The best family-friendly hikes and walks in D'Aguilar National Park

The Golden Boulder Track is a short, easy walking track that traces the legacy of the 1860s gold rush, passing fenced mineshafts and quartz remains from historic mining attempts that ultimately yielded little gold. It winds through open eucalypt forest, and if you’re here in the spring, there are beautiful wildflowers dotted on the forest floor. Birdlife is abundant here, so keep an eye out; you might even spot a kookaburra during your walk along the way.

Turrbal Circuit is a short, easy loop walk that winds through open eucalypt forest along Cedar Creek. The track crosses the creek several times via small bridges and follows an easy, family-friendly route through shaded bushland with opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife spotting. Named after the Turrbal people, the traditional custodians of the land, the circuit is an important part of the area’s cultural heritage while remaining a popular, accessible nature walk.

Bellbird Grove is a popular picnic and recreation area within Brisbane Forest Park, nestled along Cedar Creek and surrounded by eucalypt forest. There are barbecues, shelters, toilets, and open grassy spaces, making it an ideal base for short walks and family outings. It’s also a trailhead for several walking tracks, with lots of birdlife, including whipbirds, cockatoos, and wonga pigeons. While you’re here, be sure to listen for the distinctive call of Bell Miners (or bellbirds), which call this area home.

The view along the northern section of the Somerset trail near the escarpment in the Mount Glorious area of the park is breathtaking. From the edge of the ridge, the landscape opens to wide views across the forested hinterland and surrounding mountain ranges. This elevated vantage point offers a real sense of the rugged terrain that stretches beyond the park toward the Somerset region.

D’Aguilar National Park protects about 36,000 hectares of forested mountains and valleys northwest of Brisbane, spanning the D’Aguilar Range that includes a mix of subtropical rainforest, eucalypt woodland, and steep sandstone escarpments. It's one of the closest large natural areas to the city, making it popular for bushwalking, mountain biking, and scenic drives through this beautiful area.

Somerset Lookout is a fantastic viewpoint overlooking Lake Wivenhoe and the surrounding hills of the Brisbane Valley. From here, you can see the lake’s vast expanse, stretching between the forested ridges and rural landscapes. The elevated position provides one of the best vantage points in the area to appreciate the scale of the reservoir and the surrounding countryside.

Greenes Falls Track is a beautiful rainforest walking trail through dense subtropical forest with boardwalk sections and tall trees, leading to a lookout above Greenes Falls. Along the way, you'll see plenty of colourful birds, butterflies, reptiles, and keep an eye out for wallabies that live in the rainforest and nearby clearings.

Cypress Grove Track is a picturesque walking loop that passes through a grove of native cypress pines, which stand out amid the surrounding rainforest. Though relatively short, the track connects with nearby tracks ideal for longer walks through the tall forests of the Otway Ranges.