Quarry Pond Picnic Area

Quarry Pond Picnic Area sits inside the Haig Street Quarry Bushland Reserve in Brassall, a former quarry turned twenty plus hectares of bushland on Ipswich's northern edge. It is built for a calm leashed nature walk and a picnic around the old quarry pond, not an off leash run, and the water bird life around the pond is half the appeal.

Leash status

Dogs are welcome but must stay on a leash at all times under Ipswich City Council rules, with no fenced or off lead section anywhere in the reserve. Keep to the marked trails, which protects both the wildlife and your dog's paws, and bring your own bags since supply is not guaranteed on site. Under the council's general dog owner obligations, effective control and immediate clean up are your responsibility.

Water and terrain

The walking tracks are easy to moderate loops of roughly 800 metres to a kilometre, including the Willy Wagtail Circuit and the Bearded Dragon Circuit, winding through bushland with the quarry pond as the centrepiece and the Tom Craik Lookout offering views out to the Scenic Rim. Expect gravel and natural surfaces rather than paved paths, with some slopes on the longer loops.

Hazards

The quarry pond has steep banks and is not set up for swimming, so keep your dog well back from the edge rather than letting them wade. Water birds nest and feed along the shoreline, which is exactly why the leash rule matters here. Bring water for your dog, as there is no drinking fountain on site.

When to go

Early morning and late afternoon are the cooler, quieter windows and when the birdlife is most active. Weekend mornings bring the most foot traffic around the pond and picnic shelters. In summer the bushland holds heat through the middle of the day, so lean towards the bookends.

Getting there and parking

The reserve is on Haig Street in Brassall, about ten to fifteen minutes from the Ipswich CBD, with a car park near the entrance and picnic shelters, BBQs, a playground and public toilets in the picnic area. Public transport is limited, so driving is the practical option.

More walks nearby

For an off leash run afterwards, the Brassall Dog Park is the local fenced option, and The Foundry Cafe on the Brassall strip does a dog friendly coffee to finish. More options are on the Queensland dog walks list or the Brassall guide.

Max: a pond full of birds, a lookout, and a strict leash policy. I approve of the first two.