TREKKING & WALKING HOLIDAYS IN AUSTRALIA

With the ‘Great Walks of Australia’, walking becomes a real pleasure. These multi-day tours lead you through breathtaking landscapes and give you an insight into the history of the country and its people, while comfortable accommodation and first-class guides ensure a relaxed atmosphere. Long dismissed with a smile as a pastime for the older generation in felt hats and checked shirts, walking shed its dusty image some time ago and now inspires more and more people of all ages – whether as a couple, with the family or with friends. In Australia, nature itself is your best companion. The ‘Great Walks of Australia’ – five in Tasmania, two in New South Wales, two in South Australia, one in Victoria, one in Western Australia, one in Queensland and one in the Northern Territory – wind their way through spectacular scenery. When it comes to accommodation, Australia offers incredible variety. Even in the most remote places you will find comfortable eco-lodges and camps with showers and gourmet cuisine. If you set out on an expedition lasting several days, the experienced guides do more than simply show you the way – they are walking encyclopaedias and put you in touch with the locals. In short, you don’t have to worry about a thing. All you need to do is walk and savour every moment. greatwalksofaustralia.com.au

Larapinta Trail, Northern Territory
On their way to Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon, many travellers cross the MacDonnell Ranges, yet only a few stop there. West MacDonnell National Park is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers – as anyone who knows the Larapinta Trail, more than 220 km long, will confirm. The rock formations and the ancient legends of the Aboriginal people tell of the vastness of this land, and the outback guides will gladly share these stories with you, whether at sunset or over a delicious meal in one of the two camps. If you like, you can sleep under the open sky in a ‘swag’, a sleeping bag with a built-in mattress – a dream come true. greatwalksofaustralia.com.au/walks/larapinta-trail

The Arkaba Walk, South Australia
600 million years of the Earth’s history can be read in the rock layers of the vast Wilpena Pound and the Elder Range – an impressive backdrop for a four-day walk. Around the sandstone cliffs and the eucalyptus-lined creeks you can spot kangaroos, rock wallabies and eagles. After a long day on the trail, walkers look forward to an excellent meal prepared especially for them. Nights in open-air camps make a delightful contrast to the stay at ‘Arkaba Station’, a restored homestead in the style of the 1850s. greatwalksofaustralia.com.au/walks/arkaba-walk

Margaret River Cape to Cape Track, Western Australia
Always keep your binoculars and swimming things close at hand! That is a tip well worth heeding on the Margaret River Cape to Cape Track. Between Cape Naturalist and Cape Leeuwin, the south-westernmost point of Australia, there is always something to discover: kangaroos, emus, lizards, birds, whales, dolphins and places to swim. The moderately challenging trail runs mostly along the spectacular coast and through unspoilt bays with white sandy beaches. Sometimes it passes cliffs and caves, sometimes it crosses summits and rock formations, dunes or eucalyptus forests such as the impressive Boranup Karri Forest. The ‘rest stations’, with their wineries and luxurious lodges such as the ‘Injidup Spa Retreat’, are a welcome treat too.