We have accumulated shelves of walking books and maps over the years and monitor new titles as they appear.

Genres include:

• Memoirs (i.e. someone’s account of a walk);

• Walk compilations (e.g. ‘Classic Walks of Western Europe’); and

• Guidebooks for specific walks.

On this page, we provide reviews of some of the best of these and an opportunity to purchase. Some of them can be bought at our WTA Shop, while with others we include a link through to an online book/map retailer.

If you follow a link to an online retailer and purchase the item we may earn a small commission. This is at no extra cost to you and helps us keep these reviews going.

Within each genre, books are organised chronologically, with most recent at top.

From Snow to Ash by Anthony Sharwood (published August 2020)

The incredible, inspiring story of a solo journey through Australia's toughest and most beautiful hiking trail - the Australian Alps Walking Track - for fans of Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer or Cheryl Strayed's Wild and anyone who dreams of iconic wilderness walks.

At the start of the hellish, fiery Australian summer of 2019/20, Walkley Award-winning journalist and suburban dad Anthony Sharwood set off on a journey. Abandoning his post on a busy news website to clear his mind, he solo-trekked the Australian Alps Walking Track, Australia's most gruelling and breathtakingly beautiful mainland hiking trail, which traverses the entirety of the legendary High Country from Gippsland in Victoria to the outskirts of Canberra.

The journey started in a blizzard and ended in a blaze. Along the way, this lifelong lover of the mountains came to realise that nothing would ever be the same - either for him or for the imperilled Australian Alps, a landscape as fragile and sensitive to the changing climate as the Great Barrier Reef.

Bewildered by Laura Waters (published August 2019)

What motivates a tiny minority of us to step away from a regular path through life, and what happens to those that do? These questions – and the unique answers that each case provides – are a source of endless fascination to the rest of us. Could we have done it? Could we still do it? How might our lives change if we did?

For lovers of remote country walking, an account of a relatively new epic trail that addresses the above questions is a rare treat. That's what Laura Waters gives us with Bewildered. It's Waters' account of her 5 month hike along the Te Araroa trail that extends for 3,000 kilometres between New Zealand's northern and southern-most tips.

Waters, who unexpectedly finds herself tackling the walk alone, provides us with a highly readable description of the trail – the wonderful, varied terrain through which it passes and the challenges it presents. For some of us that would be enough, but this book vastly expands its audience and appeal through the human story it tells.

We learn what brought Waters, at the age of 43, to the trailhead at Cape Reinga, having never undertaken a hike of more than 80 kilometres before. We learn of the drivers that keep her going as the inevitable obstacles and difficulties present themselves. We're drawn into the unusual relationships that form between the eclectic bunch of walkers who happen to be on the trail at about the same time. We share in the learnings that emerge. Mostly we delight in the outcomes for one person who strays from the well-trodden path.

There are a few entertaining quotes sprinkled throughout the text including Daniel Boone's "I can't say as ever I was lost, but I was bewildered once for three days". Waters shares some personal bewilderment before and during her walk. She gives that term to her book. Ultimately though, she describes herself as rewilded. In a nutshell, the book is her journey from the one to the other.

Kindred: A Cradle Mountain Love Story by Kate Legge (published March 2019)

Our national parks today sometimes seem like treasures that were always destined to be recognised and protected. Yet, in many cases, achieving national park status involved a struggle, and was only achieved following protracted campaigning by passionate individuals. Few of us know much of those stories.

Tasmania’s iconic Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park is a case in point. There is an inspiring story behind this Park’s creation, but it’s not widely known. Thankfully, award-winning journalist Kate Legge has taken up the challenge to tell the fascinating story of two unsung founders of this wonderful National Park.

Kindred: A Cradle Mountain Love Story is a well crafted, carefully researched tribute to trailblazers Gustav and Kate Weindorfer who recognised the significance of Cradle Valley for recreational, preservation and scientific purposes. Their story is both a homage to the natural wonders of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clare region and a portrait of two “larger than life” pioneers.

Gustave and Kate met in 1903 at the Field Naturalists Club in Melbourne which hosted regular lectures and wilderness excursions for nature lovers, botanists, geologists and scientists. Gustav was an Austrian immigrant who had grown up in the foothills of the Carinthian Alps where there was a long tradition of recreational hiking and remote mountainside accommodation. Kate was an independent and educated Tasmanian who was undaunted by the male domination of her chosen fields of interest. The couple wed in 1906 and settled in Kate’s hometown of Kindred in north-west Tasmania, on the doorstep of Cradle Valley. Theirs was a love story based around a shared passion for adventure, research, botany, music, local community and physical labour.

Gustav’s European heritage enabled him to see the potential of this remote wilderness area. He became obsessed with the idea of making Cradle Valley accessible to others. Over years, they created the picturesque Waldheim Chalet (German for “Forest Home”) with the intention of accommodating and guiding recreational and scientific visitors at a welcoming lodge. Chalet guests were entertained with singing, music, storytelling, academic debate, an extensive library and homemade cooking.

Aside from the chalet business, Gustav and Kate actively sought to foster awareness of the natural treasures of the region, the restorative powers of nature and the need to protect it through National Park status. They were intrepid pioneers of eco-tourism and keen advocates for the importance of wilderness research and preservation. The granting of National Park and World Heritage recognition to the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair region is a testament to the Weindorfers’ beliefs.

