Beautiful Bushwalks in Brisbane and Around Australia
Adjacent to the M1, Strickland State Forest is an ideal spot to have a picnic and stretch your legs while travelling between Sydney and Newcastle. 10 minutes from the freeway entrance, the forest is home to Strickland Falls. Quick Info Location: Strickland Forest Road, Somersby NSW, 2250 Walking Distance: 1.6km Elevation: Some hills Time: up to 1 hour Difficulty: Easy/Moderate: … Read more
Point Cartright is vibrantly alive. The power and relentlessness of the ocean sets the tone for this bushwalk/beachwalk. Quick Info Location: Lot 577 Pacific Blvd, Buddina QLD 4575 Walking Distance: 500m return Elevation: Small incline, stairs to the beach Time: Less than 1 hour Difficulty: Easy Costs/Permit: No cost, no permit required Opening Times: Only closed occasionally for maintenance Facilities: … Read more
Toowoomba, The Garden City, is home to the beautiful Queens Park. Set on 25 hectares in the east of the city, Queens Park is a wonderful escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Whilst not strictly a bushwalk, Queens Park is too beautiful not to share. Quick Info Location: 43-73 Lindsay St, East Toowoomba … Read more
A great place to stop if you are travelling between Brisbane and Toowoomba and need to stretch your legs. Ravensbourne National Park is an oasis in the middle of a dry land. Quick Info Location: Dodds Rd, Ravensbourne QLD 4352 Walking Distance: 1.7km Elevation: 100 stairs Time: 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy Costs/Permit: No cost, no permit required Opening … Read more
Hidden in the midst of suburbia, Karawatha Forest is a credit to Brisbane City Council. The forest is set on over 900 hectares and encompases dry eucalypt forest, lagoon and wetlands, natural playgrounds and an interactive discovery centre. With over 20km of tracks there is something to suit everyone. Quick Info Location: 149 Acacia Rd, Karawatha … Read more
Lake Manchester was confusing. So much hard work for very little reward, yet it felt like an achievement. Baffling that a bushwalk around a lake would contain so few views of said lake. Having said that, the few views that were glimpsed were quite lovely. Quick Info Location: 667 Lake Manchester Road, Lake Manchester QLD 4306 … Read more
Minutes from the Brisbane CBD, JC Slaughter Falls in the Mt Coot-tha Forest precinct is a beautiful oasis. One of Brisbane’s most popular picnic spots, it is also the starting point for many of the Mt Coot-tha Forest bushwalks. Quick Info Location: Mt Coot-tha Rd, Mt Coot-tha QLD, 4066 Walking Distance: 2km-5km Elevation: Some hills, some very steep … Read more
A well kept secret nestled between the Gateway Motorway and Carindale shopping centre, Belmont Hills Reserve is the result of local residents petitioning the council to reclaim green spaces. Quick Info Location: 132 Scrub Rd, Carindale QLD 4152 Walking Distance: Around 5km of unique tracks – some tracks may be used multiple times Elevation: Very hilly Time: 1-2 … Read more
One of the most popular bushwalks on Tamborine Mountain, Witches Falls contains all the magic the mountain has to offer. If you only have time for a couple of bushwalks on Tamborine Mt, this needs to be one of them. Quick Info Location: 132-138 Main Western Rd, Tamborine Mountain, QLD, 4272, or a 2nd access … Read more
The most beautiful aspect of this section of Tamborine Mountain is that the land was generously donated to the Crown, by Miss Jessie MacDonald, so that it could be enjoyed by many for all time. With generosity underpinning its existance, it’s no wonder this is a beautiful rainforest bushwalk. Quick Info Location: 44 Wongawallan Rd, Tamborine … Read more
Joalah National Park is one of the most popular and most beautiful bushwalks on Tamborine Mountain. The Joalah Section is home to Curtis Falls and the Lower Creek Circuit. Curtis Falls has to be one of the best reward for effort waterfall bushwalks in existance. At less than 1km return it is a must see. … Read more
Just 5km from the Brisbane CBD, Mt Coot-tha Forest is a must do nature experience. Introduce interstate and international visitors to the best of Brisbane with a day at Mt Coot-tha Forest. Quick Info Location: Mt Coot-tha Rd, Mt Coot-tha QLD, 4066 Walking Distance: 2km-60km Elevation: Some hills, some very steep hills Time: 1 – 8 hours Difficulty: Easy to … Read more
Nestled in the southern section of D’Aguilar National Park, Mt Glorious lives up to its name—glorious! Start your nature experience early by winding down your car windows on the drive there; the bush sounds and beauty start well before the bushwalking tracks do. Quick Info Location: Mt Glorious Rd, Mt Glorious QLD, 4520 Walking Distance: 2km – … Read more
Queensland’s premier botanic gardens, just a short drive from Brisbane City, is a wonderful place to experience a different type of bushwalk. With loads to discover, come for an hour or pack a picnic and come for the day. Quick Info Location: Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong QLD, 4066 Walking Distance: Various, from 1km Elevation: Gentle hills Time: 1+ hours … Read more
