Brisbane's Best Outdoor Adventures Just a Short Drive From the City

Brisbane is surrounded by national parks, river trails and subtropical forest, and a growing number of operators are making it easier to get into them without a full-day expedition.

The city’s location at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast and northern gateway to the Gold Coast hinterland means more than a dozen protected areas sit within a 90-minute drive. With the school holidays now in full swing and council-run programs operating through July, locals have plenty of options for a quick outdoor escape.

South Side Favourites

Toohey Forest, at the southern edge of the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus, offers 10 kilometres of walking and mountain-biking trails through remnant eucalypt bushland. The forest’s main trailhead is just off Abingdon Street in Tarragindi. On a winter morning, wallabies are common along the fire trails. The Brisbane City Council’s free guided walks program runs a Toohey Forest walk on July 19 and again on July 26, bookings can be made through the council’s website.

About 20 minutes further south, the section of the Logan River running through Daisy Hill Conservation Park includes gentle canoeing and kayaking for beginners. The park also has a dedicated mountain-bike track, the Chandra Circuit, which loops for 4.5 kilometres. It’s open to the public year-round without a permit.

River Adventures West of the City

The Brisbane River itself is increasingly popular for stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking, particularly the stretch between the Mount Crosby Weir and Kholo Bridge. Local hire companies such as Paddle West Brisbane operate from the Kholo Bridge launch site on the weekends, offering board and kayak hire for $30 for a half-day. The Mount Crosby Weir walking track, which runs along the riverbank for about three kilometres, is open daily and gives clear views of the river’s upper reaches.

The nearby Brisbane Valley Rail Trail is a longer option. The trail currently runs from Fernvale to Blackbutt, but the section from Fernvale to Lowood is the most accessible for a day trip, about 12 kilometres of flat, sealed path tracing the old railway line. Cyclists and walkers use it year-round, and there are picnic tables at the Lowood end.

Northern Escapes

D’Aguilar National Park, about 45 minutes north of the CBD, has more than 160 kilometres of walking tracks. The Gantry circuit, a 2.5-kilometre loop through flooded gum forest, is a solid option for families. Fire trails in the same area are shared with mountain bikers on weekends. The park’s visitor centre at Walkabout Creek, on Mount Nebo Road in The Gap, provides free maps. There is no entry fee.

Closer in, the Kedron Brook bikeway runs for 17.5 kilometres from Stafford to Nudgee Beach, following the creek corridor through suburban parks and wetlands. It’s fully sealed and suitable for road bikes, prams and runners. Nudgee Beach itself is a tidal estuarine area with public barbecues and a fishing jetty. The Brisbane City Council has installed new signage along the bikeway in the past 12 months, including distance markers and water refill stations.

For anyone wanting to stretch the legs without leaving Brisbane’s suburbs, the city’s river loops, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park walk and the New Farm Riverwalk, remain the most popular inner-city trails. On weekday afternoons the cliffs at Kangaroo Point fill with rock climbers using the fixed bolt lines; the Brisbane Climbing Club offers $5 day passes for members and visitors.

Winter is peak season for river activities across the city. Early mornings are the calmest for kayaking and paddleboarding. Most trail networks are dog-friendly on leads. For up-to-date track closures, check the Queensland National Parks website before heading out.