This book celebrates the exquisite landscape of the Cradle Valley and an unconventional couple who understood the region’s importance. Their moving story has been extensively researched and beautifully told by Kate Legge.

Joining Loose Ends by Keith Badger (published December 2017)

In 2010, Keith and Debby Badger, a Melbourne couple in their 50’s, walked 2,800 kilometres from John O’Groats to Land’s End. John O’Groats is the northern most point in Britain and Land’s End is the furthest south-west point. Walking between the two is often referred to as Britain’s ‘End to End’ walk.

This book is a captivating account of the walk itself, the revelations provoked by the walk and the new paths taken by Keith and Debby post the walk. Keith is the author so we hear the story mostly from his perspective, but it’s clearly a joint enterprise and we quickly realise that neither could do the walk without the other. In fact, how their relationship works over the five challenging months is one of the fascinating aspects of the book.

There is no ‘official’ or generally accepted route for walking Britain ‘End to End’. The most direct route is about 1,400 km’s. The route described by the authoritative walking guides publisher, Cicerone, is 1,956 km’s.

The circuitous route created by the Badgers is 2,800 km’s. The dual objectives of this intrepid couple were: one, to avoid as many roads as possible and, two, to maximise use of Britain’s most celebrated long-distance trails. Their route strings together the Great Glen Way, West Highland Way, Pennine Way, Offa’s Dyke Path and the South West Coast Path. The route may be long but with famed paths like those you can understand the attraction.

Motivations for rare human endeavours are often multi-faceted and difficult for the protagonists to articulate. Such is the case here. At the outset, we hear of the urge for adventure and a physical challenge, and a wish to replicate the ‘high’ produced by completing Britain’s Coast to Coast path. But gradually, as we learn more of their lives, the deeper motivations emerge. They’re motivations familiar to many - a yearning for something more meaningful; a sense of not engaging fully with life.

For the Badgers, the walk was the catalyst for transformations of their lives, perhaps particularly for Keith, the corporate high-flyer. The 75 pages that follow the finish of the walk are as fascinating as what goes before. Maybe more so. This ‘postscript’ has Narnia overtones as their journey into a new world is precipitated by the opening of a wardrobe door in Melbourne! And that journey, it turns out, is very much linked to, and a continuation of, their ‘End to End’ experience.

A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (published December 2015)

The Appalachian Trail - the AT - rollercoasts its way up the eastern seaboard of the US from Georgia to Maine. It follows the Appalachian mountain range and runs for some 3,500 km’s (2,200 miles). If the distance doesn’t cause you to gasp, maybe the undulations will - the AT passes over more than 350 peaks of over 5,000 feet.

Ambitiously, travel writer Bill Bryson and his walking-novice friend Steven Katz decide to make an attempt on it and this book is Bryson’s account of the endeavour.

Bryson is one of the world’s foremost travel writers; renowned for his capacity to find side-splitting humour in the most mundane of human activities and encounters. And to be informative at the same time. In this work, we discover early on that he has plenty of comic material to work on, as Katz’s provisioning for the first stage of the AT focuses on copious quantities of Little Debbie’s cakes and doughnuts.

The best way to convey the pleasure of a Bryson romp is to provide a sampler. The following passage is drawn from Bryson’s encounter with a shop assistant at his local outdoors shop as he prepares for the expedition:

‘I have never been so simultaneously impressed and bewildered. We spent a whole afternoon going through his stock. He would say things to me like: ‘Now this has a 70-denier high-density abrasion resistant fly with a ripstop weave. On the other hand, and I’ll be frank with you here’ - and he would lean towards me and reduce his voice to a low, candid tone, as if disclosing that it had once been arrested in a public toilet with a sailor - ‘the seams are lap-felled rather than bias-taped and the vestibule is a little cramped.’

I think because I mentioned that I had done a bit of hiking in England, he assumed some measure of competence on my part. I didn’t wish to alarm or disappoint him, so when he asked me questions like ‘What’s your view on carbon fibre stays?’ I would shake my head with a rueful chuckle, in recognition of the famous variability of views on this perennially thorny issue, and say, ‘You know, Dave, I’ve never been able to make up my mind on that one - what do you think?’

Bryson and Katz tackled the AT in 1996, so the descriptions of the trail and the shelters enroute are dated. But the challenges and joys of a wilderness adventure are as current as ever. In 2015, the book was turned into a movie starring Robert Redford as Bryson and Nick Nolte as Katz. The castings are quite good (especially Nolte) although Redford and Nolte are quite a bit older than Bryson and Katz were at the time. The scenery is stunning and the movie is entertaining, however the book is funnier.

1. Epic Walks of the World by Lonely Planet (published August 2018)

With stories of 50 incredible hiking routes in 30 countries, from New Zealand to Peru, plus a further 150 suggestions, Lonely Planet’s Epic Hikes of the World will inspire a lifetime of adventure on foot. From one-day jaunts and urban trails to month-long thru-hikes, cultural rambles and mountain expeditions, each journey shares one defining feature: being truly epic.

