Day Tripping at Mt Nebo

Just 45 minutes from Brisbane CBD and you're in Mt Nebo, with cooler air, stunning lookouts, a rustic cafe and giant ancient fig trees that you can stroll amongst.

Head west from the city along Waterworks Rd, through Red Hill and The Gap and in less that 30 minutes the suburbs give way to the beautiful bushlands of D'Aguilar National Park. Worth a stop on the way is Walkabout Creek with a treehouse cafe and walk-through wildlife centre and Enoggera Dam where you can enjoy a swim.

Rejoin the road, which is now Mt Nebo Road as it starts its scenic winding way up into the hills, with glimpses of valleys below. The best view, right out to Moreton Bay, is from Jolly's Lookout, which has been visited by local travellers since the 1930's and is well worth a stop.

A short distance further along you'll come to two walking tracks leading from the Boombana off-road picnic area - the shorter Pitta Circuit (1.1km), which takes you on a boardwalk through a glade of giant ancient fig trees, or the longer Thylogale Walking Track (8km return) through eucalypt and rainforest.

Either take a picnic to enjoy at Jollys Lookout or pay a visit to the rustic local Cafe in the Mountains where a delicious brunch is served on a shady deck overlooking the picturesque grounds and local scenery.

On the way home take a detour off Mt Nebo Rd to Bellbird Grove, which has 2 short walking circuits including one through the remains of an old gold mine.

Good to know - Extend your trip and drive further up into the mountains to neighbouring Mt Glorious.