Brisbane’s best dog-friendly walking and hiking trails

DOG lovers are spoiled for choice when it comes to canine-friendly trails to take a walk or hike. See our interactive map

QLD_CM_WEEKENDEXTRA_DOGDAYTRIPS_27MARCH15

NARELLE Adams feels the burn in her legs as she pushes through the bush tracks and up the hills at Bunyaville Regional Park outside of Brisbane.

Next to her, Murphy the brown labrador-retriever cross happily pants as he, too, gets to explore the landscape while getting fit in one of the handful of areas around Brisbane where dogs are permitted to go hiking with their owners.

SUBURBAN: Top walks for you and your dog

SECRET SPOTS: Where Brissie people go

While domestic pets are not allowed in the region’s numerous national parks due to concerns they could threaten the native wildlife, Brisbane dog lovers have a range of options where their pooch can accompany them on bushwalks or hikes without having to drive hours away to seemingly more dog-friendly areas such as the Gold and Sunshine coasts or further inland.

There are a handful of state forests, owned by the Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing, within 30 minutes’ drive of Brisbane City, where four-legged family members are permitted to hike along with their owners on designated trails, as long as the dogs are on a lead.

Similarly, there are numerous Brisbane City Council-owned parks, wetlands, waterways, bushlands and habitat corridors that are managed for conservation and sustainable visitor use where dogs are allowed, unless a sign is posted at the front of the park stating otherwise.

Murphy laps up the great outdoors. Pic: Tara Croser

Murphy, 7, was a welcome companion for Adams as she trained for the gruelling Kokoda Challenge, held in the Gold Coast hinterland earlier this month.

The advantage of training in the Bunyaville State Forest with Murphy, Adams said, was that he distracted her from physical pain and he was tired out at the same time.

Prior to Kokoda training, she was more apt to take him to a dog beach, partially because she did not know where in the local area dogs were permitted to go hiking.

“I love dogs and I think a tired dog is a happy dog,” said Adams, who ran a dog washing business on weekends.

“Plus, I’m also doing the exercise now, as opposed to where you can just let them off at a dog beach or a dog park and sit on a park bench while they run.

“It’s also great as you’re building that bond with your dog in a more control and a safer environment, as long as everyone else’s dog is on the lead too.”

More details on conservation parks and state forests that allow dogs

More details on council-owned reserves

Originally published as Brisbane’s best dog-friendly walking and hiking trails