Epic Hikes is organised by continent, with each route brought to life by a first-person account, beautiful photographs and charming illustrated maps. Additionally, each hike includes trip planning advice on how to get there, where to stay, what to pack and where to eat, as well as recommendations for three similar hikes in other regions of the world. Hikes featured include:

Africa & the Middle East: (1) Cape Town’s Three Peaks (South Africa); (2) Kilimanjaro (Tanzania); and (3) Camp to Camp in South Luangwa National Park (Zambia)

Americas: Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park (USA); (2) Skyline Trail, Jasper National Park (Canada); and (3) Concepción volcano hike (Nicaragua)

Asia: (1) 88 Sacred Temples of Shikoku Pilgrimage (Japan); (2) Markha Valley (India); and (3) Gubeikou to Jinshanling on the Great Wall (China)

Europe: (1) Wordsworth’s Backyard: Dove Cottage and around Rydal and Grasmere (UK); (2) Alpine Pass Route (Switzerland); and (3) Camino de Santiago (Spain)

Oceania: (1) Sydney’s Seven Bridges Walk (Aus); (2) The Routeburn Track (NZ); and (3) Kokoda Track (PNG)

2. Great Hiking Trails of the World by Karen Berger (published December 2017)

This is the Rolls Royce of our coffee table walking books! Sumptuous photos, cultivated prose steeped in research and weighing in at an impressive 336 pages. It attracts far more than its fair share of attention.

The conventional approach to a walk ‘compilation’ book is to divide the walks between countries or regions. Here, author Karen Berger has chosen to allocate the chosen walks to themes:

• ‘The Way of the Pilgrim’

• ‘Stepping into the Past’

• ‘Peak Experiences’

• ‘To Walk in Wilderness’

• ‘Exploring Diversity’

• ‘The Longest Walks’

Distributed amongst the themes, are descriptions of 80 trails. The criterion for selection is: a great trail that has attained iconic status. For the well-known of them, this is usually the result of a combination of the trail’s scenery, history, experience and reputation. For the lesser known, iconic status may stem from its unique insights into landscapes, cultures or histories. The 80 trails that make the cut are the product of consultations, research and endless tramping.

Karen Berger is the author of 12 books on hiking, including America's Great Hiking Trails (New York Times Travel best seller and Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Gold Award Winner), Where the Waters Divide (an account of a 3,000-mile hike of the Continental Divide Trail), and Trailside's best-selling Hiking and Backpacking. She has hiked more than 18,000 miles all over the world.

3. Wanderlust - Hiking on Legendary Trails by Cam Honan (published April 2017)

This substantial work is an ideal gift for anyone with a yearning to experience some of the world’s classic walks.

It’s superbly produced with stunning photos, clear maps and a well-designed format. In fact, it manages the rare feat of successfully straddling the divide between a large-format coffee table book and an informative walk guide.

Each of the continents (other than Antarctica) is represented in the 32 walks covered. Most of the walks would feature in listings of the world’s top 50 walks but we like the fact that Honan has opted for a few less obvious inclusions. The Pindus Horseshoe in north-western Greece and the Western Arthurs Traverse in Australia’s Tasmania being cases in point.

The format utilised for each walk is a descriptive over-view of the trail interspersed with high resolution photos and then a final page with a walk map and basic information on undertaking the walk. More than enough to sow a seed.

The author is the well-credentialed, Cam Honan, described by Backpacker magazine as the most travelled hiker on earth.

4. Classic Walks in Western Europe by Gillian & John Souter (published February 2013)

The walks covered by this delightful work are as follows:

France: (1) The Dordogne (5 days); (2) Way of St Jacques (6 days); and (3) The Verdon Gorge (5 days)

Austria: (1) The Salzkammergut (4 one-day walks)

Italy: (1) Umbrian Hilltowns (4 days); (2) The Dolomites (5 one-day walks); and (3) The Cinque Terre (4 days)

Germany: (1) The High Black Forest (5 days); (2) Saxon Switzerland (5 days)

Britain: (1) Heart of Scotland (6 days); and (2) The Lake District (5 days)

Switzerland: (1) The Bernese Alps (5 one-day walks)

Spain: (1) The High Alpujarras (5 days)

The authors are an Australian couple with vast walking and publishing experience. Their guidebooks on walks in southern New South Wales (Best Walks of the Southern Highlands and Best Walks of the Shoalhaven) are the leading guidebooks to those regions.

The walks are selected to enable the walker to enjoy both a cultural and scenic experience. Villages are at hand for a comfortable bed and good sustenance. Light packs are all that is necessary.

The book is very well designed and presented. The walk descriptions are broken up into each day with distances and walking times. The maps are very user-friendly and the detailed notes at the end of each walk sufficient for you to make a ‘first-pass’ assessment of suitability. Finally, the photos are magnificent and well selected.

5. Australia’s Best 100 Walks by Australian Geographic (published March 2020)

As Australia’s leading geographical journal for the last 33 years, Australian Geographic’s claim that its editors, writers and photographers know the country’s most exciting and exhilarating walks is probably a fair one.

