There are lots of fun ways to get fit on the weekend without even realising it. Exercise doesn’t have to mean running on a treadmill for four hours and being miserable.
Exercise is anything that elevates your heart rate and takes your body outside of its normal comfort zone.
If you’re lucky enough to live in the leafy suburb of Lawnton, then you’re spoiled for choice with fun activities right on your doorstep. We’ve lined up some awesome weekend activities you can do near Lawnton!
Hikes
This weekend don your hiking boots, grab some mates and head for the hills to burn some calories. Forty minutes west of Lawnton is D’Aguilar National Park with the small hamlet of Mt Glorious being a popular hiking destination. This hilly haven features lush rainforest and some stunning outlook views. Check out these two tracks to get your heart pumping. Both these hikes are graded easy and start from the Maiala Picnic Area.
- Rainforest Circuit – a 2km hike with mild gradients and plenty of great scenery including a palm valley and flowing stream.
- Greenes Falls Circuit – a longer 4.3 km walk bypassing ancient figs and blue gums that follows a stream to a lookout platform to view Greenes Falls.
Swimming Pools
Winter is no excuse not to get active, and swimming is possible at the Lawnton Aquatic Centre on the corner of Gympie and Lawnton Pocket Roads. The centre offers a 50 metre outdoor and 25-metre indoor pool, both heated. If you can’t swim, now’s a great time to learn, the centre provides lessons for all ages. Alternatively, you can join in on their range of water-based adult fitness classes like Aqua Aerobics. Check out their facilities, Aqua Aerobics timetable and prices.
Walking Tracks
You’re spoiled for choice in Lawnton with walking tracks whether you want a gentle stroll or a jog, depending on your energy levels. Here are three for starters:
- Sweeney Reserve – a partially wooded, grassy park situated between Petrie and Lawnton offers a number of walking trails either heading down to the river or cutting through bushland. If you fancy strengthening your muscles along the way, the reserve has fixed gym equipment with handily placed water fountains. Access to the park is from Old Dayboro Road.
- Mungarra Reserve – you can walk from the western end of Sweeney Reserve to Mungarra reserve which features a dog off-leash area, so both you and your furry friend can let off steam.
- Tinchi Tamba Wetlands – east of Lawnton, Tinchi Tamba Wetlands Reserve has established walking trails following along the banks of the North Pine River. Try the Island Circuit Track which takes around 1 hour to complete (check the tide as it’s across intertidal mangroves and saltmarshes). The Birdhide Track takes just 20 minutes and passes through open grassland and overlooks mudflats.
Kayaking
Give your abs and shoulders a workout by going kayaking. Tinchi Tamba Wetlands offers a great paddling experience two hours before and after a high tide. The clean flowing river water is suitable for all kinds of kayaks.
Horse Riding
Saddle up and get a fun workout with a horse ride. Slickers Horse Riding has 3,500 acres of land to explore by horseback. If you know what you’re doing then you can ride out on your own, if not they offer escorted rides with an experienced guide. If you fancy a group trip for the weekend, try Slickers’ winery ride or tailored property ride to suit your group’s ability level.
Bike Riding
Bike riding is a great way to increase cardio fitness and strengthen muscles, and there are plenty of bike/walk paths in Lawnton. A pleasant ride is to head up Gympie Road to Petrie, taking in Wyllie Park, Mathieson Park, Sweeney Reserve, Stephen Lawn Park, Frank Skinner Park to Mungarra Reserve.
There is also Petrie-Strathpine Cycleway, a residential cycleway that runs between Petrie and Strathpine, with a small amount of road cycling. Be aware that on shared paths cyclists must give way to pedestrians. For more information check out Pine Rivers Cycling Walking Guide.
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