Just because you are visiting one of Australia’s largest cities, doesn’t mean there aren’t lots of options for you to connect with nature. Our city is very green with many open spaces for you to explore. Or take a day or two to explore the stunning bushwalking and camping options within South East Queensland.
Inner City
- Roma Street Parkland - take a leisurely walk through rainforest right in the heart of Brisbane City. Roma Street Parkland, now the world’s largest subtropical garden in a city centre, offers visitors a chance to relax in beautiful, lush green surroundings. The park is amazingly diverse in the range of flora on offer with over 100,000 varieties of shrub and 1200 mature trees. Roma Street Parkland is just north of the Roma Street Transit Centre and open 24 hours. Facilities include free barbeques, walking tracks, a cafe and children’s playground.
Suburbs
The forests and reserves of Brisbane make a great day trip for bushwalking, birdwatching or experiencing Brisbane’s natural environment. Most reserves are easily accessible and are the perfect spot for mountain bike riding, walking, picnics and observing the wildlife of Brisbane.
Northern Suburbs
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Brisbane Forest Park
Located at The Gap, Brisbane Forest Park has 14 separate recreation areas, with over 30 kilometres of walking tracks and 60 kilometres of tourist roads. More information about the area is included in our Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious day trip feature .
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Banks Street Reserve
Banks Street, Alderley
Banks Street Reserve has walking tracks, sporting fields and playgrounds. -
Chermside Hills Reserve and Downfall Creek Bushland Centre
Raven Street and Rode Road, McDowal.
Situated along the Mountains to Mangrove corridor, Chermside Hill Reserve has well marked trails, an educational centre and barbeques.
Southern Suburbs
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Toohey Forest
Toohey Road, Tarragindi
Just 10 kilometres south of downtown Brisbane, Toohey Forest and reserve has extensive walking tracks through open forest and heath. You get fantastic 360 degree views of Brisbane from Mt Gravatt lookout. -
Karawatha Forest
Acacia Road, Karawatha
Karawatha forest is home to a number of threatened and endangered species. The 9 kilometres of walking tracks range in length from 1 kilometre to 2.5 kilometres.
Eastern Suburbs
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Brisbane Koala Bushland
Alperton Park, Burbank
Home to up to 5000 koalas, Brisbane Koala Bushland area is one of the most important koala habitats in Australia. There is a trail accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. -
Hemmant Quarry Reserve
Fleming Road, Hemmant
Hemmant Quarry Reserve of 24 hectares has attractive picnic facilities and walking tracks. -
Seven Hills Reserve
Latina Avenue, Seven Hills
Seven Hills Reserve has 51 hectares of open eucalyptus forest with good walking tracks. -
White Hills Reserve
Boundary Road, Camp Hill
171 hectares of nature-based and sport-based attractions, including walking tracks, lookouts, footbridges, playgrounds and picnic areas.
Western Suburbs
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Anstead Bushland
Hawkesbury Road, Anstead
A natural gem, measuring 80 hectares. -
Mt Coot-tha Forest
Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Mt Coot-tha
Only 15 minutes from the centre of Brisbane, Mt Coot-tha Forest is one of Brisbane’s largest natural areas with more than 15 000 hectares of open eucalypt forest, with walking and mountain bike tracks, barbeques and picnic facilities. Mt Coot-tha lookout has sweeping views of the city, Moreton Bay and the southern ranges. A coffee shop and restaurant make it a good spot to stop.
For more information about Brisbane's natural areas including track maps to download, be sure to visit the Brisbane City Council website.
National Parks and State Forests
There are quite a few national parks and state forests in South East Queensland. Many are in or close to the Brisbane region and easily reached in a day trip.
Brisbane Regions
Half-Day
- Mt Cotton and Venman’s Bushland National Park (30 minutes east of downtown Brisbane) is one of the largest areas of protected bush in Redland shire. There is a variety of walking tracks which take you through bushland and over creeks. Located within the confines of the Koala Coast (extending from the Gateway Motorway east to Moreton Bay and south to the Logan River), Venman’s is an important koala habitat, part of the largest suburban koala population in Australia.
- The Morelia Walking Track at beautiful Mt Nebo (30 minutes northwest of downtown Brisbane) is a comfortable one hour round trip between the girths of giant rainforest trees and tree ferns to a rock platform overlooking the Samford Valley. The views and serenity are worth stopping for! Take a look at our other ideas for things to do at Mt Nebo .
- The Maiala National Park Walking Track (45 minutes northwest of Brisbane, just a bit further on from Mt Nebo) is situated at the northern most end of Mt Glorious Recreation Area. There’s a waterfall and lookout and is a comfortable short walk through dense subtropical rainforest. You can bring a picnic lunch or enjoy the barbecue facilities.
Full Day
- North Stradbroke Island (90 minutes west of downtown Brisbane) - hop on a passenger/vehicular ferry from Cleveland to North Stradbroke Island (or “Straddie” in ‘localspeak’) for a glorious day of island hiking. Not to be missed, North Gorge walk takes you around the Headlands at Point Lookout, where you’ll probably see some dolphins or turtles. The scenery overlooking the ocean is spectacular. From June to November, the headlands are the perfect vantage point for land-based whale watching. Starting at the Captain Cook memorial, there is a signed track all the way around. The full walk takes 20-30 minutes. Blue Lake and Brown Lake are freshwater lakes both accessible by conventional vehicle and home to wildlife, birds and wildflowers. Also the perfect place for a refreshing dip in the warm summer months. For more information see out North Stradbroke Island feature .
- Lamington National Park (90 minutes south of downtown Brisbane) - this ancient reserve protects the largest remaining tract of undisturbed subtropical rainforest in Australia - about 20,500 hectares of the most extensive subtropical rainforest in the world, open eucalypt forest, Antarctic beech, Piccabeen palm - and is home to both rare and common wildlife. The park has more than 160 kilometres of walking tracks that reach gorges, waterfalls and lookouts. Circuit tracks range from 1km to more than 20km. You can stay at Binna Burra Mountain Lodge or O’Reilly’s Rainforest Guesthouse.
- Tamborine National Park (60 minutes south of downtown Brisbane) - offers a range of picnic areas and lookouts. There are walking tracks dispersed over seven pockets of rainforest: Witches Falls, Palm Grove, Joalah National Park, Zamia Grove, Cedar Creek National Park and The Knoll. From the lookouts you will get spectacular views of the Scenic Rim mountains and the coastline from Coolangatta to Moreton Bay.
- Mt Barney (90 minutes southwest of downtown Brisbane) - is South East Queensland’s second tallest mountain. Its wild, rugged and challenging landscape is more suitable for the self-reliant and reasonably fit visitor with bush walking experience. The park has some of the region's most spectacular sheer ridges that rise to meet tall lonely peaks. The eastern face is a sheer cliff of almost 300m and offers a mighty challenge for experienced rock climbers.
- Bushwalking in Boonah (75 minutes from downtown Brisbane) - a bushwalker’s paradise, Boonah’s surrounds offer some of the best bushwalking in the Scenic Rim. Mt Greville, Mt French, Mt Lindsay, Spicer’s Gap and Lake Moogerah offer walks of all levels and distances. Some reward walkers with breathtaking views, others feature wildlife and birdwatching. Read about the National Parks in the area or take a look at our ideas for a day trip to the Boonah region.
