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Here in NSW, we’re pretty spoiled for choice when it comes to excellent hikes – with gorgeous coastal trails and magical mountain paths weaving through historic pockets of hinterland. To help nature-seekers get out there this year, we asked the hiking experts at AllTrails to share the most popular multi-day hikes in the country. Surprisingly, only one NSW trek made the top 10 – a Blue Mountains epic that’s definitely not for the amateur hikers among us. Feeling up to it? Here’s everything you need to know about the Kanangra to Katoomba walk.
Where is the Kanangra to Katoomba walk?
The Kanangra to Katoomba walk threads its way deep through the wild southern Blue Mountains, just over three hours west of Sydney. You begin at the dramatic Kanangra-Boyd National Park and finish in the iconic sandstone town of Katoomba high on the Blue Mountains Plateau. It’s a true one-way trek, weaving from rugged canyon country up to sweeping clifftop vistas.
How long is the Kanangra to Katoomba walk?
This is no coffee-and-croissant stroll. All in, it’s about 45 kilometres of classic Blue Mountains terrain: ravines, ridges, creek crossings and magical hidden plateaus.
How long does it take to do the Kanangra to Katoomba walk?
Most hikers give themselves 3-4 days to savour it properly – though ultra-fit trail runners have been known to blitz it in a single day.
What can you see on the Kanangra to Katoomba walk?
Where to start? Over the full 45.1 kilometres, you’ll pass vertigo-inducing sandstone escarpments, mossy valleys, wild heathlands, dramatic lookouts and expansive valleys, sometimes scaled by steep sets of metal steps. You also have the option to climb Mount Cloudmaker – one of the Blue Mountains’ famous Three Peaks.
Where can you stay on the Kanangra to Katoomba walk?
This isn’t a walk with boutique lodges at every turn – it’s wilderness camping all the way. Along the route there are designated campsites and potential water spots, but you’ll be carrying most of what you need and choosing your own perfect clearings under the stars.
After your trek, Katoomba is the obvious base: a fun, bohemian town bursting with backpacker hostels, boutique lodges and a solid selection of cafés and pubs for your post-hike fuel. And at the start, you can stay overnight near Kanangra Walls or Oberon if you want to ease into the adventure.
Do you have to book to do the Kanangra to Katoomba walk?
You don’t need a formal permit just to walk it, but because it’s point-to-point and very remote, you do need to sort out logistics: transport arrangements (shuttle/car shuffle) to drop you at the start and collect you at the finish, and ideally book your post-hike stay in Katoomba. If you’re going with a guided operator, you’ll need to book in advance.
It’s also worth noting that conditions in the Blue Mountains can vary, especially at summer time when fire risk can be high. Since this is a remote hike, it’s best for experienced hikers only. Strong navigational skills and a PLB (personal locator beacon) are essential, and make sure you check the NSW National Parks and Wildlife website before you go.
These are the most popular multi-day hikes in Australia right now
1. Overland Track, TAS
Distance: 78.5km
Duration: 5-6 nights
Difficulty: Hard
- Thorsborne Trail, QLD
Distance: 30.3km
Duration: 3-4 nights
Difficulty: Hard
- Great Ocean Walk, VIC
Distance: 97km
Duration: 6-8 nights
Difficulty: Hard
- Cape to Cape Track, WA
Distance: 126.5km
Duration: 5-7 nights
Difficulty: Hard
- Larapinta Trail, NT
Distance: 222.2km
Duration: 3-15 nights
Difficulty: Strenuous
- Jatbula Trail, NT
Distance: 61.6km
Duration: 5-6 nights
Difficulty: Hard
- Bibbulmun Track: Pemberton to Northcliffe, WA
Distance: 54.6km
Duration: 2 nights
Difficulty: Hard
- K’gari (Fraser Island) Great Walk, QLD
Distance: 75km
Duration: 5-7 nights
Difficulty: Hard
- Kanangra to Katoomba (K2K), NSW
Distance: 45.1km
Duration: 2-3 nights
Difficulty: Hard
- South Coast Track, TAS
Distance: 85km
Duration: 5-7 nights
Difficulty: Strenuous
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