Eagleby Wetlands: Bird Hides, Boardwalk and Walking Tracks

Eagleby Wetlands is a free wetland reserve on the Albert River at 293 Logan Street in Eagleby, about 35 minutes by car from Brisbane. Walking tracks, a boardwalk over part of the wetland and a set of bird hides make it one of the easiest places in Logan to watch birds and take a bush walk.

The reserve was rehabilitated by local people and now holds several habitats side by side, from mangroves and melaleuca swamp to restored forest and open grassland. More than 200 native bird species have been recorded in the area, according to Logan City Council.

What to see at Eagleby Wetlands

The reserve is a series of wetlands that represent different ecosystems. You can walk through shallow enclosed waterbodies, a tidal stretch of the Albert River where mangroves grow in salty water, large areas of restored forest and a woodland of big old native trees.

The Queensland Naturalists’ Club describes a landscape of broad-leaved paperbark swamp and Queensland blue gums, with the swamps overlooked by hides. Its members found the lagoons largely covered by para grass, with open water on the Albert River and a water treatment pond.

Bird hides and birdwatching

Bird hides are among the reserve’s community facilities, and the swamps are overlooked by hides. The bird habitats include melaleuca and brackish swamps, a freshwater lake, woodland, cane fields and open grassland. Across the whole area, 19 of Australia’s 24 raptors have been recorded, along with almost half of the bird species found in Queensland.

On a June 2024 naturalists’ outing, the group saw striated pardalotes nesting in tree hollows, brown honeyeaters, a swamp harrier, a whistling kite, a sacred kingfisher, rainbow bee-eaters, rufous fantails, rainbow lorikeets in flowering blue gums and hardhead, Pacific black ducks and Australasian grebes on the river and pond. A spotless crake was heard but not seen.

Boardwalk and walking tracks

A system of tracks runs through the reserve, with a boardwalk over a section of the wetland and interpretive signs along the way. On the naturalists’ outing the group walked two loops, a short one back to the car park and a longer one. Council has a brochure for the wetlands, “Eagleby Wetlands – Adventure Trail”, on its website, which also points to the Eagleby Beenleigh Adventure Trail.

Exercise trail and amphitheatre

The reserve also has an exercise trail with fitness stations, sporting fields beside it and an amphitheatre, so you can mix a walk with a workout.

History and First Nations heritage

Land next to Olivers Sports Complex was set aside in 2003 to establish the wetlands. Council’s trail brochure says the Yugambeh people are the traditional custodians of the area, and that scarred trees and stone tools from their past activity can still be found. Please look but do not touch or move anything you find.

Facilities at Olivers Sports Complex

The wetlands sit beside Olivers Sports Complex, which is where the car park and most facilities are. The complex has toilets, an electric barbecue, a playground, a basketball court, accessible fitness equipment and an accessible picnic area. Birds Queensland also notes toilets at the complex and walking tracks around the lagoons.

Planning your visit

• Cost: free.
• Best time: early morning suits birdwatching, as on the naturalists’ outing.
• What to bring: water, a hat, sunscreen, enclosed shoes and binoculars if you have them. Council lists enclosed shoes, sun-smart clothing, a hat, sunscreen and water for its guided walks here.
• Smell: the reserve borders a sewage treatment works, and the naturalists noted that the water treatment pond smelled. It does not stop the birds, but expect it on some days.
• Dogs: council’s pages do not state a rule, so look for signs at the entrance before bringing a dog.

Getting there and parking

Eagleby Wetlands is at 293 Logan Street, Eagleby, about 35 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD. Birds Queensland’s directions are to leave the Pacific Motorway at Junction 34, take Saverin Road into Logan Street and turn into Olivers Sports Complex, where the car park is. The complex has an accessible car park.

For buses, use the Translink journey planner or call 13 12 30 and enter Eagleby Wetlands as your destination. Council’s Eagleby Wetlands brochure has the Adventure Trail details.

Nearby

• Albert River Park – a riverside playground, skate bowl and dog areas in Eagleby.
• Beenleigh Historical Village – heritage buildings in nearby Beenleigh.
• Beenleigh Rum Distillery – a rum distillery in nearby Beenleigh.
• Logan Art Gallery – a gallery in Logan.
• Beenleigh – parks, the village and the distillery in one day out guide.
• More nature walks and everything in Logan.

You might also like

• Albert River Wines – a cellar door and lunch a drive away.
• Koala Bushlands (Burbank)
• Boondall Wetlands (Brisbane)

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