Do you like exploring new places and connecting to nature? We love sharing our beautiful country, from the desert to the forest and to the sea, and have some great places to share with you! Check out our top recommended walks near Australia’s big cities, to get out there and explore!

Before you go on a bush walk:

1. Always bring a big bottle of water and snacks

2. Wear sunscreen

3. Make sure you have sturdy shoes for walking

4. Always start in the morning, walking in the late afternoon or at night is never a good idea

5. Walk with others. If you’re an intern new to your city, ask your IPS to join our Connecting Interns network to meet other interns near you!

BRISBANE

Raven St Walk, Chermside

A beautiful retreat that is easily accessible and not far from the city – why not visit this little bit of Aussie bush! Tip: If you visit early in the morning, you might see wild swamp wallabies!

Find out more here.

GOLD COAST

Burleigh Head National Park

There are 2 different paths, which take about an hour each to walk. Here you’ll find the best views of Surfer’s Paradise to the north, and Coolangatta to the south! Tip: look out for wild koalas and bush turkeys on the path, and in spring and winter you might see humpback whales swimming past!

Find out more here.

SYDNEY

Bundeena to Wattamolla

If you’re in Sydney you’ve probably done the Bondi to Coogee walk (and probably more than once!) so why not try something different? The Bundeena to Wattamolla walk takes about 4-5 hours, with breathtaking views and small beaches along the way. Tip: Bring your swimmers!

Find out more here.

MELBOURNE

Sherbrooke Forest Walk

One of the most accessible bushwalks near Melbourne, Sherbrooke forest in a beautiful place to explore. As part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, expect so see lots of wildlife – especially birds and wallabies! Tip: bring a picnic and spend the day there! But don’t leave any rubbish behind, or feed any birds or animals you see.

Find out more here.

PERTH

Penguin Island Boardwalk

A beautiful place to spend a day, Penguin Island offers amazing beaches, inspiring views and cute wildlife – including of course, penguins! Catch a ferry to the island to take the walk and see the penguins being fed. Tip: buy your ticket for the ferry and penguin feeding together from the website. The island is closed to visitors between June & September for the penguin breeding season.

Find out more here.

ADELAIDE

Stenhouse Bay Lookout

This walk in the Innes National Park will take you through coastal scrub, 9 lookout points and amazing cliffs. Read about the history of the area on your walk and visit the beaches along the way! Tip: this walk is one of several in the park, don’t just do one – explore them all!

Find out more here.

Canberra

Booroomba Rocks walk

The walk takes about 1.5 hours to do the full walk, and offers amazing views of the mountains and forests next to Canberra. It’s steep but worth it! Tip: Go on a clear day for the best views! If you have less than a moderate fitness level, make sure to take it easy and allow yourself an extra half hour to get to the top.

Find out more here. 

And a detailed national park guide can be found here.

 Find out more content like this in our section Discovering Australia.