See Australia from the Tree-Tops

Tree-top walking has become one of the most popular and environmentally friendly ways to see Australia. On a tree-top walk along a platform high above the forest floor, you get a view of Australia’s unique flora and fauna that can be difficult or impossible to see by any other means. Many treetop walks are combined with hiking trails, flying foxes (zip lines) and other adventures, making them particularly exciting. These are some of the most popular tree-top walks in Australia:

Valley of the Giants, Western Australia

Just the name, “Valley of the Giants” should be enough to pique your interest in this fabulous Western Australia tree top walk. The “giants” are the old growth eucalypts found in the pristine Walpole Wilderness, about 400 kilometers from Perth. Also known as the Ancient Empire, some of the trees in this wilderness are well over 400 years old. The first part of your walk through the Valley of the Giants takes you through Grandma Tingle, an ancient tree whose trunk is divided at the base. After that, you walk along a mixture of boardwalk and stabilized earth paths until you reach the treetop walk. As awesome as it is, this walk is suitable for children, with no steep slopes or dangerous bridges to cross.

Illawarra Fly, NSW

Just about halfway between Sydney and Canberra, in the beautiful Illawarra district, is one of Australia’s most high-tech treetop walks, the Illawarra Fly. This 1500 meter (4921’) long steel walk is not only long, it is high, with a third of it being at heights up to 100 feet. When you finally reach the end of the tree-top walk, your adventure is not over. There you will find Knights Tower, a spiral staircase that takes you nearly 150 feet above the ground and gives you sweeping views of the surrounding countryside. If that’s not enough for you, take a walk out on one of the springboard cantilevers, that seem to hang miraculously suspended in mid-air. Afterwards, enjoy a great meal and cappuccino in a gourmet café and reminisce about your day’s adventures.

Otway Fly, Victoria

Combine a fantastic tree-top walk with a thrilling zipline in one of the most beautiful natural settings imaginable in Cape Otway. Cape Otway is located on the Great Ocean Road, one of the world’s most famous touring roads. In the past, most drivers just continued on after a quick stop at the Otway lighthouse, but now that the 2000 foot long, 100 foot high tree-top walk and zipline has been established. The Otway Fly Tree-top walk is the longest and highest in the world, making it a “must-have” experience when you’re in Australia. Between the coastal drive, the tree-top walk and the 8 station zipline, it will be the highlight of your trip.

Lamington, Queensland

The Queensland Gold Coast is best known for its beaches, but the Lamington National Park, in the Gold Coast hinterland, is fast becoming an equally famous destination for outdoor lovers and hikers. Australia’s first and still one of its favorite tree-top walks is located here. Not that long or high in comparison to newer tree-top walks in Australia, it is nevertheless a walk you will never forget. In all, this walk takes you along a series of 9 suspension bridges, allowing you to get a close-up look at the birds nesting in the trees and the rainforest flora below. If that’s not enough for you, don’t worry: there are 100 miles of walking tracks for you to explore as well.