Mount Coot-tha from Bush Chapel

Starting from the car park near the Bush Chapel in J.C. Slaughter Falls Picnic Area, Toowong, this walk takes you to the summit of Mount Coot-tha and back via the Summit Track, visiting the J.C. Slaughter Falls with a side trip. The city of Brisbane looks gorgeous from the top of the mountain, and the cafe and restaurant up top lets you savor the views while keeping yourself fed & energised. The track has lots of water fountains and is paved with gravel all the way, so you can take your whole family(including your dog) along. Don’t miss out on the waterfall if you’re here after some rain. Also, the bush chapel near the start features a hand-made sandstone pulpit and the whole setup has a rustic feel to it. The area tends to be busy, so come early to avoid the crowd and protect yourself from the midday sun. This can be made into a one-way trip if you arrange someone to pick you up from the summit. Let us begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we travel today, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

Downloads GPX PDF

Safer Bushwalks Tips on staying safe on track
Before you start any bushwalk ensure you;
• Tell someone you trust where you are going and what to do if you are overdue
• Have adequate equipment, supplies, skills & knowledge for the whole journey
• Consider the impact of weather forecasts, park/track closures & fire dangers
• Can respond to emergencies & call for help at any point
• Are healthy and fit enough for this journey
If not, change plans and stay safe. It is okay to delay and ask people for help.

Getting There Transport options and directions

Start	(-27.4735976,152.966897)
Mode	Car
Directions	From Frederick Street, 5 Turn on to Birdwood Terrace then drive for 980 m Turn right onto Birdwood Terrace and drive for another 240 m Turn left onto Birdwood Terrace and drive for another 15 m Turn right onto Birdwood Terrace and drive for another 380 m Continue onto Birdwood Terrace and drive for another 40 m Turn right onto Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, T7 and drive for another 75 m Turn left onto JC Slaughter Falls and drive for another 560 m Turn right and drive for another 60 m

Track Notes Turn by turn instructions & maps

Getting started
From the car park across the Bush Chapel in J.C. Slaughter Falls Picnic Area, head along the paved road gently downhill as you pass by a green “Bush Chapel” sign to your left. Pass over the creek crossing and veer left towards the yellow gate with a green directional signpost next to it. Head around the gate and join the walking track(Summit Track) as it veers slightly right. Follow the said track as it crosses East Ithaca Creek twice before the J.C. Slaughter Falls side trip to continue along Mount Coot-tha from Bush Chapel Track.....

This little side trip takes you to the J.C. Slaughter Falls viewpoint. Come after heavy rainfall for a better experience.

Turn map	Directions & comments
	Start heading along JC Slaughter Falls. After 20 m pass the water tap (10 m on your left). After another 6 m cross the bridge (about 8 m long)
	After another 3 m (at the intersection of JC Slaughter Falls & Summit Track) continue straight, to head along Summit Track (a footpath). Keep left and head around the yellow gate.
	After another 80 m continue straight, to head along Summit Track. Keep left. After another 175 m pass the toilet (65 m on your right). After another 15 m continue straight, to head along Summit Track.
	After another 170 m (at the intersection of Hovea Track & Summit Track) continue straight, to head along Summit Track.
	The starting point of an optional sidetrip. This little side trip takes you to the J.C. Slaughter Falls viewpoint. Come after heavy rainfall for a better experience. To start this optional side trip turn right here. On returning from this side trip turn left when you get back to this intersection. Details below. After another 35 m (at the intersection of Aboriginal Art Trail & Summit Track) veer left, to head along Summit Track.
	After another 175 m pass the water tap (7 m on your left). At the intersection of Aboriginal Art Trail & Summit Track continue straight, to head along Summit Track. After another 90 m continue straight, to head along Summit Track. After another 65 m pass the water tap (on your left). After another 460 m head up the steps (about 8 m long) Then pass the water tap (on your left). After another 520 m head up the steps (about 8 m long)
	After another 55 m (at the intersection of Summit Track & Sir Samuel Griffith Drive) turn left, to head along Sir Samuel Griffith Drive (a road).
	After another 60 m turn right. After another 35 m veer left. After another 110 m continue straight. After another 60 m pass the sign (on your left). Then pass the water tap (on your left). About 15 m past the end is a toilet. This toilet is wheelchair accessible. About 35 m past the end is "The Summit".
	Turn around here and retrace the main route for 2.2 km to get back to the start. About 15 m past the end is "Mt Coot-tha Lookout". This viewpoint is wheelchair accessible. About 20 m past the end is "Mount Coot-tha (One Tree Hill)". About 20 m past the end is "Directional Plaque".
	At the intersection of Summit Track & Aboriginal Art Trail Start heading along Aboriginal Art Trail (a footpath).
	After another 160 m turn left, to head along Aboriginal Art Trail. After another 60 m come to "J C Slaughter Falls".
	Veer right, to head along Aboriginal Art Trail.
	After another 15 m come to the end. A viewpoint. Turn around and retrace your steps back the 235 m to the main route.

Terrain Know the Hills, grading & facilities

Mount Coot-tha from Bush Chapel

Grading

	Class 3/6 Moderate track
Length	4.3 km
Time	1 h 15 min to 2 h 15 min

Quality of track	Clear and well formed track or trail (2/6)
Gradient	Short steep hills (3/6)
Signage	Clearly signposted (2/6)
Infrastructure	Generally useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats) (1/6)
Experience Required	No experience required (2/6)
Weather	Weather generally has little impact on safety (2/6)

Some facilities on route

Toilet: There are 2 on route, on average they are 1.4 km apart with the largest gap of 2.2 km.

Order of key facilities on route

Item	From Start	Name & link to notes
Toilet	295 m	[toilet]
Toilet	2.2 km	[toilet]

Weather & Alerts Check forecasts & closures
Weather Forecast
- Brisbane Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon
  
  Monday 14 October
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Partly cloudy. Winds northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the evening.
  
  Tuesday 15 October
  
  16°C → 26°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm in the south in the afternoon and evening. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 11 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
  
  Fire Danger Rating: No Rating
  
  UV Alert: Sun protection 7:50am to 3:00pm, UV Index predicted to reach 9 [Very High]
  
  Wednesday 16 October
  
  16°C → 26°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the late morning and afternoon. Light winds becoming northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then becoming light in the late afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 12 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s.
  
  Thursday 17 October
  
  16°C → 28°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning and afternoon. The chance of a thunderstorm about the southern border ranges. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to between 12 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching around 30.
  
  Friday 18 October
  
  18°C → 30°C
  Possible late shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm about the southern border ranges. Light winds becoming northerly 15 to 25 km/h during the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between 13 and 17 with daytime temperatures reaching 28 to 33.
  
  Saturday 19 October
  
  19°C → 34°C
  Possible shower.
  40% chance of rain
  0 → 2mm
  
  Possible shower.
  
  Sunday 20 October
  
  18°C → 29°C
  Partly cloudy.
  20% chance of rain
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Monday 21 October
  
  17°C → 27°C
  Partly cloudy.
  30% chance of rain
  0 → 1mm
  
  Partly cloudy.
  
  Forecast data thanks to © Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Alerts

Weather Forecast

Alerts