In this book, Australian Geographic shares its best 100, with potted descriptions and excellent photography to inspire walkers and armchair travellers. The Australian Geographic guide to Australia’s Best 100 Walks will have walkers itching to lace their boots up with this showcase of the sheer beauty and diversity of our landscapes and wildlife.

With this book, walkers can set out knowing they’re going to have an incredible day outdoors. A great walk can be an exhilarating experience that will stay with you forever. Perhaps you’re stirred by endless mountain views or soothed by stepping into a living green cathedral. Maybe the challenge drives you harder and farther than you thought possible. Sometimes you’ll find yourself in the presence of a rare creature and feel a jolt of connection. There’s always magic to be found when walking but the very best walks will do all of these things.

6. Great Walks of New Zealand by Craig Potton (published October 2015)

Great Walks of New Zealand is a tribute to New Zealand's eight finest walking tracks, by renowned wilderness photographer Craig Potton.

Based on the best-selling Classic Walks of New Zealand, this book has been updated and revised to focus on our Great Walks, a reflection of the international prominence these tracks now rightly enjoy.

Tracks included are Stewart Island's Rakiura Track, the Kepler Track, the Milford Track, the Routeburn Track, the Heaphy Track, the Abel Tasman Coast Track, the Tongariro Northern Circuit Great Walk, and the Lake Waikaremona Track in Te Urewera.

With 3D overview maps from Geographx and up-to-date track information, Great Walks of New Zealand combines words and photographs to rekindle memories of past trips, and to inspire readers to new experiences on these magnificent tracks.

7. New Zealand’s Great Walks The Complete Guide by Paul and Shelly Hersey

New Zealand’s Great Walks: The Complete Guide is the only handbook anyone will need to experience these outdoor adventures. New Zealand's Great Walks pass through some of our most breathtaking landscapes – including golden sand beaches, ancient rainforests and high mountains.

Each of the walks (and one river journey) is presented in a clear, user-friendly way, including:- An overview and highlights- Planning notes- Track description- Points of interest- Other things to do in the areaAlso included in the book is:- A brief history of the Great Walks- Conservation information- Notes on how to prepare for your trip - Useful websites and resources.

Authored by expert outdoor enthusiasts Paul and Shelley Hersey and fully illustrated with maps and stunning photography.

1. Cleveland Way by Henry Stedman (published July 2019)

The Cleveland Way is a National Trail set in the beautiful wild countryside of the North York Moors National Park. It runs for 107.4 miles (127.9 km) from Helmsley near Thirsk around the western and northern edges of the park to reach the coast at Saltburn-by-the-Sea. It then continues along the eastern edge of the park south down the coast through Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough to finish in Filey. Combining moorland and coast, there’s wonderful scenic variety to this walk, with crumbling castles and idyllic fishing villages to explore.

This guidebook is in the ‘Trailblazer’ series. It includes 48 of the largest scale walking maps available (at just under 1:20,000) showing walking directions, walking times and points of interest. It also includes itineraries for different standards of walkers, detailed public transport information, downloadable GPS waypoints, guides to 25 towns and villages along the route plus details of accommodation and eateries.

2. Coast to Coast Path by Henry Stedman and Stuart Butler (published February 2020)

The 2020 edition of this practical guide to walking the 191-mile Coast to Coast Path across northern England. Inspired by Alfred Wainwright, it’s the most popular of the UK’s long-distance paths.

The appeal of the Path lies in the fact that it strings together three of England’s best national parks - the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors. Plus there’s plenty of glory in being able to say you’ve walked from the Irish Sea to the North Sea! The Path delivers an array of English countryside delights - rugged mountains, picturesque lakes, gentle dales, stone-built villages, wild moorland, sea cliffs and fishing villages.

The guide includes: * 109 large-scale walking maps - at just under 1:20,000 - showing route times, places to stay, places to eat, points of interest, and 9 town plans. * 14 colour stage maps to help plan your walk, including hills and descents. * Places to stay with reviews - campsites, bunkhouses, hostels, B&Bs, pubs and hotels. * Places to eat with reviews - cafes, teashops, pubs, takeaways, restaurants. * What to see from the path - history, culture, natural history. * Comprehensive public transport information - for all access points on the path. * Flora and fauna - four page full colour flower guide, plus an illustrated section on local wildlife. * Itineraries for all walkers - whether walking the route in its entirety over two weeks or sampling the highlights on day walks and short breaks. * Green hiking - understanding the local environment and minimizing our impact on it. * GPS waypoints - also downloadable from the Trailblazer website page.

3. The Coast to Coast Walk by Terry Marsh (published December 2018)

This is the fourth edition of Cicerone's guide to the Coast to Coast walk. The walk across northern England from St Bees Head in Cumbria to Robin Hood's Bay on Yorkshire's east coast is now one of the most popular long-distance walks in Britain. At 178 miles (300km) long, the trail can be easily walked within a two-week holiday period. The route is based on permitted rights of way and minimises the amount of road walking. The guide includes an accommodation listing.

The guide is in three sections. The first gives the route description, from west to east, annotated as appropriate with notes of geological, historical, industrial, sociological and natural history interest. The second section gives the route description only in an east to west direction, cross-referenced to the points of interest. The final section comprises a description of variant routes and lists useful addresses.

