Quarry Road Track

A wide gravel management road looping through the eucalypt forest of Daisy Hill Conservation Park, about 6.3 km and graded moderate, 25 km south east of Brisbane. It is one of the few Queensland conservation parks where dogs are expressly welcome, and the reason to read the rules rather than assume them: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service allows dogs on the walking tracks and shared trails here, but not on the mountain bike and horse trails threading the same forest.

The walk. Around 6.3 km on a wide, firm gravel road with rolling hills, taking most people an hour and a half to two hours. The surface is easy underfoot and wide enough to step aside comfortably, which is the main reason it works better with a dog than the narrower singletrack elsewhere in the park. Signage and maps are at the trailhead.

The rules. On lead at all times, and this is the part worth memorising. QPWS permits dogs only in the picnic areas and on walking tracks and shared trails; they are not permitted on mountain bike and horse trails. The park does the work for you here, marking a dog on leash symbol on the directional markers at track and trail junctions, so check the marker at each junction rather than guessing. Dog waste must be bagged immediately and carried out, and no bins are provided anywhere in the park. Dogs are also not allowed inside the Daisy Hill Koala Centre building.

Water. None on the track. Carry your own, and treat any water you find in the park as undrinkable.

Hazards. Venomous snakes live in the park, and QPWS recommends carrying a first aid kit with a snake bite bandage. Ticks are the other constant, so insect repellent before you start is sensible and a check afterwards more so. The trails are shared, and mountain bikes come through at speed from either direction. The give way code is that cyclists give way to walkers and horseriders, and walkers give way to horses, but do not rely on it with a dog on a lead. Emergency markers with unique codes sit at every trail junction; if you need to call 000, quote the nearest one.

Getting there. Take exit 23 from the M1 southbound toward Chatswood Road, or exit 24 from the north, and follow signs to Daisy Hill Road. Seven car parks sit off the Ring Road. The main gate is locked each evening: 7am to 5.30pm from 15 March to 14 October, and 7am to 6.30pm for the rest of the year. Time your walk to be out before it shuts.

Nearby with the dogs. Daisy Hill Trails covers the wider network and Buhot Creek Circuit is the other walkable loop. Zhilin (Kiwa) cafe is closest for coffee, with Rev'e Coffee Hub a few minutes on, and Lady's Dog Park for off lead running.

When to go. Before 8am, or on a weekday. Weekends and public holidays are busiest between 8am and 11am, which is also when the shared trails are at their most crowded. Summer walks should be early or late; there is little water and less breeze under the canopy. Good for big runners who need distance on forgiving ground.

Sources

• Visiting safely | Daisy Hill Conservation Park | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service · parks.qld.gov.au
• Daisy Hill Koala Centre | Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service · parks.qld.gov.au

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