Become a seasoned hiker in seven steps

SO YOU want to become a hiker, hey? You and everyone else it seems.

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BRISBANE is the jewel in the hiker’s hat for top walking trails suited to all experience levels, so if hiking is on your radar, get yourself to the River City.

If you’re new to the idea of becoming a nature warrior and haven’t hit the trails in a long while (or ever), then we’ve got the perfect guide for you.

Follow these seven steps to take you from hiking rookie to seasoned professional.

1.       Summit Track, Mt Coot-tha (easy): An easy 1.9km track from JC Slaughter Falls picnic area to the lookout is a good starting point for a beginner. It’s about a 30-minute trek each way so you’ll be able to soak up the beauty and get a sweat up, all before breakfast.
2.       Araucaria Track, Brisbane Forest Park (easy): Another cruisy hike, this 5km family-friendly trail is a 90-minute return walk full of beautiful flora and fauna. This is a favourite among bird watchers, so keep your eyes peeled and your cameras handy.
3.       Northbrook Gorges, Brisbane Forest Park (moderate): Congratulations, you’ve graduated to a moderate trail! Check out the Northbrook Gorges for a real natural experience. Swim through two freshwater gorges as part of this 6km trek which will take you up to the Wivenhoe Lookout.
4.       Gold Creek Reservoir, Upper Brookfield (moderate): This trail is drenched in history, being the second dam built in Queensland and the first in the world with a cascading spillway. Take an adventurous hike around the 5.5km dam circumference which takes about two hours.
5.       Morelia Walking Track, Mt Nebo, D’Aguilar National Park (hard): Now you’ve tackled two easy walks and two moderate, you could probably call yourself a hiker, but to get ‘seasoned’ status, here’s a couple to really get those glutes firing. The Morelia Walking Track at Mt Nebo is a 6km walk to the Mt Nebo Lookout with stunning views over the Samford Valley and out to Moreton Bay. It will take about two hours to complete, but for something a bit more challenging, leave from the Mount Nebo Transfer Station and try the Cabbage Tree Range Loop – an epic 17km hike that will take four to seven hours to complete.
6.       Mermaid Mountain, Brisbane Forest Park (hard): Take a five-hour trek up the beautiful Mermaid Mountain for a spectacular view of Lake Manchester and surrounding hills, but it is 18km, and uphill, so warm up those legs before you set off!
7.       Snap a selfie (easy): Now you’ve conquered six hikes in the beautiful Brisbane region, you’ve earned the privilege to call yourself a seasoned hiker. But before you do, the seventh step is to tell the social media world with a sweaty selfie in your hiking get-up, because as we all know, it’s not official until it’s Facebook official.

For more beautiful hikes around Brisbane, head HERE.

Originally published as Become a seasoned hiker in seven steps