All eyes and feet will be turned to the Scenic Rim this weekend as lockdown laws allow bushwalks! Home to over hundreds of kilometres of stunning tracks and national park trails, it’s the perfect place to escape, walk it off and experience some spectacular scenery with all creeks and waterfalls back to their majestic best! 
In this unprecedented time of social distancing and isolation, bushwalking is an ideal option and with six National Parks to explore, the Scenic Rim, just an hour from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, offers the opportunity to pack your car, your kids, your friends (as long as there is fewer than 500 of them!) and your empty esky and spend a day (or weekend) walking one of the dozens of magical bush tracks that dot the region’s 4,243 square kilometres.
And …. It’s free!
To get you started, here are 12 tracks that are guaranteed to reward with pristine air, stunning views and immense satisfaction. From sedate, well-marked paths, to challenging mountain scrambles, there’s a walk to suit most abilities. And while you are in the region, take the opportunity to visit a local butcher, a farm stay, one of the craft breweries or wineries, a gallery or pop into one of the fabulous fashion or homewares stores – it’s truly a region unlike any other.
Lower Portals Track – Mt Barney National Park (7.4km/3hours)
The Lower Portals features a beautiful pool along a gorge on Mount Barney Creek. The walk has moderate to steep gradients. A guide from Mt Barney Lodge can add context to your walk, explaining about the environment and habitats that you pass through, and ensure that you discover the best waterholes.
Mee-bor-rum Circuit – Moogerah Peaks National Park, Mt French section (720m/15min)
This circuit track passes through heathland and features the East Cliff Lookout with views of Tamborine, Lamington and Mount Barney.
Mt Edwards Summit – Moogerah Peaks National Park, Mt Edwards section (6km/3.5hours)
This walk starts near the dam wall, is best suited for experienced walkers and requires a reasonable fitness level. Be careful, there’s sheer cliffs and slippery rocks.
Rainforest Circuit & Mt Cordeaux Track – Main Range National Park, Cunningham’s Gap (Rainforest Circuit 1.6km/30min; Mt Cordeaux Track 6.8km/2.5hours)
The Rainforest Circuit passes the Allan Cunningham monument and is the beginning of an extensive track system on the northern side of the Gap. If you’re after a harder walk, continue along the Mt Cordeaux Track for spectacular views back to Brisbane.
Mt Mitchell Track – Main Range National Park, Cunningham’s Gap (10.2km/3hours)
This graded walking track to the twin peaks of Mt Mitchell begins on the southern side of the highway and passes through rainforest and open eucalypt forest. It ends on a knife-edge ridge above a sheer cliff on the east side of Mt Mitchell (1168m).
Palm Grove Circuit – Tamborine National Park, Joalah Section (2.6km/1hour)
You’ll see palm groves and rainforest with emergent strangler figs on this walk.
Curtis Falls Track – Tamborine National Park, Knoll Section (1.1km/30min)
An enchanting walk which begins in wet eucalypt forest beneath towering flooded gums.
Witches Falls Circuit – Tamborine National Park, Witches Falls section (3.1km/1hour)
This track zigzags down the mountain through an open forest of banksia trees and into rainforest with giant strangler figs. The circuit passes seasonal lagoons that are all full and home to insect and frog species. The waterfall is flowing after recent rain and is best viewed from a lookout platform accessed via a 200m detour from the main circuit.
Morans Falls – Lamington National Park, Green Mountains Section (4.6km/1.5hours)
This track starts 800m from the information centre. Excellent views of Morans Falls and Morans Creek Gorge can be seen from the constructed lookout located before the creek crossing. Layers of ancient volcanic lava flows are also visible.
Box Forest Circuit – Lamington National Park, Green Mountains Section (10.9km/4hours)
This track leads to Picnic Rock and Elabana Falls and runs through rainforest and impressive stands of smooth, pink-barked brushbox. If you intend on walking the entire circuit, walk in a clockwise direction and exit via the falls and Picnic Rock.
Tree Top Walkway – O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (1.5km/30min)
The Booyung Boardwalk, featuring excellent interpretive signage, leads you from O’Reilly’s Retreat to the walkway, which is a series of suspension bridges taking you up 16metres into the rainforest canopy. Feeling adventurous? Climb ladders to a crow’s nest platform 30m above ground.
*NEW* Scenic Rim Trail by Spicers – Mt Mitchell to Spicer’s Peak Lodge (34.5km/across four days, accommodation included)
The walk follows paths along ridges, escarpments, through forest. Accommodation and meals are provided by the Spicer’s Group.
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