The National Trail is Australia’s premier long distance, multi-use recreational trekking route, stretching an extraordinary 5,330 kilometres from Cooktown in tropical far north Queensland to Healesville in Victoria.
Variously known as ‘the BNT’, the National Trail or simply ‘the Trail’, the National Trail follows the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and the Eastern Escarpment offering self reliant distance trekkers a uniquely Australian adventure.
As it winds along Australia’s eastern seaboard the National Trail reveals some of the most spectacular scenery in the country. The Trail provides access through some of Australia’s wildest, most inaccessible country and provides endless fascination for those interested in our unique fauna and flora.
The National Trail was originally conceived as a route for the long distance horse trekker but is now enjoyed by cyclists and hikers as well.
Extended expeditions on the National Trail should not be taken lightly and require significant preparation, experience, fitness, equipment and backup. We have some FAQs and planning guides to help prepare your journey.
As the Trail winds through bush, wilderness and mountain areas trekkers will be enthralled by the unsurpassed views, the wilderness valleys and the excitement of the pioneering spirit.
The National Trail is divided into twelve sections.. Members can purchase Maps online. We provide Updates which can be downloaded here.
If you want to talk to us, see our Contact page.
The history of the National Trail is a uniquely Australian story – one where people who dared to dream of a long distance trail to rival America’s Appalachian Trail worked tirelessly to achieve that dream. With dedication and persistence, they made that dream a reality.
RM Williams, Dan Seymour, Mike Allen and Brian Taylor are names synonymous with the early days of the Trail. We thank them! We thank them and everyone involved in the establishment of the National Trail.
1972 Formation of ATHRA
At a meeting of the Australian All Breeds Congress at Gatton in January of 1972, a new group, the Australian Trail Horse Riders Association (ATHRA) was formed. ATHRA came up with a plan to develop a trail linking stock routes, bush tracks, fire trails and surveyed roads along the Great Dividing Range to provide a continuous trekking route along Australia’s eastern seaboard. The dream was to create the opportunity to experience the lifestyle of drovers who had once frequented Australia’s stock routes.
1972-73 Dan Seymour
A committee, led by legendary Australian bushman, RM Williams, developed the concept of a National Horse Trail. RM Williams sponsored Danny Seymour to find a route along the Divide, and to engender enthusiasm for the concept. Readers of RM Williams’ magazine, Hoofs and Horns, were kept up to date on Dan’s progress. Dan set off from Ferntree Gully near Melbourne on 6 February 1972 with his horses, Smokey and Dino, and cattle dog, Bluedog. He writes:
Mrs. Long flew down to Melbourne to see me off from Ferntree Gully on the 6th February. Also present was Mr. Auty of Ivanhoe, a veterinary surgeon, whose son Peter and daughter Cathy have ridden from Darwin to Melbourne. After they had wished me god-speed, I set off at about 11.30 on a beautiful day, heading towards Mt. Donna Buang in the Dandenongs. The sun was shining and the temperature was about 80 degrees, but once I left the mountain and was in the gully it was very cool and pleasant – beautiful scenery, very green trees and plenty of grass.
He arrived in Cooktown over eighteen months later on 22 September 1973. Along the way he took time out to complete a Quilty endurance ride!
Read a special tribute to Danny Seymour below.
1973-1978 ATHRA Clubs Survey Horse Trails
Between 1973 and 1978 ATHRA Clubs rode out to survey possible routes for a National Horse Trail. In some instances the Army was roped in to assist with the survey.
1978 Mail Ride
ATHRA clubs along the east coast celebrated the completion of a route for the National Horse Trail with a mail relay ride from Cooktown to Melbourne. This event took 90 days and used 958 riders. Participants received a commemorative medallion.
1981 National Trail Committee
Within ATHRA a committee consisting of RM Williams (Chairman), Mike Allen (Secretary) and Brian Taylor (ATHRA Councilor) took responsibility for the continued development of the Trail.
1984 Community Employment Program
A grant under the Community Employment program allowed the committee to employ a full time coordinator for twelve months.
1985 Bicentennial Project Proposal
A proposal to the Australian Bicentennial Authority to create a National Trail for hikers and horse riders was approved as a Bicentennial project. Funding of $100,000 was approved to research, mark a route and develop guidebooks.
1986-1988 Development of the Bicentennial National Trail
Mike Allen, his wife Carol, Brian Taylor and a fleet of volunteers set about the task of developing and mapping the Trail.
Some sixty local government authorities and fifty state government officials are consulted to ensure the route is acceptable in terms of present and future management plans. The Australian Bicentennial Authority increases the grant to $200,000, making the creation of the Bicentennial National Trail the major funded project under the Authority’s National Sport and Recreation Program.
The Queensland Government establishes an interdepartmental committee to support the project.
The Commonwealth Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism commissions an environment consultant, Dr David Hogg, to prepare a report on the Trail. Support is obtained from the New South Wales and Victorian governments and the Department of Territories.
The plan for the Bicentennial National Trail is endorsed by the Sport and Recreation Ministers Council.
