The villages of Mount Glorious and Mount Nebo are located in the southern section of the D’Aguilar Range – the mountain range and national park situated just north-west of Brisbane CBD near Samford.
D’Aguilar National Park is reputedly the largest tract of bushland near an Australian state capital which also contains the closest rainforest to the city. A habitat for native plants, animals and birds, the national park is a great place to relax and unwind from the pressures of everyday life.
Who better to introduce you to the nature havens of Mount Nebo and Mount Glorious than two longtime residents? Peter and Carol Williams have called Mt Glorious home for over 20 years and now they’re inviting you to discover their favourite hinterland hiking hotspots.
Mt Glorious is one of North Brisbane’s best-bushwalking destinations. The area offers a number of excellent, well-maintained tracks which guide you through cool, sub-tropical rainforests. 7 of these walks are family-friendly featuring boardwalks to safely traverse tricky terrain.
As you cut through the rainforest you’ll encounter tall palms, incredible strangler figs, little birds of all kinds which call out and flit across your path, fallen trees covered in a myriad of fungi and moss species and, if you’re lucky to time your hike just after a bout of rain, bubbling brooks trickling along beside the tracks.
If you are able to do any of these walks in the evening, keep your eyes and ears open for frogs (especially if visiting after a downpour). You might also be fortunate to see fireflies and bioluminescent (glow in the dark) fungi.
Maiala Park features an undercover eating area, as well as a wide-open picnic area with plenty of shade, seats, toilets and even a few wood barbeques. The 3 main sub-tropical rainforest walks start from this picnic area which truly encompasses and reflects the aboriginal meaning of the park’s name – ‘quiet place’.
Above photo by @hannahpuechmarin on Instagram.
The walk to Greenes Falls from Maiala Mt Glorious picnic area features a very large tree which came down during a cyclone in 2013. Instead of cutting the tree up and removing the trunk from the trail, the rangers have cut steps into it instead, enabling walkers to climb over and continue walking.
Across the road from Maiala picnic area is another lovely, short walk to the Western Window, so called, as the trees form a frame surrounding a spectacular view out to the west and towards the Great Dividing Range.
You can continue along this trail to Lawton Road. The track has a few steep sections with steps. If you are staying in one of the B&Bs or guest houses in the area, a bench can be found along the trail at a little lookout spot, just a few steps down from the road, offering a lovely, romantic place to pull-over and enjoy the sunset.
You can do the return walk back through the bush or along the road, where you will come across a café to pop into along the way.
This section of the D’Aguilar National Park also offers many longer Maiala Mt Glorious walks perfect for the experienced bushwalker with good compass and map reading knowledge.
Mt Nebo has many bushwalks similar to those of Mount Glorious.
Boombana, on Mount Nebo Road, is the starting point of one of the best short eucalypt/subtropical rainforest walks perfect for a quick introduction to D’Aguilar.
The Pitta Circuit is a 1km circuit track which starts off through open eucalypt forest before breaking into the sub-tropical rainforest. Its boardwalk surrounds a giant strangler fig.
Mount Nebo Village can be accessed from this circuit via a 600m trail from the boardwalk giving you the option of visiting a local café for refreshments before retracing your steps back to the carpark, returning via the boardwalk.
From the carpark, you can walk to Jollys Lookout via the Thylogale 8km return walking track which weaves through pockets of dry rainforest – a vegetation known for its diversity and abundance of twisting vines.
This walk also affords the occasional spectacular view out to the west.
Jollys Lookout features a large picnic area with barbeques, toilets and great views across Enoggera Forest Reserve and out to the City.
Manorina, between Mount Nebo and Mount Glorious offers 2 Mt Nebo hiking trails:
You’ll also find a few interesting walks behind the Refuse Transfer Station at Mount Nebo. The walking track along the fire access road – Dundas Road – will take you to a small bush camping area set up with seating, fire pit, tent spaces and a water tank.
From here you can explore other fire access roads through dry eucalypt forest and enjoy a spot of bird and wildlife watching.
Please Note: Permits are required for camping in national parks.
#1 The name ‘Mount Glorious’ is quite apt for describing the area – glorious by name and glorious by nature.
#2 Mt Nebo and Mt Glorious are cooler in summer than the valleys which the range towers over.
#3 Numerous eclectic cafes and quaint villages exuding country atmosphere are dotted throughout the area.
#4 D’Aguilar affords so many opportunities to experience nature in all its glory thanks to the many walking trails which grant you access to sub-tropical rainforests and eucalypt forests.
#5 So many incredible views to drink in from lookouts and along hiking trails!
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Looking for more things to do and see? Pop into one of the region's Accredited Visitor Information Centres. The volunteers have a wealth of local knowledge.
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