Table of contents for December-January 2026 in Great Walks

WHEN I was in Italy last July with my family, I spent an unforgettable week in a charming hilltop village called Civitella del Lago, nestled in the province of Umbria – Italy’s only landlocked region, affectionately known as the ‘green heart of Italy’. Surrounded by rolling hills, olive groves and sweeping views of Lake Corbara, it felt like we had stepped into a postcard. One morning, while sipping my perfectly frothy cappuccino from the verandah of our lovely villa, I noticed groups of walkers gathering in the little square below, chatting cheerily as they polished off their espressos and laced up their boots, ready to head off on the trail. They were setting out on Il Cammino dei Borghi Silenti – the Path of the Silent Villages – a multi-day…

“ BROOMS HEAD BOASTS A LAGOON SANCTUARY HOME TO A WIDE VARIETY OF MARINE LIFE ” IT was over a decade ago that I hiked the first two sections of the Yuraygir (pronounced yoo-rah-gear) Coastal Walk and, like a gripping read abandoned halfway through, I eagerly anticipated the day I could pick up where I left off. That day has finally arrived as we gather under the pandanus at world-famous surf-break Angourie, 5km south of Yamba. Kate Woods and Jason Little are partners in life and business, and are the team behind Connect Adventures, a new local operator making this remote section of coastline with its tidal vagaries and three river crossings an accessible option for hikers. Day 1 - Angourie to Lake Arragan: 13km The sun is sparkling on an emerald…

THIS MONTH’S WINNING PHOTO Cradle Mountain, Tas Sandra Berndt, Devonport, Tas Camera: Canon EOS 6D Sandra: “A magical night at Cradle Mountain. The Aurora Australis lit up the sky with waves of colour, dancing among the stars. The landscape glowed with soft, shifting light. It was one of those unforgettable moments that truly takes your breath away.” Swiss Alps Genny May, Hornsby Heights, NSW Camera: OM1 Mark 11 Genny: “We enjoyed amazing weather in a weeklong hike in Switzerland culminating in navigating the altitude to capture some stunning views of the Matterhorn. Worth every hard-earned breath!” Sapa, Vietnam Bryan Molenkamp, Rye, Vic Camera: Canon 80d Bryon: “This was on my trek from Sapa to Lo Chai in Vietnam. We were escorted by people of the Hamong tribe. They took us…

“THESE TRACKS MARK THE FIRST STAGE OF A FUTURE MULTI-DAY WALK” OUR National Parks authorities have been busy! Over the last few years they have been planning, designing and building dozens of fantastic multi-day walks and a whole lot more are in the pipeline. Here are 15 new or soon-to-be-opened walks you should put in your diaries. New South Wales Snowies Alpine Walk, Kosciuszko NP, NSW The new 4-day/56km Snowies Alpine Walk showcases the stunning alpine landscapes of Kosciuszko National Park on Monero Ngarigo Country. Connecting Guthega, Charlotte Pass, Perisher, and Bullocks Flat, it includes 29km of new track alongside existing trails. Walkers follow the Snowy River and summit Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest peak. The trail suits both self-guided and guided hikes, with accommodation in park lodges, cottages, or nearby…

WHETHER traversing alpine meadows, coastal paths or forested highlands, Europe’s hiking trails provide an immersive, ever-changing tapestry of nature, history and tradition for every kind of walker. And if you want any more proof just check out any of these featured walks. Premužic´ Trail, Croatia One of the most rewarding hut-to-hut hikes in Croatia is the 4-day/57km Premužic Trail. Winding through the remote Velebit mountain range above Croatia’s Adriatic coast, the trail offers panoramic views of rocky beaches, islands and forested peaks. For centuries, this rugged terrain was largely inaccessible – until the early 20th century. In the 1930s, mountaineer and engineer Ante Premužic led the construction of a trail that would cut through this karst wilderness. After three years of labour, the trail was completed in 1933. Today, it…

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the Misty Mountains are the rugged spine of Middleearth — filled with towering peaks, deep forests and hidden paths. Far North Queensland has its own version, minus the trolls and dragons. Step into the clouds at Wooroonooran National Park, home to a stunning network of rainforest trails in the Wet Tropics. Whether you're after a short wander or a multi-day hike, there’s something for everyone. There’s a 130km route split into four unforgettable tracks, each rich with waterfalls, wildlife and misty mountain magic. So lace up your boots, breathe in the fresh air and choose your path into the clouds. And you might want to bring some hiking buddies and form a fellowship! parks.qld.gov.au…

IT’S not yet mid-summer, but the Celsius is set to soar on this still spring morn. So, we’re out early. Kicking off our 5-day Walking the Flinders Ranges trek led by accomplished guide Damon, we head for Blinman Pools. With just daypacks on our backs, our base is at 1968-established Rawnsley Park Station, 430km north of Adelaide, where we’ll return to each afternoon. Nightly nourishment of station-reared lamb will refuel us at iconic Woolshed Restaurant. But first, we must earn our feed… Creeks and waterholes Black oaks neighbour the 300-year-old red gums that line Parachilna and Blinman Creeks, currently a patchwork of pools. One section explodes with native watercress, said to have a peppery flavour, while others are mossy, stony and still. Stone bones of long-abandoned dugouts mark where European…

