The best hikes near Brisbane

With scenic walking trails and spectacular heritage-listed rainforests all within our backyard, Brisbane is a great starting point for hikers of all abilities.

Kondalilla Falls Walk

Only a 40-minute drive from Mooloolaba, this 4.7km hiking trail and waterhole can be accessed via the carpark located off Kondalilla Falls Road. Ideal for an early morning walk and a refreshing swim followed by brunch in the quaint nearby town of Montville, this trail oozes rainforest charm. Although 2.5 hours is recommended for this hike, you will definitely feel the need to schedule in extra time for swimming with more than 100 steps on the trail guaranteed to leave you working up a sweat. 

Mt Coot-tha Summit Trail

Mt Coot-tha is one of Brisbane’s favourite hiking destinations and is known for housing local secret, JC Slaughter Falls. Even though the Summit Trail measures 5.3km, Mt Coot-tha has multiple carparks all the way up the summit to shorten the walk to suit different fitness abilities. If you do make it through the entire 1.5-hour Summit Trail to the top of Mt Coot-tha, you will be rewarded with not only a hot coffee from The Summit Cafe but also one of the best views of the Brisbane CBD.

Mt Barney Lower Portals Walk

For the more enthusiastic hikers, the 7.4km Mt Barney Lower Portals Walk is more of a moderately challenging walk, bound to get the heart rate up. The three-hour walk follows a path down through the lower portals of the mountain and will have you stepping through all kinds of terrain, including through streams, in between rocky canyons and up steeper, more challenging sections. Only a two-hour drive south of Brisbane, this trail is well known among Brisbane’s experienced hikers and finishes with multiple watering holes ideal for cooling down afterwards.

Girraween National Park Pyramid Walk

Even though you could opt to spend a day doing the Pyramid Walk, with a campground located in the centre of Girraween National Park, why not make it a weekend trip and conquer multiple walks on offer? About a three-hour drive from Brisbane, not far from the NSW border, the 3.6km Pyramid Walk is well worth having on your hiking bucket list. Daunting as it may sound, the steep climb up the granite face of Bald Rock at the end of the walk is worth the challenge for the breathtaking 360-degree views at the top.

Springbrook Twin Falls Circuit

Known for its more family-friendly, shorter hiking circuits, Springbrook National Park is inland from the Gold Coast and is a perfect spot for a weekend-long rainforest retreat. The 4km, hour-long Twin Falls Circuit is a clear standout for this area with lookouts showcasing views of both northern NSW and the Gold Coast. With a stunning waterfall at the end of the hike or the Tallanbana picnic area at the start, you can either spend the rest of your day swimming or enjoying a packed lunch in the sun.

Mt Coolum Summit

The shortest walk on the list, this 900m summit is ideal for all fitness levels and looks out over the picturesque Glasshouse Mountains range. For those wanting to conquer the bush and the beach in one day, this track can be completed in 45 minutes leaving plenty of time for a short drive into town to spend the rest of morning cooling off in the ocean or exploring the best the Sunshine Coast has to offer. The Mt Coolum Summit is the ideal location if you’re new to hiking and want to pick your first challenge or you just want to travel with the whole family for a day filled with activities.

Lamington National Park Moran Falls Track

Nestled within the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area 2-hours south of Brisbane, Lamington National Park is known for its evolutionary history, diversity of plant species and extensive bushwalks on offer. With both full day hikes and short walks available there really is a trail for everyone at this National Park. One trail that should be on your list when visiting this area, is the 4.4-kilometre Moran Falls Track. The picturesque, 1.5-hour track is well worth the journey as it finishes with stunning views of Moran Falls all the way down to the Moran Creek Gorge.