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Walking and running in Brisbane

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Discover guided walks and trails for running, walking and hiking. Lace up for fun, fitness and sightseeing.

Two men jogging on a riverside pathway at Kangaroo Point.

Walking and running are simple, fun and free ways to improve your fitness, socialise and discover everything Brisbane has to offer.

Whether you're looking for a leisurely stroll through suburbia, a dog-friendly bushwalk or a scenic running route, there’s a track for you.

Find walks and hikes in Brisbane

Brisbane's well-connected city landscape, idyllic natural spaces and rich history make it perfect to discover by foot.

Explore our city on a hike, guided tour, themed trail or community walk.

Bushwalks and hikes

Brisbane’s bushlands, wetlands and forests offer a range of tracks and trails for bushwalks and hikes.

Head outdoors to soak up the fresh air and tranquillity only nature can provide.

Not sure where to start? Visit our most popular bushwalking tracks.

Milne Reserve

Walk through open forest, admire wildflowers and spot honeyeaters on the Pomax Track at Milne Reserve. If you're after a longer trail, extend your walk to the connected natural areas that form the Chermside Hills Reserves.

Walkers crossing a bridge at Milne Hill Reserve.

Mt Coot-tha Reserve

Choose from more than 50 picturesque walking and hiking trails at Mt Coot-tha Reserve. See squirrel gliders and other wildlife in the eucalypt forests or reward yourself with panoramic views from the Mt Coot-tha lookout.

Mature couple walking  with walking poles at Mt Coot-tha Reserve.

Toohey Forest Park

Find more than 400 species of wildlife and plants on a bushwalk through Toohey Forest Park. Take the Griffith University Intercampus Link to Mount Gravatt Outlook Reserve, where you can hike up to the outlook for breathtaking city views.

Walking track at Toohey Forest. Pole sign beside track saying it's okay to walk with dogs, but bicycles not allowed on track.

Find plenty more scenic walks at other bushland reserves, wetlands and forests. Choose a track that suits your age, fitness level and experience.

Guided and self-guided walks

Join a tour led by an engaging and knowledgeable volunteer or discover at your own pace.

Take a guided or leisurely walk through bushland and wetlands surrounding Council's environment centres.

Learn about the important habitats our natural areas provide, see local wildlife and understand what makes Brisbane Australia’s most biodiverse city.

Discover the plants and features at Brisbane’s 3 botanic gardens. 

Free guided tours are available, or you can pick up a map to help you find your way.

Tour cultural areas, historical trails and significant memorials at Toowong Cemetery.

Immerse yourself in our city’s past, find headstones dating back to the 1870s and admire sweeping views of the city and surrounding suburbs. 

Join a guided walk or explore at your leisure.

Choose from more than 20 trails that celebrate Brisbane’s heritage and the stories of local suburbs.

From grand buildings to historic bridges, neighbourhood shops and remnants of the Second World War, discover the places, people and events that shaped our city.

Find artworks, modern installations, street art and artefacts from World Expo ‘88.

Make new friends, see more of Brisbane’s iconic parklands and improve your wellbeing by joining a Heart Foundation walking group.

Pick from slow, medium and fast walks, close to home.

Brisbane Greeters

Hear about Brisbane and its colourful history from a local passionate about their city.

Nearly 100 Brisbane Greeters give free educational and entertaining tours of:

  • Brisbane City
  • precincts such as Fortitude Valley and Paddington
  • the Walter Taylor Bridge and the Witton Barracks.

Greeters can deliver tours in several different languages and for people of all ages and abilities.

Whether you're a local, city visitor or calling Brisbane your new home, you will be amused and learn something new on a Brisbane Greeters tour. 

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Important things to remember

Brisbane Greeters tours are between 2-4 hours. Don’t forget to:

  • wear sun protection
  • wear comfortable clothing and suitable footwear
  • bring drinking water. 