WHENEVER I’ve thought about the Pilbara the brain’s gone straight to mining. At Perth airport there was nothing to suggest otherwise as witnessing wall-to-wall fluorescent workwear and red stained boots hopping on to Qantas flights to all parts of the state. FIFO workers. No surprise really given that mining accounts for about 10 per cent of WA’s overall employment However, protected deep in the heart of the Pilbara, iron ore country, is WA’s 2nd largest National Park, Karijini. It’s one of Australia’s most spectacular natural treasures, its vast rugged red earth landscapes, rocky ranges and spinifex plains are easily accessible independently or on an organised tour, like our 10-day adventure hosted by Intrepid Travel and is at its heart a delicate balancing act between conservation, tourism and mining. Mind immediately…

IT’S our last day on the Stockholm Archipelago Trail and we’re lost. Waymarkers on this new trail, spanning 20 islands east of Sweden’s capital, are colourful ribbons, where yellow represents the sun, blue the sea, and silver the horizon. Yet, somehow we’ve missed one and are now crashing through the forest on the island of Nämdö, wildly off course. Hearing distant voices, we forge on, only to find ourselves skirting a clutch of holiday houses perched on a cliff, overlooking the sparkling Baltic Sea. At any other time, it would make for a beautiful lookout, but there’s no time to enjoy it. The day’s final ferry back to the port of Stavsnäs is due to leave shortly, and I’m not sure we’re going to make it. Island treasures beckon Launched…

THE Mornington Peninsula is one of Melbourne’s favourite weekend destinations, known for its long stretches of bayside and ocean beaches. Make the journey to Portsea in a car and your lasting impression may well be one of traffic jams. However, get out on foot and you can take in a peaceful 28km walk from Dromana, on Port Phillip Bay, all the way south to rugged Cape Schanck. The Two Bays Track was developed over an extended period to celebrate Victoria’s 150th Anniversary. The views are spectacular and as you leave the vistas across Port Phillip Bay, you soon gain distant views across Westernport and later, Bass Strait. Towering grass tree forests, boardwalks through paper-bark swamps and damp tree fern gullies provide enormous variety throughout the day. Off you go I’d…

What’s your earliest bushwalking memory? Witnessing the breathtaking Drakensberg mountains in South Africa, where I grew up. I remember the crisp mountain air, the calls of baboons echoing across the valleys, and the sense of wonder as I marvelled at the little flowers and insects along the trails. How has the outdoors impacted on you? Nature is not just my workplace; it connects me to people and place, constantly sparks my curiosity and is my daily classroom. I’ve found inspiration and built lifelong relationships in wild places, and I’ve had the privilege to learn directly from Traditional Owners and local knowledge holders. What’s your role at WWF-Australia? I lead WWF-Australia’s Biocultural Solutions program, which champions First Nations-led initiatives to restore, protect and sustainably manage Country for the benefit of people…

Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk, NT A decade in development, but 500 million years in the making, the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Signature Walk is a five-day, fully guided, premium hiking experience inside Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park, developed in partnership with Aṉangu Traditional Owners. Guided by both Indigenous partnership and a culture more than 40,000 years old, it has been a long-held dream to be granted overnight access within the World Heritage-listed national park. Guests will journey across Country, staying in environmentally sensitive, high-quality private camps and lodge. It’s an experience that unites comfort with a genuine connection to the heart of Australia. ulurulodgewalk.com.au Hike K’gari Experience the pristine natural beauty of World Heritage-listed K’Gari (Fraser Island) with K’Gari Walking Tours, the experts in guided and self-guided hiking adventures. Choose from…

I am an Aussie now living on the Greek Island of Syros. Over the years I had heard stories about what an extraordinary (and difficult) hiking adventure Samaria Gorge offered. The Sea Jets Fast Ferry (seajets.com) took me there last August, a six-hour journey. Crete is the largest island in Greece and fifth largest in the Mediterranean. The most spectacular landscape is found in Samaria Gorge – the longest ravine in Europe. It lies within the Samaria National Park in the White Mountains of the southwest and is recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with rare flora and fauna. White Mountain I found the entrance to the gorge at Xyloskalo (meaning ‘wooden stairs’) near the village of Omalos. From an altitude of 1,250m it traverses the White Mountains down to…

Mont Classic Sun Hut Rudolph’s nose isn’t red because he’s sunburnt. Protect your loved ones from the sun with a hat that has a UPF rating of 40+. Its internal mesh sweat band and rear vents keep your noggin breezy. It’s water and stain resistant, with a front peak brim that keeps its shape through strong winds, heavy rain and being stashed away in your pack (quite possibly the most damaging). Comes in loads of colours, may I suggest red or green? $59.95 mont.com.au Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Speaking of time, this smart watch is functional, luxurious and perfect for your seriously athletic friends and family. It can track their golf swing precision and positioning on the course via an impressive…

MIKE Edmondson, a professional photographer and guide for 30+ years, has a lifelong bond with the Australian Alps. His passion for the area began in Kiandra, skiing and bushwalking. From 1981-2005, he owned Jindabyne’s Paddy Pallin shop, led backcountry trips and opened the town’s first alpine gallery. Mike now runs walking and photographic tours, including the popular Ten Peaks Walk, where guests summit Australia’s 10 highest mainland peaks. Mike shares some of his favourite photos from his tours. NEED TO KNOW For more info on Mike’s tours and photography visit mikeedmondson.com.au…