This Grade 3 walk requires a modicum of fitness. It noodles for 19 kilometres along the ridgeline of Blue Mountains National Park from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba. The new NSW bush walk has been tailor-made to celebrate the mountains and every subtle difference in mood or weather. Break up the Blue Mountains walk into a two-day trek so you can eat, stay and play at some of the charming villages along the way. Race the cumulus nimbus scudding west in the sky to make it back to Kyah Boutique Hotel for dinner before the storm cell hits. Best time to go: The best time to tackle the Grand Cliff Top Walk in the Blue Mountains is in early spring, when the air is crisp and the wildflowers are blooming.

Follow the path funnelling down towards the coast in Port Stephens (Aussie ‘Town of the Year’ for 2025) along the Tomaree Coastal Walk, which runs like a tributary toward Anna Bay. The track traces ancient routes used by the Worimi people along the coastline in Tomaree National Park leading walkers over lichen-splotched rock ledges and through angophora forests before arriving at the southern hemisphere’s largest mobile sand dunes. Ramble along the 27 kilometre-trek over two days and then learn about the Indigenous connection to the Traditional Lands at Birubi Point Aboriginal Place. Stay at Bannisters Port Stephens. Best time to go: The walk’s elevated vantage points are best enjoyed mid-spring when you might see whales breaching. It’s also the ideal time to enjoy a beach swim in a secluded cove, explore rock pools and hike to the summit of Tomaree Head.

Expect the foot traffic on the NSW South Coast to increase dramatically over spring, when the weather is a lot milder than winter and much cooler than the scorching temperatures of summer. The ancient byway, which has had great cultural significance to Indigenous Australians for thousands of years, threads along the South Coast from Pretty Beach all the way to Batemans Bay. Enjoy a self-guided tour with pre-booked stays over multiple days. Or hire a guide who will steer you towards secluded beaches, towering forests of spotted gums and barrawangs and dramatic rock formations. Best time to go: Spring brings sun-drenched days to the NSW South Coast. Start your adventure at Pebbly Beach, for its forest-to-ocean vibes and kangaroos grazing all around.

Sapphire Coast Guiding Co. will help you find your groove along the 32-kilometre-long Light to Light walk on NSW’s Sapphire Coast. In a world where social media howls for our attention, this guided journey through Beowa National Park on the Far South Coast of NSW will help you rediscover peace and quiet amid the noise and chaos. All you need is a day pack and a pair of hiking boots (and the urge to use them) as this eco-certified tour company does the rest (including the preparation of delicious dinners). You can also go it alone along the Light to Light walk. Best time to go: Spring is peak whale-watching season and sleeping under star-lit skies make this coastal walk unforgettable.

You’ll need to do an inventory of all your belongings before heading into the bush to hike the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk so you leave no trace when you’ve completed the four-day walk through Gondwana Hinterland. Gidjuum Gulganyi means ‘Old People’s Track’, which honours the Traditional Owners of the Widjabul Wia-bal and Minjungbal peoples of the Bundjalung nation who have been walking along the ridges and through the folds of the valley for millennia. Best time to go: Spring is the perfect time to walk through the ancient rainforest and volcanic landscapes before the stultifying humidity of summer sets in.

Snip the price tag off your new Teva hiking boots so you don’t out yourself as a newbie when hiking along the Green Gully Track, in Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. The 65-kilometre-long hike looks kind of benign when it’s a mere dotted line on the map. But, in reality, the loop walk through remote gorge country is for experienced walkers only. Out here, the stars shine so bright they look like silver filaments. And the rain-quenched land is full of rushing creeks and dramatic gorges. Start and end at the rustic Cedar Creek Cottage. Best for: Head off on this epic hike in late spring when the land around the gorges is lush and the rivers are flowing.

Draw a circle around the historic Seamans Hut on the map so you know where you’re aiming for along the Snowy Alpines Walk through Kosciuszko National Park. Follow the path scoured deep into the mountains until you cross the Snowy River where you’ll find the historic hut perched atop Etheridge Range. Use some hiking poles to traverse the rough ground, which is embellished with flowers, bees and butterflies over spring. Expect to exchange a bit of hiking banter ‘not far to go now’ or ‘day for it’ which is the kind of camaraderie you expect of those clad in Kathmandu clothing from top to toe. Best for: Spring, when wildflower season is in full swing and the alpine air is apple crisp.