For more information or help with your booking:

Volunteer as a Brisbane Greeter

Are you interested in becoming one of our volunteers? Email Council your expression of interest including:

  • your contact details
  • reasons you'd like to become a Brisbane Greeter
  • any languages spoken other than English.  

While we are not currently recruiting, we welcome your interest for future opportunities.

Great places to run in Brisbane

Lace up your sneakers, hit the ground running and get the heart pumping while exploring Brisbane.

Trails suit beginners, seasoned runners and anyone training for a running event.

Get fit, have fun and run for a cause at the annual Bridge to Brisbane.

The beginner-friendly 4.5-kilometre course starts in Hamilton, heads along the Brisbane River and ends at the iconic Brisbane Showgrounds.

Looking for more? Challenge yourself with the 10-kilometre course. It kicks off at the Gateway Bridge, with the finish line at the showgrounds. 

Take one of Brisbane’s most scenic routes on the 5-kilometre trail between Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and New Farm. 

Run along the riverside boardwalk to Howard Smith Wharves. From here, continue on the Brisbane Riverwalk until you reach New Farm.

Loop back to make it a 10-kilometre run or hop on a CityCat to see the city from a different perspective.

Explore West End by foot on a riverside 5-kilometre run through 3 parks. 

Start in Orleigh Park, follow the river through West End Riverside Lands Park and finish up at Davies Park.

Want to switch up your movement? Use the outdoor gyms along the track.

Take in the stunning city skyline and river views on a run through Kangaroo Point.

Begin at the upper section of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park and head into the CBD via the Story Bridge or South Bank.

Add an extra challenge by sprinting the 107 steps linking the upper and lower sections of the cliffs. 

Work up a sweat or go at your own pace on this paved, shared-use pathway.

Set off from The Gap on a 13-kilometre path marked by signposts. It waves through Windsor, Wilston and Newmarket.

You can also start at Newmarket and run 2 kilometres to Bancroft Park in Kelvin Grove or 4 kilometres to Downey Park in Windsor.

Watch the scenery change from lush grassy areas and bushland to open fields and rainforest on this 23-kilometre stretch.

Beginning in Mitchelton and ending in Toombul, make this route your own by starting anywhere along the shared pathway.

Give your fitness routine a sea change on a bayside run.

Take the 6.5-kilometre route along the Sandgate Foreshore promenade, from Shorncliffe to the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge.

Why not learn while you exercise? Run the Sandgate Heritage Trail and take a breather at any of the 24 historic stops.

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Did you know?

There are signs and road markers along some tracks to support runners? 

Signage is located at:

  • Tillack Street Park, Mansfield – starting point near the picnic shelter off Blackberry Street
  • Bishop Street Park, Kelvin Grove – starting point near the picnic shelter off Bishop Street
  • QUT to New Farm – starting point at the entrance to the City Botanic Gardens at Gardens Point, QUT
  • Riverside Parklands, West End – starting point at Hill End Terrace near the junction with Drury Street.

Discover other active and healthy activities in Brisbane

Exercise in the pool

Swim laps, try water yoga or take part in a group fitness class in a pool near you.

Mother with her young children in the indoor pool at Sandgate Aquatic Centre.

Ride on a bikeway

Discover popular bike rides and plan your route with our bikeway map.

Bike riders and walkers using shared pathway along the Bicentennial Bikeway outbound toward Toowong in the afternoon.

Use free gym equipment

Stop to stretch and flex at an outdoor gym along your running route.

People exercising at an outdoor gym.

Frequently asked questions

Some of the most popular running tracks in Brisbane include:

Find other popular running routes in Brisbane.

Anyone can volunteer to be a Brisbane Greeter.

To submit your interest, email Council.

You must provide:

  • your contact details
  • reasons you'd like to become a Brisbane Greeter
  • any languages you speak, other than English.

Learn more about Brisbane Greeters.

You can go walking or running with your dog on most walking tracks in Brisbane. Check signage in the area for up-to-date information.

You must leash your dog and dispose of any waste responsibly. 

If you want to let your dog off the leash, head to a dog park or off-leash dog beach.