Trail Fast Facts
The Bicentennial National Trail is a 5330km, grade 5 long distance trail that runs from Queensland to Victoria and should take around 1 Year to complete.
Warning
The Federation Track is a 3000km, grade 5 long distance trail that runs from New South Wales to South Australia and should take around 1 Year to complete.
Hike Overview
The Bicentennial National Trail (BNT), originally known as the National Horse Trail, is one of the longest multi-use, non-motorised, self-reliant trails in the world, stretching 5,330 kilometres from Cooktown, Queensland, through New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory to Healesville, 60 km north-east of Melbourne, Victoria. This trail runs the length of the rugged Great Dividing Range through national parks, private property and alongside wilderness areas. The BNT follows old coach roads, stock routes, brumby tracks, rivers and fire trails. It was originally intended for horses, but is these days promoted also for cycling and walking, though it is not yet entirely suited to these two activities.
History
The trail was initiated and planned by the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association. They spent many years planning and negotiating a route. Horses are banned from all Wilderness Areas and many national park areas so they had to avoid these. For a long time, creation of the trail looked doubtful. When it was accepted as a bicentennial project in 1985, finance and official approval followed and by 1988 the trail was a reality. The trail has a large following amongst the horse riding community and has been very beneficial to them.
Access
A huge number of access points exist. Indeed, much of the trail follows public roads. Access by public transport exists where the trail crosses major highways - generally these are spaced at about one month walking intervals. Walkers usually chose to pre-place food at one to two week intervals and private transport must be used to do this.
Maps and Track Notes
The Trail links eighteen of Australia's national parks and more than 50 state forests, providing access to some of the wildest, most remote country in the world. The Trail is suitable for self-reliant horse riders, walkers and mountain bike riders. Parts of the Trail, such as some of the Jenolan Caves to Kosciuszko section, are suitable for horse-drawn vehicles. The Trail is not open to motorised vehicles or trail bikes, and pets are not permitted. The Trail is divided into 12 sections of 400 to 500 kilometres, each with a corresponding guide book.
A series of 12 guidebooks have been published for the trail. These use sketch maps to show the trails location - these maps are good for planning. It is also advised to obtain detailed contour maps as the sketch maps are inadequate for navigation. The guides contain very brief notes and are of limited help with planning a walk as most of the general advice is about horses - selecting them, feeding them, holding them etc.
Permits
Not needed. Local restrictions on camping and camp fires apply in some areas and in some seasons.
Track Grade
Grade 5 (Difficult) - Walks for the Most Experienced: Grade 5 represents the most challenging walking tracks on the AWTGS. These are only recommended for very experienced and fit walkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep, and unmarked. Walks may be more than 20 kilometers. These challenging walks demand a high level of fitness and experience to navigate difficult terrain, significant elevation changes, and potentially unformed paths.
Tips
The track starts at Healesville on the outskirts of Melbourne in Victoria. It follows the mountain ranges along the eastern side of Australia through New South Wales to end at Cooktown in northern Queensland. The total length is 5330 km and would take most of 1 year to walk.
Map and GPX file
Looks like I don’t have a GPX file for this trail yet. If you have one you’d be willing to share, please email it to me so we can help other hikers have a safer, easier time out there. I’ll double-check each file to make sure it aligns with official tracks and topo maps before adding it to this hike. Thanks so much for helping build an even better hiking resource.
Trailhead
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Photo gallery
If you’ve got some great shots from this hike, I’d love to see them! Please upload your .jpg files here to help inspire other hikers and show off the beauty of the trail.
A quick note: Uploading your photos doesn’t mean you lose ownership. You’ll be credited for any photos you share, and you can request to have them removed at any time.
Suggest an edit
Spotted a change on this trail? Maybe there are new features, the route has shifted, or the trail is permanently closed. Whatever the update, I’d love your input. Your feedback helps fellow hikers stay informed and ensures that our trail info stays fresh and reliable.
Similar trails nearby
Looking for things to do in East Coast Australia or nearby? Try these similar hikes or bushwalks.
Let someone know
Adventure with Confidence: Register Your Trip Plans
Before you hit the trail, take a moment to fill out our trip intentions form. It’s a simple way to share important details about your hike with family or friends. If things don’t go as planned and you’re not back on time, they can easily notify emergency services, helping to ensure a quick response and reducing worry. Enjoy your outdoor adventure knowing that you’ve taken a smart step for your safety.
