South East Queensland

Summary

Boarding NSW and the pacific Ocean, it is not uncommon for hikes to have views of both worlds (ocean and hinterland). Hikes here are typically on the great dividing range.

Popular Walks

History

Any interesting history for the region?

Features

What are the standout bushwalking features?

Access

How do you get there? Include all access points if there are many?

Maps

Which maps cover the region?

Accommodation

Where can I stay there? or near there?

Camping

Council Areas:

  1. Scenic Rim Regional
  2. Gold Coast City
  3. Logan City
  4. Redland City
  5. Ipswich City
  6. Lockyer Valley Regional
  7. Brisbane City
  8. Somerset Regional
  9. Moreton Bay Regional
  10. Sunshine Coast Regional
  11. Noosa Shire

Contact details

See Qld National parks website

Medium
2.6 km return
2 hrs

Witches Chase

Witches Falls is Queensland’s first National Park, declared in 1908. This track leads through rainforest with large red cedar trees and eucalypt forest to Witches Falls lookout. The waterfall only flows after recent rain and is best viewed from the lookout platform.

Return by the same route, or extend your walk by 3.1km by completing the Witches Falls Circuit, which starts just beyond the lookout.

Easy
3.4 km return
75 mins

Witches Falls

This is an easy walk. In the afternoon this walk is prone to high temps in the exposed areas. The conditions can change extremely fast always take rain protection.

Medium
5 km return
90 mins

Balancing Rock (Ben Nevis Park trailhead)

Discover this 5.0-km out-and-back trail near Spring Mountain, Queensland. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 29 min to complete. This is a popular trail for hiking, running, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.
ATTENTION; As of August 2024, there is no trail signage that takes you to "Balancing Rock". Do your homework!

Medium
200 m one-way
15 mins

Bluff Lookout Circuit

A short walk to a lookout on a sandstone bluff. Tree top views over Six Mile Creek and the conservation area.

Medium
2.5 km return
30 mins

Frilled Neck Lizard Circuit

Frilled Neck Lizard Circuit is located just north of the Spring Mountain Forest Park. It is a mild to moderate 2.5 km return circuit that links up with the Ironbark Track. The map for this track is annexed as White Rock - Spring Mtn Conservation Estate.

Medium
6 km return
2 hrs

Ironbark Track

Ironbark Track is an old lumber road turned into a hiking track. It cuts behind Springfield Lakes to the edge of Spring Mountain Forest park.

Medium
200 m one-way
15 mins

Little White Rock Lookout Circuit

Take a detour from the Little White Rock Track along a moderate level track for a view over the forest at the lookout.

Medium
600 m one-way
30 mins

Little White Rock Track

Moderate level track suitable for average fitness levels. Pass along the base of a rocky ridge where you will see caves and relics of a World War 2 training bunker. The spotted gum forest supports a local koala population.

Medium
19.07 km one-way
4 hrs

Paper Back Flats Picnic Area to Spring Mountain

A varied terrain walk. Sandy in parts, then really rocky in some. The first part of the walk I followed mainly the Spring Mountain fire trail which was mostly flat. When I got to Back Alley trail it started inclining for about 2kms till I got to the Spring Mountain. I climbed as far as the first cave I came across then didn’t climb the rest... although it looked doable, I was by myself and didn’t want to push my luck. It was about 10km on the way up. Return trip I went down the Daisy trail which seemed to be an old mountain bike trail. It descends quickly and is rocky, eroded in parts and hard to walk on and requires a lot of scrambling and concentration. I then got to Narelle’s Climb, this terrain has been gravelled at some stage. I also saw a red belly black snake!! I decided to bypass White Rock as I’d seen it enough times and head back to where I started. Was about 9km on the way back. If I do it again I will do it in reverse and go via White Rock.

Medium
10.6 km return
3 hrs

Pyros Loop

This is another walk in the White Rock Conservation park which has quite a few ups and downs, so does get the heart pumping. It also has quite a few good views to Spring Mountain, White Rock and Flinders Peak at various stages of the walk.