Get back to nature: The best spots for outdoor day trips near Brisbane

If you live in Queensland, you already know why it’s the best state to spend time in! The weather, the beaches, and the people all make for an easy, carefree lifestyle.

But it’s easy to get caught up in the bustle of city life, and miss out on the best Queensland has to offer! To help get you out the door and into the great outdoors, here are some of the best back-to-nature spots to spend a day or more. Jump in a GoGet and get out of town today! 

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Lamington National Park

World Heritage Listed since 1915, Lamington National Park covers 20,590ha and boasts extensive walking tracks to forests, creeks and waterfalls. Dramatic lookouts afford views over the Gold Coast, other parts of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. It forms part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia which contains the most extensive areas of subtropical rainforest in the world and trees that existed before dinosaurs walked the earth. 

For those looking to stay overnight there is one camping area in the Green Mountains section; the recently upgraded O’Reilly’s Campground. There is also  a privately-managed campground adjacent to the Binna Burra section of the park.

The park is about 110km or a two-hour drive south of Brisbane in the Gold Coast hinterlands. 

Tamborine National Park

Enjoy a picnic at sunset or a brisk morning walk in one of the many hidden pockets of rainforest on Tamborine Mountain. Awe-inspiring views of the Scenic Rim mountains and the Gold Coast provide the perfect backdrop for relaxation. The park has 9 walking tracks leading you past piccabeen palm groves, waterfalls and rockpools, weathered gorges and lush rainforest. If you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of the rare Albert’s lyrebird or even a  platypus near Curtis Falls on a quiet day. 

Tamborine Mountain is about 80km, just an hour or so south of Brisbane via Beenleigh and Tamborine Village.

North Gorge Walk, Stradbroke Island

Visiting the Gorge Walk is an absolute must-do on any visit to North Stradbroke Island (Straddie). The North Gorge walk is located at the north western end of Point Lookout and is a cracking spot to take in the island’s diverse marine life.  Make sure to keep an eye out for migrating humpback whales, turtles, dolphins and manta rays. There’s plenty of wildife on land too, with opportunities to spot koalas and kangaroos along the way, An easy 1.2 km walk, this is the best way to admire this pristine island. 

You can get to Stradbroke Island on a vehicle ferry, leaving from Cleveland. The ferry takes around 45 minutes and there are 11 ferries per day. 

D’Aguilar National Park

D’Aguilar National Park offers a number of beautiful picnic destinations, less than 15 minutes drive from Brisbane city, and within 35 minutes drive from the airport. Begin your journey at the Walkabout Creek Visitor Centre at The Gap, where kangaroos, spotted quolls and platypus will welcome you to the amazing wildlife of south-east Queensland.

Blue Lake National Park

On North Stradbroke Island, Blue Lake National Park has two stunning walks through the island and by the lake. Visitors must be self-sufficient, because there are no facilities. Make sure to carry plenty of drinking water, especially in summer. The lake is a place of significant cultural value to the Quandamooka people and  visitors are asked to respect that significance by not swimming in the lake, though there are plenty of other fantastic swimming spots on the island and some of the best beaches you’ll find near Brisbane. 

Camping is not allowed in the park, although private accommodation and campgrounds are available at Dunwich, Amity and Point Lookout.

The Park is located 2 hours from Brisbane CBD. Get your GoGet on the car ferry and over to Straddie!