Chermside Hills Reserves

Chermside Hills Reserves is an oasis of beautiful bushland criss-crossed by walking paths (with on-leash dogs permitted) in the midst of Chermside West suburbia. 

The entire reserve, an open eucalypt forest, is awash with grass skirt trees (Xenorrhoea) and banksia (with yellow tree candles when in bloom), making it one of the most picturesque and unique walks in Brisbane.

The entrance to Chermside Reserve is near the end of Trouts Rd (about 150m from the intersection with Hamilton Rd), where there is free, on-street, parallel parking, and, just inside the entry, there are a couple of picnic tables and a useful map of the walking trails.

The Giwadha track is an easy 2km circuit walk (approx 1 hr) that is well signed, with little bridges and boardwalks and one lookout at Spider Hill. At the intersection where it starts, just over the bridge, it is recommended to go left and follow the circuit in a clockwise direction.

The trail will take you through the ground vegetation, including the candelabra-like banksias and the shimmering groves of grass trees, and there are plenty of birdlife spotting opportunities at the Cabbage Tree Creek bridge.

The final part of the circuit wil take you up a slope to Spider Hill where there's a bench and filtered glimpses of Moreton Bay and the City to be had through the trees.

From Spider Hill, there's a graded descent back to near the start of the circuit where you'll need to take a bit of care on the path down, before connecting to the bridge that leads back to the picnic tables and car park.

Good to know - In late winter and early spring, the wildflowers are in bloom, including the luminous banksias and the pretty purple ground flowers.

For more fantastic bush walks in Brisbane, check out our guide HERE.

Looking for Brisbane's best dog-friendly bush walks? See HERE.