Guidebooks are prepared (with mapping assistance from the Queensland Government) and final approval of the route is obtained from all governments. Bicentennial funding ceased in June 1988.
1988 Bicentennial National Trail Opens
In just three years, and in time for the official opening in 1988, the project established and marked the route and produced the first guidebooks. The organising committee became incorporated as The Bicentennial National Trail Ltd. The concept becomes a reality not only for horse riders but also for bush walkers and mountain bike riders. As a multi- use trail, it is officially launched as the Bicentennial National Trail. Two official bicentennial events are held to mark the opening, one at Healesville, on 16 October 1988, where RM Williams, then aged 80, lead the procession and one at Kilkivan a week later on 22 October where Queensland Premier, Mike Ahern, opens the Queensland section.
1989 First end to end trekkers
Sharon Muir Watson and Ken Roberts become the first to complete the Bicentennial National Trail, riding from Cooktown to Healesville.
1992
A second edition of the guidebooks is produced in 1992 with funding from the Commonwealth Department of Sport and Recreation.
The late eighties and nineties saw long distance trekkers on the Trail in a variety of travel modes. Many more are enjoying the Trail in short sections where demand on time is not so great.
1999
In 1999 the NSW government recognised the significance of the Trail, and established a Coordinator to work with the government agencies and the community in NSW to develop and incorporate access agreements.
2009-10
3rd edition Guidebooks for NSW produced, incorporating topographic maps.
2020
Members voted to return the name from Bicentennial National Trail to National Trail.
The emphasis now is about securing the route of the Trail and ensuring the Trail remains open and available to trekkers.
The Trail’s enormous potential is being tapped by people involved in all sorts of activities. In addition to the horse riding and bush walking for which it was initially established the Trail sees people involved in camping and fishing, fossicking, canoeing, bird watching, orienteering, survival training, mountain bike riding, and travelling in horse drawn vehicles.
DAN SEYMOUR
A brief history of the National Trail is not complete without a tribute to Dan Seymour – the man RM Williams got to find a route up the Great Divide, and engender amongst the community an enthusiasm for the concept of a National Trail.
![In 2004 the BNT received this photo of Dan Seymour (l) and Tom McEvoy (r) kindly sent by Tom's daughter Tricia McKinnon. Tricia says "My Dad, Tom McEvoy, rode through and met Dan at Bouldercombe brought him through to our home at Boongary for the night and then rode on with him the next day. ... Dad passed away [in 1974] ... but I'm sure that this event with Dan Seymour was one of the highlights of his life."](https://www.nationaltrail.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DanSeymourMcKinnon.jpg)
Dan was born in Alberta, Canada on 4th July 1923, and left home at the age of 11. He travelled across the USA and at 16 was working as a ‘slush boy’ on oil tankers out of Galveston, Texas. He arrived in England the day war broke out and, by lying about his age joined the Merchant Navy, where he survived being torpedoed three times. He married an English girl during the war but it is believed she died giving birth to twins. In 1950 Dan came to Australia broke, and for 20 years worked his way around the outback as a drover, ringer, dogger and fencer.
It was around the rodeos that he met RM Williams and a great friendship developed. When RM proposed the National Trail, Dan volunteered to ride it. He left Ferntree Gully near Melbourne in February 1972 with two saddle horses, a pack horse and Bluey, his cattle dog. After riding from Melbourne to Cooktown he returned to live in Dorrigo in northern NSW. Brian Darby, a local stock and station agent in Dorrigo describes Dan as a man who loved people, “generous to the extreme, full of energy, full of pranks. He loved nothing more than catching you out”
He died in Dorrigo in July 2001 aged 78. At Ebor on the route of the National Trail and in the Pioneer Park in Dorrigo there are plaques erected by the BNT and the Dorrigo community in Dan’s honour.
RM Williams
One name synonymous with the establishment of the National Trail is that of legendary Australian bushman, Reginald Murray (RM) Williams.
In the 1970’s, after a successful business career that saw the name ‘RM Williams’ become synonymous with quality Australian bush gear, Reg Williams turned his attention to three major projects
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- a national horse industry association
- the development of a hall of fame to recognise Australia’s rural heritage
- and a national trail to rival the mighty Appalachian Trail in the USA
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His legacy remains in each of these endeavours with the establishment of
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- ATHRA
- The Stockman’s Hall of Fame in Longreach
- The National Trail
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We pay tribute to those who have completed the
ultimate Australian adventure!
Trekking the entire length of the National Trail is an incredible achievement. Whether on foot, with horses or on a bike, the self-reliant distance trekker who completes this epic journey in the spirit of the trail founders belongs to an elite group of people worthy of special recognition. We pay tribute to those who have earned the right to belong to the ‘5000k Club’!
Horse riders who complete the trek may be eligible for membership of the Long Riders’ Guild
(If anyone is missing, please let us know – click images to enlarge)
2021
2019
2018
2017
2015
2013
2012
2006
Max Watkins. Cooktown to Healesville with donkey Storm.
2005
Roderick MacKenzie. Cooktown to Healesville by bike.
2004
Robert Klei. Cooktown to Healesville on bike.
Christian Strobel. Cooktown to Healesville on bike.
