Banks Street Reserve

Banks Street Reserve is a substantial bushland setting just 5 kilometres from Brisbane’s CBD, with more than 20 hectares to explore. It offers a mix of bushwalking tracks, bike-riding trails, picnic areas and a large open space on land that was once a market garden. The reserve is suited to a relaxed picnic, a walk in nature or a ride through the track network, with enough variety to make a longer visit worthwhile.

The reserve’s main point of difference is its connection to Brisbane’s natural and local history. In the 1800s, the area formed part of the Three Mile Scrub rainforest, drawing naturalists and picnickers interested in its varied forest environments. Remnants of that rainforest remain today, with bushland ranging from areas reminiscent of the wet rainforest along Enoggera Creek to higher slopes associated with dry rainforest.

There is plenty to notice while moving through the reserve. Native birds may include tawny frogmouths, pale-headed rosellas and fairy-wrens, while koalas and wallabies may also be seen. The track network includes easy, moderate and hard multi-use routes for walking and cycling, along with moderate walking-only sections. Terrain varies and some sections include stairs, while numbered intersection markers help with navigation. Bikeway connections link the reserve with the wider cycling network.

Banks Street Reserve works well for walkers, cyclists, solo visitors and groups looking for time outdoors, as well as people wanting a picnic among natural surroundings. Dogs are allowed provided they remain on a leash, and visitors should stay on designated tracks, avoid disturbing wildlife and plants, and dispose of rubbish and dog waste responsibly. Council advises caution on tracks that may have been affected by rainfall and overland flow during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, where washouts, ruts and uneven surfaces may make some sections more difficult. Access is available from Banks Street, Weatherhead Avenue and View Street, with on-street parking from those areas.