Brisbane walking tracks and hiking trails

Brisbane has bushland on its doorstep. Brisbane City Council manages more than 10,000 hectares of bushland, wetlands and forests, and this hub lists 61 Active Quests walks in and around the city. Each one has GPS checkpoints, a distance and a difficulty rating.

Best walking areas in Brisbane

• Mt Coot-tha Reserve. More than 1,600 hectares with over 18.5 km of easy, moderate and difficult tracks, according to Brisbane City Council. The 1.9 km Summit Track climbs from the J.C. Slaughter Falls picnic area to the lookout.
• Toohey Forest and Mt Gravatt Outlook. About 260 hectares of forest just 10 minutes from the CBD, linked by trails to the 91-hectare Mount Gravatt Outlook Reserve. On a clear day the lookout has views to the Moreton Bay islands, the D'Aguilar Range and the Glass House Mountains. Try the Mount Gravatt Summit Track.
• Karawatha Forest. One of Council's largest bushland reserves at about 900 hectares, with lagoons, sandstone ridges and eucalypt forest. See the Karawatha Forest page or start with the Ironbark Circuit.
• Boondall Wetlands. Brisbane's largest wetlands, about 1,150 hectares on the edge of Moreton Bay and listed under the Ramsar Convention. Its flat paths and boardwalks, such as the Tabbil-ban dhagun Boardwalk, suit families and easy walks (Boondall Wetlands info).
• D'Aguilar National Park. Bigger, hillier bushwalks north-west of the city, managed by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Check the D'Aguilar National Park page before you go.

The list below also includes nearby walks at Daisy Hill, Venman Bushland, Enoggera Reservoir, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and Mulgumpin (Moreton Island).

Seasons, parking and safety

• When to go. Autumn, winter and spring are the most comfortable seasons for longer walks. Summers are hot and humid with afternoon storms, so start early and carry plenty of water.
• Parking. Toohey Forest has 2 car parks off Toohey Road. Mt Gravatt Outlook has car parks at Gertrude Petty Place and the lookout on Mount Gravatt Outlook Drive. Karawatha's main car park is at the Discovery Centre, 149 Acacia Road, with a smaller one off Illaweena Street. Boondall Wetlands' main car park is at the Environment Centre.
• Opening hours. Karawatha Forest Park is open 6am to 6pm and Boondall Wetlands 6am to 7pm daily.
• Safety. Council warns that rain can leave washouts, ruts and uneven surfaces on some tracks. Keep to existing tracks, follow signs, keep dogs on a leash in Council reserves (outside off-leash areas) and check Queensland park alerts for national parks.

Planning a day out? Read our guides to hikes near Brisbane, waterfalls near Brisbane and dog-friendly hikes in Brisbane.