Toohey Forest

Toohey Forest is a large slab of native bushland on Brisbane's southside, spreading across Tarragindi, Nathan and Mount Gravatt, with eucalypt forest, steep ridges and an extensive network of dirt walking trails. Dogs are welcome but must stay on lead the whole way through, which makes this a pick for a proper bushwalk rather than an off-leash run, and a genuinely good one: grass trees, sandstone outcrops and ridge lookouts within ten minutes of the city.

The walk

Trails range from short loops near the picnic areas to longer routes like the Toohey Ridge Track, mostly on dirt surfaces with some genuine climbing on the ridge sections. Signage at the trailheads gives distances and difficulty, so it is easy to match a route to your dog's fitness. The main access trails and fire roads are wider and smoother, while the interior tracks get narrow and rugged, so pick your entry with your dog in mind.

Leash status

Leash on at all times, on every trail, no exceptions; there are no off-leash zones within the forest. Stay on the formed paths rather than pushing into the bush, as the forest supports koalas, echidnas and a lot of birdlife that should not be disturbed. Pick up after your dog and use the bins at the main entry and picnic points. Brush turkeys are common on the tracks, so keep your dog close through the scrubbier sections before a chase turns into a scramble off the path.

Water and hazards

There is no water on the trails, so bring a bowl and carry enough for a hot day. The ridge climbs are short but steep, and the dirt surfaces turn slick after rain. If you want off-leash time in the neighbourhood, the Salisbury Recreation Reserve Fenced Dog Park is the nearest fenced alternative.

Getting there and parking

The forest is easiest by car off the Pacific Motorway, taking the Tarragindi or Nathan and Kessels Road exits. Free parking sits at several entry points including Toohey Road, the Griffith Nathan campus and Mount Gravatt Outlook, and the Toohey Road picnic area has electric barbecues, tables and restrooms. Brisbane Transport buses run along Toohey Road and near Griffith University if you are coming without a car. The Mount Gravatt Outlook car park fills fast on weekends; the smaller entries off Messines Ridge Road in Tarragindi are a quieter way in.

When to go

Early mornings and weekends bring the most hikers and dog walkers, especially in good weather, so mid-week mornings or early afternoons are the quiet windows and kinder to a nervous dog. This is a walk for confident on-lead dogs who want real distance and some hills, less suited to dogs that need to run.

While you're out there

The Toohey Ridge Track is the classic full traverse if you want to extend, and the Mount Gravatt Summit Track adds a lookout finish. The Shaftesbury Street Big and Small Dog Parks at Tarragindi give a fenced run close by.

More routes are on the Queensland dog trails guide and the Tarragindi destination page.