Originally conceived to showcase Australia’s best multi-day hiking experiences to international walkers, Great Walks of Australia officially launched in 2013 with six founding walks and has grown to become one of Australia’s most trusted and loved walking experience brands for domestic and international hikers over the past decade.
Great Walks now has 12 member walks across the country, and has actively championed the walking industry in Australia, encouraging people to boot up, see our spectacular and iconic places of nature, and experience the many benefits of a multi-day guided walk.
Great Walks Chairman Gary Smith said: “Great Walks of Australia was formed by a passionate group of the country’s best walk operators who shared a vision for promoting high-quality, premium hiking experiences. Great Walks of Australia is, put simply, the best of the best.”
“In the 10 years since inception, Great Walks has promoted its Australian walking tourism experiences both internationally and domestically, growing awareness of not only the individual walks but our magnificent natural landscapes and the broader physical and emotional benefits of walking.”
From the outback to Tasmania, members include some of the country’s best-known multi-day guided walking experiences, run by some of Australia’s most reputable and leading operators such as Australian Walking Holidays and Tasmanian Walking Company.
Great Walks also counts industry pioneers and trailblazers such as Joan Masterman and Sue Badyari among the company’s co-founders, each having helped develop the walking industry in Australia and standards for excellence in guided walking experiences and eco-tourism.
The group was one of the first collectives in Tourism Australia’s highly renowned Signature Experiences of Australia program, founded to showcase Australia’s best tourism experiences to the international market.
Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, has congratulated Great Walks of Australia on its important milestone.
“Australia’s natural beauty attracts a lot of interest from international travellers and is one of our great strengths on the global stage. We have amazing landscapes and landmarks and Great Walks of Australia offers visitors a unique way to experience many of them,” Ms Harrison said.
“We are proud to have Great Walks of Australia as part of the Signature Experiences Program and hope it continues to offer ultimate walking holidays to international travellers well into the future.”
Great Walks of Australia walks are led by expert guides with a deep understanding of the environment, who help to bring to life the stories, culture, flora, fauna and history of each destination along the way. Small intimate groups, comfortable accommodation with a sense of exclusivity and outstanding gourmet food and wine, combine with remote locations for the ultimate in multi-day walking adventures.
All Great Walks members hold advanced eco-tourism credentials and are actively involved in the conversation of the lands they walk through.
Great Walks of Australia Executive Officer, Liz O’Rourke, said: “Great Walks members continue to set the bar and deliver exceptional, industry-leading hiking experiences. But more than that, our operators and their teams are all highly passionate about the places they walk, helping to conserve them for the future, and sharing that passion to generate awareness with walkers.”
“It’s such a privilege to take walkers to see places of high conservation value and significance, including Maria Island National Park on The Maria Island Walk, the Riverland Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance on the Murray River Walk, Saltwater Lagoon on Freycinet Experience Walk, Arkaba Station (currently being rewilded) on The Arkaba Walk, as well as UNESCO World Heritage Listed areas like Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park on Cradle Mountain Signature Walk, the ancient Gondwana rainforests on Spicers Scenic Rim Trail and Lord Howe Island on Seven Peaks Walk.”
“These are places and journeys you never forget. That in turn helps the walks to foster a new wave of supporters that want to help protect and conserve them for the future also.”
As well as raising awareness for conservation, the Great Walks of Australia member walks have a tangible economic benefit for the community. Great Walks operators collectively partner with more than 400 businesses between them, mostly in regional communities, including food producers, tradespeople, transport operators, winemakers, craftspeople and more, creating a wide-reaching economic “halo effect” beyond each of the walks.
Mr Smith said, “Great Walks of Australia has played a significant role in elevating understanding of the importance of walking tourism to regional economies. The future for exciting new and innovative product is bright as state and local governments better understand the significant benefits that multi-day hiking experiences can deliver.”
With demand for walks continuing to rise, Ms O’Rourke said the future for the next 10 years of Great Walks of Australia will be just as exciting as the first.
“Walking has continued to soar in popularity around the world over the past decade, but hit new heights around Covid. People started valuing the simplicity and importance of the basic need of going for a walk and being outside more than ever. They are looking walking through a different lens now. And it’ll be interesting to see how the industry continues to evolve with this new perspective,” she said.
“Ultimately, most of us live busy lives and are often disconnected from nature. Walking is really just a great mode of transport for a nature experience with a whole host of wellbeing benefits, which more and more people are realising. Fundamentally, walks allow people to slow down and spend quality time enjoying the incredibly beautiful and iconic wild places we are lucky to have in Australia, and connect to the land and themselves. When you take time to walk the land, you will always be deeply rewarded.”
“We look forward to what the next decade brings, while continuing to champion experiencing the country’s landscapes on foot, and showcasing our greatest walks.”