4. Cotswold Way by Tricia & Bob Hayne and Henry Stedman (published April 2019)

The Cotswold Way is a 102-mile (163 km) National Trail that runs from Chipping Campden to Bath, following the beautiful Cotswold escarpment for much of its course. The trail leads through quintessentially English countryside with little villages of honey-coloured stone, from open farmland to the historic city of Bath.

This guidebook is in the ‘Trailblazer’ series. It includes 44 of the largest scale walking maps available (at just under 1:20,000) showing trail profile, walking directions, walking times and points of interest. It also includes itineraries for different standards of walkers, detailed public transport information, guides to 48 towns and villages along the route plus details of accommodation and eateries.

5. Dales Way by Henry Stedman (published June 2016)

The Dales Way long-distance footpath begins in Ilkley, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and runs for 81 miles (130km) to end in the Lake District, at Bowness-on-Windermere. It follows the beautiful River Wharf towards Ribblehead, then meanders along the river valleys of Dentdale, eventually dropping down into the Lake District National Park to finish near Lake Windermere. It is a relatively easy walk that takes about a week to complete.

Includes 40 of the largest scale walking maps available (at just under 1:20,000) showing walking directions, walking times and points of interest. Also includes itineraries for all standards of walkers, detailed public transport information, downloadable GPS waypoints, guides to 33 towns and villages along the route plus details of accommodation and eateries.

1. Blue Mountains North Outdoor Recreation Guide (Spatial Vision)

Map and walking notes for the northern portion of the Blue Mountains. The area covered by the map includes Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba and extensive regions to their north. Extra detail is provided for the Wentworth Falls, Leura and Katoomba areas.

Detailed walk descriptions include day walks such as the Grand Canyon, Ruined Castle and Prince Henry Cliff walk and overnight walks such as Blue Gum Forest Circuit and Mount Victoria to Blue Gum Forrest and Blackheath.

The guide also has information on other activities such as mountain biking, rock climbing, canyoning, canoeing and swimming, as well as campground and lookout locations.

2. Bogong Alpine Area Outdoor Recreation Guide (Spatial Vision)

Map and walking notes for the Bogong Alpine Area. Information includes: tourist information, sample overnight hike routes, main walking tracks, car and 4WD touring, camping areas, notes on flora and fauna, walking track cross-sections showing slope and difficulty, huts, national park and state forest boundaries etc.

Area covered by the map includes the route of the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing, as well as Mt Bogong, Mt Feathertop, Falls Creek village and Mt Hotham village.

3. The Cape to Cape Track Guidebook by J Scott & R Forma (published February 2019)

The Cape to Cape Walk Track is located in the far south-west corner of Western Australia, 250 km south of Perth. It meanders along the whole length of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, which forms the backbone of the spectacular Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park. Its start and finish are the lighthouses at the rugged tips of Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.

The Cape to Cape Track is Western Australia’s most popular multi-day walk for good reason: it offers:

• 123 km of stunning coastal scenery, quiet sheltered forests and pristine beaches;

• a multitude of opportunities for short, day walks of any length;

• a challenging adventure of five to seven days to complete the whole walk;

• close proximity to the caves, vineyards and host of other delights of the South West Capes - Margaret River Region.

This book was first published in 2001. This 8th edition was published in 2019. Almost 20 years of improvements and refinements have resulted in a high quality offering. Features of the guide include:

• detailed descriptions of the Cape to Cape Walk Track, the Meelup Trail and many short walks in the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park;

• 22 full-page 1:25 000 up-to-date maps covering all of the coast from Dunsborough to Augusta, and most of the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park. The maps show the Cape to Cape Walk Track, The Meelup Trail, and, for the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park, all access roads, paths, and popular surfing spots;

• useful information about walking in the Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park; and

• 142 full-colour photographs of the area;

4. Frenchmans Cap Walk Map and Notes by TASMAP

The magnificent quartzite dome of Frenchmans Cap (1446m) is a mecca for bushwalkers and climbers. The panoramic view from the peak on a clear day includes Mt Ossa, features of the southern end of Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park and Macquarie Harbour to the west. 

This map highlights the walking tracks and general topographic detail, with the notes on the reverse side introducing visitors to the specific walk details, general bushwalking tips and safety essentials.

Scale 1:50,000.

5. Freycinet National Park Walk Map and Notes by TASMAP

Freycinet National Park's spectacular red granite peaks, pristine sandy beaches, turquoise waters and stunning coastal views combine to make it one of Tasmania's most popular national parks.

This map highlights the walking tracks and includes tourist information along with general topographic detail. The notes on the reverse side introduce visitors to the vegetation, land forms, animals, history of the area, bushwalking tips and safety essentials.

Scale 1: 50,000.

6. Grampians (North) Outdoor Recreation Guide by Spatial Vision

Map and walking notes for the whole northern section of the Grampians National Park including the popular Halls Gap and Wonderland areas. This detailed topographic map contains the latest road and walking trail networks, including the Grampians Peaks Trail (Stage 1). 

Detailed route information is available for the most popular walking trails, including walk ratings, distances and estimated walking times. There are also background notes on the local history, flora and fauna and Aboriginal heritage. A handy GPS reference is supplied to locate the major recreation points.

