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 Ipswich

(South East Queensland)

Easy

2 km return

1 hr

Kholo Gardens (Multiple Tracks)

A picturesque retreat into nature seven kilometres from the Ipswich Central Business District is the peaceful Kholo Gardens at Pine Mountain. It’s an unexpected delight to explore with its lush gardens, crystal clear lily pond, bush walks and open spaces. Giant Kauri trees and Hoop Pines planted by early settlers, rare birds and plants, and the nearby Brisbane River all make this a special place to spend some time. It’s also a sacred site for the indigenous Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul People.

At this subtropical haven, you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the 400 metre walk through Tree Fern Lane under a natural rainforest canopy. The more energetic can try the steeper 800 metre Coal Creek Walk – aptly named seeing as the earliest recordings of coal in the area were made here in 1825.

Formerly the site of a water pumping station, Kholo Gardens has an historic well onsite as well as a charming little old church, relocated here in 1990 from Redbank. With that and a stunningly restored Queenslander nearby, you can see why this is a popular venue for weddings and other functions. There are also barbecues, picnic tables and public toilets.

Walks in Jimna State Forest

(South East Queensland)

Medium

3.2 km return

1 hr

Araucaria Circuit

The Araucaria walk, the longest of the the two walks in the Jimna State Forest, begins with a short walk across a suspension bridge at the end of the camping ground. The 3.2km walk takes about an hour and takes you through open bushland at the start into a hoop pine/dry rain forest. As it winds through the forest, you ascend gently and walk around a dry river gorge. There's plenty of bird watching in the early morning and late afternoon. Look for (and hear) bell miners (bellbirds), finches, sulphur crested cockatoos, Australian wood ducks and wood swallows and many more species. Staghorns and elkhorns can be seen in part of the rainforest. Move back into grassland before reaching the suspension bridge.

**Updated Oct 2024: This walk has been closed and suspension bridge removed

Easy

2.4 km return

Eugenia Circuit

Short circuit that stays close to Yabba Creek.

Very Easy

700 m return

20 mins

Yabba Creek Circuit

A short easy walk along the banks of Yabba Creek at Jimna State Forest camping area. Loads of birds to see and hear.

Walks in Karawatha Forest

(South East Queensland)

Easy

4 km return

1 hr

Banksia Track

True to its name this track features a variety of banksia species. Visit in autumn when the banksias are in bloom. The track begins in Frog Hollow where wet heath provides rich habitat for 23 species of frog that call Karawatha Forest home then climbs through eucalypt forest to the crest of the hill and the sandstone boulders of Poet’s Rock. This track connects with the Dianella, Wallum and Dentata tracks for a longer walking experience.

Easy

7.35 km return

2 hrs

Brushtail, Maculata, Dianella, Wallaby, Rocks

Trails added together to increase walk time at Karawatha

Easy

6.5 km return

84 mins

Brushtail, Wallum, Banksia, Wallaby, Rocks

These are trails in Karawatha Forest added together for a longer walk

Easy

4.5 km return

90 mins

Casuarina, Maculata, Hakea and Wild May trails loop

Combine Casuarina, Maculata, Hakea and Wild May trails to create a circuit from the Illaweena Street picnic area. These wide multi use trails take you through areas of Spotted gum, Scribbly gum, casuarina and paperbark-lined lagoons.

Medium

8.03 km return

2.09 hrs

Casuarina, Lomatia, Curtisli, Mahogany, Casuarina Trails

Curtisli is a hard trail in some places as indicated on the maps, but worth it to reach Yagara Rocks Lookout.
Illaweena Street trailhead.

Easy

1 km return

20 mins

Melaleuca Circuit

Small freshwater lagoons and eucalypt forest with large scribbly gums along the lagoon edge. This is a great walk for birdwatching. Easily accessed from Illaweena Street picnic area.