Northbrook Gorge via Northbrook Creek

This walk takes in the picturesque Northbrook Creek located in the back country of Brisbane Forest Park. There are several waterholes which you have to swim through to get to the Gorge, which is further up the creek. The walk takes about 1 hour each way. For most of the walk there is a footworn track that is quite visible on both sides of the creek. Care is required negotiating the rocks underfoot.

You will need to make sure everything you bring with you is waterproof. I used a tupperware container for things like my camera and food with plastic bags tied around them, then placed into a backpack. The backpack only got partially wet.

I did the walk in December and found the Gorge to be quite pleasant, therefore I would expect the summer months to be the best time to visit the Gorge.

Northbrook Gorge is a very special place so please respect it.

Rocky outcrop @ Joyner's Ridge Road

From Mount Glorious, follow Joyner's Ridge road for about 1.5 hours into the Park. You will possibly need a map to locate the rocky outcrop which is clearly shown on the BFP topographic map.

From here you will notice a diversion off to the right from the management road that looks like a beekeeping site. Follow this up the slope to your right until you reach the rocks. It is quite high in elevation and provides sweeping views as far as Wivenhoe and the Toowoomba range, the surrounding ranges of Brisbane Forest Park and the peaks of Northbrook Mountain and Mount Glorious. From here, either walk back the same way or continue along Joyner's Ridge road where you will come to crossroads. From here it is possible to visit both left and right branches of England Creek.


For related posts see 'England Creek(left branch)via Rocky Outcrop,Joyner's Ridge Road.'

North Kobble Creek via 'Lepidozamia'

This walk leaves from the gate on the'Lepidozamia' track at Mount Glorious. At the carpark walk along the management road which follows the ridge. About an hour into the walk you will come across a fire break to the right. Take no notice of this but instead continue walking along the ridge which later starts to descend. Another track which is quite distinct heads off to the right and eventually meets up with another track. To the right, leads to a waterfall, to the left, North Kobble Creek. Turn left here and walk down the track, which is quite steep in sections and eventually reaches a creek crossing at the bottom. From the crossing either rockhop along the creek or continue walking along the track. There are some small rock pools along the creek and some interesting features. Upon returning to Mount Glorious, this walk is very steep in ascent and requires good fitness to climb it. There are a few options here such as returning the same way or walking straight ahead at the crossroads, returning via the fire break that also leads back to the 'Lepidozamia' track. Allow a full day for this walk.

Greenes Falls, Mount Glorious

This is an easy walk through lush rainforest on a flat walking track that features creeks, a waterall and small rock pools.

Start at Miala Picnic Ground. There is the option to walk one way to Greenes Falls, then return a slightly different way. There are some bridges along the track and a viewing platform at the falls. The creek and waterfall flow well after rain, but slow to a trickle most of the time.

There are more explatory opportunities from the Falls for those wishing to explore this area further, including walking downstream from the Falls then upstream to Love Creek, or simply downstream from the falls to Cedar Creek.

Enoggera Creek via Black Soil track

This walk takes just over an hour to do in total. From Mount Nebo Road, take the Black Soil Track found on the BFP map between the Fire Tower and Scrub Road. There is some elevation lost in descent so be prepared to walk steeply uphill on the way back. This walk is very nice to do after prior rains and has great explatory opportunities, being one the longest creeks in the Park. It is a very tranquil place with some water usually present in the creek. I went there last time after a flood and it must have been quite impressive, plants were bent over and there was debris at least a metre or two above creek level, hanging from the trees. By continuing further along this track it is possible to walk up to South Boundary Road and onto Gold Creek Dam from here.

Enoggera Creek via Scrub Road (off Mount Nebo Road)

This walk visits a section of Enoggera Creek and features nice rock pools, a waterfall and a waterhole. The waterfall is not at all high but still rather impressive after good rain, however the waterhole can be quite muddy, most likely due to the water being churned up by the waterfall. Overall though it is a nice spot to walk to and worthy of a visit. The track is relatively easy going, it is gradual in descent. The walk is about 1 hour in total.

Bellbird Grove

Bellbird Grove is a recreational area popular with families and visitors, who venture here on weekends to escape Brisbane's suburban city life. The Park offers both secluded and open grassed areas, numerous BBQ facilities and amenities. As a child, I often visited Bellbird Grove with my family, swimming in the creek and exploring the surrounding Parkland. Over the years I have seen many changes at Bellbird Grove, which in my opinion have not only improved the accessibility of the Park, but preserved the aesthetic beauty of Bellbird Grove.