2003
Therese Hanna. Healesville to Cooktown with horses.
2001
Martin Gibson. Cooktown to Healesville with bike.
Dyane Sabourin and Geoff Grundy with daughters Angela and Serena. Cooktown to Healesville with 12 horses.
2000
Troy Skaleskog, Greg Poynter, Matt Bailey. Healesville to Cooktown with bikes.
David Waugh and Rebecca Burtt. Healesville to Cooktown on bikes.
Urs Marquardt and Karin Heitzmann. Cooktown to Healesville on horses.
1999
Ed and Maria Van Zelderen. The first riders both directions Cooktown to Healesville and back to Cooktown with horses 10,000 km!
Geoff Daniel. Healesville to Cooktown with horses.
1997
Peter Spotswood. Cooktown to Healesville with horses.
Colin Kemp. Cooktown to Healesville. First hiker to complete the Trail.
1994 – 1995
Gabrielle Schenk. Cooktown to Healesville with horses.
Ian Padgham. Healesville to Cooktown with horses.
Darryl (Doc) Eckley and Robyn Surry. Healesville to Cooktown.
1991 – 1992
Arlene and Sharon Christopherson. First horse riders south to north (Healesville to Cooktown).
Anthony Mair and Melissa Weeks. Healesville to Cooktown with horses.
1989 – 1990
Aboriginal Heritage
The National Trail acknowledges the Aboriginal people of Australia as the traditional custodians of the land over which the Trail passes. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
Where appropriate, we encourage Trail users to explore the Aboriginal heritage around the Trail and find out more about the Dreaming stories associated with various land-forms and features. Many links provided below feature Aboriginal heritage.
We ask all Trail users to be respectful of sacred sites and places of significance.
World Heritage
To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value.
Sections 1 & 2 
Sections 7, 8, 9.
World Heritage Gondwanan Rainforests of Australia
Section 9 
World Heritage Listed Area, Greater Blue Mountains.
Heritage Listed and Of Historical Interest
Many places on or near the Trail are protected by state heritage listings. Many more places are of historical interest.
Section 1
Heritage Listed 
Historical Interest
Section 2
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Section 3
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Section 4
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Section 5
Heritage Listed
Section 6
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Mt Sylvia to Cunningham’s Gap, Rosevale Pub.
Section 7
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Section 8
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Guidebook Eight Historical Information
Section 9
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Guidebook 9 Historical Interest
Section 10
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Guidebook Ten Historic Information
Section 11
Heritage Listed
Historical Interest
Guidebook 11 Historical Interest
Section 12
Heritage Listed
Official finish/start of the National Trail, Donnelly’s Weir.
The National Trail is overseen by a membership based, not for profit organisation, The Bicentennial National Trail Ltd (ACN 010 860 143). Also known as the BNT, The Bicentennial National Trail Ltd has a Board of voluntary directors supported by a host of dedicated volunteers who oversee the route of the Trail. We liaise with various land managers to maintain a continuous long distance trekking route down the eastern seaboard of Australia.
We have a major get together at our Annual General Meeting, usually held in October each year. The location of the AGM changes from year to year, but will be somewhere along the route of the Trail. The AGM provides an opportunity for members to express views about the future of the Trail as well as enjoy some social activities. We are often able to explore parts of the Trail in the area.
We are a voluntary organisation, don’t employ any staff and are funded by our members.
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- Meet the Board – as of March 2022
- Neil Ward – Chair
- Tanya Bosch – Vice Chair, Facebook and Trail Coordinator
- Simon Tellam – Company Secretary
- Marcus Clark – Treasurer, Sponsorship and Philanthropic Funding
- Lucy Stone – Website content and social media
- Nick Valentine – Landowner Register
Key Roles- The NT Sales and Membership Office is managed by Karen Carter
Recent AGM locations- 2023 via Zoom
- 2022 via Zoom
- 2021 Via Skype due to Covid-19 restrictions
- 2020 Via Skype due to Covid-19 restrictions
- 2019 Ebor (NSW)
- 2018 Kilkivan (Qld)
- 2017 Narbethong (Vic)
- 2016 Gatton (Qld)
- 2015 Mackay (Qld)
- 2014 Tom Groggin (Vic/NSW border
- 2013 Atherton (Qld)
- 2012 Ebor (NSW)
- 2011 Gatton (Qld)
- 2010 Narbethong (Vic)
- 2009 Kilkivan (Qld)
The National Trail Ltd
ACN 010 860 143 | ABN 83 010 860 143
We are a voluntary organisation and we don’t employ any staff. The best way to contact us are:
Trail Information
Membership & Sales –
Our postal address is
PO BOX 55Gundagai NSW 2722
Australia
Social Media
Like us on Facebook and Instagram and stay up to date with what’s happening on the Trail:
Tracks Magazine is the journal of the National Trail. An electronic version of the journal was first published in September 2020 and can be accessed via links on this page. Please note, that due to the production quality of the journal and its photos, download file sizes can be quite large.
Click for the latest communique from the Board on happenings around the Trail
Tracks Magazines:
The latest magazine:
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