Karawatha Forest, QLD

Hidden in the midst of suburbia, Karawatha Forest is a credit to Brisbane City Council. The forest is set on over 900 hectares and encompases dry eucalypt forest, lagoon and wetlands, natural playgrounds and an interactive discovery centre. With over 20km of tracks there is something to suit everyone.

There are multiple access points to Karawatha Forest, the main being Acacia Rd in the north east and Illaweena St in the south. The Acacia Rd entrance has a huge car park and is the access point for the discovery centre and natural playgrounds.

Within the forest are numerous interlinking tracks, all of which are well signed. The paths are gravelly, so sturdy footwear is recommended. Dogs on leads are welcome. The wide paths are shared by walkers and mountain bike riders. Some paths are relatively flat, while others will get your heart rate elevated. Check the Karawatha Forest Track Map for specifics.

Near the Illaweena St entrance is the wetlands and lagoon. No swimming is allowed but heaps of fun will be had spotting tadpoles. There is plenty of wildlife to be on the lookout for and the highest point in the forest provides views of the surrounding area.

Families will love the natural playgrounds. One area has logs and rocks to be climbed and another has water to be pumped and channeled through the sand. Kids can let their imaginations run wild here. There are plenty of picnic spots and room to throw a frisbee. Overall it is a really well thought out and maintained space.

There are so many features in the forest waiting to be discovered. The two hours I spent there wasn't nearly long enough to explore them all. I came away truly impressed by Karawatha Forest and look forward to comming back again soon.