Plunkett Mallee Circuit

The Plunkett Mallee Circuit is a short, easy bush loop on the Burbank edge of the Don and Christine Burnett Conservation Area, and dogs are welcome on it on lead. It is an easy, flat way to get a dog into the bush south-east of Brisbane.

The walk

The track is flat dirt and gravel, graded easy, winding through open eucalypt forest. Look out for the Brisbane mallee, the unusual gum that gives the circuit its name, which flowers from about September to November.

Shade comes and goes under the canopy, and the open stretches heat up fast on warm days.

Lead rules

Keep the lead on for the whole loop. The conservation area is run by Redland City Council, but neighbouring Venman Bushland National Park is off limits to dogs, so stay on the circuit and turn back at any national park boundary sign.

Max: Stick to the marked loop. One wrong turn into the national park and your dog is somewhere it is not allowed to be.

Getting started

The entrance is off Avalon Road, with a sealed car park for about 20 cars and a shelter with a water trough and rainwater tank. There are no toilets, and bins are thin on the ground, so carry your dog's bags out with you.

Pair it with

For more bush time nearby, the Brisbane Koala Bushlands and the Stockyard Creek Circuit are close by.

Go early in the morning in summer. The flat surface and short length suit older dogs and anyone after an easy stroll in the bush.