Mt Coot-tha stands as a picturesque backdrop to Brisbane City.
Offering a variety of walking tracks, mountain bike trails and some horse-riding trails. There are botanical gardens at the base of the mountain and a lookout with a kiosk and fine dining restaurant at the top
Location
Mt Coot-tha is located west of Brisbane’s CBD on Mt Coot-tha Road / Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Queensland, 4066. 30 minutes North of Brisbane Holiday Village.
The Mountain
Mt Coot-tha is Brisbane’s largest natural area. There are over 1600 hectares of forest, containing open eucalypt groves, rainforest gullies and creek lines. The forest adjoins the south-eastern section of the D’Aguliar national park making over 40 000 hectares of spectacular views, seasonal creeks, waterfalls and forest life.
Mt Coot-tha Forest also offers a variety of walking tracks (for pedestrian use only), mountain bike trails (suitable for off-road cycling only) and some horse riding trails.
Flora & Fauna
Approximately 370 wildlife species and 450 native plant species call the Mt Coot-tha Forest home, including a number of rare and threatened species. The vegetation of Mt Coot-tha is primarily an open eucalypt forest.
Animals in the area include:
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goshawks, kites and eagles
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wrens, robins and other small forest birds
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parrots and cockatoos
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tawny frogmouths, owls, gliders, possums and micro-bats
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powerful owls
Picnic Areas
Mt Coot-tha Forest has nine picnic areas. Access is restricted at J.C. Slaughter Falls and the Simpson Falls picnic areas each night from 7pm to 6am.
Picnic areas include:
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Gold Mine picnic area
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Range View picnic area
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Grey Gum picnic area (all abilities toilet facilities available)
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Brush Box picnic area (toilet facilities available)
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Simpson Falls picnic area (toilet facilities available)
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Silky Oak Picnic area
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Hoop Pine picnic area (all abilities toilet facilities available)
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C. Slaughter Falls picnic area (all abilities toilet facilities available)
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The Gap Creek Reserve (all abilities toilet facilities available
The Summit Lookout
The Brisbane Lookout has been a favourite destination for locals and visitors for more than a century! Mt Coot-tha’s Brisbane Lookout offers spectacular panoramic views over the CBD all the way to Moreton Bay.
A busy café and award-winning restaurant are located at the Lookout on the Summit of Mt Coot-tha.
Kuta Café
An informal atmosphere with sensational views of Brisbane. Offering a varied menu of popular food items, complemented by a wide choice of beverages, alcoholic drinks, coffees and teas.
The Summit Restaurant
The Summit Restaurant and Bar is an award-winning venue and is perfect for both formal and informal dining experiences. Offering a beautiful view out over Brisbane City, the Summit Restaurant caters to guests with contemporary Australian cuisine.
Botanic Gardens
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha are Queensland’s premier subtropical botanic gardens. They are a key attraction in the Brisbane City Council Mt Coot-tha leisure and adventure precinct.
Founded in 1970 and officially opened in 1976, the 56-hectare gardens open daily. Entry to the gardens is free. Dogs are not permitted at any time.
Vehicle access in the gardens is not allowed on weekends, public holidays and from 4pm on weekdays. Visitors can ride on the ring road and road to the Australian Plant Communities area only. For the safety of other pedestrians, skateboards and scooters are not permitted.
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha offers visitors a living museum of native and exotic plant collections. The themed sections include a fragrant garden, bamboo grove, arid zone, Japanese Gardens, waterfalls, tropical dome and the largest collection of Australian native rainforest trees in the world. The Auditorium features horticultural shows most weekends.
Exhibits
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Arid Region Plants
Brisbane Botanic Garden’s arid region represents the dry regions of Central America and Africa featuring plants that adapt to their harsh environments.
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Australian Plant Communities
The Australian Plant Communities 27-hectare area highlights native Australian plants, mostly from Queensland and features an artificial lagoon.
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Bonsai House
The Bonsai House is located next to the Japanese Garden. It displays about 100 plants including figs, conifers, camellias, azaleas and maples.
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Fern House
The Fern House contains over 80 different species and varieties of ferns. The exhibit includes ferns that live on rocks, trees and in the water.
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Fragrant Plants and Herb Garden
The Fragrant Plants and Herb Garden contains culinary, fragrant and medicinal herbs from around the world.
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National Freedom Wall
The National Freedom Wall was built to celebrate 50 years of freedom in the Pacific. Includes Flickr slideshow.
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Hide ‘n’ Seek Children’s Trail
Children and parents can explore the Hide ‘n’ Seek Children’s Trail set in the shady exotic rainforest in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha.
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Japanese Garden
The Japanese Garden contains a combination of native and exotic plants suitable for our subtropical climate.
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Tropical Display Dome
The Tropical Display Dome is a large lattice structure (geodesic) displaying plants from the tropics.
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