Brisbane sits in a rare position for a capital city — subtropical rainforest, ancient volcanic landscapes, and World Heritage-listed wilderness all begin less than an hour's drive from the centre. You don't need to be an experienced bushwalker to reach plunging waterfalls, swim in natural rock pools, or walk through 180-million-year-old Gondwana rainforest. Most of the walks in this guide are half-day trips that leave plenty of time for a café stop on the way home.
These ten trails cover a range of distances, difficulty levels, and landscapes — from a 1-kilometre sealed circuit through a glow-worm cave to a summit scramble over ancient volcanic plugs. All are reachable without a 4WD, and several can be done by public transport. We've listed them roughly in order of how much we recommend them for first-time visitors, but every walk on this list is worth doing.
1.1 km return to falls
3.5 km with Lower Creek loop
30 min – 1.5 hrs
Easy–Moderate
Curtis Falls is the most accessible rainforest waterfall near Brisbane and the perfect introduction to the Gold Coast hinterland. The walk begins at the Joalah section of Tamborine National Park, descending through wet eucalypt forest that quickly transitions into lush subtropical rainforest. Towering flooded gums give way to strangler figs, staghorn ferns, and crows-nest ferns as the temperature drops noticeably under the canopy. The main falls track is a straightforward 1.1-kilometre return walk — about 30 minutes, including stops — that ends at a viewing platform overlooking the waterfall as it cascades over ancient basalt columns into a rock pool below.
For a more rewarding experience, continue onto the Lower Creek Circuit, which branches off near the falls and follows Cedar Creek through deeper rainforest with scenic bridges, towering gum trees, and rock-pool crossings. The full loop is roughly 3.5 kilometres and takes around an hour. The creek section is graded as a more challenging Grade 4 walk with some rock-hopping, so sturdy shoes are recommended. Access to the rock pool at the base of Curtis Falls is not permitted — the area is a protected glow-worm habitat — but the viewing platform gives you an excellent vantage point.
Why we rate it
It's the easiest waterfall walk near Brisbane and one of the most rewarding for the effort involved. The transition from eucalypt forest to rainforest happens within minutes, and the falls are genuinely beautiful even after dry spells. Tamborine Mountain is Queensland's first national park area (Witches Falls was declared in 1908), and Curtis Falls captures the best of it in a short walk. Combine it with lunch at one of the cafés or wineries on Eagle Heights for a full day trip.
Tip: The car park on Dapsang Drive fills quickly on weekends — arrive before 9am or visit on a weekday. Early-morning visitors sometimes spot platypus in the rock pool. If the main car park is full, there's additional parking near the shops on Eagle Heights Road (adds 800 metres to the walk).
4 km circuit
1.5 – 2 hours
Moderate
265 steps
Purlingbrook Falls is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in South East Queensland — a 106-metre plunge off the Springbrook plateau into a gorge of ancient Gondwana rainforest. The 4-kilometre circuit starts from either the Settlement Day Use Area or the Gwongorella picnic area, and the recommended direction is clockwise, which means you walk down the 265 steps and return via a much gentler gradient on the other side. At the base of the falls, a suspension bridge gives you an extraordinary perspective looking straight up the sheer rock walls of the gorge, with the waterfall thundering above.
The rainforest here is genuinely ancient — Springbrook is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests — and the walk passes through stands of piccabeen palms, bunya pines, and ancient lepidozamias. After rain, the falls are at their most dramatic, but the track can be slippery and muddy, so hiking boots are strongly recommended. For a longer adventure, the Warringa Pool track branches off near the base of the falls and adds an additional 2 kilometres (roughly 30–40 minutes), leading to a tranquil swimming hole that sees far fewer visitors than the main falls.
Why we rate it
This is the walk that makes you understand why Springbrook is World Heritage-listed. The scale of the waterfall, the suspension bridge at the base, and the quality of the rainforest are all exceptional. It's more demanding than Curtis Falls, but it rewards the effort with something genuinely unforgettable. The drive up to Springbrook through the Gold Coast hinterland is scenic in its own right.
Tip: Check Queensland Parks alerts before visiting — the circuit is occasionally closed after heavy rain. If only the western section is open, you can still reach the lookout at the top for views of the falls. Bring a rain jacket even in clear weather; the gorge creates its own microclimate.
4.7 km circuit
2 – 3 hours
Moderate
300+ steps
Kondalilla — an Aboriginal word meaning "rushing water" — is one of the Blackall Range's most impressive waterfalls. Skene Creek drops 90 metres off the escarpment into a rainforest valley, and the 4.7-kilometre circuit takes you from lookouts at the top all the way down to the base and back up again. The walk passes through a mix of tall open eucalypt forest and dense subtropical rainforest, with emergent bunya pines, thick stands of piccabeen palms, and the distinctive shapes of pink ash trees along the way.
