Where The Boardwalk Leads

Wynnum North, Elanora Park And The Mangrove Boardwalk

Wynnum North and Elanora Park have long been among CLEAR owner Caroline Strainig’s favourite places to walk her dogs. In fact, Elanora Park is one of the reasons she ended up living in Wynnum in the first place.
For those unfamiliar with the town, Wynnum is a bayside suburb of Brisbane, just south of the mouth of the Brisbane River, where the city meets Moreton Bay.

When Caroline was house-hunting before moving to Brisbane, she looked at a house off Petersen Street in Wynnum. Partway along the street, she discovered a pathway and followed it down the hill.
At the bottom was Elanora Park: acres of green space, walking tracks, the waterfront and an enormous dog park. For someone whose life revolved around dogs, it seemed like doggy heaven. It was a major factor in deciding to buy the house.

All these years later, it’s still one of her favourite places to walk.
You can make an outing here as short or as energetic as you like: do the boardwalk circuit, add the bird hide, or continue up through Wynnum North for a longer walk.

The Boardwalk Circuit

The basic circuit is about 1.5 km. Follow the boardwalk through the mangroves and, when it finishes, take the land path that loops around and brings you back towards your starting point.

It’s an easy, mostly flat walk, with plenty of shade along much of the route. That makes it a particularly good summer option when more exposed Brisbane walks can become hot very quickly.

At low tide, exposed mudflats and tangled mangrove roots reveal a world of tiny creatures below. At high tide, water moves in beneath the boardwalk and changes the atmosphere completely.
And then there are the king tides.

At a king tide, a section of the gravel return path at the far end of the boardwalk can be covered in water. The path is designed to cope with periodic inundation and, with sensible footwear and a little care, walking through the shallow water can be part of the fun.

Watch your footing and use common sense about the depth of the water and conditions on the day.
The boardwalk is also popular with birdwatchers. Herons, egrets and migratory shorebirds are among the visitors, while kingfishers can be spotted around the mangroves. There are seats and viewing areas along the way, making this an easy place to linger rather than simply clock up kilometres.

Add The Bird Hide

For a little more distance, include the Wynnum Wetlands Birdhide.
The hide looks out across the saltmarsh and wetlands and is worth the small detour even if you aren’t a dedicated birdwatcher. Sit quietly for a few minutes and see what turns up.

The surrounding mangroves, mudflats, saltmarsh, grassland and bush make this a particularly interesting pocket of Brisbane for birdlife.

Allow about 2–2.5 km for the circuit incorporating the boardwalk and bird hide, depending on exactly where you start and finish.

It’s still an easy outing, but the bird hide and more open wetland country give this walk a quite different feel.

For A Longer Walk

For a bit more exercise, continue through the car park near the bird hide and follow Wynnum North Road uphill until you reach Tingal Road.

Turn left onto Tingal Road, then take the first left into Petersen Street. Partway along Petersen Street you’ll see a pedestrian pathway leading directly down into Elanora Park.

Alternatively, continue further along Tingal Road and take one of the later streets on the left. These will bring you down the hill towards the main entrance to Elanora Park.

Once back in the park, follow the paths around to your starting point.

This longer version combines mangroves and wetlands with open parkland, a decent hill and some suburban walking. It’s a good choice when you and your dog want to stretch your legs.

Dog Park And Coffee

If you have a friendly, genuinely social dog that enjoys dog parks, Elanora Park is worth allowing some extra time for.

The main off-leash area is enormous by suburban dog-park standards. There is also a separate smaller-dog area, recently substantially revamped by Brisbane City Council, including some agility equipment.

As with any dog park, have a look at who is inside before going in. Not every dog enjoys dog parks, and there’s nothing wrong with walking straight past.

For humans, there’s Toasty Grinds Mobile Coffee Van, a familiar sight at Elanora Park on Tuesday to Saturday mornings, generally from around 6.30 am until 11 am and a little later on Saturday.

A good walk followed by coffee while the dog has a rest is not a bad way to start the day.

When Space Matters

The boardwalk does require some thought if your dog is reactive or anxious around other dogs.

Most of it is only a couple of metres wide, so there is very little room to create distance when another dog approaches. There are two larger square viewing areas with plenty of passing room, but be prepared to turn around and return to one of them if necessary.

If your dog needs considerable distance from other dogs, skip the boardwalk and take the more open route instead.

You can still visit the bird hide. From Elanora Park, walk past the dog park and take the open land route towards the hide, then return the same way. There is much more room to manage encounters with other dogs.

Before You Go

The one real drawback is the lack of toilets along the walks.
The nearest are back near the main entrance to Elanora Park. That’s a fair hike when you’re at the Wynnum North end, so factor it in before setting off.

This is mangrove and wetland country, so insect repellent is a good idea. Take water for your dog in warmer weather and wear shoes with reasonable grip, particularly if you plan to walk the route at king tide.

The boardwalk circuit is well shaded for much of the way, but the longer Wynnum North route has more exposed sections, so an early start is sensible on very hot days.

Whether you take the short boardwalk circuit, add the bird hide or head up through Wynnum North, this is a lovely pocket of Brisbane to explore with a dog. And whatever else the day has in store, a wander through the mangroves beside the water is a pretty good way to begin.