Walking Grades

The Australian Walking Track Grading System (AWTGS) was developed by the Victorian Government and has been adopted and endorsed by states and territories, and by bushwalking organisations.  The grading system answers the question “Is this walk suitable for me”?

AWTGS has five grades. To determine the grade for a walk, various factors are considered, including experience required, gradient, distance, quality of path, quality of track markings, and steps. A walk is graded based on the most difficult of these factors, not the average. As a fitness group, our walks are targeted at Grade Three to Grade Five.

	Grade One is suitable for the disabled with assistance, flat and even with no steps and distance less than 5km
	Grade Two is suitable for families with young children, gentle gradient, hardened or compacted surface and distance less than 10km.
	Grade Three is suitable for most ages and fitness levels, and recommended for people with some bush walking experience. Tracks may have short steep sections, rough sections, many steps and be up to 20km in length.
	Grade Four is recommended for experienced bush walkers. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited.
	Grade Five is recommended for very experienced bush walkers with specialised skills including navigational and emergency first aid skills. Tracks are likely to be very rough, very steep and unmarked. Distance may be more than 20km.