D’Aguilar National Park
The 36,000 hectare D’Aguilar has two sections: the popular southern park on Mount Nebo and Mount Glorious, and the less-frequented areas centred around Mount Mee. Both are full of remote gorges, subtropical rainforests, eucalyptus woodlands, walking tracks and spectacular views both to the west and out towards Moreton Bay. The southern section is easily accessible if you drive west from the city through The Gap – and there’s a clutch of roadside cafes as you climb into the hills – but Mount Mee is perhaps the pick if you’re keen to avoid the crowds.

Tamborine National Park
Tamborine National Park has reopened its Witches Fall section. This fun walking trail and lookout is on the western face of the plateau and has some winsome views out towards the Scenic Rim. The walk itself descends through lush rainforest, before winding among boulder fields and seasonal lagoons and then climbing back up to Main Western Road via a more open southern set of stairs and switchbacks. And there's plenty to do along Tamborine’s popular tourist high street, if you want to make a day of it.

Springbrook National Park
Few would disagree that this enormous rainforest-covered plateau behind the Gold Coast is one the prettiest national parks in Queensland. It’s easy enough to spend a whole day here, discovering its many lookouts and walking trails, including the iconic Natural Bridge rock formation. While in the area, it’s worth exploring further along the Nerang-Murwillumbah Road, which travels through a spectacular valley as it climbs uphill, closer to the border – just remember that you can’t cross into New South Wales.

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Mount Barney National Park
This sprawling park is typical of the dramatic mountains that line the Queensland-New South Wales border. There’s a bunch of walking tracks here designed for serious hikers, with no fewer than four peaks to take on, including the park’s namesake twin summits. Of the four maintained tracks, the Yellow Pinch trail is the shortest and easiest and features a one-of-a-kind natural lookout with jaw dropping views of the intimidating Mount Barney itself. But even this has a couple of steep sections – don’t be afraid to simply take it easy with lunch in the picnic area.

Lamington National Park
Springbrook’s near neighbour, Lamington’s dense rainforests make for a bushwalking mecca, with 25 different tracks that suit everyone from families and first-timers to experienced long-range hikers. Still, the easily accessible Treetop Walk at O’Reilly's is arguably the pick for those discovering the park for the first time. It has 15-metre-high suspended bridges that provide access to a 30-metre-high viewing deck. There’s also the O'Reilly's Botanical Garden, a dense and rambling creation that’s a joy to get lost in.

Moogerah Peaks National Park
A set of volcanic peaks 100 kilometres southwest of Brisbane, Moogerah Peaks is popular with experienced bushwalkers and climbers. There are also more laid-back options near Lake Moogerah, which boasts some winsome waterside grassland on which to throw out a picnic rug.

Moreton Island National Park and Naree Budjong Djara National Park on North Stradbroke Island
Both of the bay’s major sand islands have reopened to day visitors (Moreton Island is a national park in its entirety, while Stradbroke is home to Naree Budjong Djara National Park), meaning you can once again experience pristine beaches that feel like they’re a million miles from Brisbane.

Kondalilla National Park
This sometimes overlooked mountain escape is just a short drive outside of Montville. The rock pool site is popular with locals swimmers (in summer, at least), and there are also walking tracks and day-use areas (with barbeques).

Glass House Mountains National Park
This iconic national park with its vertiginous craggy peaks has reopened its walking tracks – including all summit tracks – and multiple day-use areas. There’s a neat Glass House Mountains National Park discovery guide here.

Venman Bushland National Park
Just south of Brisbane, Venman is one of the largest remaining areas of eucalyptus forest near the city, and an important habitat for native wildlife and koalas in particular. Daisy Hill Conservation Park is a short drive away if you need a fallback – complete with walking trails and day-use areas.

Teerk Roo Ra National Park
It’s not just Moreton and North Stradbroke that are worth exploring out in the bay – those with access to a boat can visit Teerk Roo Ra National Park on Peel Island. Four kilometres from the mainland, the park has two bays: Horseshoe Bay is a lengthy beach with sandstone outcrops to explore, while to the east, Platypus Bay features a small shipwreck. Just be aware that much of the rest of the 519-hectare island is closed to the public for the preservation of historic remains.

Bribie Island National Park
Bribie Island National Park has camping areas, toilet and shower facilities, and freshwater lagoons, as well as the Banksia, Melaleuca and Palm Grove bicentennial bushwalks. The Banksia walk is a one-way, 700-metre trail that branches off into the 600-metre Palm Grove circuit and the one-kilometre Melaleuca circuit.