Scale: 1:50,000 (Main Map) plus 1:25,000 enlargement of the Wonderland region detailing the popular features around Halls Gap.  

7. Great Ocean Walk Official Guide Book by Parks Victoria (published December 2017)

This is Parks Victoria’s latest edition of its ‘official’ guide for the Great Ocean Walk. The Great Ocean Walk stretches from Apollo Bay to the Twelve Apostles (which are located about 12 km’s from Port Campbell). The walk covers approximately 100 km’s.

The guide takes the 1:25,000 map, cuts up into half day maps (one to a page) and superimposes walking notes for that part of the walk on the map. Whilst the walking notes are brief, it’s a very convenient format.

As well as the map and walk notes, the guide includes access information, details on campsites, an introduction to the region’s flora and fauna and checklists.

The booklet is wire bound with a matt laminated cover for protection.

8. Kosciuszko Alpine Area Outdoor Recreation Guide by Spatial Vision

The Kosciuszko Alpine Area Outdoor Recreation Guide has detailed walk descriptions of some of the most popular walks in the area, including the Main Range Track, the Kosciuszko Walk and walks in the Jagungal Wilderness. Detailed route notes indicate walk times, distance and level of difficulty of each walk.

The main map covers an area from Khancoban in the west to Jindabyne in the east, and includes the major ski resorts of Perisher, Thredbo and Charlotte Pass. On the reverse, the map area extends northward to include the Jagungal Wilderness Area, noted for its wilderness bushwalking experience.

The Outdoor Recreation Guide is full of information for the outdoor enthusiast; safety tips, park use conditions, camp ground, and hut GPS references, walk cross sections, and detailed route notes. Further to this, the detailed topographic map shows facilities at key locations on the map, route distances, Nordic ski trails, and comprehensive vegetation cover.

Scale 1:50,000.

9. Larapinta Trail by John and Monica Chapman (published March 2015)

The Larapinta Trail guide has 160 pages, 121 colour photographs, 20 topographic maps (one for each day’s walk).

The guide is an all colour production with full track notes for both directions along the trail. The colour topographic maps and notes have been colour coded for each direction to reduce confusion about which notes are currently being followed.

Gradient profiles are provided at the same scale as those used in all our books. Each chapter describes one of the 20 sections of the trail plus the side trip to Glen Helen is included.

A large background section includes the history of the area and notes on geology, climate, vegetation and wildlife are included. A comprehensive section on Safety and Trip Planning is also provided.

10. The Great North Walk by M McClelland (published October 2018)

The 250-kilometre Great North Walk winds its way from Central Sydney to Newcastle, threading through some of the most beautiful areas in between those two cities.

This guide has been written for anyone looking to tackle all or part of the route as a multi-day holiday, or those who want to dip in and experience particular sections as day walks. It has also been written to be followed easily in the reverse direction.

The book includes full-colour photography and accurate maps, easy-to-follow instructions and great local information.

11. Hiking the Overland Track (Cicerone guide) by Warwick Sprawson (published Feb 2020)

This guide covers the iconic 81km Overland Track in Tasmania, Australia’s most famous long-distance walk. Starting at Cradle Valley and finishing at Lake St Clair, this hut-to-hut route is split into seven stages of roughly 10km, with plenty of opportunities to tackle the track’s many higher level sidetrips which include Tasmania’s highest peak, Mt Ossa.

The guidebook provides in-depth route description and clear 1:50,000 mapping for the whole track, which is suitable for all fit, prepared hikers as it is well marked and maintained with boardwalks and bridges. The more adventurous side trips are less waymarked and require experience and navigational ability. The Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park is an impressive combination of steep dolerite columns rising high above button grass moors, rainforests, waterfalls and tranquil lakes.

This dramatic and varied landscape is teeming with wildlife species that are endemic to Tasmania, and is also rich in fascinating history, both Aboriginal and post-European settlement. Within this guidebook is helpful information for planning an Overland experience, including arranging permits and booking onto the Overland Track, transport options for getting to and from the route, and the accommodation options for before and after the hike. It also provides a wealth of notes while on the track about the facilities available at each hut and the national parks wildlife (identified and illustrated in the books extensive plant and animal section), making this an essential guide for hikers setting out on this spectacular walk through central Tasmania.

This guide is the new kid on the block and provides competition to the long-standing guide to the Overland Track written and published by John and Monica Chapman (reviewed below). It comes in the usual Cicerone pocket size and is packed with useful and interesting material. For those interested in identifying plants and animals en route, it has about 50 pages of pictures and descriptions.

12. Overland Track by John and Monica Chapman (published May 2011)

John and Monica Chapman are the most experienced and respected authors of Australian bushwalking books. They have been writing walking guidebooks, as well as a walking column for ‘The Age’ newspaper and contributing to walking magazines for close on 40 years. Tasmania has long been a prime focus of the Chapmans.

This particular work is a sub-set of a broader guide produced by the Chapmans, Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair & Walls of Jerusalem National Parks, which includes track descriptions of the Overland Track and many other walks in the subject national parks. One or other of these guides has been an essential item in the packs of most independent walkers tackling the Overland Track for the last 40 years!

