Going Bush Toowoomba
Exploring Our Region's Best Bushwalks
About Toowoomba...
Toowoomba City
Toowoomba is a regional city located 90mins west of Queensland's state capital, Brisbane, on the traditional lands of the Jagera, Giabal and Jarowair peoples. The Toowoomba Region belongs to the broader Southern Queensland Country region, along with our neighbours in the South Burnett, Western Downs, Lockyer Valley, and Southern Downs/Granite Belt regions.
Sitting atop the Toowoomba Range at an elevation of approximately 700m above sea level, our city attracts thousands of visitors each spring for the annual Carnival of Flowers festival, however the beauty of the Toowoomba Region can be experienced all year round by visiting any of the huge selection of forests and national parks right on our doorstep.
Walks & Trails in the Toowoomba Region
There may not be any beach-walks on offer in Toowoomba (being 150km from the coast), but our region caters to just about any other interest area and fitness level.
After something quick & simple?
There are several short bushwalks to explore right here in town. These are mostly flat and well-signed, with many trails suitable for young children or people who are less confident on rough surfaces or hilly terrain (note, particularly, the sensory walk at J.E. Duggan Park in Rangeville).
Want a moderate challenge but don't have all day?
There are numerous easy-moderate difficulty trails along the escarpment, with views east to the Lockyer Valley and Tabletop Mountain (Meewah/One Tree Hill). These tend to have short, steeper sections and could have rocky, muddy or overgrown trail surfaces, depending on the time of year. The most popular escarpment walks are those at Picnic Point, but there is also a range of excellent and less-frequented walks through Glen Lomond Park on the south side of town and Jubilee Park to the north.
All about the views?
On the southern edge of town, Mount Peel's twin peaks offer city and western views, or drive 15mins west of Toowoomba to enjoy an easy climb and gorgeous sunset views from Mount Kingsthorpe. (It is also possible to climb Tabletop Mountain, although this trail has some challenging sections and we are encouraged to show extra respect at this site, which is the location of a significant battle between Indigenous and White Australians in 1843). Still not high enough? Within 90mins drive of Toowoomba, the peaks of Main Range National Park (Goomburra and Cunningham's Gap sections) are awaiting you, with breathtaking cliff-top views toward Brisbane and over the Southern/Western Downs.
Thirsty for some water?
Head out soon after rain to catch the gorgeous, seasonally flowing waterfalls at Highfields Falls, Crows Nest Falls and the exquisite falls at the bottom of Hell Hole Track in Glen Lomond Park. Enjoy the wide water views with a picnic at Cooby Dam, Lake Cressbrook or Lake Perseverance, or take a daytrip to some of the beautiful lakes and water-systems in our neighboring regions. A drive of 90mins or less will have you at the stunning ephemeral Lake Broadwater just south of Dalby, or cross the creek at Goomburra to find that magical swimming hole at the base of Araucaria Falls.
Want to keep cool in the shade of an ancient rainforest?
To catch a glimpse of what the Great Dividing Range looked like in the centuries and millennia before European settlers arrived in Australia, explore the hidden Rainforest Walking Circuit and Ferny Gully Circuit in Redwood Forest Park, feel small under the towering canopy of red cedars and palm groves of Ravensbourne National Park, or follow in the footsteps of local Indigenous peoples on their three-yearly migration trail to the musky and mysterious Bunya Mountains.
About Me...
My name is Steph. At the start of 2021 I rediscovered my love of bushwalking, and since then I've been keenly exploring Toowoomba's walks and trails - going bush 2-3 times a week, time and weather depending. Many of my trips include one or both of my children (4 & 5 years old when we began the project), a dog or two, or sometimes the whole family.
For me, bushwalking has become more than just a healthy exercise habit. It has deepened my connection with the natural world and inspired a keen interest in photography, local history, and the native plants and animals of our region. (If you share an interest in identifying plants/animals, be sure to check out the citizen-science apps QuestaGame, iNaturalist and eBird.)
I would like to acknowledge the friends and mentors I have met on this bushwalking journey - the dedicated volunteers with the Friends of the Escarpment Parks, members of the Toowoomba branch of Native Plants Queensland, and my personal nature gurus Trish Gardener and Joe Blatchly - who continue to inspire me with their passion for nature. I also thank the Toowoomba Regional Council for publishing their excellent Walks & Trails of Toowoomba Region resource, and offer a shout-out to the team of rangers and maintenance crews who work tirelessly all year-round to keep our walking trails safe and looking their best. See the Links page for a full list of the resources I've used to plan my own bushwalks and to create this site.
Finally, and importantly, I acknowledge the Giabal, Jagera, Jarowair, West Wakka Wakka, Barunggum, Geynyan, Ngarabal and Wangerriburra peoples who are the traditional custodians of the lands I walk on, and pay my respects to their elders past, present and future.
Thanks for visiting & Happy Trails...
