Top Walks For You And Your Dog

[PuggaWuggles]

Top walks for you and your dog.

THINK your dog might like a change of scenery on its daily walk? Here are some suggestions both you and man's best friend can enjoy.

Tailor your walk to the comfort of your pet. In this heat, too much walking will stress a dog and possibly cause harm.

Keep your pooch on a lead and have those plastic bags handy. No one likes dog owners who don't do the right thing and pick up after their pet.

Sunshine Coast, Caloundra

Park up near Moffat Beach and walk up Queen of Colonies Rd, a name resonant with the story of an 1863 shipwreck. You'll pass the memorial to much-loved surfing pioneers Ma and Pa Bendall and reach George Watson Park, with great views of any shipping. The ships heading for the Port of Brisbane pass close to shore near this headland and so do the migrating humpback whales for part of the year. South of Shelly Beach, around Caloundra Head, you'll find plaques set in the ground that commemorate those who gave their lives in past wars.

It's an easy walk down to Kings Beach and great views down over the sprawl of Bribie Island, extending away with its ocean beach south towards Brisbane. Have a break there, and give your pet some water in the park, then head back the way you came, or cut straight back along Edmund St.

Brisbane: Kedron Brook

A string of pleasant parks between Brookside and Toombul Shopping centres offer great opportunities to take your dog for a good walk. Families love Kalinga Park at Wooloowin and for shade, try the woodland that used to be a US wartime base at the Grange Forest Park, which includes a leash-free dog run. There are great amenities for a family picnic in Ginstead Park with walks up past Sparkes Hill flying fox colony on a good track that runs along the boundary of Everton Park High School. Perhaps the most popular dog walking area along the whole creek system is downstream from the Gilbert road bridge at Grange. The north side of the creek is a long grassy swath set aside by the council for leash-free walks. With big sandstone ''stepping stones'' and a pool ideal for dogs to leap in to fetch a tennis ball just below the bridge, this is a social hub for mutts and their owners, especially in the hour before sundown. You can walk downstream towards Lutwyche and let your hound meet and greet other pets. They love it.

Brisbane City

Park somewhere below the William Jolly Bridge and take your dog on the South Bank loop. This lovely riverside stroll has plenty of shade trees and runs along the southside of the Brisbane River below the Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery, under Victoria Bridge and on through South Bank Parklands. There are multiple temptations in this area, from cafes to the weekend markets. Follow the bougainvillea arch out at Siddon St, around the Maritime Museum and across the Goodwill Bridge into the campus of Queensland University of Technology. Turn left and walk the cycleway underneath the freeway. Keep the dog close because a lot of cyclists travel along this path. After passing the historic Commissariat stores building, walk up for a crossing on the Victoria Bridge or stroll down George St and then take the Kurilpa pedestrian bridge back over to the GoMA area. For a longer walk, explore the City Botanic Gardens after crossing the Goodwill Bridge before resuming the loop.

Sherwood Forest Park

This 15-ha slice of peacefulness overlooks the Brisbane River opposite the Lone Pine koala sanctuary. Dogs will have plenty to sniff from the lake, up along the avenue of kauri pines planted in 1925 and on the riverside path with a stop for a rest at former lord mayor Jim Soorley's Sorry seat. The Sherwood Arboretum has 1100 trees representing 300 species, including a mightily impressive Indian bayur tree.

Toohey Forest Park

Another good, shady area through pleasant bushland, 10km south of Brisbane CBD. The Toohey Forest Park has an extensive network of tracks ideal for jogging or dog-walking but, as with several other Brisbane City Council reserves, they are home to native wildlife including wallabies, so it is important to keep the dog on its leash. The tracks hook up with the bushland grounds of Griffith University. Access is from Toohey Rd, Tarragindi, or Outlook Drive at Mount Gravatt. Download a track map from http://www.brisbane.qld. gov.au or call 3403 8888 for brochures on Brisbane's forest walks.

Victoria Point

The park at Victoria Point is a good place to start a loop walk around a quiet bayside suburb. From the point, walk down to the Air Sea Rescue base and, at the end of White St, join the track along the shoreline around to Point Halloran. Walk south with wetlands on your right down Point O'Halloran Rd, then turn right up Orana St to the car park of the Eprapah Conservation Reserve. Explore the tracks or turn left past a lagoon on the alignment for School Rd, which eventually turns into a real suburban road. Walk down to Colburn Ave, turn left again and walk back to the Point.

[ari.g]

Oh I'll have to go down to Caloundra one day and do that walk!

Kedron Brook is a great place to walk the dog too. Went with a friend one day, her ridgie and my two boxers. Walked the dogs down to a little swimming hole and there were heaps of dogs down there chasing balls in the water and all the dogs got along great

Red Beach at Bribie Island is also a good place to go.

I usually walk my dogs at North Shore in Twin Waters

[BooBooBear]

Thanks for this, great resource!!!

[KitKat]

Karawatha Forest in Logan is great too (not sure i spelt it right tho!)