Hiking with Kids: Start Small & Keep Going

Starting hiking with kids doesn’t have to mean big mountains or full-day adventures. For most of us and as with everything else in life, the best way is to keep it simple: choose local trails, keep the first walks under an hour, and make it a regular tradition.

The goal is not to cover distance but to build a habit your kids will actually enjoy.

Set kids up for success

Before heading out, let kids help choose snacks or carry a tiny backpack, because that sense of ownership often makes them more willing to go. It also helps to keep expectations low: the goal is not speed, but finishing the walk in a good mood.

Start Small and Local

The best hikes for kids are the ones that feel achievable. A short, interesting trail near home is far better than a “proper hike” that leaves everyone tired, hungry, and over it before lunch. In Sydney, there are plenty of family-friendly options that suit beginners, including short harbourside and bush tracks with good views, water, or a playground nearby.

Some great starting trails include:

• Hermitage trail/Vaucluse, Nielsen Park

• Watsons Bay , Cooper Park, Centennial Park

• Wentworth Falls, Leura, Katoomba (the Blue Mountains)

  
  

With kids, the trail itself is only part of the experience. The real magic is in what they notice along the way. A bridge, a boat, a lizard, a stick, a patch of sunlight on the path — those are the things that turn a walk into an adventure.

A few things that help:

• Leave early, before the day gets too hot

• Bring more snacks than you think you need

• Choose a trail with an easy exit

• Turn the walk into a game: spotting birds, counting stairs, or looking for shells or flowers

The best part

What surprised me most was how quickly these walks became part of family life. Not because they were perfect. Not because every outing was magical. But because they were simple, repeatable, and ours.

That is really what I would say to any parent starting out: do not wait for the ideal hike, the perfect weather, or the right age. Pick a local trail, set a date, and just begin. The habit grows from there. Some of our first walks were only 30min long. Over the years, we have built to 7-8 hrs for daily hikes.

Happy Adventuring !