Walking Groups Near Me: How to Find a Walking Group in South-East Queensland and Northern NSW
Published 28 October 2026
Photo: Heart Foundation guided walk in Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane, during Queensland Seniors Week 2018. By John Robert McPherson, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped to 16:9.
Walking is easier to keep up when someone is expecting you. A walking group gives you a set time, a friendly pace and people to chat with, and most groups in south-east Queensland and Northern NSW are free. This guide shows you how to find a walking group near you, what each type of group is like, and what the research says about walking with others. We checked the details on 28 October 2026.
Quick answer: how to find a walking group near you
- Search the Heart Foundation Walking finder. Enter your postcode or suburb on the Heart Foundation Walking group finder. Groups are free and run by volunteer Walk Organisers.
- Check your council's activity program. Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast all run free or low-cost guided activities, and many of them are walking groups.
- Join a bushwalking club for longer trail walks. Bushwalking Queensland lists its affiliated clubs, and Northern NSW is covered by clubs affiliated with Bushwalking NSW.
- Try parkrun. It's a free, timed 5 km event every Saturday morning, and walkers are welcome.
Types of walking groups
| Type of group | Typical walk | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Foundation Walking group | 30 to 60 minutes around a local park or path, often at slow, medium or fast paces | Free | Beginners, older adults, anyone wanting a regular routine |
| Council active and healthy sessions | Guided walks and fitness walks run by instructors | Free or low cost | Trying something new with a qualified leader |
| parkrun | 5 km on Saturday morning, walk or run | Free (register once) | A weekly goal and a social coffee afterwards |
| Bushwalking club | Half-day and full-day trail walks, sometimes overnight trips | Annual membership | Longer hikes, national parks, learning navigation and safety |
Heart Foundation Walking groups
Heart Foundation Walking has run free community walking groups in Australia since 1995. Groups are led by volunteer Walk Organisers and meet at regular times, usually in local parks, along footpaths or at shopping centres. When you register online you can also get a free six-week Personal Walking Plan if you'd rather start on your own.
The Queensland Government's get active page also points Queenslanders to Heart Foundation Walking. To join, search your postcode on the walk finder, choose a group whose time and pace suit you, and register. Can't find one nearby? You can sign up to start your own group as a Walk Organiser.
Walking groups in Brisbane
Brisbane City Council's walking and running page sends residents to Heart Foundation Walking groups. Brisbane groups offer slow, medium and fast walks close to home. The council's Active and Healthy activities program also runs free and low-cost sessions across the city. They include GOLD (Growing Older and Living Dangerously) activities for older residents.
If you'd rather walk on bush trails, Brisbane Bushwalkers Club has run walks since 1948. Membership costs $40 a year, and new members must be 18 or over and complete an induction before joining outdoor activities. Other Greater Brisbane clubs on the Bushwalking Queensland list include Queensland Bushwalkers Club, Brisbane Catholic Bushwalking Club, Ipswich Bushwalkers, Logan and Beaudesert Bushwalkers and Redland Bushwalkers.
Where Brisbane groups walk. Toohey Forest, Mount Coot-tha and Daisy Hill are popular bush settings close to the city. Try the Kokoda Trail at Mt Coot-tha, the Toohey Ridge Track or the Tree Discovery Trail at Daisy Hill. More ideas are in our hikes near Brisbane guide.
Walking groups on the Gold Coast
The City of Gold Coast's Active & Healthy program lists more than 350 free and low-cost activities each week. It includes free Heart Foundation walking groups. Two examples are the Gold Coast Performance Centre group at Runaway Bay (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6–7am) and the Lake Orr group at Varsity Lakes (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8–9am). Times can change, so check the council calendar before you go.
For longer hikes in the hinterland, Gold Coast Bushwalkers Club runs regular walks and lets visitors do a try-out walk before joining.
Where Gold Coast groups walk. The Burleigh Head National Park trail is a classic coastal loop. The Tallebudgera Creek walk and the Purling Brook Falls circuit at Springbrook are good next steps. See our Gold Coast hikes guide for more.
Walking groups on the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Council's Healthy Sunshine Coast program needs a free registration before you join any activity. Its list includes free Heart Foundation walking groups such as Buderim Heart Beats, Mapleton Movers, Ninderry Trail Mates and Twin Waters Walking Group. The council's walking and running page also lists parkrun events across the region, held every Saturday at 7am.
