Maiala Westside Track (6.4km)

Maiala Westside Track is a 6.4km, grade 3 Return hike located in D’Aguilar National Park Queensland. The hike should take approximately 3hrs to complete.

Summary

The Westside Track is located within D’Aguliar National Park (south D’Aguilar section). The Maiala area was the first national park declared on the D’Aguilar Range. Originally cleared for a timber mill, Maiala is now a spacious and peaceful place to visit. Some machinery and remnant hoop pine plantation remain as evidence of Maiala’s loud and laborious past. Enjoy a picnic, barbecue or rainforest walk.

About the region

D’Aguilar is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 31 km northwest of Brisbane. The southern part of the park was formerly known as Brisbane Forest Park, while the northern part of the park is at Mount Mee.

The park contains expanses of eucalypt woodland, sheltered pockets of subtropical rainforest, remote gorges and spectacular views to Moreton Bay and the Glass House Mountains. The popular Walkabout Creek Visitor Centre is located at the edge of the park. There are two formal, vehicle accessible camping areas in the Mount Mee section and eight remote bush camping sites (accessible only by walking) in the southern D’Aguilar (formerly Brisbane Forest Park) section.

Woodlands and dry eucalypt forests predominate on the drier, shallower soils of the park’s foothills. Spotted Gum (Corymbia variegata) and Narrow-leaved Ironbark are two of the main species. There are also small areas of heath and ridges dominated by grass trees (Xanthorrhoea spp). Remnant pockets of lowland rainforest occur in the valleys along some of the watercourses.

At higher altitudes the forests become more complex due to the increased rainfall and generally deeper soils. These mid-altitude forests are dominated by Grey Gum, Pink Bloodwood and Brush Box. Occasional rainforest species are also present and there is a thick understorey of ferns, vines and shrubs.

Moist sub-tropical rainforest grows on the highest parts of the range where the rainfall is two-thirds greater than in the foothills, particularly on the rich basaltic soils north of Mt Glorious. Huge strangler figs (Ficus watkinsiana) can be seen emerging through the canopy.

For more information on this hiking trail, please visit Queensland.com