Sick of staring at the boring, grey face of a treadmill? Well, it turns out Brisbane is home to some pretty special running tracks, offering you access to the great outdoors, fresh air and a whole lot of beautiful views and scenery. Rather than running like a mouse on a wheel, try getting out into Brisbane and exploring these 8 awesome running tracks instead.
Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Kangaroo Point
Start or end your day with gorgeous sun-kissed views of our fare city. Run along the top of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, throwing in a lap or two of the dreaded Kangaroo Point stairs if you dare, then continue along toward and across the Story Bridge. Double-back, ducking down along the river on your way back, watching ferries float by while you get your health on.
Riverwalk
Newstead And Teneriffe
Get yourself down to this great jogging path, beginning at Waterfront Park in Newstead. Look for the ‘Riverwalk’ signs and head down toward the water and ferry terminal. Follow it along and you'll find yourself at Gasworks, cruising along the river boardwalk. Keep going and you’ll find yourself at the Powerhouse and New Farm Park. This beautiful, easy running track takes you along the pretty waterfront, under huge trees and the twinkling lights of prime real estate.
Mt Coot-tha Summit Track
Mt Coot-tha
Strap on your runners and drive out to the J.C Slaughter Falls picnic area. From there, head up the Summit Track, at 1.9km it should take you about 30 minutes to get up to the Mt Coot-tha lookout. Once there, stop and stretch it out, enjoy a coffee or just soak in the view before heading back down. For more of a challenge, try the 2.1km Honeyeater Track. Both will take you through pretty bushland and give you a much-needed does of fresh air.
South Bank Parklands
South Brisbane
Try this great South Bank loop in the evening, as the sun starts to set and the lights start to twinkle off the river. Start at the Goodwill Bridge and head down past River Quay, to the Cultural Centre, crossing over at Kurilpa Bridge and heading back up to North Quay. This great track is nice and easy, but winds you through the heartland of our gorgeous city. You can stretch this track out by heading through the City Botanic Gardens and over the Story Bridge, if you like.
Kedron Brook Bikeway
Kedron
If you hail from the north side, the Kedron Brook Bikeway offers a paved haven for runners. With 16 kilometres of footpath to follow, it’s you vs the road. If you think this bikeway is two-wheel exclusive, think again, as it plays host to an annual fun run. Most importantly, you’ll find parts of the path where bright green grass, lush trees and bright blue sky take over and you find yourself running through some really pretty spots.
UQ Campus
St Lucia
Take a trip over to the University of Queensland campus at St Lucia, find the rowing sheds along Sir William Macgregor Drive and follow the well-trodden footpath lining the river. It offers a nice flat track which can lead you in a loop, if you cut back through UQ, or across the river over the Green Bridge (Eleanor Schonell Bridge) toward Wooloongabba.
Daisy Hill Regional Park
Daisy Hill
For a dose of nature, head into the Daisy Hill Regional Park and run to your heart’s content. The Spotted Gum Trail takes you through 4km of eucalyptus forest, where spotted gums take pride of place. It’s an on-leash friendly area, so you can bring your dog for a jog with you. This great area offers you a chance to jog through beautiful bushland, spot wildlife and feel like you’re world away from home.
Roma Street Parklands
Brisbane City
With its inner-city setting and stunning gardens, the Roma Street Parklands are the perfect place to explore on foot. Get your best joggers on and set off through the gardens, letting your feet guide you. You’ll find yourself immersed in some beautiful parts of the park, adorned with pretty flowers, lush trees overhead, water features and large open spaces. Stretch your legs further by heading out the top of the park, winding your way through Spring Hill and back.
Not quite ready to run yet? Try these epic hikes around Brisbane instead.
Image credit: Nike