What sets Kondalilla apart is that you can swim. There's a large natural rock pool at the top of the falls with clear water — it's one of the best freshwater swimming spots in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, and it's the perfect reward at the end of the walk if you take the recommended anticlockwise direction. The circuit involves over 300 stairs, so a reasonable level of fitness is needed for the climb back up. For a shorter option, the Picnic Creek Circuit is a 1.7-kilometre loop that stays on the upper section and takes about 45 minutes.
Why we rate it
The combination of a serious waterfall, a swimmable rock pool, and the charming hinterland village of Montville just down the road makes this a near-perfect day trip. The walk is more demanding than it first appears — those 300-plus stairs on the return are a real workout — but it's satisfying in a way that easier walks can't match. Montville itself has galleries, cafés, and craft shops worth browsing after the hike.
Tip: Bring swimmers and a towel. The car park fills quickly on weekends — arrive early. The walk is at its most dramatic after rain, but conditions underfoot can be muddy, and leeches are more likely. Wear hiking boots and long socks.
Multiple trails: 1.5 – 7 km
30 min – 3 hours
Easy–Moderate
Bus 471 from CBD
Mt Coot-tha is Brisbane's backyard bushwalk — a 287-metre peak just seven kilometres from the CBD with a network of walking trails through eucalyptus forest, a free lookout with panoramic views across the entire city and out to Moreton Bay, and the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at its base. For a quick half-day outing, it can't be beaten. The Summit Track from the J.C. Slaughter Falls car park is a steady uphill climb through dry eucalypt forest, emerging at the lookout where the views stretch from the Glass House Mountains in the north to the Gold Coast hinterland ranges in the south. On clear days, you can pick out Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island on the horizon.
At the base of the mountain, the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha offer 56 hectares of free gardens including a Japanese garden, tropical dome, cactus house, and a rainforest walk. The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium on the grounds has free displays and a sundial courtyard. The mountain has over 60 kilometres of tracks in total, ranging from sealed paths suitable for prams to rocky single-track trails popular with trail runners. You don't need a car — bus 471 from Adelaide Street runs directly to the lookout.
Why we rate it
Nothing else on this list is so close to the city. You can be standing on the summit looking across the skyline within 30 minutes of leaving Queen Street Mall. It's ideal for a morning walk before the heat builds, a sunset visit, or a quick escape from the city when you don't have a full day. The Botanic Gardens alone are worth the trip.
Tip: For sunrise, drive up (the lookout café opens early). For sunset, the lookout is equally spectacular after dark when the city lights up. Summer walks are best started before 7am — the exposed eucalypt forest heats up fast.
1 km circuit
30 min – 1 hour
Easy
Glow worms at night
Natural Bridge is one of the most unusual natural features in South East Queensland — a rock arch formed over thousands of years by Cave Creek eroding through an ancient basalt lava flow, creating a cave with a waterfall plunging directly through the ceiling. The 1-kilometre sealed circuit is easy enough for young children and takes about 30 minutes to walk, but the cave itself is mesmerising and most people spend much longer. During the day, the waterfall cascading through the roof of the cave is photogenic and atmospheric. But the real magic happens after dark.
Natural Bridge is home to one of the largest natural glow-worm colonies in Australia. The cave walls light up with thousands of tiny bioluminescent points — the larvae of a small fly species found only in Australia and New Zealand. The glow worms are visible year-round, but their display is strongest in the warmer, more humid months from December to March. If you're visiting at night, use a red-light torch (or no torch) on the walk in, avoid insect repellent and flash photography near the cave, and stay quiet — the glow worms are sensitive to disturbance. The hoop pines along the circuit are ancient conifers — living relics of the Jurassic Age, around 180 million years old.
Why we rate it
There's nothing else like it. The combination of a waterfall falling through a rock ceiling and a cave full of bioluminescent glow worms is genuinely otherworldly. It's also one of the easiest walks on this list — fully sealed, short, and suitable for almost everyone. The drive down into the Numinbah Valley is beautiful, and Natural Bridge pairs well with the Purlingbrook Falls circuit (Trail 2) for a full Springbrook day trip.
Tip: For glow worms, visit after sunset — the later you go, the more you'll see. Swimming is prohibited to protect the glow-worm habitat. Combine a daytime visit with an evening return for both experiences. Guided night tours are available from the Gold Coast.