Sunshine Coast Bushwalking Club and Glasshouse Bushwalkers are on the Bushwalking Queensland list if you want to step up to hinterland and Glass House Mountains trails.
Where Sunshine Coast groups walk. Try the Buderim Forest Park falls walk, the Heath Walk at Currimundi Lake or the Tanglewood walk in Noosa National Park. Our Sunshine Coast hikes guide has more.
Walking groups in Northern NSW
Heart Foundation Walking also covers New South Wales, so start with the national walk finder and search your postcode, for example Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Ballina or Lismore. For trail walking, the Northern Rivers Outdoor Adventure Club (formerly Northern Rivers Bushwalkers Club) covers Lismore and the coast north to the Queensland border. It runs bushwalks as well as cycling, kayaking and other outdoor activities.
Where Northern NSW groups walk. The Walgun Cape Byron walking track and the Walk on Water track at Ukerebagh Nature Reserve are easy, scenic options. See also our Byron Bay Lighthouse walk guide.
Why walk with a group? What the research says
Walking groups improve health. A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine pooled 42 studies of outdoor walking groups with 1,843 participants (Hanson and Jones, 2015). Compared with before, walkers had lower blood pressure (systolic down 3.72 mmHg on average), lower resting heart rate, less body fat, a lower BMI and lower total cholesterol. They also had better fitness (VO2max) and could walk further in six minutes. Depression scores improved too. The authors found people stuck with the groups well and there were almost no adverse effects.
They help you meet the national guidelines. Australia's physical activity guidelines for adults recommend 30 minutes or more of moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity on most days, plus muscle-strengthening on 2 or more days and functional activities for mobility, balance and coordination on 3 or more days a week. A brisk group walk counts towards the moderate-intensity target. A hilly or stepped track also helps with functional activity, since the guidelines say walking up and down stairs counts towards both. Older Australians (65+) have the same activity targets. Read our physical activity guidelines explainer for the full picture.
You're more likely to keep going. A regular meeting time and people who notice when you're missing make it easier to turn walking into a habit. Walking with others is also social, which matters for wellbeing. See our guides to walking for mental health and the benefits of walking.
If you have a heart condition, diabetes or another health concern, or haven't been active for a while, talk to your GP before you start a new exercise routine.
Tips for your first group walk
- Pick a pace you can talk at. Most Heart Foundation groups suit beginners. If a group offers slow, medium and fast options, start slow.
- Wear comfortable shoes and bring water. For bush trails, check our hiking essentials checklist.
- Arrive a few minutes early. Introduce yourself to the organiser so they know you're new.
- Go in the cooler part of the day. Many south-east Queensland groups meet early in the morning, which is wise in summer.
- Build up gradually. Our hiking for beginners and how many steps a day guides can help you set goals.
- Prefer running? See our run clubs in Brisbane and parkrun Gold Coast guides.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find a walking group near me?
Search your postcode or suburb on the Heart Foundation Walking group finder, then check your local council's active and healthy program. For longer bush walks, look up a club on the Bushwalking Queensland or Bushwalking NSW club lists.
Are walking groups free?
Heart Foundation Walking groups are free, and so is parkrun. Council programs are free or low cost. Bushwalking clubs usually charge an annual membership, for example $40 a year for Brisbane Bushwalkers Club.
What is Heart Foundation Walking?
It's Australia's free community walking program, running since 1995. Volunteer Walk Organisers lead local groups, and you can register online to join a group or get a free six-week Personal Walking Plan.
Is a walking group good for beginners and older adults?
Yes. Many Heart Foundation and council groups are designed for beginners and older adults and offer slower paces. If you have a health condition or haven't exercised for a while, check with your GP first.
What are the health benefits of walking groups?
A 2015 review of 42 studies found people in outdoor walking groups had lower blood pressure, resting heart rate, body fat, BMI and cholesterol, better fitness and fewer symptoms of depression.
What is the difference between a walking group and a bushwalking club?
Walking groups usually do 30 to 60 minute walks on local paths and parks. Bushwalking clubs run longer trail walks in national parks, usually require membership and an induction, and teach navigation and safety.
Earn as you explore
Active Quests turns walks into GPS check-in quests, so your group can earn ACTIVE Coins while you walk. Browse every Active Quests trail or get the app on the App Store.