Beneath our feet stretches the Wickham Peak trail. It awaits our exploration. This isn’t just a walk. It’s a journey through time and nature.
Wickham Peak offers nearly 360-degree views. Brisbane City skyscrapers are easily visible on a clear day. The peak is part of the Plunkett Conservation Park.
The Wickham Peak trail is 4.2km return. Allow about an hour for the walk. The trail begins at the end of Steele Road. It winds through open eucalypt forest. This forest leads to a rocky sandstone escarpment. That escarpment is Wickham Peak.
A single walking track ascends to the Wickham Peak lookout. This section is steep. Moderate fitness is required. Loose gravel can be slippery. Take care.
The Calytrix circuit branches off the Wickham Peak trail. It is 7.6km return from Steele Road. Plan for a two-hour walk. The circuit meanders across a sandstone plateau. It passes through open eucalypt forest. A dense heath understory thrives here. Grasstree lookout offers views to the east and south. You can see Tamborine Mountain. The Calytrix tetragona shrub gives the circuit its name. It blooms between August and October. The heath flowers transform the forest.
Melichrus trail is another option. It is 2.5km return. Allow 45 minutes. This trail starts at Flesser Road. It goes through open eucalypt forests. Ironbark, spotted gum and swamp box trees dominate. Many birds live here. The trail is named after Melichrus adpressus. It is a protected dwarf shrub. It has small cream or yellow-green flowers.
Many shared trails and management roads crisscross the parks. Most are shared with mountain bikes. Some are shared with horseriders.
Horses are permitted only on shared trails in the Conservation Park. Mountain biking is allowed on management roads and shared trails. Cyclists must give way to walkers and horses.
The parks are habitats for species. Koalas and vulnerable glossy black-cockatoos live here. Wildflowers bloom in early spring. Look for Pultenaea, Daviesia, Calytrix, Patersonia, Hibertia, Leptospermum and Acacia species.
Wickham Peak is a sandstone adventure. It gives views of Brisbane City to the North and Mt Barney to the South. The trail traverses heath country. Spring brings wildflower displays. Early morning or late afternoon is best in summer. It can get extremely hot in the middle of the day.
Park vehicles on Quinzeh Creek Road. Look for the Wickham Timber Reserve sign. Follow the firebreak to the bottom of a rocky ridge. Take the signed trail up to Wickham Peak’s summit. Follow the Calytrix Circuit signs for a longer walk. This adds 3.6km to your walk. It brings you to Grass Tree Lookout.
Wickham Peak Lookout may not be the easiest trek. But the views are worthwhile. Visitors enjoy the tranquility of Wickham Timber Reserve. The Wickham Peak Lookout Trail begins with a level walk through eucalypt forest. During autumn and winter, wildflowers abound. The landscape offers glimpses of sandstone formations.
The 3km return hike requires a reasonable fitness level. Several steep sections exist. Visitors must scramble over rocky terrain. They will navigate surfaces that seem like solid rock beds. At the lookout, you can admire views of Brisbane City and Mt Barney.