If you are looking to swap the humidity of Brisbane for cool mountain air and towering ferns, you cannot go past Maiala walking tracks. Located at the top of Mt Glorious in D’Aguilar National Park, this spot is a personal favourite for a weekend walking escape. I recently took the family up there for an afternoon out, combining a quick classic Aussie picnic with a solid 6km of hiking through the scrub.
The name Maiala actually means “quiet place”, and once you get a few hundred metres away from the car park, you will understand why. It is peaceful, lush, and significantly cooler than the city.
The Perfect Family Picnic at Maiala
We started our day at the Maiala day use area. It is a massive grassy spot with plenty of picnic tables and barbecues (watch the video above for a panoramic view of the picnic area at the Maiala walking tracks). It is the kind of place where you can spread out a rug and let kids burn off some energy before hitting the trails.
One thing I noticed immediately was the local wildlife. You are almost guaranteed to see pademelons hopping around the edges of the clearing. They are fairly used to people, but keep your distance and enjoy the sight. The amenities here are top notch for a national park, with clean toilets and plenty of shade under the ancient trees, just watch out for the Bunya Nuts that could fall on your head. The Bunya Nut season typically runs from late December through to March, peaking in January and February.
Mixing and Matching the Maiala Walking Tracks
The beauty of this trail network is the flexibility. Because the tracks are interconnected, you can easily mix and match the walks depending on how tired the kids are or how much time you have left before the sun dips.
On our visit, we decided to tackle the Greene Falls track first while our legs were fresh. It is about a 4.3km return walk from the day use area. The track travels through cool subtropical rainforest to a peaceful lookout above the falls. After we made the climb back up from the waterfall, we decided to keep the momentum going by sidetracking into the Cypress Grove track.
Here’s a quck video of the Greene Falls. Not much water in the falls currently, this will change as we get more rain.
By the time we looped back onto the Rainforest Circuit, we had clocked up around 6km. This modular approach is great because if the family is flagging, you can just stick to the main circuit, but if everyone is still keen, the extensions like Cypress Grove add that extra bit of magic without being too strenuous.
Other Walks Available at Maiala
If you have already done Greene Falls or want something a bit different, there are a few other options starting from the same area:
- Western Window Track: A short 1.2km return walk that takes you to a lookout with spectacular views over the western escarpment. It is a great spot for sunset.
- Westside Track: For those after a longer hike, this 6.4km return track heads out from the opposite side of the road. It follows the ridgeline through some truly ancient sections of forest.
Essential Tips: Wildlife and Rainforest Realities
If you are planning to head up the mountain, here is some “boots on the ground” advice to keep the trip enjoyable.
Watch for Wildlife and Snakes
While the pademelons are the stars of the show, keep a sharp eye on the ground. During the warmer months, snakes like carpet pythons or even the occasional red-bellied black snake might be sunning themselves near the track. Give them plenty of space and they will usually move along. Of course there are the pademelons too, we saw a mother and her joey grazing about 5 metres away from us. There are plenty of birds as well, we heard the call of the Green Cat Bird which sounds like a crying baby often around the Maiala walking tracks.
The Leech Factor
The rainforest is damp, and that means leeches. Just as we finished our trek and got back to the car, I felt a familiar itch on my leg. Sure enough, I had a leech on my ankle that had hitched a ride from the damp leaf litter.
Check out the video to see what a leech looks like, and how it moves. Crazy!
I had to peel the little sucker off right there in the car park. It is all part of the experience, but I definitely recommend wearing long socks and doing a thorough “leech check” before you hop back in the car!
General Logistics
- Bring a Jumper: Even in summer, Mt Glorious can be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than Brisbane.
- Bring Water: Even if you are hot or cold in Summer or Winter you’ll sweat and need to hydrate effectively.
- Arrive Early or After Lunch: The car park fills up fast on Weekends by 10:00 am.
- No Mobile Service: Signal is very patchy on the trails, so download your maps beforehand.
Coffee and Refreshments Nearby
No Aussie bushwalk is complete without a coffee afterwards. Just a short drive from the Maiala walking tracks car park, you will find a couple of local cafes in the Mt Glorious township. It’s filled with motor bike riders and owners of classic cars that take their pride and joy for a squirt on the weekends. The vibe up here is very laid back, much like the hinterland towns you might find behind the Sunshine Coast.
Final Thoughts on Maiala
Overall, it was a great afternoon out on the Maiala walking tracks. We actually headed up after lunch, and I noticed that the car parks were much easier to get than during the morning rush. The amenities were in good nick, and the tracks are very well maintained.
If you are looking to get out of the city and breathe in some fresh mountain air, I’d highly recommend hitting the Maiala walking tracks. It is the perfect dose of nature without having to drive for hours.
Have you ever had a run-in with a leech or spotted a snake while exploring the Maiala walking tracks?
