For twelve months now, my three children and I have been regularly visiting the Walkabout Creek Wildlife and Visitor Centre, at the end of Waterworks Road, The Gap. Just 12 kilometres from Brisbane City or a 15 to 20 minute car ride, you can enjoy many great activities.
The beach at Walkabout Creek
Swim, stand-up paddle board or kayak in the Enogerra Reservoir. The Council has created a beach area with easy access to the beautiful, fresh and clean water of the Enogerra Dam. The water has flowed down here into the reservoir from the Mountains of the D'Aguilar National Park above.
Get up close and personal with many Australian animals including a platypus, wombat, rainforest birds, reptiles and nocturnal marsupials. The wildlife centre is open from 9am to 4.15pm every day excluding some public holidays. Admission is $7 for adults, $4.80 concession and $17.65 for a family pass. The Wildlife Centre is open 7 days a week from 9am to 4pm. The Wildlife Centre is not open on Good Friday and Christmas Day and is open from 1:30pm on Anzac Day.
Wildlife Centre - photo courtesy of National Parks & Wildlife
Their is also a Connect with Nature program offered here at D'Aguilar National Park Centre. This is a program for schools that is tailored to the current Queensland school curriculum.
Enjoy a yummy breakfast or lunch in
The Green Tree Frog Cafe. A family favourite on Sundays is their buffet breakfast followed by a bushwalk or swim. Gap locals get an extra 10% off their meal. And apparently they do a pretty amazing wedding reception.
Walkabout Creek - view back to the beach & Visitor Centre
Speaking of bushwalking, Walkabout Creek has two lovely bushwalking tracks, although neither track is wheelchair or pram friendly:
The Corymbia circuit is only 1.5 kilometres and takes our family about 40 to 50 minutes. Beginning at the Walkabout Centre, the track winds down through a wet eucalyptus forest gully and climbs back to the Walkabout centre. The track is a little slippery and steep in places.
Araucaria Track - Walkabout Creek
The Araucaria Track is 5km and a little too long for my little ones so I go this track alone or with friends. This walking track begins at the Walkabout Centre and winds past giant hoop pines and stunning forest. You walk around the shores of the Enoggera Reservoir to the stunning sight of birds and the beautiful sounds of birdsong, before looping back around one of the reservoir's peninsulas. This track takes me about 1 hour and 15 minutes at a brisk pace, or 45 minutes when I decide to have a bit of a trail run.
A nice spot to stop along the way
Mountain bike tracks are also for use at the Walkabout Creek Visitor Centre. There are 100's of kilometres of great mountain bike tracks for the fit and capable rider. Bring lots of water and don't forget a a map (available at the Walkabout Creek Visitor Centre). Both are a must prior to setting out. There are also a number of mountain bike skills course's close to the Visitor Centre for you to test your skills and agility out on.
Walkabout Creek Bushwalking and Mountain Biking
This is a great half day adventure for your family and friends. For more information contact Walkabout Creek Visitor Centre on ph 07 3512 2300.
