10 Family Friendly Brisbane Walks

From paved circuits and bushland walks to rainforest trails and uphill climbs, we have found the 10 best Brisbane walks for families! 

The mental health benefits of heading out into nature cant be underestimated. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck in a rut or simply need a bit of a lift, we can guarantee you that walking outside with your kids will change everything. These walks are in Brisbane or very close to, so you won’t feel like you need to pack more than a couple of snacks and some water. 

Eddie Santagiuliana Way: Cleveland

This walkway and bikeway around the foreshore in Cleveland offers an easy walk along concrete paths and boardwalks, passing through amazing natural scenery, from grassed areas and open bushland to mangroves, wetlands and coastal forest. Spot wildlife along the way, from wetland birds to beautiful koalas, have a play in the park and feed the ducks in the pond. What could make for a better family walk? For more details about Eddie Santagiuliana Way. The entire walk spans 8kms.

J C Slaughter Falls: Mount Coot-tha

The picnic grounds at J C Slaughter Falls are a great starting point from which to do a family bushwalk and explore the Mount Coot-tha Reserve. The easy Aboriginal Art Trail circuit is an easy, short walk, where you can see the falls and spot the rock paintings and other artwork along the way. Best of all though, is the Summit Track — a two-kilometre hike to the summit of Mount Coot-tha. Kids can experience the thrill and sense of achievement of ‘climbing a mountain’ and everyone can enjoy the stunning views (and refreshing ice cream!) at the top. You can read more about the walks here.

Brisbane Botanic Gardens: Mount Coot-tha

In the foothills of Mount Coot-tha, the Brisbane Botanical Gardens offer plenty of opportunities for a lovely family walk. Explore the various gardens or head further afield to the lookouts and lake. The pathways make these amazing natural areas really accessible, and you can soon find yourselves out amongst the wonders of nature. For younger kids who can’t manage a longer hike but still want the thrill of fun family walk, the Botanical Gardens Children’s Trail is a must-do! See here for a Visitor Map or Mobility Map for the gardens. It takes about 30 minutes to walk around the gardens. 

Daisy Hill Conservation Park: Daisy Hill

With a variety of walking and cycling tracks, the Daisy Hill Conservation Park has a walk suitable for any family. Look out for koalas as you go, have a picnic overlooking the quarry and find yabbies in the water! Just some of the things to enjoy in this beautiful area of protected nature. There are two walks on offer, one to the Quarry (340metres) and the Buhot Creek Circuit which is around 3.4 kilometres.  Find out more about the walks here.

Venman Bushland National Park: Mount Cotton

Close to the Daisy Hill Conservation Park is Venman Bushland, National Park. The track has some hills and creek crossings, making this walk more suitable for families without wheels. The Tingalpa circuit takes approximately 1.5 hours, but the rewards are worth it! You could spot many kinds of birds, sugar gliders and koalas. You may even be lucky enough to enjoy a picnic amongst wallabies at the picnic area! Read more here.

Mount Tamborine: Tamborine

Located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Mount Tamborine is close by but feels a million miles from the city. There are many walking tracks to explore and lookouts to visit, which are detailed here. You can also do a walk to visit the glow worm caves, do the amazing Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk in the canopy of the rainforest trees, or head to Cedar Creek Falls for more trails, lookouts and awesome rock pools to cool off in!

Mount Glorious and D’Aguilar National Park: Mount Glorious

Mount Glorious is also a great place to visit for some amazing bushwalking. The Maiala Track is a great option for exploring the area with kids and discovering the huge variety of native flora and fauna, and there are many other walking tracks to explore too. Walks start at 2kms. You can also head to Wivenhoe Lookout for a lovely picnic with beautiful views over the Wivenhoe Lake. See here for more information about this area and the walks.

White Rock — Spring Mountain Conservation Estate: Ipswich

Spread over 2,500 hectares of regionally significant bushland, White Rock — Spring Mountain Conservation Estate is an area of remarkable natural beauty. There are riparian forests and open eucalypt forests, as well as the headwaters of seven major waterways. There are toilets and picnic shelters by the parking areas, as well as open grassy areas where you can set up a picnic rug. Walks range from 200 metres to 19km return. Read about the Spring Mountain walks. 

Glasshouse Mountains National Park: Glasshouse Mountains

Most of us think of the Glasshouse Mountains as an area for experienced climbers only, but it can also be a great family destination to visit, and just around an hour’s drive north of Brisbane. Whether you are up for the challenge of climbing a mountain, or you just want to head to a lookout to enjoy the spectacular scenery, there are walks for everyone. Check out Climbing Mount Ngungun with Kids … It Can Be Done! and Glasshouse Mountains Lookout  and Mary Cairncross for more information!

Boondall Wetlands trails: Boondall

For a fun walk that combines wildlife spotting with cultural heritage, the Boondall Wetlands are a must-visit. There are several different tracks available to suit different levels of ability and stamina, and all are great for exploring this unique ecosystem. The Nurri Millen Totem Trail is great for kids to follow to discover the wildlife and plants of the wetlands and learn about how the Aboriginal clans used this area and its flora and fauna. Walks range from 100 metres to 13kms. Read more about Boondall Wetlands

Going for a walk together is one of the best experiences for any family to enjoy, and we hope you get to explore some of these amazing places we have right here on our doorstep!