The Daintree Rainforest is one of Australia’s most cherished natural wonders. Nestled in Far North Queensland, it’s the oldest tropical rainforest in the world—over 180 million years old, making it even older than the Amazon Rainforest. The Daintree has multiple scenic walking tracks for you to explore, ranging from easy strolls to difficult hikes.

Despite being only an hour’s drive from the CBD, you’ll feel like you’re in another world as you amble through towering trees, lush fern gullies and spilling waterfalls. Embark on one of the park’s walking trails up the mountain to witness panoramic views of the Melbourne skyline in between spotting wallabies, echidnas and birdlife including crimson rosellas and superb lyrebirds.

The Great Otway National Park will transport you far beyond Victoria into a world that feels almost otherworldly. Beneath an expansive, lush canopy of ferns, sleepy koalas, adventurous platypuses, and lumbering echidnas roam freely, calling this awe-inspiring landscape home. Stretching from Torquay to Princetown and up to Colac, the park is famed for its rugged coastlines, cool temperate rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and quiet beaches.

A walk through Tarra-Bulga National Park suspends time in a way that only the force of nature can. Giant mountain ash trees, ancient myrtle beech trees and lush fern gullies shade you as you make your way through the forest, straight towards the famed Corrigan’s Suspension Bridge which hangs high above the forest floor. Abundant with native wildlife and birds, this rainforest is majestic, plus teeming with picnic spots for you to rest, refuel and recharge.

This captivating day trip destination is nestled within Budderoo National Park at the foothills of Jamberoo Valley. Its subtropical climate and dense foliage allow visitors an immersive experience through elevated boardwalks, scenic walking trails and educational Minnamurra Rainforest Centre.

While this rainforest hike may be challenging, it’s one hundred percent worth it. The Grand Canyon Track in the Blue Mountains is one of the few canyons you can explore on foot without extensive hiking or abseiling gear. You’ll pass seas of ferns and dense foliage, waterfalls and trickling creeks as you descend into the depths of the canyon, bearing witness to spectacular views. Be sure to take it slow on the way back up—it’s very tiring!

The Valley of the Giants is a breathtaking forest region along Western Australia’s southern coast, famous for its towering ancient tingle trees and the iconic Tree Top Walk that lets visitors stroll high among the canopy. Nestled between Denmark and Walpole, this enchanting forest offers a rare glimpse into some of the world’s tallest eucalyptus trees, with trunks so wide they can reach up to 20 metres in circumference.

Warren National Park is a pristine natural haven, and one of the best rainforests in Australia. Located approximately 15 kilometers south of Pemberton in Western Australia’s South West, this temperate rainforest is home to towering karri trees, some soaring up to 90 metres high.

The most magical parts of the world are often discovered on foot, and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is no exception. Covering one fifth of Australia’s southernmost state, this vast rainforest offers a living testament to ancient heritage waiting to be explored. Comprising seven national parks—Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park, Hartz Mountains National Park, and Cradle Mountain-Lake St. Clair National Park, among others.