Gear to consider
What you carry in your pack will depend on the weather, terrain, time of year, type of adventure, and personal preferences. Having trouble deciding what gear’s right for you? My free planning, food and packing checklists provide an introduction to things your could consider (as well as the Ten Essentials) on your day, overnight and multi-day adventures. Customise your kit according to your personal needs, always considering safety first.Â
Explore Safe
While planning your hike, it’s important to check official government sources for updated information, temporary closures and trail access requirements. Before hitting the trail, check local weather and bushfire advice for planned burns and bushfire warnings and let someone know before you go. Plan ahead and hike safely.
Weather
Acknowledgement of Country
Trail Hiking Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we hike and pay respects to their Elders, past and present, and we acknowledge the First Nations people of other communities who may be here today.
3 Reviews on “Bicentennial National Trail Walk (5330km)”
Laura Vining Kirsty Sims
Is this the next big challenge???? Gran xxx
Geoff Murray ????
Anne Kirby-Fahey your next challenge?
Anyone want to do a section of this trail starting from either end for a month or so in 2020/21?
Darcy Crudeli do this track instead?
Being a member of the BNT ensures that prrivate property owners are covered for insurance when you travel through. Everyone that ever stayed with me was a member of the BNT as it should be.
Derek Forbes?? For your next adventure!!
Show this to Barry Kelsey Campbell ?
Tammy Shields Jovana Cvetković
Ali wanna come for a walk ?
Libby Mc now there’s a good walk
Gabby Griggs
Brooke Louisa Nolan
Charlie Ward
Taryn Bilbija ?
Karlee Bator Cherie Norwell Lewis
Jake Thomas yeah or nah?
Awesome
Lots of road walking?
Janet Farr Mary Claire Firns there are some others I would prefer to do first.
Kate Southall fundraising hike ? ???
Keith Iseppi, this would count as a ‘retreat’
No phone, no business worry for a whole year!
Louise Iseppi? ?
Steven Laden here’s 1 for you
Jeremy Cameron next weekend?
Lauren Hodson
Nick Jacomas
Bicentennial National Trail also have a Facebook page that share updates of people currently on the ‘the trail’
Linda Gleave adding this one to the list?
For more information:
https://www.bicentennialnationaltrail.com.au
Bev – ha ha
Andrew Corbett !
Lucy Kelly Rachel Lucas shall we talk a year off and give it a crack?
Michelle Taylor
Wait, hold my beer.. Rima Gayatri Sudrajat
Has someone ridden the whole track by mtb?
Marion Morrison
If I only had a spare year to do nothing else but wander ?
Sure…I’ll check when is my next RDO and I’ll get back to you…
James Quinton I’m sure you already know about this, but here’s another trail to add to your list ?
Maree Griffin we could take a year off ?
Short one boys Josh Apfel Cameron Balcombe
Here’s a hike you haven’t done before Shane Mervin
Zavra Bryant let’s do this peace from the boys ?
Kylie South here’s one for us buddy ?
Jess Robertson?
It starts just up the road from me. I’ve walked the first 15km a few times. I’d love to do the rest ! ?
Hayley Maxfield
Faye one for the bucket list perhaps? ?
Krista Nieuwenhuizen, got a year to walk and talk? Xx
Tracy Corcoran how about this as a challenge?
Jackie Flaim …. here we go. Leave next week ?
Hamish year off!??
Anna Drummond
Bec Roberts
Shane Johnstone, James Roberts, here’s your next FKT ?
See you next year dear Kara
Shaun Kaesler ? not a chance, I’ll leave that one for Shane ?
Sharon Picking done ?
Ricky Kelf now we are talking. One year to complete haha
Shaun Kaesler it’s more of a horse trail than a hiking trail, I don’t think many if anyone has hiked the length, only a handful have done it on horseback. up until recently it was the longest trail in the world.
Sally Hammond lol retirement activity maybe
Shane in under 24 hours?
Phil Ryan on my bucket list. Just need to mimic your retirement plan
Permits are needed. To buy the guidebooks you need to be a member and often you have to ring a property owner to gain access. Also most of the guidebooks don’t have sketch maps but topographic maps with detailed instructions
Sandy Petersen you love a challenge
Sally Crispe interesting ?
Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Oliver
Liam Anderson do you have a spare year?
Barbara Bryant here’s an adventure for you!
Barbara Bryant here’s an adventure for you!
Jim Pollock Lucy Pollock closer to home
Natalie Webb
Karen Malloch ?