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 Sunshine Coast

(South East Queensland)

Easy

200 m return

5 mins

Lara Steps

148 concrete steps on part of Mount Buderim, with trees surrounding. It is short with no particular features and used mainly by people of all ages keeping fit.

Medium

30 km return

5 hrs

Mac N Back

Trail 7 of the Noosa Trail Network; a relatively flat picturesque trail that crosses Six Mile Creek and traverses the Yurol State Forest from Lake MacDonald to Pomona.

Easy

5.5 km return

2 hrs

Maleny Trail (Peace in the Trees Circuit)

A leisurely walk along Obi Obi Creek from the boardwalk in town to the Golf Club and back, that passes the sculptured 'Peace in the Trees', '5th Light Horse Regiment Beersheba Museum', 'Platypus Viewing Area', 'Southern Wetlands' and historical buildings of the once 'Fairview Dairy Farm'.

Very Easy

2 km return

1 hr

Maroochy Wetland Conservation Park

The Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary boardwalk passes through eucalypt, rain and mangrove forest down to the river. Native fauna including River Mangrove, Orange Mangrove, Swamp Oak, Milky Mangrove, Grey Mangrove, Native Wisteria, Flooded Gum, Bungwall Fern, Paperbarked Tea-Tree and Mangrove Fern. There is abundant bird life, as well as crabs, butterflies, reptiles, fish and other wildlife species that frequent the wetlands.

Easy

3 km return

1 hr

Martin Williams Walk

Lovely walk at Lake Baroon, near Maleny Qld
Two loops. Total approximately 3 km's

Very Easy

2 km return

1 hr

Mary Cairncross Reserve

This walk never fails to please. At a very leisurely stroll you can stop and enjoy the rainforest and spot the pademelons hidden in the bush. Best time to do the walk is early in the morning to get the pademelons and birds and to avoid the tourist buses.
Views across the road overlooking the Glass House Mountains on a clear day are spectacular.

Easy

1.3 km return

40 mins

Melaleuca Trail, Jowarra Section

This is part of the Jowarra Section of the Mooloolah River a separate section of this park to be accessed via the Steve Irwin Way off the Bruce Hwy ( caloundra off ramp ) turn right at traffic lights into the Information Centre Car park ( there's also Daisy's Restaurant ) in the middle of the car park you will find the entrance of park leading to both walks.

Easy

1 km return

30 mins

Merdian Hill, Mooloolah River National Park

This walk up Merdian Hill is moderately steep but very short so whoever graded it easy is correct. The view from the top is nice but not spectacular, glimpses of Ewen Maddock through the trees. It's hardly worth making a special trip just for this walk, but combined with a few other walks in the area makes a nice day out. For starters, in the same location but on the other side of Old Caloundra Rd there are several short walks through wet woodland type vegetation, eg lots of candlestick banksia. Take the walking trails further down Old Caloundra Rd to get away from the traffic noise on Steve Irwin Way. Add a walk around Jowarra Section of Mooloolah River NP and/or Dularcha NP, both an easy drive from Meridan Hill. That makes a really nice day out.

Easy

6.5 km return

105 mins

Moffat Beach to Currimundi Lake (SCCP 4)

Time to get your feet wet on this one, as you cross Swamp Creek and head up the sand to Dicky Beach and on along the coastal wetlands boardwalks to beautiful Currimundi Lake.

Easy

500 m return

20 mins

Mooloolah River Circuit

This is part of the Jowarra Section of the Mooloolaha River a separate section of this park to be accessed via the Steve Irwin Way off the Bruce Hwy ( caloundra off ramp ) turn right at traffic lights into the Information Centre Car park ( there's also Daisy's Restaurant ) in the middle of the car park you will find the entrance of park leading to both walks.