About Trail Hiking Australia

The Story Behind Trail Hiking Australia

I started Trail Hiking Australia in 2013 because I enjoyed exploring new trails and wanted to share reliable information with other hikers. I’m Darren, a designer who became an avid hiker. 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. Spending time in the bush gave me a sense of freedom I hadn’t felt in years.

That same year, I joined a local hiking group that did a lot of walks near where I lived. It was convenient, and having learned the area well, I often suggested places we could go together. People seemed surprised at the routes I knew and started asking how I’d found them. I quickly realised how hard it was to find good information about places to walk. Most of what existed was in guidebooks, if it existed at all. Plenty of tracks were barely known, or hadn’t been properly described in years.

That’s when I decided to use my design skills to build Trail Hiking Australia. I wanted to make it easier for other people to find the places I’d found, so I started sharing what I’d collected. People actually used it. They followed the trail notes, downloaded the route files, and turned up at the Lerderderg State Park, Wombat State Forest, Werribee Gorge and the Brisbane Ranges, places I’d spent years walking myself.

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. My aim is to help you choose routes that match your experience, fitness and the conditions on the day.

Trail Hiking Australia now features 3,838 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

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 598 posts, topics include hiking safety, navigation skills, first aid, food planning, and other field-relevant topics.

7. Trail Hiking Australia Community

Trail Hiking Australia is supported by a community of over 64,739 hikers who share a love for Australia’s wild places. Members can create a profile to save favourite trails and build custom hike lists. To connect with other hikers, join the Trail Hiking Australia Facebook group.

8. Join Our Meetup Hiking Groups

Trail Hiking Australia runs volunteer hiking groups in Victoria and Tasmania through Meetup. Whether you’re looking to join a guided walk or get involved as an organiser, the groups are open to hikers of all levels. Find out more about our hiking groups.

Committed to Accuracy and Safety

With 3,838 trails listed, accuracy is important 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. Alongside the trail directory, the site provides tools, safety resources and structured information to support you from planning through to the walk itself. 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. My goal is to help you explore Australian trails 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