Summary

The Sunshine State

Queensland has a wealth of bushwalking opportunities including multiple World Heritage Listed rainforests such as the Daintree and Lamington National Park, great coastal and island parks like Fraser Island and Hinchinbrook Island.

Other Information

World Heritage Areas

• Fraser Island
• Gondwana Rainforests of Australia (Lamington NP, Springbrook NP, Mount Chinghee NP, Mount Barney NP, Main Range NP)
• Great Barrier Reef
• Riversleigh
• Wet Tropics (Daintree NP, Barron Gorge NP, Cedar Bay NP, Girringun NP, Wooroonooran NP)

Contact details

Queensland Parks and Forest:
https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/

Regions

The link below provides a region map of QLD as a reference to what council zones are included in the 7 geographic regions of QLD.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Queensland#/media/File:Qld-regions-map.gif

1. Far North Queensland
2. North Queesnland
3. Central Queensland
4. Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday
5. Wide Bay Burnett
6. Darling Downs South West
7. South East Queensland

Walks in Gold Coast

(South East Queensland)

Easy

6 km

2 hrs

Federation Walk

This is an easy 3km walk (6km if you go to the end and back) along a well made path through the sand dunes of The Spit. It's perhaps the closest walk to Surfers Paradise and provides a unique insight into the coastal dune network.
The walk starts at the beach carpark on the opposite side of the road from the entrance to Sea World (you'll need to go around the roundabout to get to the carpark). It's basically a 3km stretch of sand dunes, beach and sheoak trees and the path is made of compacted gravel, so it's easy to walk on. There are a couple of small inclines, but nothing too dramatic. The path ends at the Gold Coast Seaway where, on a clear day, you can get an excellent view south down the beach along the entire stretch of the Gold Coast right down to Coolangatta. You can then turn around and walk 3km back, or have someone pick you up at the end.
Take plenty of water on a hot day because there are only amenities at the start and finish of the walk and parts of the track have no shade.

Easy

36 km one-way

12 hrs

Gold Coast Ocean Way

Shared path along the beach from Point Danger to The Gold Coast Seaway or reverse. Can easily be done in stages.

Hard

5 km return

3 hrs

Hanging Rock Bushwalk

This bushwalk follows the border fence East from the Tomewin border crossing through often overgrown terrain. Initially you head up hill to Mount Boyung Thuga before continuing over the shoulder of Mount Tomewin and then over Mount Talganda Colgon (consult NSW SIX maps rather than Qtopo for accurate mountain positioning). The Hanging Rock formation is a few hundred metres past Mount Talganda Colgon.

Easy

5 km return

90 mins

Hinterland Regional Park

A series of several short tracks which can make up a decent distance. A beautiful regional park situated in Mudgeeraba. The parklands cover 62 hectares and are a great location to undertake a range of recreational activities, or to just sit back and enjoy nature.

This parkland was the first Mudgeeraba land to be settled by Europeans in 1869. The original vegetation has been highly modified in the past 140 years as a result of: clearing timber cutting for sawmills and fence posts and rails, grazing by beef and dairy cattle, construction of water pipelines and power lines, invasion by introduced pasture legumes and escapees from gardens, and dam construction.

Very Easy

3.7 km return

1 hr

Hinze Dam Wall

A walk along the Hinze Dam wall.

Very Easy

4 km return

1 hr

Lake Oxenford Loop

Concrete path around the lake.
Used by runners and walkers.

Medium

6 km return

2 hrs

Mount Nathan (Clagiraba Road access)

From creek to mountain through the bush. Views towards the east from Mt Nathan.

Easy

2 km return

40 mins

Mount Nathan (Nathan Valley Road access)

A short walk through the Mount Nathan Reserve to the summit of Mount Nathan with some views of the Gold Coast.

Medium

1.4 km return

30 mins

Mount Wongawallan

With multiple entrances to the reserve, it's your choice if you want a long or short walk either way there will be steep gradients. Once reaching the top of Mt Wongawallan you can find a deep hole, (assumed to be an old mine shaft) and a bit beyond that a wonderful lookout looking towards the Gold Coast Skyline.

Medium

6 km return

2 hrs

Nerang National Park Ridge Loop

A walk in Nerang National Park ascending via the Nerang Break to the highest point in the National Park and then following the ridge North till dropping down to the Western Break via the steep 400 Break. Then following the Western Break to the start.