Whites Hill Reserve is a 170-hectare bushland reserve at Camp Hill, about 7 km from the Brisbane CBD, with a network of short walking tracks, two lookouts and a fully fenced playground. It is open 24 hours.
Most families come for the playground and picnic area, then add a short bush walk on the way back to the car. The tracks are short enough for small legs, and the reserve protects eucalypt forest and a small patch of rainforest right in the middle of suburban Brisbane.
Walks at Whites Hill Reserve
The walking tracks are interconnected and rated easy to moderate. Council’s track map lists 12, and none is longer than 900 m, so you can join two or three together to make the walk as long as you like.
- Whites Hill Circuit: 565 m, about 30 minutes. It climbs to the summit for glimpses of the city and is suitable for wheelchair users with assistance.
- Sankey’s Mountain Summit Track: 865 m, about 50 minutes. From the car park you follow the Tallowwood and Acacia tracks to reach it. It is also suitable for wheelchair users with assistance.
- Other tracks: Tallowwood (450 m), Acacia (250 m), Spotted Gum (350 m), Brush Box (350 m), Bloodwood (550 m), Stringybark (700 m), Shirleyana (400 m), Ironbark (450 m), Mahogany (700 m) and She-oak (900 m).
Lookouts
Two spots give you views. At the Whites Hill Summit you catch glimpses of the city and can read about the history of the hill. The Sankey’s Mountain Outlook is reached by following the Acacia Track onto the Sankey’s Mountain Summit Track.
Rainforest and wildlife
Sankey’s Scrub is a small patch of rainforest growing along Salvin Creek, and it supports some rare plants, including Shirley’s tuckeroo, Queensland nut and white beech. Brisbane City Council lists koalas, powerful owls, sacred kingfishers, short-beaked echidnas and Brisbane short-necked turtles among the animals that live in the reserve.
The playground at The Common
The Common is a children’s playground and large open area. The playground is fully fenced and has equipment for children of all ages and abilities. Shade sails cover part of it.
- Three slides, a climbing net and a crow’s nest
- A 35 m double flying fox
- A sandpit with stationary diggers
- Swings, including a support seat, a bird’s nest and a hammock
- A wheelchair-accessible glider and low-level sensory instruments
- A water play system with troughs, bowls and funnels (it may not always have water connected)
- A bike run with speed bumps
Next to the playground are two electric barbecues (mains power, two plates each), sheltered seating and a picnic area. Toilets with an accessible cubicle, adult change and baby change are close to the barbecues and open in daylight hours.
Is Whites Hill Reserve dog friendly?
Dogs are welcome on a lead, and you need to clean up after them. Please keep your dog on a lead at all times on the tracks, because the reserve is home to a lot of wildlife. There is also an off-leash dog park in the south-west corner of the reserve, off Boundary Road.
Bikes, sport and what is not allowed
Bike riding is only allowed on the 1.3 km Boundary Road Bikeway, a shared path. The playing fields are used for touch football, cricket, soccer and kite flying. Council’s rules prohibit camping, fires, horse riding, motorbikes and littering in the reserve.
A little history
The reserve is named after Whites Hill, the site of Robert White’s residence, which became a popular teahouse and a venue for dances and weddings in the early 1900s.
Planning your visit
- How long: 1 to 2 hours covers the playground and one or two short walks. Allow longer for a picnic.
- What to bring: Water, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and comfortable footwear. Take a track map or download one from Brisbane City Council.
- Safety: Council advises walking with a friend and telling someone where you are going. Mobile coverage may not reach every part of the reserve.
- Accessibility: Paths weave through the playground for wheelchairs and prams, and there are two accessible parking spaces next to it. The Sankey’s Mountain Summit Track and Whites Hill Circuit are suitable for wheelchair users with assistance.
Getting there and parking
The reserve is at 258 Boundary Road, Camp Hill, about 15 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD without traffic. The main entry is off Boundary Road, and you can also walk in from surrounding streets.
Parking is along the one-way ring road around the playing fields, on the exit road, and close to the playground. See the Brisbane City Council reserve page and track map for the layout.
Nearby
- Coorparoo – cafes and Coorparoo Square a few minutes away.
- Carindale – Westfield, a cinema and Rocket Park.
- Karawatha Forest – more bush walks on the south side.
- Mount Gravatt Lookout – another city view with a cafe.
- More nature walks and playgrounds around Brisbane.
You might also like
- Toohey Forest (Nathan)
- Oxley Creek Common (Rocklea)
- Koala Bushlands (Burbank)
Quick answers
When is Whites Hill Reserve open?
The reserve is open 24 hours. Tracks can be muddy or washed out after heavy rain, so check conditions first.
How long are the walks at Whites Hill Reserve?
The tracks are short, and none is over 900 m. The Whites Hill Circuit is 565 m (about 30 minutes) and the Sankey’s Mountain Summit Track is 865 m (about 50 minutes). You can link tracks together for a longer loop.
Does Whites Hill Reserve have toilets and barbecues?
Yes. There are toilets (accessible, adult change and baby change, open in daylight hours) and two electric barbecues with sheltered seating beside the playground.
Can you take a dog to Whites Hill Reserve?
Yes, on a lead. There is also an off-leash dog park in the south-west corner off Boundary Road.
Can you ride a bike at Whites Hill Reserve?
Only on the 1.3 km Boundary Road Bikeway. Bikes are not allowed on the walking tracks.
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