Daisy Hill Conservation Park

Overview

Daisy Hill Conservation Park sits about 25 km south-east of Brisbane CBD in Logan City, and is one of the most popular and accessible mountain-bike trail networks in South East Queensland. It is the largest constituent reserve of the Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area (KBCCA) — a 1996 agreement between the Queensland Government, Logan City Council and Redland City Council that links Daisy Hill with Venman Bushland National Park and several council reserves to protect one of the most intact koala habitats between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The KBCCA expanded from roughly 1,500 ha to over 3,300 acres after a 520-acre addition was secured in 2024.

The park's riding offer is built around the Daisy Hill trail hub (off Daisy Hill Road) — a purpose-built MTB hub with a warm-up track, mountain-bike service area (workstand and tools), water station, undercover picnic and BBQ facilities, accessible toilets and a dedicated MTB carpark (Carpark 8). From the hub, riders access a 50+ km network of mountain-bike-only and shared trails ranging from green-graded fire roads and flowing singletrack to black-diamond technical lines (the iconic "Nirvana" is the standout). Trails were substantially upgraded between 2022 and 2023 under Stage 2 of the Daisy Hill Action Plan — a

What makes Daisy Hill distinctive is that this is genuinely shared land — koala sanctuary first, MTB venue second. Riders coexist with the Daisy Hill Koala Centre (free entry, 10 am–4 pm daily, koala keeper talks) and a network of horse-riding and bushwalking trails. The park is also unusual for South East Queensland in that it has a strong, organised volunteer community: Daisy Hill Trail Care runs working bees, and the local advocacy/race club RATS Cycling Club ("Racing Advocacy Trailcare Social") has driven the trail design partnership with QPWS.

Location & Access

• Address: Daisy Hill Road, Daisy Hill QLD 4127 (Daisy Hill Koala Centre at 253 Daisy Hill Road)
• Coordinates: -27.606998, 153.154039
• Drive times:
  • Brisbane CBD: ~25 km / 20 minutes via Pacific Motorway (M1)
  • Gold Coast: ~50 km / 45–55 minutes north via M1
  • Logan Central: ~10 minutes
• Carpark for MTB: Carpark 8 at the Daisy Hill trail hub (off Daisy Hill Road, just before the gate entry). Additional access from Underwood Road / Underwood Park (adjacent to Chung Tian Temple) and other day-use areas.
• Public transport: Limited; closest train station is Loganlea or Trinder Park, then ~5 km road ride / drive. Most riders drive.

Best Season & Conditions

• Open year-round — dawn to dusk for the park; trails are not lit for night riding.
• Wet-weather closures: Trails are routinely closed after heavy rainfall to protect the surface. Closures are announced as park alerts on parks.qld.gov.au and via Daisy Hill Trail Care on Facebook. (Example: full MTB closure 2–11 Jan 2024 after wet weather; another closure logged in May 2026.)
• Climate: Sub-tropical Brisbane. Best riding May–September (cooler, drier). November–March is hot, humid and storm-prone — early-morning rides recommended.
• One-way trails: Strictly enforced — follow directional signage.
• Wildlife: Active koala habitat; ride at sensible speeds and look up. Snakes and goannas common in warmer months.

Managing Body & Trail Builders

• Land manager: Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), within the Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI). The park is one component of the Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area (KBCCA), co-stewarded with Logan City Council and Redland City Council.
• Trail design & delivery: Daisy Hill Design and Delivery Group — QPWS plus community representatives, including RATS Cycling Club and Daisy Hill Trail Care.
• Volunteer trail care: Daisy Hill Trail Care (Facebook group) runs working bees and maintenance days.
• Local MTB club: RATS Cycling Club (Racing, Advocacy, Trail Care, Social) — the long-standing host club for the venue.

History & Background

• 1874 — Gazetted as a timber reserve.
• 1917 — Gazetted as a State Forest.
• 1986 — Re-gazetted as a State Forest Park.
• 1995 — Daisy Hill Koala Centre opens (purpose-built koala education facility, Queensland Government).
• 1996 — Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area (KBCCA) established — Queensland's first coordinated conservation area; agreement between QLD Govt, Logan City Council, Redland City Council.
• 2000 — Gazetted as a Forest Reserve.
• 2006 — Gazetted as a Conservation Park (current status).
• 2022–2023 — Daisy Hill Action Plan Stage 2: