Six of the Best Hikes Near Brisbane

Exploring hikes near Brisbane is a fantastic excuse to get the whole family out of the house and soaking up the abundance of natural treasures on offer in breathtaking Queensland, and you don't have to travel too far either! With stunning national parks, incredible scenery and nearly year-round glorious weather, Mother Nature certainly focused a lot of her attention on Brisbane, didn't she? 

Brisbane is full of hikes for all skill and endurance levels and we've unearthed some of our favourites for all you adventurous families. Start lacing up those boots!

Six of the Best Hikes Near Brisbane

1. Springwood Conservation Park

Springwood Conservation Park is the ideal spot for hikes near Brisbane for those who don't want to travel too far out of town. Located in Springwood, Springwood Conservation Park offers 36 hectares of eucalyptus forest, native wildlife, picnic facilities and a variety of walking tracks. The 570-metre Stringybark Lookout track is ideal for those with younger kids just looking for a short walk, and the Spur Track is just under one kilometre for something longer. The Gorge Discovery Circuit offers a decent walk for all levels at 1.45 kilometres. 

Location: 53-55 Jardine Drive, Springwood
Distance: from 570 metres up to 1.45 kilometres

RELATED: Six Awesome Day Trips From Brisbane

2. Mt Coot-tha Reserve

Another great spot for hiking in Brisbane that won't take you too long to get to, Mt Coot-tha Reserve is just 15 minutes west of the Brisbane CBD and offers Summit Track, one of the most iconic hikes near Brisbane. The Summit Track is only five kilometres and can be steep at times but offers the most incredible views ever of Brisbane City from the top of Mt Coot-tha and even a chance to stop off for coffee at the Summit Cafe. Access the Summit Track from the second car park at JC Slaughter Falls and follow the trail up to Mt Coot-tha Lookout and then join the Mahogany Trail that winds back down to the first car park at JC Slaughter Falls.

Location: 38 Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Mount Coot-Tha
Distance: Five kilometres

3. Northbrook Gorges

If you don't mind driving an hour or so out of Brisbane, Northbrook Gorges in the South D'Aguilar National Park is an incredible destination for hikes near Brisbane that takes you through majestic gorges, natural swimming holes and loads of incredible wildlife. Access the six-kilometre Northbrook Gorges trail via Maiala Park at Mount Glorious and then get ready to swim through gorges before heading up to the Wivenhoe Lookout. 

Location: Mount Glorious Road, Mount Glorious
Distance: Six kilometres

4. Lamington National Park

Okay, okay, Lamington National Park is 1.5 hours away from Brisbane but if you're serious adventure-seekers then you simply have to add it to your list of hikes to try. The Moran Falls Track is one of the best hikes near Brisbane and rewards hikers with subtropical rainforests, waterfalls and some of the best lookouts in the park. The Grade 4 track starts at the Lamington Park Information Centre. 

Location: 3582 Lamington National Park Road, O'Reilly
Distance: Six kilometres

5. Tamborine National Park

If you're keen to get out of the city and feel worlds away from everything, Tamborine National Park offers several tracks for hikes near Brisbane to whet your adventurous appetite. For those who can't get enough of waterfalls, head along the 1.1-kilometre track to famous Curtis Falls, or plan to stay a little longer and follow the Cedar Creek Falls trail for roughly 1.4 kilometres to three spectacular natural swimming holes that, you guessed it, you can swim in! For those keen for a longer hike in Tamborine National Park, Witches Falls Circuit is roughly three kilometres and offers an amazing lookout.

Location: Cedar Creek
Distance: from 1 to 3 kilometres 

6. Boondall Wetlands

The Boondall Wetlands Walk is an easy one for the kids because it's close to Brisbane and, depending on which track you pick, doesn't require a lot of exertion. Brisbane's largest wetlands area is a treasure for nature lovers and offers multiple walking tracks, from short 100-metre trails to epic 13-kilometre tracks. If you've got a keen biker in the family, they'll love the Boondall bike trail, and don't forget to stop off at the Boondall Wetlands Environmental Centre for some cool facts about the wetlands.  

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