Pack a day bag, grab a hiking buddy and enjoy the experience of getting back to nature on these beautiful tracks.

JERVIS BAY

White Sands Walk and Scribbly Gum Track

Taking only an hour to complete, this is one of the easier tracks to tackle – however that doesn’t mean it’s anything short of spectacular. Starting at Greenfield Beach picnic area, this walk will take you past Chinamans, Hyams and Seamans beaches, where you can stop for a swim or take in the bay views. You return on Scribbly Gum Track, which takes you away from the water and into the woodland where you might spot a ground parrot or even an owl.

Where: Jervis Bay National Park

Distance: 2.5km loop

Cost: Free

BOONOO BOONOO

(Also pictured at the top of this article)

Little Bald Rock Walking Track

This five-hour walk will be worth it in the end, with breathtaking views spreading as far as Girraween National Park in Queensland. As the name suggests, rocks are the main attraction on this walk, but while they may be “bald”,

they aren’t little. As you traverse towards the summit you’ll be greeted by smooth behemoths nicknamed the “Granite Titans” due to their enormous size. If you reach the summit at dusk, the 750-metre long rock face below you will perform its own natural light show right before your eyes, with the setting sun turning the rock from orange to yellow hues.

Where: Bald Rock National Park

Distance: 14km return

Cost: $8 per vehicle entry fee to park

GUNDERMAN

Old Great North Road Walk

Like your history? This is the bushwalk for you. The steep three-and-a half-hour walk overlooking the Hawkesbury River takes place along the Old Great North Road, built by convicts in the early 1800s. You’ll

come across rocks with convict-carved graffiti, as well as the oldest surviving stone bridges in Australia’s mainland.

Where: Dharug National Park

Distance: 9km loop

Cost: Free

BUNDEENA

The Coast Track

Take a two-day trek though the nation’s oldest national park and

feast your eyes on isolated beaches, waterfalls and ancient Aboriginal carvings. If you’re not up to the overnight trip from Bundeena to Otford, you can stroll the shorter sections, however the guided walks will ensure you see it all, including echidnas and eagles.

Where: Royal National Park

Distance: 26km

Cost: Free; guided walks from $97 per person

NORTHERN BEACHES

Manly to Spit Bridge Walk

Ironically, your walk may begin with a soothing ferry ride across the harbour to Manly, where the real work of the day will begin. Starting from Manly Wharf, this series of short tracks explores both bushland and sea, with a clutch of wooded trails and coveted vantage points offering spactacular views across Sydney Harbour. You can stop and take a dip at a number

of beaches along the way to cool down and, depending on the time of year, you could spot a whale or two. The walk ends at the Spit Bridge

in Mosman and, as it only takes between three and four hours to complete, it makes for the perfect active day trip for the family.

Where: Sydney Harbour

National Park

Distance: 10km

Cost: Free

SNOWY MOUNTAINS

Mount Kosciuszko Summit Walk

You’ll feel on top of the world – well, the country – when you reach the highest peak in Australia at the summit of Mount Kosciuszko. This summer walk is popular with bushwalkers due to the picturesque scenery and challenging 12-hour long, 18.6km return trip, however, chairlifts are available if you would prefer a shorter version. Stop and unwind with a picnic

at the iconic Snowy River or, if you’re licenced, a touch of fishing along the way.

Kosciuszko National Park is home to nationally endangered species such as the pygmy possum, as well as spectacular alpine herb fields, caves and lakes. Be sure to walk the track between September and May, though, as it’s snowbound in the colder months of the year.

Where: Kosciuszko National Park

Distance: 18.6km return

Cost: Free

More info on all of these walks at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au