The best walks and hikes in Leslie Harrison Dam Nature Refuge

Daisy Hill Conservation Park forms part of the Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area, a vast network of protected bushland between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Surrounded by suburbia, this important wildlife refuge protects vital koala habitat while offering kilometres of walking and shared trails through towering eucalypt forest, making it one of South East Queensland's most popular places to explore nature close to the city.

The Eastern Escarpment Conservation Area is home to native species like koalas, wallabies, and more than 100 native bird species. There is a vast network of multi-use tracks used for bushwalking, running, and mountain biking, but not all tracks are open to all activities. The tracks are all clearly marked if they are open to only mountain biking, only bushwalking or combination, along with some trails allowing horseback riding. Mountain bikers will find green, blue and black trails weaving through the forest for all skill levels to enjoy.

The Upper Main Trail is a wider multi-use track running across the Eastern Escarpment Conservation. It is a great spot for bushwalking, running, and mountain biking through thick eucalypti forests. Upper Main Trail is also a main connector trail in the area, creating access to trails of varying difficulty.

The Minnippi Wetlands Circuit loops around a series of lagoons and restored wetland habitat, with wide sealed paths that make for an easy walk or ride. The route stays mostly level and passes reed-lined water edges, open grassland, and scattered shaded sections where you’ll often spot ducks, ibis, egrets, and other waterbirds feeding around the shallows. There are benches, picnic areas, toilets, and parking nearby, making it an easy one for a relaxed lap without needing to venture far from the city.

The Minnippi Wetlands add a quieter, more natural side to the parklands, with shallow lagoons, reed-lined edges, and pockets of restored habitat attracting plenty of birdlife. The wetlands were designed as part of a broader environmental rehabilitation project linked to Bulimba Creek, helping improve stormwater quality while creating habitat for aquatic species and migratory birds. Early mornings are especially good here, when the water is still and you’ll often spot ducks, ibis, egrets, and other waterbirds moving through the lagoons.

Bulimba Creek forms one of Brisbane’s major urban wildlife corridors, flowing through wetlands, bushland remnants, and freshwater swamplands before eventually reaching the Brisbane River. Around Minnippi Parklands, the creek helps support a surprisingly diverse ecosystem within the suburbs, with waterbirds, wetland vegetation, microbats, and even squirrel gliders recorded in the area. Restoration work along the creek corridor has helped improve habitat around the lagoons and riparian zones, giving this stretch a much more natural feel than you’d expect so close to the city.

Daisy Hill Quarry is a former quarry that has now become a quiet, sheltered lake, framed by lush bushland. This lookout perched on exposed sandy rock offers a stunning view of the still, dark blue waters, bordered by aquatic plants. Surrounded by eucalypt forest, the steep quarry walls, along with the regrowth of vegetation, soften the reminders of its industrial history, making it a peaceful place to pause and enjoy the scenery.

Daisy Hill Conservation Park is a beautiful eucalypt forest reserve dedicated to both conservation efforts and recreational activities. It includes a well-established network of trails that are perfect for shared use and is home to koalas and a variety of native wildlife. While you're here, you can also explore the Daisy Hill Koala Centre within the park. The terrain is mostly gentle, with wide pathways and areas of denser bushland scattered throughout, making it an inviting destination for nature lovers.