A great, free half day out with kids…..and so close to the City

The weekend has finally arrived so we thought we’d share one of our secret spot’s for a relaxing half day in the bush.

Well not exactly secret…..but the Koala Bush Reserves on Brisbane’s Southside are less busy than most places for kids and families and are great for learning about animals and nature. The Koala Reserves are made up of numerous areas however our favourite is the Stock Yard Creek Track which is only 23 klms from the City centre. The carpark is accessed off Alperton Rd Burbank (click here for Map).

Stockyard Creek is one of the less visited areas so this makes it great when looking for a less crowded outing with the kids. Facilities include free electric BBQ’s and 2 large undercover seating areas with wheelchair friendly toilets. The seating areas also display educational pictures, press button animal sounds and information on various plants and animals. A great spot for group get togethers, kid’s birthday parties etc.

When visiting see if you can work out which of our Australian Animal Wooden Baby Rattles were inspired by the kids info walls, photo gives a hint for one!

The facilities are great but we think the best part is the walking track. It’s 1.4 klms long and generally a smooth surface so the kids can ride a little bike or scooter along. It does have some up and downhill parts so a helmet is a good idea. It’s also a great spot to take your Wooden Hobby Horse for a gallop; so don’t forget to pack him in the car as well.

The walking track passes through open woodland, wetlands and crosses small bridges over gullies of water. A viewing platform overlooking a creek is also part of the track walk. Don’t worry about “sore leg” complaints; there are lots of places to stop for a break and have a drink or snack with seats dotted along the track. The walk is a leisurely 1 hour walk if you explore the squiggly lines on tree trunks, investigate the different types of leaves and read the notes on various points of interest. Don’t forget to look up, you might also be lucky enough to see a koala having a snooze in a tree. Horse trails are also close by so there is a chance you might run into a rider you can introduce your Hobby Horse to.

Stockyard Creek is a great place to take Grandma and Granddad or other family visiting from out of town for a BBQ lunch with the kids. Ohhh I nearly forgot! You can also take 4 legged family members along. Dogs are welcome on leash as long as they don’t disturb any wildlife. All in all a great spot we visit regularly. Keep an eye out for our car with the greengrub Wooden Toys sign writing and say Hi.