2 km circuit (Rainforest only)
4.7 km with Greenes Falls & Cypress Grove
40 min – 2 hours
Easy–Moderate
Maiala is the closest genuine rainforest walk to Brisbane and one of the most peaceful places you can reach in under an hour from the CBD. Located in D'Aguilar National Park on the road to Mt Glorious, the Rainforest Circuit is a 2-kilometre loop through stunning subtropical rainforest — giant strangler figs, climbing lianas, palm groves, fungi, and an old Sydney blue gum that's a rare survivor of the eucalypt forest that once dominated the area. The walk is well maintained with boardwalk sections and interpretive signs, and the temperature under the canopy is noticeably cooler than the surrounding bush — a relief during Brisbane's summers.
From the Rainforest Circuit, you can extend your walk by adding the Greenes Falls Track (an additional 2.2 kilometres return) and the short Cypress Grove loop (500 metres). The Greenes Falls track descends through deeper rainforest with boardwalks and stairs to a lookout above the falls — they're modest compared to the hinterland waterfalls, but the walk is beautiful. The full combined walk is about 4.7 kilometres. Maiala also has a spacious picnic area with barbecues, picnic tables, and toilets — making it ideal for a morning walk followed by lunch. Watch for rose-crowned fruit-doves in the canopy and pademelons on the forest floor.
Why we rate it
Maiala's great advantage is proximity. It's the rainforest walk you can do on a weekday morning and still be back in the city for lunch. It's also genuinely beautiful — the D'Aguilar Range catches more rainfall than the surrounding lowlands, and the rainforest here is dense and atmospheric. The drive to Mt Glorious along Mt Nebo Road is scenic, winding through the range with occasional views of the surrounding valleys.
Tip: Between December and March, watch for falling bunya cones beneath bunya pines — the cones are football-sized and can weigh up to 10 kilograms. Stay clear of fruiting trees. The Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre, near the park entrance, is worth a stop for its native wildlife exhibits.
4 km circuit
1.5 hours
Moderate
Walk behind waterfalls
The Twin Falls Circuit is the walk where you get to step behind a waterfall. This 4-kilometre loop in Springbrook's Canyon section descends from the plateau through ancient rainforest to the base of two cascading waterfalls, and the track actually passes behind the main falls — you'll feel the spray and hear the roar of water right above you. The trail winds through stands of brush box trees estimated to be over 1,500 years old, and the rainforest is dense enough that even in bright sunshine, the forest floor stays cool and shaded.
You can start from either the Tallanbana Picnic Area or Canyon Lookout. Canyon Lookout itself is worth the stop — it offers panoramic views across the gorge and the surrounding Springbrook plateau. The descent to the base of the falls involves steps and some rocky sections, but the track is well maintained and the walk is manageable for anyone with moderate fitness. Pair it with the Purlingbrook Falls circuit (Trail 2) for a full day of Springbrook waterfalls — the two trailheads are just a short drive apart on Springbrook Road.
Why we rate it
Walking behind a waterfall is a rare experience anywhere. The Twin Falls circuit delivers it in a relatively short walk through stunning World Heritage rainforest. It's slightly less crowded than Purlingbrook Falls and just as beautiful in a different way — more intimate, more enclosed, and with that extraordinary moment of standing behind falling water.
Tip: The track behind the falls can be slippery even when it looks dry. Wear grippy shoes and be cautious. Parking at Canyon Lookout is very limited — the Tallanbana Picnic Area has more space and facilities including toilets and picnic tables.
2.8 km return (Ngungun summit)
1.5 – 2 hours
Moderate–Hard
360° views
The Glass House Mountains are a dramatic chain of ancient volcanic plugs that rise sharply from the surrounding plains — formed around 26 million years ago and significant to the Jinibara and Kabi Kabi peoples, who have deep cultural connections to these peaks. Mount Ngungun (pronounced "noo-noo") is the most popular and accessible summit walk. The 2.8-kilometre return trail begins in open forest with a fern understorey, steepens as it ascends the volcanic rock, and rewards you with panoramic views from the summit across all the surrounding peaks — Tibrogargan, Coonowrin, Beerwah — and out to the Sunshine Coast and beyond.
This is a different kind of walk from the rainforest trails elsewhere on this list. It's exposed, rocky, and genuinely physical on the upper sections, with steep uneven steps carved into the volcanic rock. The summit area has sheer cliff edges — supervise children closely and avoid in wet weather when the rock becomes dangerously slippery. For a less strenuous option, the Tibrogargan Circuit (5.7 km, 2–3 hours) loops around the base of Mount Tibrogargan through open woodland and heath with several lookout points but no summit scramble.
Why we rate it
Nothing else near Brisbane looks like the Glass House Mountains — they're visually spectacular from the highway and even more impressive up close. The summit views are genuinely exciting, and the volcanic geology gives the walk a completely different character from the rainforest trails. It's also close to the Australia Zoo and the Sunshine Coast, so it combines well with a broader day trip.