The guide contains comprehensive track notes for walking the Overland Track itself and, in addition, the major side tracks which include Cradle Mountain, Barn Bluff, Lake Will, Mt Oakleigh, Mt Ossa, Fergusson Falls, Hartnett Falls and Pine Valley. It includes colour topographic maps and gradient profiles of the entire track. The maps are particularly good, being full page and very clear. We also like the kilometre references down the left side of each page; it divides up the walk description in a very user-friendly manner.

Being a reasonable size (A5), it fits a good level of information on each page and permits decent sized photos. But it’s still compact enough for a large pocket.

As of February 2020, the Chapmans have direct competition in the form of the Warwick Sprawson authored Cicerone guide to the Overland Track reviewed above. The Cicerone guide has the advantage of being more up to date than the Chapman’s book, though this advantage can be over-stated as things don’t change quickly on the Overland Track. However, over time, unless the Chapmans produce another edition, it would seem likely that the Cicerone guide will assume the leading guide mantle.

13. Walls of Jerusalem National Park Walk Map and Notes by TASMAP

The Walls of Jerusalem are located in a remote area of the Tasmanian highlands. There is no road access into the park and entry is only possible by walking.

This map highlights the walking tracks and features tourist information along with general topographic detail. The notes on the reverse side introduce visitors to the vegetation, land forms, animals, history of the area, bushwalking tips and safety essentials.

Scale 1: 25,000.

14. Wilsons Promontory Outdoor Recreation Guide by Spatial Vision

Map and walking notes for the entire Wilsons Promontory National Park. Extra detail is provided for the Tidal River and Corner Inlet areas. Coverage also includes Shallow Inlet, Yanake, Sandy Point, the offshore islands and the Marine Park boundary.

The guide has brief descriptions of an array of walks, divided between short strolls, day walks and overnight walks, as well as background notes on flora and fauna and information on other activities, safety and Aboriginal heritage.

For those heading to the iconic Wilsons Promontory Lightstation, there is an introduction to the history of the lighstation (a sampler for the fascinating museum located at the lighstation).

Scale: 1:50,000.

1. Abel Tasman - Map and Track Guide

The Abel Tasman National Park is situated at the northern end of New Zealand’s South Island. It is a sub-tropical coastal paradise with sweeping beaches, rugged granite headlands, sheltered coves, sandy estuaries, rocky reefs and islands.

The 60 kilometre Abel Tasman Track is the most popular of the nine Great Walks of New Zealand. It is the easiest of the walks and is located in an area which enjoys mild and sunny weather throughout the year. The trail offers walkers a truly scenic mix of pristine native forest and idyllic golden-sand bays.

This map and track guide contains track notes plus elevation and distance graphs. It features award-winning relief mapping of the Abel Tasman Track and a Golden Bay/Tasman Bay 3D map. This map is printed on waterproof, durable, environmentally sustainable ‘Rockstock’ paper.

Scale 1:40,000.

2. Milford Track - Map and Track Guide

The Milford Track is located in Fiordland National Park, part of Te Wahipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. It is one of the nine Great Walks of New Zealand.

The Milford Track traverses an outstanding cross-section of the mountainous landforms which make up Fiordland National Park. The track starts at the head of Lake Te Anau and finishes at Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. This historic 53.5 km route features soaring mountains, dramatic waterfalls, pristine rivers and lush rainforest.

This map and track guide contains track notes plus elevation and distance graphs. It features award-winning relief mapping of the Milford Track and a Milford Road 3D map. This map is printed on waterproof, durable, environmentally sustainable ‘Rockstock’ paper.

Scale 1:40,000.

3. Kepler Track - Map and Track Guide

The 60 kilometre circular Kepler Track traverses spectacular scenery in the Fiordland National Park. This alpine adventure offers stunning panoramas and is one of the nine Great Walks of New Zealand.

The Kepler Track takes you from the shore of Lake Te Anau through beech forest towards alpine mountain tops and a scenic glacial valley. Highlights include traversing the ridgelines of the Kepler Mountains and dropping down to the beautiful Lake Manapouri.

This map and track guide contains track notes plus elevation and distance graphs. It features award-winning relief mapping of the Kepler Track and a Fiordland National Park 3D map. This map is printed on waterproof, durable, environmentally sustainable ‘Rockstock’ paper.

Scale 1:40,000.

4. Lake Waikaremoana Track

This Great Walk around the shoreline of Lake Waikaremoana is truly outstanding. Be awed by the vistas from Panekire Bluff, stumble upon beautiful remote beaches and be enchanted by the area’s fascinating cultural history.

Lake Waikaremoana is situated in the heart of Te Urewera National Park, on the eastern side of the North Island. This scenic 46 kilometre track features a wonderful mix of lakeside paths, native rainforest trails, ancient beech forests, picturesque waterfalls and dramatic escarpments overlooking the lake.

This map and track guide contains track notes plus elevation and distance graphs. It features award-winning relief mapping of the Lake Waikaremoana Track and a Te Urewera National Park 3D map. This map is printed on waterproof, durable, environmentally sustainable ‘Rockstock’ paper.

Scale 1:40,000.

