Mt Coot-tha Lookout: Free City Views, Cafes and Walks

Mt Coot-tha Lookout is Brisbane’s best-known free view, a heritage-listed lookout at the top of Mount Coot-tha with wide views over the city and out to Moreton Bay. It is open 24 hours a day, it is about 15 minutes by car from the CBD, and parking is free.

There is a cafe, a restaurant and a gift shop at the top, and a network of bush tracks that climb up from the forest below if you would rather earn the view.

The views from Mt Coot-tha Lookout

The lookout sits on the highest point in Brisbane, about 226 metres above sea level, and looks straight across to the CBD towers with the suburbs spread out in front. On a clear day the view reaches out to Moreton Bay.

Because the lookout never closes, you can come for sunrise, a clear midday view or the city lights after dark. It is the same free view at any hour, so pick the light you like.

The lookout itself is heritage listed, so you are standing on a piece of Brisbane history as well as a very good viewing platform.

Cafe, restaurant and gift shop at the summit

There are two places to eat at the top, both run by The Summit at 1012 Sir Samuel Griffith Drive. There is also a gift shop at the lookout.

The Summit Cafe

The cafe is the quick option, and it is walk-in only. It is open Monday to Thursday from 6 am to 6 pm and Friday to Sunday from 6 am to 9 pm. It suits a coffee before a walk or a casual meal with the view.

The Summit Restaurant and Bar

The restaurant is open daily, with high tea from 9 am to 5 pm and the bar from 11.30 am. It stays open until 10 pm Monday to Saturday (kitchen closes 8.30 pm) and until 8 pm on Sunday (kitchen closes 6.30 pm). You book online through the Summit website.

Walks at Mt Coot-tha Lookout

The reserve has more than 70 tracks, and council describes them as easy, moderate and difficult. Two of them lead to the lookout, and both start at J.C. Slaughter Falls Picnic Area, which is open from 6 am to 7 pm daily.

Summit Track

The Summit Track is 1.9 km and takes about 30 minutes. It follows a mostly paved path to the roundabout near the lookout and includes some stairs.

Mahogany Trail

The Mahogany Trail is 2.6 km and takes about 1.25 hours. It runs from the entrance of the picnic area to near the lookout and is shared by walkers, bike riders and horse riders.

Riders can also come up by road along Sir Samuel Griffith Drive.

Is Mt Coot-tha Lookout dog friendly?

You can walk a dog in Mt Coot-tha Reserve as long as it stays on a lead and you dispose of its waste. For an off-leash run, council points to Merri Merri Park or Green Hill Reservoir Park.

Planning your visit

• How long: 20 to 30 minutes for the view, an hour or two with a coffee or meal, half a day if you walk up and back.
• Best time: clear days for the longest views; sunset and after dark for the city lights.
• Cost: the lookout and parking are free. The cafe and restaurant are extra.
• What to bring: water, a hat and sturdy shoes if you are walking. Not all picnic areas in the reserve have shade.
• Picnics: the reserve has nine picnic areas. Some have tables, barbecues, accessible toilets, water taps and car parks.
• Accessibility: council does not publish accessibility details for the lookout or the tracks. Ring council on 07 3403 8888 if you need to check.

Getting there and parking

By car, drive up Sir Samuel Griffith Drive. It is about 15 minutes from the Brisbane CBD (about 9 km by road). Parking at the lookout is free.

By bus, Translink lists route 471, Mt Coot-tha Lookout to City. It does not run every day, so check the timetable first on the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.

More detail is on council’s Mt Coot-tha precinct page. Details can change, so check before you go.

Nearby

• Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha – 56 hectares of gardens at the foot of the mountain, a short drive down the hill.
• Mt Gravatt Lookout – Brisbane’s southside summit, with a cafe and a playground.
• The Old Windmill, Brisbane – a city landmark to visit after seeing the skyline from above.
• Enoggera Reservoir – A heritage dam at The Gap, about 14 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, with a buoyed swimming area, a paddle craft launch and trails into the D’Aguilar bushland.
• City Botanic Gardens – Free riverside heritage gardens in the Brisbane CBD with Bunya pine and fig avenues, an accessible playground, a dog-friendly cafe and free guided walks.

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