Sankeys Lookout

Sankeys Lookout is a short bushland climb to a summit view of the Brisbane CBD skyline, inside the 170 hectare Whites Hill Reserve between Camp Hill and Carindale. Dogs are welcome, but on lead the whole way, a rule that exists because the reserve is koala and wallaby habitat.

The walk

The track climbs through remnant eucalypt forest and dry rainforest to the lookout, easy to moderate overall with a few short steep pinches, so it suits an active dog rather than one that struggles with hills. At the top you get panoramic city views, and koala sightings along the way are a real possibility rather than a marketing line. The loop can be extended across the reserve's wider track network if the morning has room in it.

Leash status

Dogs stay on lead at all times across the reserve's tracks, per Brisbane City Council. Stick to the marked trails, do not let the dog harass wildlife, and bin or carry out all waste.

Water

Water points sit near the sports fields rather than on the track, so bring your own for both of you, especially through the warmer months.

Hazards

The steep sections are the main physical test, and shared paths carry hikers, trail runners and families at peak times. Share the width and keep the lead short near wildlife.

Max: this is koala country, so dawn and dusk are exactly when they come down to ground level. Keep the lead short and your dog close on those low-light walks.

Getting there

Park at the Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association car park at 258 Boundary Road, Camp Hill, and take the gravel path up from there, which is the popular access point. Buses along Old Cleveland Road leave a short walk, and toilets, picnic tables and a playground sit near the car park.

When to go

Weekdays are quiet and secluded, while weekend mornings and late afternoons bring the crowds. Pick a weekday morning if your dog is reactive, and finish the visit with an off-lead run at the reserve's own Whites Hill Reserve Fenced Dog Park or the Camp Hill Dog Park, with Cafe & Bar on Whites Hill doing the coffee.

More options are in the Queensland dog friendly trails guide, and the rest of the suburb is on the Camp Hill destination page.