Karawatha Forest: Walks, Discovery Centre, Parking and Dogs

Karawatha Forest is about 900 hectares of bushland in Brisbane’s south, with more than 42 km of walking and shared-use tracks, a free Discovery Centre and a nature-play space. It sits at Karawatha, around 25 minutes by car from the CBD, and is one of Brisbane City Council’s largest bushland reserves.

The forest is a mix of dry eucalypt forest, sandstone ridges, freshwater lagoons and wetlands, so the walks change quickly from one track to the next. It is also one of the best places in Brisbane to see native wildlife in its own habitat.

Karawatha Forest walks

There are 30 walking tracks graded easy, moderate and hard, from 488 m up to 2.6 km. Most are named after the plants and animals you pass, such as the Banksia Track, Echidna Track, Ironbark Circuit, Melaleuca Circuit, Rocks Track and Wallum Track. Short tracks join up, so you can build a loop to suit small legs or a longer bush walk.

Council’s track map shows each track’s grade and length, plus where the car parks, picnic areas, toilets and taps are. Download the Karawatha Forest track map before you go, because mobile coverage and signs can be patchy in the bush.

Poets Rock, the lagoons and Frog Hollow

The map marks a few spots worth aiming for: Poets Rock, the lagoons and wetlands, the Illaweena Street picnic area, and the Frog Hollow wet heathland area.

Wildlife in Karawatha Forest

More than 200 wildlife species live in the forest, including nearly 120 bird species, gliders, possums and bats. It has Brisbane’s highest diversity of frog species, including the vulnerable wallum froglet and tusked frog, and threatened animals such as the glossy black-cockatoo, powerful owl, koala and greater glider.

There are also more than 320 native plant species, from melaleuca wetlands to uncommon wet heathlands. Look but do not touch: council asks visitors not to touch plants or animals and to stay on existing tracks.

Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre and nature play

The Discovery Centre is at 149 Acacia Road and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm. Entry is free. Inside are interactive displays, wildlife exhibits and a virtual tour of the forest. Special events and workshops may need registration or a small fee.

The centre includes Queensland’s first nature play space, and the picnic area beside it has sheltered tables and electric barbecues. Public toilets are at the centre, and the centre is wheelchair and pram accessible. The nursery gives away native plants: bring a paid rates notice from the current financial year to claim two free plants.

Kids can also pick up the downloadable Hide ‘n’ Seek Children’s Trail from council’s Discovery Centre page.

Is Karawatha Forest dog friendly?

Yes, on a leash. Dogs must be on a leash at all times, and you need to pick up after your dog and put the waste in a bin. The forest is home to many wildlife species, so keeping to the leash rule matters here more than most places.

Mountain biking at Karawatha Forest

Riding is allowed on designated trails only, not on the walking-only tracks. Council asks riders to wear a helmet, slow down for corners, keep left, call out when passing and give way to walkers on shared tracks. Dismount and walk your bike through the picnic areas.

Planning your visit

• Hours: the park is open 6 am to 6 pm daily.
• How long: as long as you like: tracks run from 488 m to 2.6 km, so a short loop or a longer circuit both work.
• Cost: the Discovery Centre is free. Some special events and workshops may need registration or a small fee.
• What to bring: water, a hat, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, a track map and a charged phone.
• Accessibility: the Discovery Centre is wheelchair and pram accessible. No accessibility details are published for the bush tracks, so check the track map or call the centre on 07 3178 0330.

Getting there and parking

The main entry is 149 Acacia Road, Karawatha, and it is about 23 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, about 25 minutes by car without traffic. The main car park is at the Discovery Centre. A smaller car park near the southern picnic area is reached from Illaweena Street. Foot access is from surrounding streets, as shown on the track map.

No bus route is listed for the forest. Plan a trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30. More detail is on council’s Karawatha Forest Park page and Discovery Centre page. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Daisy Hill Conservation Park – more bush trails on Brisbane’s south side.
• Daisy Hill Koala Centre – free koala viewing, a short drive away.
• Sherwood Arboretum – a riverside tree collection and picnic spot.
• Mount Gravatt Lookout – city views and the Toohey Forest tracks.
• Hiking in South East Queensland – what to bring on a bush walk.

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