The Best Coastal Walks in Australia: A Coast-by-Coast Guide

Australia has more coastline than almost any country on earth, and some of the best of it is walkable. From urban clifftop paths within minutes of a CBD to multi-day wilderness treks that see maybe a hundred walkers a year, the country's coastal walks offer some of the finest slow travel available anywhere.

Whether you're planning an afternoon stroll with a picnic at the end or a proper multi-day adventure, here are the coastal walks worth building a trip around.

Short walks (2 hours or less)

Perfect for a morning walk followed by a beach picnic.

1. Bondi to Coogee, NSW

Length: 6km one way (2 hours) Difficulty: Easy

Sydney's most famous coastal walk and one of the most-photographed in Australia. From Bondi's iconic sweep of sand, the path winds along the cliffs through Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee — five beaches in six kilometres. Cafés at every stop, ocean pools along the way, and the option to bail out and catch a bus at any point.

Best time: Early morning avoids the crowds and delivers the best light. Picnic finish: Bronte's grassy foreshore is one of Sydney's great picnic spots.

2. Cape Byron Walking Track, NSW

Length: 3.7km loop (1.5 hours) Difficulty: Easy to moderate

The walk to Australia's most easterly point, past the iconic Cape Byron Lighthouse. Dolphins and whales are regularly visible offshore (whales May to November). The descent to Wategos Beach halfway around is a highlight.

Best time: Sunrise — this is Australia's first sunrise every day, and it's spectacular. Picnic finish: Wategos Beach for the picnic reward.

3. Noosa Coastal Track, QLD

Length: 5km one way (1.5–2 hours) Difficulty: Easy

Through Noosa National Park along the headland, past Boiling Pot, Tea Tree Bay, Granite Bay and Hell's Gates. Koalas are often visible in the trees. Sunshine Beach at the far end is a great finish for a swim and a picnic.

Best time: Any time — the shade of the coastal bush makes it comfortable even at midday. Picnic finish: Sunshine Beach village for lunch or a beach picnic on the sand.

4. Cape Woolamai Circuit, VIC

Length: 8.5km loop (3 hours) Difficulty: Moderate

Phillip Island's dramatic granite peninsula, with towering red cliffs and the pink granite Pinnacles as the highlight. Wild, exposed and utterly unlike the tourist strip of the island.

Best time: Cooler months for comfort — no shade. Picnic finish: Woolamai Beach at the base for a wind-sheltered picnic (choose your spot carefully).

5. Bicheno to Redbill Beach, TAS

Length: 4km return (1 hour) Difficulty: Easy

Tasmania's east coast has arguably the most beautiful coastal scenery in Australia — orange lichen-covered granite, clear water, and quiet beaches. This walk gives you a taster.

Best time: Late morning for the best light on the granite. Picnic finish: Redbill Beach itself — bring everything, no facilities.

Half-day walks (3–5 hours)

Substantial enough to feel like a proper day out, short enough to finish with a lunch or picnic.

6. Cape to Cape Track (day sections), WA

Length: 135km full track; day sections from 5–15km Difficulty: Moderate

WA's premier coastal walk between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin. Full track takes 5–8 days; day sections around Yallingup, Prevelly and Redgate Beach are outstanding for shorter trips.

Best time: October to April. Picnic finish: Any of the beaches en route.

7. Bouddi Coastal Walk, NSW

Length: 8km one way (3–4 hours) Difficulty: Moderate

An underrated Central Coast walk through Bouddi National Park, with dramatic cliff sections, secluded beaches and remarkably few other walkers. Little Beach at the far end is one of NSW's best-hidden picnic spots.

Best time: Cooler months. Picnic finish: Little Beach — pack everything, no facilities.

8. Cliff Top Walk, Katoomba to Wentworth Falls area (adjacent walks), NSW

Not coastal, but worth mentioning if the coast is booked out — Sydney's Blue Mountains have world-class walking. Stay coastal for the beach reward.

9. Great Ocean Walk (day sections), VIC

Length: 104km full track; day sections from 6–14km Difficulty: Moderate

The coastal answer to the Great Ocean Road. Day sections between Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles let you experience the wildest parts of the Victorian coast without committing to the whole thing.

Best time: March to May, September to November — summer can be crowded, winter cold. Picnic finish: Apollo Bay for the classic setup; wilder sections require full self-sufficiency.

Multi-day walks (for the adventurous)

For those who want to walk into and out of the wilderness.

10. Cape to Cape Track (full), WA

Length: 135km, 5–8 days Difficulty: Moderate to hard

The full experience along WA's south-west corner. Camping, hostels or luxury lodges available. Wildflowers in spring are extraordinary.

11. Great Ocean Walk (full), VIC

Length: 104km, 6–8 days Difficulty: Moderate

Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles. Well-marked, well-maintained, with a good range of accommodation options from campsites to luxury.

12. Three Capes Track, TAS

Length: 48km, 4 days Difficulty: Moderate

Tasmania's premier walk. Well-appointed huts, extraordinary scenery, and the towering dolerite sea cliffs of the Tasman Peninsula. Bookings required and fill up months in advance.

13. Bibbulmun Track (coastal sections), WA

The full track is 1,000km (Perth to Albany), but the coastal sections between Denmark and Walpole are some of the best in the country.

What to bring for a coastal walk

The right kit turns a walk from a chore into an adventure.

For short walks

• Water (more than you think — even short coastal walks are exposed)
• Sunscreen and a hat — coastal UV is unforgiving
• A light day pack with a picnic and swim gear
• Sturdy shoes — most coastal walks have some rough sections
• A sand-free beach blanket in the pack for the reward picnic at the end

For longer walks

Everything above, plus:

• A proper hiking pack
• A trail map (offline app or paper — signal is unreliable)
• First aid kit
• Layers — coastal weather changes fast
• Emergency shelter or tent for overnight walks
• A satellite communication device for remote sections

Coastal walk etiquette

• Stay on the marked track. Coastal vegetation is fragile and takes decades to recover.
• Take everything out. No rubbish, no exceptions.
• Respect wildlife. Whales, dolphins, koalas — enjoy from a distance.
• Follow national park rules. Dogs, drones, fires — all typically prohibited.
• Yield to walkers going uphill. Coastal walks have plenty of climbs.

When to walk

Australia's coastal walks are effectively year-round, but the sweet spots vary.

• NSW and SE QLD: March to November — summer is doable but hot on exposed sections.
• Tropical QLD, WA (north): May to October (dry season).
• VIC, SA, TAS: October to April.
• WA (south-west): September to May.

A final thought

Coastal walks are Australia at its most accessible best. You don't need advanced fitness for most of them, you don't need special gear for the day walks, and you don't need to travel far — most Australian cities have a world-class coastal walk within 30 minutes of the CBD.

Lace up. Pack water and a picnic. And let the coast do the rest.