Acacia Track

The Acacia Track is a 2.9 km walk through the bushland of Whites Hill Reserve at Carina Heights, in Brisbane's inner south east. It is council reserve rather than national park, so dogs are welcome on lead, and there is a fenced off-lead park in the same reserve for afterwards.

The walk. AllTrails records 2.9 km and grades it easy, around 50 minutes. The track runs on formed bush trail through dry eucalypt forest and pockets of drier rainforest, part of a wider network of connected tracks across the reserve that lets you extend or shorten the walk as you go. Grades are gentle and the surface is firm, which makes it a reasonable option for older dogs and short legs.

The rules. Dogs must be on lead on the bushwalking tracks. Brisbane City Council manages Whites Hill Reserve and requires dogs to be leashed everywhere except inside the signed off-leash area. Koalas use the trees through this reserve, which is why the leash rule is enforced rather than suggested. Pick up after your dog and use the bins at the recreation area.

Water. There is no creek worth the name on this track. Taps and bowls sit at the recreation area near the car park, so water your dog before you start and again when you finish.

Hazards. Brisbane heat is the main one. The forest gives good shade, but the bitumen near the car park holds heat well into the evening, so test it with the back of your hand before crossing. Ticks and snakes are both present in the reserve through the warmer months.

Getting there. Park free at the main Whites Hill Reserve recreation area off Boundary Road, where there are toilets and sheltered picnic tables near the trailhead. Council buses run along Boundary Road.

Nearby with the dogs. Whites Hill Reserve Fenced Dog Park is in the same reserve for an off-lead run, and the wider Whites Hill Reserve tracks and Moore Hill add distance if 2.9 km is not enough. Cafe and Bar on Whites Hill sits at the reserve itself.

When to go. Early morning or the last hour of light, especially from October through to March. Good for seniors and for dogs that want bush without a climb.

Sources

• Whites Hill Reserve track map - Brisbane City Council · www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
• Acacia Track, Queensland, Australia - AllTrails · www.alltrails.com

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.