Hikes around Brisbane I recommend

My colleague, Carla Verdi, suggested I write this post. Here are a few short hikes that I enjoy. I list them in order of distance from Brisbane.

If you use the AllTrails app, you can find more details on my profile. I also recommend the book, Take a Walk in South East Queensland.

Tarcoola Track 

This is a path that follows the Brisbane River. It starts only a few minutes drive (or ten minutes walk) south of the UQ St Lucia campus. The best bit of the trail is the first few minutes, which is almost a rainforest. I do part of this trail several times a week as it is accessible from my house and nicely combines with a walk on the neighbouring public golf course.

More than one hundred bird species have been recorded along the track. I believe this list was started by Hugh Possingham.

Mount Coot-tha

This is about fifteen fifteen-minute drive from St. Lucia. You can also get a public bus there. The summit has a nice cafe with an amazing view of the city.

I do a two-hour hike there each week with my dog, Priya. There are many trails and different starting points to select from. It is amazing that you can be so close to the city and almost feel like you are in the wilderness, particularly when you get off the large and popular trails. One of the many joys of living in Brisbane.

In the summer, due to the heat, I often start walking not long after sunrise. I avoid tracks that are shared with mountain bikes. 

Favourite walks include passing by Simpson's Falls and JC Slaughter Falls. Here is an example. There is some amazing indigenous art near the Slaughter Falls.

White Rock - Spring Mountain Conservation Estate

This is on the southern edge of Brisbane, next to Springfield. It is about a 30 minute drive, outside of rush hour.

I recently did the Spring Mountain Loop via Mountain Creek Trail.

The hikes below involve a day trip because of the driving. I don't like driving and so only do them when I am in the area for another reason or staying overnight.

Glasshouse mountains

In good traffic, they are about a 90-minute drive north of Brisbane.

I recently completed the Mount Tibberoowuccum and Trachyte Circuit Loop

Springbrook National Park

A bit less than 2 hours' drive, provided that the highway to the Gold Coast is not busy.

Warrie Circuit is a classic.

Lamington National Park

There are many hikes starting at Binna Burra or O'Reilly's.

I recently completed the Daves Creek circuit. Amazing, except for the leeches.