5. Routeburn Track - Map and Track Guide

The Routeburn, Caples & Greenstone Tracks straddle the Humboldt and Ailsa Mountains where Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks meet along the main divide. The Routeburn Track is walked by more than 13,000 people annually and is justifiably famous for its spectacular views of the Darran and Humboldt Mountains, and the Hollyford Valley.

This map and track guide contains track notes plus elevation and distance graphs. It features award-winning relief mapping of the Routeburn Track and the Greenstone Caples Track plus a Mount Aspiring National Park 3D map. This map is printed on waterproof, durable, environmentally sustainable ‘Rockstock’ paper.

Scale 1:40,000.

6. Tongariro Circuit - Map and Track Guide

Established in 1887, Tongariro was the first national park in New Zealand and the fourth in the world. It is also a dual World Heritage area, a status which recognises the park's important Maori cultural and spiritual associations as well as its outstanding volcanic features. From herb fields to forests, from tranquil lakes to desert-like plateau and active volcanoes – Tongariro has them all.

Tongariro National Park is located in the central North Island of New Zealand. It is the closest national park to Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.

This map and track guide contains track notes plus elevation and distance graphs. It features award-winning relief mapping of the Tongariro Circuit and a Tongariro National Park 3D map. This map is printed on waterproof, durable, environmentally sustainable ‘Rockstock’ paper.

Scale 1:40,000.

1. Camino de Santiago (Camino Frances) by Rev Sandy Brown (published June 2020)

This two-volume set of guidebook and map book makes an indispensable companion to planning and walking the 784km Camino Frances pilgrim route from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela.

Divided into 6 sections, the guidebook includes an additional section from Santiago de Compostela to Finisterre and Muxia on the Galician coast. Each section is broken down into detailed stages with easily customisable start and finish points due to the amount of accommodation available en route. Over 500 of these pilgrim lodgings are listed within this guidebook, including all public and private albergues, with contact details and a description of facilities available.

The accompanying map book offers detailed, stage-by-stage maps and profiles of the route as well as over 120 town and village maps that helps you find the exact location of accommodation and other sites important to pilgrims. The small size allows you to keep the map book in an accessible pocket for use throughout the day.

This two-part guidebook and map book provide an abundance of advice on planning and preparation, sample itineraries and detailed information that allows complete customisation of the Camino, making this an ideal guidebook for all pilgrims walking the Camino Frances.

2. Chamonix to Zermatt (Walker’s Haute Route) by Kev Reynolds (published Aug 2019)

This is the Cicerone guidebook to the classic Chamonix to Zermatt trek from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn. The 225km Walker's Haute Route through the French and Swiss Alps crosses 11 passes, gains more than 14,000m in height and is a strong contender for the title of ‘Most Beautiful Walk in Europe’. The high-level route is described in 14 day stages, with optional variants, and is suitable for walkers with a good level of fitness and some previous alpine trekking experience. The final approach to Zermatt adopts the dramatic Europaweg, a high-level traverse of the east wall of the Mattertal, crossing the 500-metre suspension bridge above Randa. An alternative valley route to Zermatt can be taken if this does not appeal.

Alongside clear route descriptions and mapping for each stage of the trek, there is essential practical information on travel to Chamonix and return from Zermatt, as well as advice on accommodation in alpine villages and mountain refuges, trekking safety, equipment, itinerary planning and preparation.

Taking 2 weeks to complete, this challenging but rewarding trek encompasses views of the greatest collection of 4000 metre peaks in the Alps - Mont Blanc, the Grand Combin, Dent Blanche, Weisshorn and the Matterhorn - and visits some of the most spectacular valleys, including the Val d'Hérens, Val d'Annivers and the Mattertal.

3. Tour du Mont Blanc by Jim Manthorpe (published April 2018)

Practical, all-in-one guide to walking the Mont Blanc trail with trail maps, where to stay and eat, and public transport information. At 4,810m (15,781ft), Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in western Europe, and one of the most famous mountains in the world.

The trail (105 miles, 168km) that circumnavigates the massif, passing through France, Italy and Switzerland, is the most popular long distance walk in Europe.

This book includes:

• 60 maps - 12 town and village plans and 50 large-scale walking maps - at 1:20,000 - showing route times, gradients, where to stay, interesting features. Walking directions, tricky junctions, places to stay and eat, points of interest and walking times are all written onto the maps themselves in the places to which they apply. With their uncluttered clarity, these are not general-purpose maps but fully-edited maps drawn by walkers for walkers.

• Itineraries for all walkers - whether walking the route in its entirety, or sampling the highlights on day walks and short breaks.

• Practical information for all budgets - where to stay (campsites, gites, hostels, B&Bs, lodges and hotels), where to eat, what to see.

• Comprehensive background information - the Alps, flora and fauna, the history of mountaineering and trekking in the region and the conquest of Mont Blanc in 1786 by Bourrit and Balmat.

• Full public transport information - for all access points.

• Climbing Mont Blanc - practical information, guides, the route to the top.

4. Way of St James (Camino Le Puy) by Alison Raju (published January 2018)

Guidebook to the Way of St James pilgrim route, describing the 730km French section of the Camino de Santiago route from Le Puy-en-Valey in central France to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Pyrenees, including pilgrimage history, points of interest, links to other routes and accommodation. Suitable for all abilities but basic fitness is required.