can get in touch with us via our contact form, email us at info@auswalk.com.au, or call us on +61 3 9597 9767.

Map

MAP

Departure Dates

DEPARTURE DATES

  • DATES
    AVAILABILITY
    PRICE
    PER PERSON
    Single Occupancy
    DETAILS
  • 12 Aug 2024
    ALMOST FULL
    Details
    from

    $3195

    SINGLE OCCUPANCY
    $995
Similar Trips

SIMILAR TRIPS

Flinders Ranges Walk – 7 Days

Group-guided

Walk Alligator, Bunyeroo Gorge, Dutchman’s Stern, Rawnsley Bluff, Black Gap and Bridal Gaps, Tanderra Saddle and Wilpena Pound

Group-guided 7 Days From $3695 Moderate to Challenging What's Included

Flinders Ranges Walk – 7 Days

BACK
What's Included
  • Genuine all inclusive pack free walking holiday
  • The best of the Flinders Ranges walks
  • Luggage transport
  • 2 engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
  • 6 nights’ comfortable accommodation with ensuites
  • Chef prepared restaurant meals, including 2-course a la carte dinners.
  • Champagne and wine at sunset
  • All transport from Adelaide
  • National Park admission
  • Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, lunch bag and container

Private: Great Ocean Walk – 6 Days

Group-guided

Walk from end to end along dramatic coastlines, from Apollo Bay to the 12 Apostles. Traverse massive sea cliffs, giant Mountain Ash forest & remarkable pristine beaches.

Group-guided 6 Days From $2540 Moderate What's Included

Private: Great Ocean Walk – 6 Days

BACK
What's Included
  • Genuine all inclusive pack free Great Ocean Walk walking holiday
  • Two engaging, knowledgeable and experienced guides
  • Five nights’ comfortable ensuite accommodation (6 nights in 2022)
  • We shift you along the track from accommodation to accommodation to limit time in a vehicle, creating more time to relax and enjoy the region
  • Daily meals including cooked breakfasts, walkers lunches, two-course dinners and track snacks
  • Luggage transport
  • Tour of lighthouse
  • National park admission
  • Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps & lunch bag

Cape to Cape Track – 8 Days

Group-guided

Walk the iconic long-distance Cape to Cape track from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Naturaliste. A dramatic coastline, idyllic secluded coves. Majestic Karri forests & pristine beaches.

Group-guided 8 Days From $3395 Moderate What's Included

Cape to Cape Track – 8 Days

BACK
What's Included
  • Rooms with ensuites, enjoy having a hot shower and a good nights rest in the privacy of your own room 
  • 2 professional and experienced guides
  • Fully inclusive ( all breakfasts, lunches and dinners) – including all transport from Perth and on and off the track
  • For 3 nights, we eat 2-course dinners at Margaret River Restaurants (for five nights, we use excellent caterers and include Margaret River wine, beer and gin and tonics for any takers.
  • Continental/cooked breakfasts each day and walkers’ lunches
  • 8 days of pack-free walking,
  • Wine tasting – exploring the great wines of the Margaret River Region
  • The benefit of being located in the Margaret River, an area renowned for its excellent food and wine
  • Security of walking with a company that has nearly 30 years of experience in running group guided walking holidays

Larapinta Trail Highlights – 5 Days

Group-guided

One of the most spectacular hikes in Australia – West MacDonnell Ranges, Ormiston & Serpentine Gorges, Counts Point, Standley Chasm & Mount Sonder at sunrise

Group-guided 5 Days From $2595 Moderate to Challenging What's Included

Larapinta Trail Highlights – 5 Days

BACK
What's Included
  • Genuine all-inclusive pack free walking holiday
  • Two expert guides
  • 4 nights’ comfortable accommodation with ensuite rooms
  • All meals, including breakfasts, restaurant dinners and walkers lunches
  • All transport from Alice Springs, plus all luggage transport
  • National park admission
  • Champagne sunset
  • Auswalk guide pack including notes, maps, map case, insulated lunch bag and container

blog

March 18, 2024

HIKING THE HIMALAYAS 35 YEARS ON

Read More
March 4, 2024

What’s the right Camino de Santiago route for me?

Read More
February 16, 2024

Larapinta Loonies – A poem by Auswalker Michael Gibbs about walking the Larapinta Trail

Read More
January 12, 2024

Nakasendo Way Trail – by Sam Ludbey

Read More
April 19, 2023

H is for Hiking

Read More
March 27, 2023

Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail – Overview of the Routes

Read More
March 20, 2023

The Kumano Kodo Trail – an Ancient Japanese Pilgrimage

Read More
March 15, 2023

The Three Capes Track – an Ultimate Guide to Hiking

Read More
February 13, 2023

Why Hiking is a No Brainer for Life Planning

Read More
January 31, 2023

Larapinta Trail – What is the Best Time of Year to Walk?

Read More

ENQUIRE NOW

If you’re looking for further information on any of our walking holidays please fill out the enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.

Get in touch