Located in the midst of Carindale, Bullimba Creek Walking Track is a great little spot to unwind from the busyness of suburban living. Walking distance from Westfield Carindale, the track provides an alternate form of entertainment for those who grow weary of retail therapy. Quick Info Location: Bullimba Creek Walking Track, Access via Eromanga Street Park, … Read more
The Mt Gravatt Summit Bushwalk track is a gem in the midst of suburbia. Well used by locals, this 2km return walk will inspire you to spend more time in nature. Fabulous views of Brisbane City, the Glasshouse Mountains and Mt Coot-tha await you at the summit. Quick Info Location: Start at Gertrude Petty Place, … Read more
I love it when local councils invest well in free nature experiences that are suitable for families. The bushwalk from J.C.Slaughter Falls to the summit of Mt Coot-tha is one such experience. Superbly planned and consistently maintained, this bushwalk is a must do for all Brisbane families. Make that all South East Qld families; and everyone … Read more
Girraween, Aboriginal for ‘Place of Flowers’, is a mind boggling stunner. One could be excused for mistaking it for a giants playground. Enormous boulders balanced precariously will leave you wondering HOW!!! Girraween National Park is a testament to the power of the natural elements and time. This is a unique nature experience, one that hopefully … Read more
The Old Quarry is an unexpected treasure in Neville Lawrie Reserve, which adjoins Daisy Hill State Forest. I’d lived in the area for 20 years before I heard about the Old Quarry, and have since visited regularly to make up for lost time. The quarry is a welcome oasis in the midst of the usually … Read more
Don’t be deceived by the lure of only 700m to the summit – those 700m will be among the steepest you will ever encounter on a paved walk. Ridiculously steep! But worth it for the views of the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland that await you at the summit. Quick Info: Location: Beerburrum Rd, Beerburrum, QLD 4517 … Read more
The Curtis Falls bushwalk track is an ideal beginners bushwalk, suitable even for very young families. At a little over half a kilometer from the carpark to the constantly running falls, there is a very small effort to reward cycle that young families and reluctant teenagers will appreciate. And it’s beautiful! Stunning! Glorious! Quick Info … Read more
Mt Ngungun, (pronounced noo-noo), is one of the mountains that make up the Glasshouse Mountains. At 253m elevation and 2.8km return, it is ideal for young families or anyone with only an hour or two spare. The summit provides spectacular views of the surrounding area, from the Sunshine Coast hinterland to the ocean. Quick Info … Read more
One of the truly glorious places in South East Queensland, Mount Tamborine Botanical Gardens is a sheer delight. The volunteer run gardens are ideally suited for a leisurely stroll, allowing time to soak in the ambiance and discover the hidden treasures. The gardens include a lake centerpiece, rainforest walk, Japanese gardens, a children’s discovery walk … Read more
Minnippi Parklands is a welcome spot for a relaxing stroll. While not technically a bushwalk, the Parklands are a welcome nature escape for the surrounding suburbs of Tingalpa and Carindale. A wider than average footpath, that is suitable for all abilities, circles Minnippi Lake. A viewing platform overhanging the lake is an ideal vantage point … Read more
Daisy Hill State Forest is a treasure trove of tracks and facilities. Whether you have a hour to spare or the whole day, Daisy Hill State Forest has something to offer. The forest caters to diverse users such as: bushwalkers, school groups, mountain bike riders, rogaine adventurers, wedding parties and horse riders. A 2km ring road, … Read more
Stunning loveliness! I came away truly impressed from my jaunt to Berrinba Wetlands. This free community nature playground is a credit to Logan City Council. The extremely well maintained and much wider than average footpaths make for an enjoyable social nature experience. Even if you just make it to the viewing platform, your trip to Berrinba … Read more
Underwood Park’s lagoon and boardwalk is a place of tranquility and loveliness. It is especially beautiful at sunrise or sunset when golden light filters through the paperbarks and shimmers on the lagoons surface. An ideal place for a solitary contemplative walk, or equally good for a walk and chat with a friend, or even a … Read more
Hidden away in the middle of suburbia, just to the south of Brisbane, is Springwood Conservation Park. Previously an old quarry, this area was transformed into a nature reserve thanks to the local council and passionate community members. It’s vision was to create “a place from which you leave restored, more aware, more responsible and … Read more
One of my all time favourite bushwalks. Beautiful rainforest, flowing creek, inspiring views and crisp mountain air, with a challenging rock scramble at the end – all on a well maintained path. The super elite may be able to complete the hike in 2 hours, but anyone with a moderate level of fitness will have … Read more