Maculata Track: The Backway up to Simpsons Falls on Mt Coot-tha

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A lesser know way up Mt Coot-tha that is worth walking

Mt Coot-tha has a lot of different hiking trails, and you could spend all day hiking up and down the mountain on interconnected tracks. But one that few people even know about, let alone hike, is the combination of the Maculata Track and the Stringybark Track that goes from Gordon Road in Bardon up to Simpson's Falls. Not only is it a pleasant less walked 2.3 km track with few people on it, but it is also actually a great [LINK https://www.weekendnotes.com/21-best-public-transport-accessible-hikes-in-south-east-queensland/] Public Transport Accessible hiking option as you can hike up this track and then over the mountain to another bus stop to take you home.



Maculata

Maculata, or more accurately, corymbia maculata, means spotted gum. There is also another Spotted Gum Trail on Mt Coot-tha that goes from the Brisbane Botanic Gardens up to the Summit on the other side of the mountain. So if you want to, you can hike up one spotted gum trail and down another after hiking across the mountain.

The walk

The walk starts at the end of Gordon Road in Bardon, and you can drive and park there. While there are only a few official parking spots, the car park is rarely full, and if it is there is plenty of street parking. You can also take the 375 bus that stops near the start of Gordon Road and it is a pleasant stroll down the quiet leafy street to the start of the walk.



The walk starts as a wide trail that branches off in two directions. To the right is the Kulgun Circuit which is a nice little walk but not really worth doing. To the left, the trail turns into a track as it heads up Mt Coot-tha.



The track is not as steep as it heads up the mountain. You might catch some glimpses of Brisbane through the trees as you make your way along the track. As for other hikers, you will mostly see locals who use the track for exercise.

One interesting feature on the track is a hiker-made rest area. There is a spot around an old tree trunk with an improvised bench and lots of stacked stones. This is a reminder that most of the tracks on Mt Coot-tha were hiked by locals before they became officially signed and cared for trails.



The Malculata Track ends at the ring road on Mt Coot-tha, and it is just a matter of crossing the road to the Stringybark Track to complete the walk to Simpsons Falls. This is another 500 to the top of the falls.



The Stringybark Track follows around the side of the mountain, and you will get some reasonable views of Brisbane. There are some spots where you will even see the tops of the Brisbane city centre's tallest buildings.



When the track starts heading down you know you are near Simpsons Falls. Normally the falls are dry or if you are lucky, there will be a small trickle. Though if you go after recent rain you might see a nice flow.



Returning to the start point can be achieved by following the tracks you came back up. You can also make the walk into a bit of a loop by first walking back along the Stringybark Track and then instead of going down the Maculata Track, take the Bardon Trail down. This fire trail is not as nice as the track but it is good for people who like a loop as it comes at at Macrae Road, next to Gordon Road.



Beyond Simpsons Falls

Obviously, you don't have to stop your walk at Simpsons Falls as Mt Coot-tha is a network of interconnected tracks and trails which you can spend all day walking around. Here are a couple of suggestions on what to do after getting to Simpsons Falls.







Coffee, Cake & Food

Of course, you can bring a picnic lunch or things to barbecue at the Simpsons Falls Picnic Area, but if you want to buy coffee, cake or a meal, there are few options. The Summit is the place to hike to for views, coffee and food. On weekends you will usually find a food truck or caravan at or near the Hoop Pine Picnic area selling coffee, cake, ice cream and light meals. You can always walk down to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens where they have a cafe.



Overall

The Malculata Track is a relatively easy and nice walk where there are few people. Lots of people run it as it is uphill but not too steep. It is the backway up Mt Coot-tha to Simpsons Falls and you can link it to lots of other tracks there. It is also public transport accessible and a great starting point after bussing to one side of the mountain so that you can hike across to the other side. It is well worth adding to your list of places to walk in Mt Coot-tha.

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