Adventure recreation
Get the adrenalin pumping with an outdoor adventure.
Rock climbing and abseiling
Live life on the edge. Photo: DERM.
Set your heart racing and see the world from a unique perspective.
Abseil down the rhyolite bluffs of Point Glorious in Mapleton Forest Reserve, or climb the vertical cliff face of Mount Tinbeerwah in Tewantin National Park until you reach the 360 degree panoramic views at the top.
Discover more places to rock climb or abseil at:
If you’re looking for a challenging summit climb without ropes and specialist equipment, try Mount Barney National Park, Mount Coolum National Park, Mount Walsh National Park or Wooroonooran National Park.
Remember to walk safely and softly.
Cave tours
Join a cave tour and discover a whole new underground world. Photo courtesy of Tourism Queensland.
Enter the eerie depths of echoing caves with shadowy corners and looming stalagmites.
Spectacular caverns, limestone formations and ancient marine fossils are just some of the wonders you’ll discover at Chillagoe—Mungana Caves National Park. Choose from ranger-led tours or self-guided cave walks.
Experience the rush of thousands of tiny bats flashing past you on a Bat Cleft cave tour at Mount Etna Caves National Park, just north of Rockhampton. Caving tours are also offered by local commercial operators.
Undara Volcanic National Park is home to one of the longest lava tube cave systems in the world. Join a tour guide and head underground into the lava tubes, or get a bird’s-eye view of the ancient volcanic landscape from a chartered scenic flight.
Horseriding
Hundreds of kilometres of tranquil trails are open to horseriding. Photo: Alison Price
Saddle up and see our forests on horseback. Photo: Alison Price
A rewarding and relaxing forest ride awaits. Photo: Bruce Dunn
Seeking somewhere scenic and serene to saddle up your horse? Hundreds of kilometres of tranquil trails await you in Queensland’s parks and forests. If you want to experience the bush on horseback the following places may be just what you’re looking for.
South East Queensland
The South East Queensland Horse Riding Trail Network provides a range of outstanding horseriding opportunities on 547 km of trails. Refer to the regional maps indicating the location of these horse trails. Horseriding trails pass through the following parks and forests:
Gold Coast
Around and west of Brisbane
- Bunyaville Conservation Park
- D'Aguilar National Park
- Daisy Hill Conservation Park
- Glen Rock Park
- Moggill Conservation Park
- Samford Conservation Park
Sunshine Coast
- Amamoor State Forest and Forest Reserve
- Beerburrum State Forest
- Bellthorpe National Park
- Benarkin State Forest
- Conondale National Park
- Dularcha National Park
- Imbil State Forest
- Jimna State Forest
- Mapleton Forest Reserve
- Parklands Conservation Park
- Tewantin National Park
- Tuan State Forest
- Wongi State Forest
- Yarraman State Forest
Central Queensland
North Queensland
- Herberton Range Conservation Park
- Kuranda National Park and Mowbray National Park
- Tumoulin State Forest
Remember to ride safely and minimise your impact on these special natural areas.
Canoeing and kayaking
Don’t forget to pack the paddles. Photo: DERM.
Experience the ocean from a kayak. Photo courtesy of Charles Robey.
Test your paddling prowess on the scenic waterways of the upper Noosa River. With camp sites accessible by canoe and a variety of bushwalks, spend a weekend (or longer) exploring the Cooloola Recreation Area, Great Sandy National Park.
After heavy rains, Lake Broadwater Conservation Park on the Darling Downs is the perfect spot for canoeing, not to mention birdwatching, picnicking, walking and camping. So pack up the kids and the kayaks and enjoy the great outdoors.
Venture into the waters of Lawn Hill Gorge, Boodjamulla National Park. Drift past sandstone cliffs and lush vegetation. The emerald waters of the gorge are an oasis for local wildlife.
If fresh sea air is what you’re looking for, head out on the open water and enjoy a sea kayaking tour around Hinchinbrook Island National Park or Snapper Island, Hope Islands National Park.
Other popular sea kayaking locations include Moreton Bay Marine Park, Deepwater National Park, Family Islands National Park and Goold Island National Park.
Whitewater rafting
Take on the powerful whitewater. Photo: DERM.
For a fun-filled day of thrills and spills, take the plunge and join a whitewater rafting tour at either Tully Gorge National Park or Barron Gorge National Park.
Ride the wild river rapids and get soaked to the bone! It’s the ultimate way to experience Queensland’s tropical rainforests.
Last updated 26 April 2012