The National Trail is one of the world’s longest continual trails, spanning nearly the entire length of east coast Australia. The 5330km trail runs from Cooktown in Far north Queensland all the way to Healesville, just outside of Melbourne Victoria. The trail was originally conceived in 1972 when members of the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association (ATHRA), including RM Williams, set out to create a continual horse trail to rival that of the Appalachian Trail in America. It then went through years of planning, mapping, funding and general organizing before it was finally opened in October of 1988, giving it the bicentennial portion of its name. The trail starts it’s southward decent through the Daintree rainforest and continues along old stock routes, fire trails and country roads. It winds its way down the east coast, crossing many national parks and state forest and passes through numerous small towns. Trekkers get to experience the rugged beauty of Kosciusko national park and the Victorian high country before arriving at Healesville, the end of the trail. To have created and maintained something as vast as the National Trail is truly impressing and I’m extremely grateful I have the opportunity to travel its length.

 The trail is broken into 12 sections with detailed guide books available for each, allowing those that don’t want to do the entire trail, to choose which portion best suits them. Since opening many people have enjoyed exploring sections however, only a special few have completed it end to end. Those that have chosen to tackle the entire trail have done so alone or in groups, either on foot, cycling or with horses. A full list can be found on the Nation Trail website. It was intended to be travelled from north to south, many now chose to do it in reverse and travel south to north. This is the direction I’m choosing to take, leaving Healesville in November and traveling north to Cooktown. The trail gives a unique opportunity for slow travel, being on foot, whether that be two or four, the average distance covered in a day is around 30km. By slowing down there is more opportunity to take in the beauty of the Australian landscape and the animals within it.

Most people, particularly ones with grazing animals will try to follow the seasons as they travel, meaning there will be water and grass available and with luck they shouldn’t find themselves in any extreme heat or cold. Camping is the only option in terms of accommodation for the vast majority of the trail with a real bed only available in the occasional town. Everything will need to be carried with you from gear to food, water and shelter. Many people including myself will get resupply boxes posted to them as they go, as well as stopping to stock up on fresh food in towns. These however are few and far between and trekkers will need to be completely self-reliant and they travel.  

While this journey is not something to be taken on lightly, it is something I’ve worked very hard to be able to even attempt and I cannot wait to get started and share my journey with you.

If you’re interested in doing the trail or would like to find out more head to the Nation Trail website