About Trail Hiking Australia

The Story Behind Trail Hiking Australia

Trail Hiking Australia started in 2013, born from my passion for exploring Australia’s incredible trails and a desire to share reliable trail information with other hikers. I’m Darren, a designer by trade and an avid hiker at heart. After years of juggling the demands of running a design agency, I turned to hiking as a way to reconnect with nature and find balance. Surrounded by towering eucalypts and open skies, I rediscovered a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt in years.

That same year, I joined a hiking group and quickly realised that while Australia boasts endless trails waiting to be explored, finding reliable information about hiking in Australia was a challenge. Many Australian hiking trails remained unknown or lacked trustworthy descriptions, making planning difficult. That’s when I decided to put my skills to work and create Trail Hiking Australia, a platform that blends my love for hiking with my design expertise.

Why I Created Trail Hiking Australia

This website began as a practical response to a problem I kept encountering: reliable, structured trail information was hard to find. I wanted to provide other hikers with accurate trail information, maps, and tools to support safer and more enjoyable hikes. Every track has its own story, and my aim is to help you choose routes that match your experience, fitness, and the conditions on the day.

Trail Hiking Australia now features 3,826 trails, each carefully mapped and graded according to the Australian Walking Track Grading System (AWTGS), so you know what to expect before you set out.

What You’ll Find Here

1. Comprehensive Trail Database

Explore an extensive collection of hiking trails across Australia, each complete with detailed information on difficulty, distance, type, trailheads, and more. Every trail page provides essential details such as estimated duration, local weather forecasts, and region insights to help you plan. Many tracks and trails also offer downloadable GPX files and route maps, which I’m continually working to expand.

2. Online Planning Tools

Planning your hikes is easier with a set of user-friendly tools. These include the Walking Track Grading Calculator and Hiking Duration Calculator, both of which help you estimate times and find trails that align with your fitness level and experience. The interactive map also allows you to filter walks by state, grade, length, duration, and park to quickly shortlist options.

3. Online Route Planner and GPX File Editor

The online Route Planner allows you to view, edit, and create GPX files with detailed maps and data visualisations, supporting clearer planning and post-walk review.

4. Online Trip Intentions Form

Your safety is my top priority. The Trip Intentions Form lets you share your hiking plans with a trusted contact, providing information that could assist search and rescue if needed. It’s a simple but important step before heading out.

5. Safety Resources

As a search and rescue volunteer, I know firsthand how important it is to be well-prepared. That’s why I’ve compiled a range of resources aimed at supporting safer decisions, from beginner fundamentals to more advanced skills. Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, these resources are designed to help you build capability over time.

6. Comprehensive Blog

The Trail Hiking Australia blog covers hiking safety, gear reviews, practical guidance, and trip reporting. With over 565 posts, topics include hiking safety, navigation skills, first aid, food planning, and other field-relevant topics.

7. Passionate Community

Trail Hiking Australia is supported by a community of over 63,528 hikers who share a love for Australia’s wild places. Members can create a profile to save favourite trails, connect with others, plan group walks, and participate in discussions through the community forums.

8. Free Event Management Tool

Organise your own group hikes or join those organised by others with the Event Management Tool. This free, easy-to-use platform helps people plan and manage hiking events, from beginners to experienced hikers.

Committed to Accuracy and Safety

With 3,826 trails listed, accuracy is crucial for a good hiking experience. The information you’ll find here isn’t simply user-generated; it’s carefully curated to provide reliable insights tailored for Australian conditions. Each trail goes through a verification process so you can trust the details, including route maps and GPX files designed to work with common hiking GPS tools. Grades follow the Australian Walking Track Grading System (AWTGS), providing clear, locally recognised difficulty ratings to help you choose appropriately. I’m continually working to include GPX files for every trail and keep details current so you can plan with confidence.

Why Choose Trail Hiking Australia?

With decades of experience exploring Australia’s diverse landscapes, I’m committed to offering reliable, up-to-date information to support safer, better-planned hikes. Trail Hiking Australia is more than a trail directory. It is designed to support you from planning through to the walk itself, with tools, safety resources, and structured trail information.

Whether you’re searching for a new trail, improving your hiking skills, or connecting with others in the community, you’ll find practical resources built for Australian hiking conditions. Australia’s landscapes are some of the most varied in the world, and my goal is to help you experience them safely, responsibly, and with confidence.

Standards and Principles

As this project has grown, I’ve put clear standards around how I share information.

These standards focus on safety, responsible access to public land, environmental care and independent judgement.

They guide how I research, verify and publish trail information.

Read the full framework: Standards and Principles

The framework includes:

• Responsible Access and Stewardship
• Position on Trail Access and Development
• Safety and Verification Standards
• Funding and Editorial Independence

These commitments reflect how I choose to run this site.

Darren Edwards
Founder and developer of Trail Hiking Australia
ex*****@*************om.au