Gold Creek Reservoir Walk: A Gem in Brisbane’s West

​Those of us from Brisbane really are spoiled for choice when it comes to bushwalks right on our doorstep.

Within an hour’s drive west of the Brisbane CBD, there are dozens of walks meandering through beautiful, pristine nature.

Mt Cootha is the obvious choice and one that many people default to when going for a day hike from Brisbane. Mt Cootha is great, don’t get me wrong, but there are so many other awesome options out there that are much less crowded.

Personally, I prefer hiking tracks with fewer people as this makes it easier for me to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of nature. The Gold Creek Reservoir Walk is one of my favourites.

Gold Creek Reservoir Walk

Located exactly 30 minutes by car from the Brisbane CBD, this walk is a hidden gem that few know about. Take the Western Freeway out to Indooroopilly, then wind along Brookfield Rd, passing through Brookfield and then turning onto Gold Creek Rd. Continue until you reach the reservoir car park.

The last few kilometres of road is windy and fairly narrow. You will need to slow down quite a bit if you encounter someone coming in the other direction. Be careful when crossing over some of the small bridges that span the many creeks in that area, as they are too narrow for 2 cars to pass each other on them.

Eventually, you will arrive at the Gold Creek Reservoir car park, which can accommodate 30 or so cars. I have never seen more than 5 cars there at a time though, so there’s no need to worry about it filling up.

Near the car park, you will find the sign below, which gives you some history about the walk as well as a rough trail map. As it is a circuit, you can do it either clockwise or counterclockwise.

If going clockwise (as I normally do), pass the sign and head directly towards the dam itself. Keep your eyes peeled here, because if you are lucky you may spot some wildlife along the way. The first time I did this walk, I spotted a beautiful monitor in the scrub.

The slope up to the top of the dam is quite steep, but you will be rewarded with a beautiful view if you make the effort to get to the top.

From here, you get a beautiful view of the entire reservoir and the dam itself. This is a great spot for snapping a few photos if you are so inclined.

You can also wander down to the right and check out the outlet of the dam.

Note that the dam and reservoir are no longer in use, so don’t be surprised if some parts of the dam are in a state of disrepair. This just adds to the charm in my opinion.

When you are ready to start the walk head off to the left (assuming you are facing the dam) and follow the trail.

The signage is quite poor on this trail, so if you encounter a fork, always take the trail that hugs the reservoir as closely as possible. If you stick with this, you should be fine.

Along the way, you will have plenty of opportunities to take snaps of the reservoir through the trees, as well as listen to the distinctive calls of the bellbirds and whip birds that are native to the area. There’s also a ton of lantana along the path and in places, it does intrude onto the path.

There are numerous creeks that run from the adjacent reserves into the reservoir, and you will cross a few of them along the trail. If it has rained recently, expect the trail to be a little damp at these points.

Generally speaking though, the trail is quite dry and the gravel will often crumble away under your feet on some of the more steep inclines, so be sure to wear decent hiking shoes.

One thing to be aware of is that this track is not well frequented by other hikers. I usually see just one other group when I do this hike. While this is a plus for me, it does mean that you need to think about your safety as well.

Make sure that you keep your phone on you at all times, as well as a first-aid kit just in case. If you will be hiking alone, let someone know when you expect to return.

Other than that, this is a very peaceful walk that can be enjoyed by all ages.

If you are feeling hungry after your walk, I recommend that you pop into the Brookfield General Store on your way back. It’s on Brookfield Rd on the way back towards the city. It’s housed in a beautiful historic building and serves some great food.

If you try the walk, let me know what you think of it in the comments below.

Need to Know

Length: 5.5 km
Time: 1.5 – 2 hrs
Grade: Medium / Grade 3 (according to the Australian Walking Track Grading System). 
Style: Circuit
Region: Brisbane
Park: Gold Creek Reservoir Park
Address: 660 Gold Creek Rd, Brookfield, Queensland
Car Access: From the Brisbane CBD, take the Western Freeway to Indooroopilly. Then follow Brookfield Rd out to Brookfield and then continue onto Gold Creek Rd. Follow this out to the car park at the start of the reservoir.
Further Info: Toilet available near car park.
Map: A map is available via AllTrails.

Have you visited Gold Creek Reservoir? Got it on your bucket list? If you have any stories, updates or corrections, please let us know by commenting below.