Cultural note: The Jinibara and Kabi Kabi peoples respectfully request that visitors do not climb to the summit of Mount Tibrogargan or Mount Beerwah, out of respect for their cultural significance. Mount Ngungun remains open and is the recommended summit walk in the area. Start early to avoid crowds and heat — the summit rocks get very hot by midday.
Multiple trails: 1.6 – 22 km
30 min – full day
Easy–Moderate
Antarctic beech trees
O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in the Green Mountains section of Lamington National Park is the starting point for some of the most impressive rainforest walking in South East Queensland. The free Tree Top Canopy Walk — a series of suspended walkways 15 metres above the forest floor — is the headline attraction and gives you a bird's-eye view of the rainforest canopy that you simply can't get from the ground. From the canopy walk, a network of trails leads deeper into the park through Gondwana World Heritage rainforest.
The standout longer walks include the Toolona Creek Circuit (17.4 km, full day), which passes through groves of Antarctic beech trees — ancient species that date back to the time when Australia was part of the supercontinent Gondwana. These gnarled, moss-covered trees are estimated to be over 3,000 years old and are found only at high altitude on a few mountain ranges. For a shorter experience, the Python Rock track (3.4 km return) leads to a lookout over the Albert River valley, and the Araucaria Lookout walk (1.6 km) passes through stands of hoop pine with views across the plateau. Albert's lyrebird — famous for its extraordinary mimicry — is regularly heard and occasionally seen along the trails, particularly in winter.
Why we rate it
Lamington is the jewel of South East Queensland's national parks, and O'Reilly's is the best gateway into it. The canopy walk alone justifies the drive, but the depth of walking options — from easy half-hour strolls to challenging full-day circuits through ancient forest — makes it a place you could return to repeatedly. The birdlife is outstanding: over 200 species have been recorded, and the crimson rosellas and king parrots at the retreat are famously tame.
Tip: The drive to O'Reilly's is winding — allow two hours from Brisbane. An overnight stay at the retreat lets you walk the trails at dawn when the birdlife is at its peak. The Tree Top Canopy Walk is free and doesn't require booking.
Multiple loops: 2 – 12 km
30 min – 3 hours
Easy
Dog-friendly trails
Bunyaville won't take your breath away like Springbrook or Lamington, but it fills a different and important role: it's the nature walk you can do any morning before work, after school, or whenever you have an hour to spare. Located in the northern suburbs just 25 minutes from the CBD, this 440-hectare conservation park has a network of well-maintained trails through open eucalypt forest, dry vine scrub, and grass-tree groves. The trails are shared between walkers, trail runners, and mountain bikers, and parts of the park are dog-friendly — a rarity for protected bush near Brisbane.
The trails range from flat, easy loops of 2 kilometres to longer circuits of up to 12 kilometres through hillier terrain. While there are no waterfalls or dramatic lookouts, the forest is home to koalas, echidnas, grey kangaroos, and a wide variety of birdlife. On quiet mornings, you're almost guaranteed to see wildlife. It's the kind of place that reminds you Brisbane is built around bush, not the other way around — and it's free, open all year, and never more than five minutes from a car park.
Why we rate it
Not every great walk needs a waterfall. Bunyaville earns its place on this list for sheer accessibility — it's the walk you'll actually do regularly rather than saving for a weekend day trip. Trail runners in particular rate it highly, and the mountain biking trails are among the best close to the city. It's also one of the few bushland reserves near Brisbane where you can walk with your dog.
Tip: Enter from Albany Creek Road for the main car park and trail maps. Early mornings and late afternoons are best for wildlife — look for koalas in the tallowwood trees. Bring water but no food storage is needed; you'll never be far from the car park.
Essential Information for Brisbane Bushwalks
🎒 What to Bring
At minimum: 2 litres of water per person, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent, and sturdy closed-toe shoes. For longer hinterland walks, add a rain jacket, snacks, a first-aid kit, and a fully charged phone. Bring swimmers and a towel for Kondalilla and Warringa Pool.
⚠️ Safety & Conditions
Check Queensland Parks alerts before visiting — tracks can close after heavy rain, and conditions change quickly in the hinterland. Never swim in unfamiliar water, stay on marked trails, and let someone know your plans. Watch for ticks and leeches after rain, especially on rainforest walks.
☀️ Best Time to Visit
Autumn (March–May) and winter (June–August) are ideal — cooler temperatures, drier trails, and fewer leeches. Waterfalls are most impressive in the wet season (December–March), but tracks can be muddy and slippery. Summer walks should start early to avoid the heat.
🌿 Leave No Trace
Pack out all rubbish — most national parks have no bins. Stay on marked trails to protect fragile vegetation and prevent erosion. Don't feed wildlife, pick plants, or disturb rocks and logs. Keep noise to a minimum, especially at glow-worm sites. These parks are protected for good reason.