Carindale To Minnippi

One of Brisbane’s most charming walk/rides is buried in Eastern suburbia that is largely known for its shopping complex rather than its nature.

Following Bulimba Creek all the way from the depths of suburban cul-de-sacs via the back of Carindale Shopping Centre and on to the lush Minnippi Parklands are about 9km return of well maintained paved tracks.

Start by parking the car in the vicinity of Meadowbank St and there are a couple of steps down to where the path is. Turn right and take the path that heads towards Carindale Shopping Centre, veering to the the left when it splits as the other path leads to Meadowbank Gold Club. You'll soon meet up with Bulimba Creek, which you'll follow most of the way.

With the odd gentle slope, the wide concrete path winds through wooded glades, meadows, over little wooden bridges and has an excellent playground as either a starting point for the less experienced/younger riders or a halfway point for others. Bulimba Creek itself is home to turtles that congregate near the picnic shelters in expectation of food scraps as well as a range of water birds.

But the piece de resistance of this journey is Minnippi Parklands, an oasis like expanse of rolling green with a tranquil lagoon (one of the last original lagoons in the eastern suburbs – others have been subject to infill), plenty of picnic tables and shelters, hills with views to the Mc Donnell ranges and an aerodrome themed playground. On the hill near the playground is a fenced off dilapidated farm building with rusted vintage machinery that could be a remnant of Holmwood, the family farm of the Stanton family who were the first settlers in the area.

Those with more energy to burn can avail themselves of the 3.2km circuitous path within Minnippi Parklands.