There’s nothing better than escaping into the great outdoors on the weekend to recharge the batteries. Even if our busy lifestyle only allows a few hours, there are plenty of great spots for a BBQ or picnic with friends and family either locally or out in the nature reserves surrounding The Gap.
A nature lovers paradise with Mt Nebo on one side and Mt Coot-tha on the other, our leafy suburb has top spots galore. Green spaces and parks plus nature areas and reserves with everything you need for a great day out both in the urban landscape or natural reserves abound.
Some have playgrounds, others have basketball courts or bikeways and all have picnic areas. So to help you decide where to go with your family and friends this weekend, here’s a list of both natural and urban spaces plus a couple of hidden gems as well.
Natural Spaces
Mt Coot-tha Forest – With 9 different picnic and BBQ areas this is worth the drive. There is parking but it goes quickly so you may prefer to carpool or take public transport. There’s mountain biking, some of the best bushwalking tracks around and plenty of places for a picnic.
Only Grey Gum, Gold Mine and Simpson Falls picnic areas have BBQ’s but all are great for picnics, walks and hanging out in nature.
Toilet facilities: Grey Gum, Brush Box, Simpson Falls, Hoop Pine and J.C. Slaughter Falls all have toilet facilities available but like all popular parks, it’s a good idea to take some loo paper just in case they’ve run out.
Where you’ll find it: Sir Samuel Griffin Drive, Mt Coot-tha
Enoggera Dam – This one is a bit of a hotspot on the weekends, especially in summer as the local’s head into Walkabout Creek to cool off for a swim. While there are no BBQ’s (yet) or toilets, it’s worth the visit to kayak, swim, picnic or enjoy a bushwalk among the gum trees.
Parking spaces tend to run out quickly on the weekends, especially in summer when everyone heads to the water, so be sure to get there a little earlier if you want one.
You can do the Park’n’Ride bus which lands you near to the creek with a small (under 1km) walk to the site. Note: Close to the ‘park ‘n ride’ car park there are toilet facilities on the pathway walking towards the dam.
Where you’ll find it: Mt Nebo Road, The Gap.
Gap Creek Picnic Area – Surrounded by the Mt Coot-tha forestry, this is a top little picnic and BBQ spot with tables and shelters. There are only 2 BBQ’s and they are the good old wood burning type that gives your meal that glorious smoky flavour you can’t seem to replicate anywhere else so you may want to take some firewood with you. There’s free parking but get in early as this is a favourite place with mountain bikers on the weekends. If you want a parking spot be sure to arrive early.
Where you’ll find it: Gap Creek Road, Mt Coot-tha
Urban Spaces
Walton Bridge Reserve – Bushwalks and bridges, quaint creeks and both electric and wood burning BBQ’s, this park is probably the most popular park in The Gap. It’s got picnic spots galore if you want to take a basket and find a nice shady spot while the kids play on one of the huge shade covered playgrounds. There’s a nice creek to explore and walking tracks. It’s a nature lovers paradise as it’s a habitat restoration site. There’s even a little skate park for the bigger kids so there’s something to keep everyone entertained and a great way to spend some time with the family.
Where you’ll find it: 941 Waterworks Road
Corra-Mulling Park –One of The Gap’s most popular parks, this has everything. Undercover table and chairs in the picnic areas, a shaded playground for the littlies, beautiful walkways and tracks, large green areas and places to play cricket . This is where you’ll find an organic food co-op and community garden. Take the whole family including the fur babies because there’s a huge off-leash area for the dogs to play guaranteeing a great day for the entire family. It’s a large park so you can explore the area, there’s a little creek for turtle spotting and wildlife to delight the kids.
Where you’ll find it: 136 Yoorala Street
Wittonga Park – Shaded swing sets and colourful playgrounds, wood burning BBQ’s and picnic tables, this park is popular for a reason. There’s something for everyone with a BMX track, walkways and bikeways, sports facilities with a half basketball court and places to play cricket. You can picnic anywhere, explore the green surrounds with the dog because it’s pet friendly and has a large off-leash area for your pups to play or grab the binoculars and go looking along the wildlife for some of our beautiful feathered friends.
Where you’ll find it: 98 Hilder Road
Paten Park –A nature lovers dream, don’t forget the binoculars when you visit. A huge habitat restoration site, there’s wildlife to be seen while you picnic, play basketball or enjoy a bushwalk. Well known for its Paten Park Native Nursery the kids can learn about environmental conservation, restoration and revegetation of native species. You can take a tour, pick up some cheap native plants and learn all about which ones will attract wildlife, birds and butterflies, which ones will feed the koala’s and how to make your garden a paradise for our furry friends. A popular picnic spot, it’s popular with couples too.
Where you’ll find it: 45 Paten Road
Hidden Gems
Allen Willing Place Park – A quiet little park with green space for the kids to run, bikeways, BBQ and plenty of shady places for a picnic. Big trees for the kids to explore, some funky street art murals scattered around and picnic tables if you don’t want to sit on the ground. Found right in the heart of The Gap, it’s easy to get to and convenient.
Where you’ll Find it: 10 Benarra Street
Benjamina Place Park – This park is a little hidden so you stand a good chance of getting to the BBQ first if you arrive a little earlier. It’s wood, so make sure to take some from home as being in the burbs you may not be able to find any on site. Found at the end of a cul-de-sac you walk down the pathway to find a great space for the family with a playground for the kids, basketball and green spaces to spread a picnic blanket and relax.
Where you’ll find it: 20 Benjamina Place