Track Grades

Nature Trail recognises and adheres to Australia’s best practice Australian Walking Track Grading System (‘AWTS’) in referencing the track grade ratings of our hiking tours that we offer commercially.

However we do offer variations and comments below, and for communication transparency we avoid using closed-shop/bureaucratic acronyms on this website.

The Australian Walking Track Grading System

 

Throughout Australia, national parks walking (hiking/bushwalking) tracks vary in grade of difficulty based upon a range of factors.  These tracks are graded using a safety standard classification termed the Australian Walking Track Grading System based on the Australian Standard for walking track construction (Australia Standard #2156).

It was funded and developed by a Victorian Government ‘initiative’, in partnership government agencies and non-government groups across Australia, including New South Wales National Parks.

The Australian Walking Track Grading System chooses to classify tracks into 5 grades so that walkers of varying skills and experience may pre-determine which tracks are within their physical and experience capabilities.

 

How a track gets its grade

The grading system assesses a walk’s difficulty based on several criteria, including: experience required, steps, gradient, path quality and signage. The walk’s final grade is based on the most difficult of these 5 criteria, rather than an average. So some walks will have criteria that meet an easier grade.

Take a look at our guide below, and before your next adventure ask yourself ‘is this walk suitable for me?’

 

Grade 1 Track

 

 

 

No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them. Walks no greater than 5km.

Grade 2 Track

 

 

 

No bushwalking experience required. The track is hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps. Walks no greater than 10km.

Grade 3 Track

 

 

 

Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections a rough surface and many steps. Walks up to 20km.

Grade 4 Track

 

 

 

Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.

Grade 5 Track

 

 

 

Very experienced bushwalkers 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 20km.’

OUR COMMENTS:

 

  1. OUR VARIATION:  To the above list we choose to add a Grade 0 Track and a Grade 6 Track
    • Grade 0 Track ? – This a well-defined sealed level even-surfaced footpath for less than 10 minute short stroll over a level distance of 100m or less, suitable for people of all abilities, wheelchairs, assisted wheelchairs, buggies and strollers.  Nature Trail’s road tours invariably only include walking on Grade 0 Tracks; basically no hiking or trekking.  Footwear required: Closed walking shoes.  Nature Trail uses this symbol.

 

    • Grade 6 Track ? – Here we refer to the New Zealand walking track category as specified by the national government’s Department of Conservation, as follows:
‘Expert: Route
Duration: Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking.
Suitable for: People with high level backcountry (remote areas) skills and experience, navigation and survival skills required. Complete self sufficiency required.
Standard: Track unformed and natural, may be rough, muddy or very steep. Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged stream and river crossings.
Track markers: Track is clearly marked where necessary with orange triangles attached to trees. Markers of other colours may be present but these indicate biodiversity work areas and are not walking tracks. Above the bushline, marker poles or rock cairns are used instead.  Footwear required: Sturdy tramping/hiking boots.’
Nature Trail uses this symbol.

 

  1. DIDATIC DISTINCTION OF RELATED TERMS – Over the years, fellow hikers have asked us to distinguish the similar terms: ‘track’, ‘trail, ‘walk’, hike’, ‘trek’ and ‘bushwalk’.

Many outdoor types use these terms interchangeably to mean the same thing, however since Nature Trail’s tour guests are a mix of Australian and overseas visitors (often with English as a second language), we consider it important in our communications to use terms that have no ambiguity for clarity. (See Nature Trail Glossary webpage)

SOURCES: 

[1]  ‘Australian Walking Track Grading System‘, ^https://naturetrail.com.au/australian-walking-track-grading-system/, accessed 2018-02-12.

 

[2]  ‘The Trail Hiking Australia Grading System‘ by Australian hiker Darren Edwards, ^https://www.trailhiking.com.au/preparation/track-grading/, accessed 2022-10-22.

 

[3]  Walking track categories’, ^https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/things-to-do/walking-and-tramping/track-categories/, accessed 2022-10-22.