Things to do

Enjoy a barbecue or picnic at Ironbark Gully picnic area.

Photo credit: James Fitzpatrick, Queensland Government

Look for wildflowers, like this grassy-leaved trigger-flower Stylidium graminfolium, when exploring Samford Conservation Park.

Photo credit: Ian Witheyman, Queensland Government

Narrow-leaved red ironbark Eucalyptus crebra.

Photo credit: courtesy of Janis Cossill

Joseph's coat moth Agarista agricola.

Photo credit: courtesy of Garry Sheehy

Camping and accommodation

Camping

Camping is not permitted in Samford Conservation Park.

Camping is available at nearby D’Aguilar National Park. Camping permits are required and must be booked in advance. Fees apply.

Other accommodation

A range of accommodation is available in and around Brisbane.

For more information see the tourism information links.

Walking

• Samford Conservation Park shared trails and walking track maps (PDF, 481.2KB)

Crebra circuit

Grade 3

Distance: 900m

Time: allow 35min

Details: This circuit walk begins at the picnic area and meanders through ironbark and spotted gum forest. While walking, look and listen for wildlife feeding on the flowers and leaves of the ironbark trees.

Walkers are also able to explore the network of shared trails throughout the conservation park unless otherwise signed. Walkers share these trails with horseriders and mountain bikers. Dog walking is also permitted on these trails, but dogs must be on a lead and under control at all times.

Horseriding

• Samford Conservation Park shared trails and walking track maps (PDF, 481.2KB)

Horses may be ridden on all shared trails in Samford Conservation Park unless otherwise signed. Horseriders are not permitted to ride on the designated mountain bike trails or designated walking tracks.

When using shared trails, walkers and cyclists must give way to horseriders and alert others when approaching them.

To help reduce your impact on our natural areas, please observe the following code of conduct:

• Do not allow horses to enter or remain in or near natural watercourses.
• Ride only on formed roads and trails designated for riding. Do not take shortcuts.
• Do not allow horses to remain in the park overnight.
• Avoid spreading weeds—ensure horses’ coats, hooves and equipment are free of seeds and that horses don’t feed on invasive species 48 hours before park visits.
• Minimise damage to vegetation. Do not allow horses to graze on any vegetation while in the park.

For more information about horseriding in protected areas, or to access a map, visit the SEQ horseriding trail network page.

Mountain-bike riding

• Samford Conservation Park shared trails and walking track maps (PDF, 481.2KB)

Mountain bikers are permitted on all shared trails in Samford Conservation Park. When using these shared trails, cyclists must give way to walkers and horses using the same trails and alert others when approaching them.

There are also eight mountain-bike-only trails within the conservation park and a purpose-built mountain bike warm-up area at Lomandra. See the table below for more information and refer to the Samford Conservation Park map (PDF, 481.2KB) for the trail locations.

Mountain bike trails (horses and walkers prohibited)

Mountain bike trail distances are one-way.

Suggested loops

For best access to the mountain-bike trail network, follow trail 10 (Green tree snake) from the Lomandra warm-up area and then left onto Lomandra Road. Follow the shared trail to the left for a gentle uphill ride to the junction of Three Ways Road. From here choose between three popular rides that return to Lomandra.

From the Three Ways Road:

• Loop 1—turn left onto Sewer Road and then left to follow Trail 8 (Kombi).
• Loop 2—left onto Sewer Road, then left to follow Trail 7 (Bandicoot) and then onto Trail 5 (Sunset).
• Loop 3—turn right to follow Trail 4 (Lorikeet).

Other designated mountain-bike and shared trails can also be found close by at Bunyaville Conservation Park. You can ride or drive the short distance to Bunyaville Conservation Park as shown on the locality map (PDF, 253.7KB) .

D’Aguilar National Park and sections of Daisy Hill Conservation Park (part of the Koala Bushland Coordinated Conservation Area) also have shared trails and designated mountain-bike trails; many of the trails in these areas have large hill climbs and require a higher level of fitness.

Follow the give-way code

Cyclists must give way to walkers and horseriders, and alert others when approaching them. Walkers must give way to horses.

Ride safely

• Always wear a helmet.
• Plan ahead. Ride within your ability and according to track conditions.
• Slow down and consider other track users.
• Avoid riding in large groups.
• Never begin a ride if you can see smoke in the park; bushfires can spread quickly.
• Do not ride after heavy or prolonged rain; gullies and creek lines may be flooded.
• Avoid riding on soft, wet and muddy tracks.
• Ride only on formed roads and tracks. Do not take shortcuts or form new tracks as this damages the environment and causes erosion.
• Respect areas closed to riding.

Picnic and day-use areas

• Samford Conservation Park shared trails and walking track maps (PDF, 481.2KB)

Enjoy a picnic or barbecue in the Ironbark Gully picnic area. Wood barbecues, picnic tables and toilets are provided. Bring your own clean-milled wood, such as untreated mill cut-offs.

It is permitted to bring your dog into the day-use area, but it must be on a lead or tether and under control at all times.

Viewing wildlife

The nectar-rich, creamy-white flowers of the narrow-leaved red ironbark Eucalyptus crebra provide a feast for lorikeets, rosellas, powerful owls, flying-foxes and koalas. You might also see the stunning Joseph’s coat moth Agarista agricola out during the day, displaying its amazing colours. Samford Conservation Park is also home to brushtail possums and many other mammals, reptiles and birds.