There are a number of interesting features to be found along the walking trails, including information on the history of the region and various animal and plant species that inhabit Bellbird Grove. The most popular bushwalking trail is an easy-grade track named the 'Turrbal Circuit' and provides information about the the Turrbal people who once occupied this region. The circuit travels alongside the Park's main catchment, Cedar Creek, which is often dry and contains little or no water, however on occasion can flood after sufficient rainfall. There are numerous footbridges along different sections of the track which offer the opportunity to rest and view the creek while listening to the abundant wildlife that inhabits the area. Another circuit walk named the 'The Golden Boulder track' is more difficult to negotiate, given the steep graded sections of the track. It runs past ruins of old mine shafts where, many years ago, prospectors fossicked for Gold from the abundance of quartz found in the area. However, attempts to find Gold were futile, so mining was abandoned by the 1950's.

For those who wish to explore this area futher, a management road branches off the Turrbal Circuit and leads further into the Park, however thick Lantana infestation in this area may obscure and or prevent access. A clue in finding the road is that it lies close to a footbridge and runs parallel to Cedar Creek. The road eventually splits into two, branching off to the right and crossing the creek to ascend a short but steep stretch of track, which eventually reaches a picturesque and pleasant lake.

For the more adventurous bushwalkers, it is possible to detour from Bellbird Grove and ascend Camp Mountain from Cedar Creek and then descend to the rural area ouside Samford. Bellbird Grove offers other explorative opportunities that access different areas of Brisbane Forest Park, however these will be explained further in future postings on this Blog.

Joyner's Road to Lawnton Rd via 'Western Window', Mount Glorious

This is an easy but interesting walk through the rainforest, parallel to Mount Glorious Road. It can be found opposite Maiala Picnic Ground and begins next to the rest area and information board. This walk also joins the Joyner's Ridge Road 'network' of walking trails which include Lawnton and England Creek Roads, therefore it is possible to plan a full day walk or even an overnight camping expedition, visiting places such as Northbrook Mountain and both branches of England Creek. Due to the dense canopy of Bangalow Palms and rainforest there are limited views however the lookout at Western Window offers some views of the Park's interior and is located about halfway along the track to Lawnton Road.

Joyners Ridge to Northbrook Parkway

This is a very long but picturesque walk through the centre of Brisbane Forest Park. Mobile reception is quite good for most of this walk, however this is limited once the Parkway is reached.

Take Joyner's Ridge Road and walk along it for approx 2.5 hours until the crossroads. This section is a nice walk through the Park, it is relatively flat and there are breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and England Creek catchment area. Bellbirds can often be heard making their distinct 'tinkling' sound in the surrounding trees.

Once at the crossroads, turn right into England Creek Road which takes you down to the creek. This stretch of track will take about 2 hours but eventually you will reach the England Creek crossing and the 'campsite' beside the creek.

There is the opportunity to swim here, however when I visited here some years ago there was very little water in the creek, even after several days of rain. There are some waterholes along the creek, but once agin there may not be enough water in them or they are simply stagnant from lack of it. From the campsite the track starts to ascend, climbing the ridge up to Northbrook Mountain. This stretch is very long and tedious, but relatively easy to walk up.

Once at the top there is a deeply eroded track that drops steeply down the side of the ridge to Red and White Cedars. Alternatively, turn left at the top and follow Lawnton Road all the way, which will also take you down to the Parkway. This could be done either as a full day walk or ideally as a throughwalk, camping at the crossing of England Creek or at the campsite below Northbrook Mountain.

England Creek (Right Branch) via Mount Nebo Road

This is a circuit walk that begins at the top of Mount Nebo Road, between Westridge Outlook and Mount Nebo Transfer Station and descends to the creek below via a management vehicle access track. From here either walk up or down England Creek or, take a track northwest up to the crossroads to visit the Left Branch of England Creek, via England Creek Road. On the return trip, I took a track up to Goodes Road which connects with Dundas Road. This will then take you to the Mount Nebo Transfer Station and back to Mount Nebo Road. (For further directions see also England Creek via Joyner's Ridge Road)