Wanting to take on the mighty mountains of Brisbane, but not sure where to start? We’ve done the hard work for you and collated our favourite day hikes only a few hours from Brisbane, with walks to suit all difficulty levels. Let us know what your favourite hike turns out to be.
Lamington National Park
The Lamington National Park is full of lush rainforests, beautiful ancient trees, many walking tracks and brilliant views, making it part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. In the Box Forest Circuit you can walk through pink-barked brush box, Picnic rock and come to the spectacular Elabana Falls. The slightly challenging Stairway Falls walk needs you to rock hop across the river and work a bit harder to find the path but will eventually reach the beautiful falls and where you can even stop for a swim. The Morans Falls track is a more family-friendly that goes through the largestundisturbed area of subtropical rainforest in southeast Queensland and you’ll be treated to amazing views over the falls and the Morans Creek Gorge.
Location: 99km south from Brisbane CBD (1 hr 45 min drive)
Box Forest Circuit
Distance: 10.9km circuit (4 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Find out more here.
Stairway Falls
Distance: 10km return (6 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Hard
Find out more here.
Moran Falls
Distance: 4.4km (1.5 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Easy to medium
Find out more here.
Glass House Mountains (Mount Beerwah Summit)
Located at the highest point of the Glass House mountains, the Mount Beerwah Summit is a challenging walk that will treat you to amazing panoramic views at the top. The walk will require decent rock climbing skills but the final views will be worth it. Remember to check the forecast beforehand as it can be dangerous when wet.
Location: 74km north from Brisbane CBD (1 hr 15 min drive)
Distance: 2.9km return (3 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Hard
Find out more here.
Mount Walsh
Although the Mount Walsh walk can be quite challenging, you’ll be treated to amazing views At the top of the mount. The walk will require hand climbing over rocks and the trail is marked out with flag tape and arrows painted on rocks. After the climb up, you’ll have lots to explore at the top before you can head back down.
Location: 289km north west from Brisbane CBD (3 hrs 45 min drive)
Distance: 4km return (3 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Hard
Find out more here.
Mount Edwards Summit
At 632m high, the conical-shaped peak that provides stunning views and gets your heart pumping reaching the top. You’ll get to see Little Mt Edwards and part of the Reynolds Creek as well as a gorge with pine trees to the side of it. The climb up towards the end can be quite tough but the views are definitely worth it.
Location: 96km south west from Brisbane CBD (1 hr 30 min drive)
Distance: 5.3km (3-4 hrs return)
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Find out more here.
Springbrook National Park
The Springbrook National Park, located in the Gold Coast is full of stunning waterfalls, lots of different walking trails, lush rainforests and spectacular views. The Purling Brook Falls is the most popular walk at the park as it has everything from waterfalls and swimming holes to wildlife and amazing views. We also recommend the Twin Falls circuit as it has many waterfalls along the way and a large variety of vegetation to walk through. The Twin Falls are very close to the Purling Brook Falls so you could even consider doing both in one day!
Location: 105km south east from Brisbane CBD (1 hr 45 min drive)
Purling Brook Falls
Distance: 4km circuit (2 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Easy to medium
Find out more here.
Twin Falls
Distance: 4km circuit (2 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Easy to medium
Find out more here.
Girraween
Located on the Queensland - NSW border, the Girraween National Park is full of large granite outcrops and perfectly balanced boulders. We recommend the walk to the Sphinx and Turtle Rock which is named because of the massive boulder and how they balanced precariously on one another. The Turtle Rock is the name for thegargantuan granite 'turtle shell' rock.
Location: 260km south west of Brisbane CBD (3 hrs 30 min drive)
Distance: 7.4km return (4 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Find out more here.
Mount Barney
The Mount Barney Lower Portals track is a walk that will get your heart pumping but also treat you to a beautiful swimming hole within a rocky gorge with granite boulders on either side. This track is a great way to experience Mount Barney without having to climb up so much. There are also campgrounds nearby if you wish to make it an overnight hike.
Location: 119km south west from Brisbane CBD (1 hr 45 min drive)
Distance: 7.4km return (3 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Find out more here.
Millaa Millaa Falls
The Millaa Millaa Falls are magnificent waterfalls that are surrounded by lush rainforest. It is a great place for families to come along with picnic supplies and swimmers as the falls cascade into a beautiful waterhole. After taking a dip in the cool water you can relax on the grassy picnic area. The Millaa Millaa Falls are one of the most photographed in Australia so this is definitely worth checking out!
Location: 100km south west from Cairns city (1 hr 45 min drive)
Distance: 400m (30 mins)
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Find out more here.
Wallaman Falls
The spectacular Wallaman Falls will get your heart racing just as the sight of its sheer size at an impressive 268m drop. The hike down to the base of the falls is quite straightforward but the return trip can be a challenge as it has a greater incline. Be sure to wear appropriate footwear as the trail can get slippery. We recommend taking the Djyinda track as it’s a fairly easy trail to follow.
Location: 287km south from Cairns city (3 hrs 45 min drive)
Distance: 3.2km return (2 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Easy to medium
Find out more here.
Kondalilla Falls Circuit
We really recommend the Kondalilla Falls Circuit for summer time as it allows you to swim early on in your walk and also once you reach the falls in the rockpools. Great for a day hike, the spectacular falls are perfect for families. You can take your time going down the circuit, dipping in the rockpools and walking the track.
Location: 105km north from Brisbane CBD (1 hr 45 min drive)
Distance: 4.7km return (2 hrs)
Level of Difficulty: Medium
Find out more here.
Of course, before heading out any adventure make sure you’re prepared. Check the park is open or for any changes with Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service. Check the weather and make sure you pack water, sunscreen, a waterproof jacket and always tell a mate where you're going. Last but not least, leave no trace.
*Header image via @elisehalina