To celebrate the milestone, Great Walk of Australia is offering a massive 10% off all new bookings for any of the Great Walks of Australia booked between Monday, August 21 and September 30, 2023 for travel until the end of 2024. Use or quote the promo code GWOA10YEARS on direct booking walks through Great Walks of Australia members. For a limited time only, terms and conditions including some block out periods apply.
Visit www.greatwalksofausralia.com.au/10-year-offer for more information and to book.
Great Walks Chairman Gary Smith said: “Great Walks of Australia was formed by a passionate group of the country’s best walk operators who shared a vision for promoting high-quality, premium hiking experiences. Great Walks of Australia is, put simply, the best of the best.”
“In the 10 years since inception, Great Walks has promoted its Australian walking tourism experiences both internationally and domestically, growing awareness of not only the individual walks but our magnificent natural landscapes and the broader physical and emotional benefits of walking.”
From the outback to Tasmania, members include some of the country’s best-known multi-day guided walking experiences, run by some of Australia’s most reputable and leading operators such as Australian Walking Holidays and Tasmanian Walking Company.
Great Walks also counts industry pioneers and trailblazers such as Joan Masterman and Sue Badyari among the company’s co-founders, each having helped develop the walking industry in Australia and standards for excellence in guided walking experiences and eco-tourism.
The group was one of the first collectives in Tourism Australia’s highly renowned Signature Experiences of Australia program, founded to showcase Australia’s best tourism experiences to the international market.
Tourism Australia Managing Director, Phillipa Harrison, has congratulated Great Walks of Australia on its important milestone.
“Australia’s natural beauty attracts a lot of interest from international travellers and is one of our great strengths on the global stage. We have amazing landscapes and landmarks and Great Walks of Australia offers visitors a unique way to experience many of them,” Ms Harrison said.
“We are proud to have Great Walks of Australia as part of the Signature Experiences Program and hope it continues to offer ultimate walking holidays to international travellers well into the future.”
Great Walks of Australia walks are led by expert guides with a deep understanding of the environment, who help to bring to life the stories, culture, flora, fauna and history of each destination along the way. Small intimate groups, comfortable accommodation with a sense of exclusivity and outstanding gourmet food and wine, combine with remote locations for the ultimate in multi-day walking adventures.
All Great Walks members hold advanced eco-tourism credentials and are actively involved in the conversation of the lands they walk through.
Great Walks of Australia Executive Officer, Liz O’Rourke, said: “Great Walks members continue to set the bar and deliver exceptional, industry-leading hiking experiences. But more than that, our operators and their teams are all highly passionate about the places they walk, helping to conserve them for the future, and sharing that passion to generate awareness with walkers.”
“It’s such a privilege to take walkers to see places of high conservation value and significance, including Maria Island National Park on The Maria Island Walk, the Riverland Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance on the Murray River Walk, Saltwater Lagoon on Freycinet Experience Walk, Arkaba Station (currently being rewilded) on The Arkaba Walk, as well as UNESCO World Heritage Listed areas like Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park on Cradle Mountain Signature Walk, the ancient Gondwana rainforests on Spicers Scenic Rim Trail and Lord Howe Island on Seven Peaks Walk.”
“These are places and journeys you never forget. That in turn helps the walks to foster a new wave of supporters that want to help protect and conserve them for the future also.”
As well as raising awareness for conservation, the Great Walks of Australia member walks have a tangible economic benefit for the community. Great Walks operators collectively partner with more than 400 businesses between them, mostly in regional communities, including food producers, tradespeople, transport operators, winemakers, craftspeople and more, creating a wide-reaching economic “halo effect” beyond each of the walks.
Mr Smith said, “Great Walks of Australia has played a significant role in elevating understanding of the importance of walking tourism to regional economies. The future for exciting new and innovative product is bright as state and local governments better understand the significant benefits that multi-day hiking experiences can deliver.”
With demand for walks continuing to rise, Ms O’Rourke said the future for the next 10 years of Great Walks of Australia will be just as exciting as the first.
“Walking has continued to soar in popularity around the world over the past decade, but hit new heights around Covid. People started valuing the simplicity and importance of the basic need of going for a walk and being outside more than ever. They are looking walking through a different lens now. And it’ll be interesting to see how the industry continues to evolve with this new perspective,” she said.
“Ultimately, most of us live busy lives and are often disconnected from nature. Walking is really just a great mode of transport for a nature experience with a whole host of wellbeing benefits, which more and more people are realising. Fundamentally, walks allow people to slow down and spend quality time enjoying the incredibly beautiful and iconic wild places we are lucky to have in Australia, and connect to the land and themselves. When you take time to walk the land, you will always be deeply rewarded.”
“We look forward to what the next decade brings, while continuing to champion experiencing the country’s landscapes on foot, and showcasing our greatest walks.”
Visit www.greatwalksofausralia.com.au/10-year-offer for more information and to book.
Liz O’Rourke - Executive Officer, Great Walks Of Australia liz@greatwalksofaustralia.com.au
W: greatwalksofaustralia.com.au
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