10 Refreshing Day Trips under 150 km from Brisbane

North Straddie features even more than its southerly counterpart offering scenic headlands, rich native wildlife, freshwater lakes, three village townships, rolling surf and endless white sandy beaches.

D’Aguilar National Park offers a nearby nature escape featuring remote gorges, sheltered pockets of subtropical rainforest, eucalypt woodland and spectacular views to Moreton Bay, all within an hour and a half’s drive of Brisbane.

Springbrook National Park is part of the larger UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest offering ancient 3000 year old Antarctic Beech trees, waterfalls, serene rainforests, walking tracks and spectacular lookouts.

Nearby to Springbrook National Park it is also part of the larger UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest area. Lamington National Park features some 160 km of walking tracks to explore taking in waterfalls and the sounds of rainforest birdlife. In the area you can also visit O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Overlooking Brisbane, Mount Coot-tha offers visitors spectacular views over the city and out to Moreton Bay. You’ll also find several walking treks to explore the eucalypt forest, waterfalls, and picnic areas. You can also explore the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, and mountain bike trails.

The massive Hinze dam offers four picnic and barbecue areas with nearby playgrounds plus a state-of-the-art information centre on the dam, along with wall walk track, mountain bike trails, fishing spots, and a cafe with amazing views. The dam is popular with kayakers too.

The island features surf beaches and calm protected beaches, fishing spots, boating areas, and the Bribie Island National Park where you’ll likely catch a look at goannas, kangaroos, emus, kookaburras, and birdlife.

Located just past Beaudesert, Mt Joyce offers hiking trails and great views while the park surrounding  Lake Wyaralong offers facilities for horse riding, mountain biking, watersports, and picnics. The area is managed by SEQ Water.

The attraction of Tamborine Mountain centers on Long Road and Gallery Walk featuring cafes, cellar doors, craft shops, and galleries. Nearby is the Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens, vineyards, waterfalls, walking trails, and adventure attractions.

There is a wealth of attractions in the area making it a great scenic driving trip including Golden Beach, Bulcock Beach, Shelly Beach, Moffat Beach, Dicky Beach, Currimundi and Kings Beach and the opportunity for watersports, fishing, jet skiing or a beautiful walk along the long Caloundra Coastal Walk.