Spotted Gum Trail

Spotted Gum Trail is a 2.4-kilometre walk through the Mt Coot-tha precinct, listed here in West End, Brisbane. It begins at the gates of the Australian Plant Communities garden within Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, then climbs towards the Mt Coot-tha Lookout.

The route includes 250 concrete steps, making it a moderate walk that suits people looking for more than a flat garden stroll. Along the way, the trail connects the cultivated garden setting with the surrounding Mt Coot-tha landscape, finishing near the lookout’s elevated views across Brisbane and towards Moreton Bay. The wider reserve has more than 70 walking tracks and trails, so the Spotted Gum Trail can also be part of a broader visit to the precinct.

Allow around one to one and a half hours for the trail. It is best suited to walkers with a moderate level of fitness, with the steps being the main physical challenge. The botanic gardens, lookout, café and viewing platform add options before or after the walk, while the reserve’s forest tracks provide plenty of scope for further exploring on foot. Check the visitor wayfinding map for route details and plan to carry water, a hat and sunscreen, as recommended for visits to the reserve.