Archerfield Wetland

Archerfield Wetland is a 150 hectare reserve straddling Oxley and Willawong in Brisbane's south west, built around the Wetlands Discovery Trail, a 2.9 km gravel path through eucalypt forest, open grassland and freshwater wetland along Oxley and Blunder creeks. More than 170 bird species have been recorded here, and it is one of the quieter walks in the area provided your dog is happy on the leash the whole way.

Leash status

On lead for the entire trail, strictly. This is a restored habitat reserve rather than a dog park, and the rule protects the wetland's birdlife as much as it protects your dog from the snakes that live in the grassland sections. It is not the spot for an off-lead run, however calm your dog is.

The walk

The Discovery Trail runs 2.9 km one way on wide, compacted gravel, mostly flat and easy underfoot, which puts the out-and-back near six kilometres. A waterhole lookout with shaded seating breaks up the route, and birdlife signage along the way tells you what you are hearing. Open ground dominates, so shade is thin across most of the distance.

Getting there

The main entry is off Bowhill Road, Willawong, with parking at the entrance and a longer approach via Gleneagles Crescent in Oxley. It sits about 12 km from the Brisbane CBD via the Ipswich Motorway, and Oxley station is the nearest rail stop, five to ten minutes away by car.

Close by with the dogs

If a secure run is what the dog actually needs after all that restraint, the Englefield Road Park Fenced Dog Park in Oxley is the closest fenced option. The Lookout Archerfield Wetland walk covers another section of the same reserve from the Willawong side. For coffee on the way home, Sundays Cafe in Rocklea is a short drive.

More options are on the Queensland dog friendly trails guide and the Oxley destination page.

Water and hazards

Bring water for both of you; there is none reliable along the route. Check your dog for ticks afterwards, keep them close and visible in the long grass because snakes are a real possibility, and expect mud after heavy rain since the reserve sits on a floodplain.

When to go

Early morning before 8am or late afternoon after 4pm are the good windows, cooler and quieter and kinder on a dog on exposed ground. Skip the midday summer sun entirely, and the birdlife is at its busiest in the early light anyway.