Exploring Mt Edwards in Moogerah Peaks National Park

Only a 90-minute drive from Brisbane, you’ll find the peaceful shores of the picturesque Lake Moogerah. This is the starting point for a 3km climb to Mt Edwards, one of the mountains in the Moogerah Peaks National Park.

Quick Overview

Mt Edwards trail is a 6 km return, grade 3 hike located in Moogerah Peaks National Park in Queensland. The hike should take around 2-3 hours to complete.

Highlights

Short hike that will get your heart pumping
Valley, mountain and lake views
Finish your hike off with a lakeside picnic

The Lowdown

Arriving just after sunrise, I was the only one in the carpark of Haigh Park and had the mountain views all to myself.

Beside the lake and rising above the dam wall is Mt Edwards, one of the mountains in the Moogerah Peaks National Park. To reach the summit, it’s a short but steep 3km hike.

The hike starts from the dam wall. Gates are open from 5.30am between September and April and 6.30am from May to August.

Cross the dam wall and then you hit the rocky trail. The trail winds up through the forest and about halfway up comes to a rocky outcrop with a good view of the valley below, and a glimpse of the dam.

The trail is easy to follow, but it’s narrow, there’s lots of downed tree branches to hop over, and a few parts are overgrown with grass and shrubs so long pants are a good idea.

The last kilometre or so of the track is relatively steep. But you’ll be rewarded with an expansive view of the Moogerah Peaks National Park and valleys of the Scenic Rim once you reach the top. While my view was a little spoiled by a bank of rain clouds rapidly moving in, the hike was worth the trip.

Keep an eye on the weather up here. My day started out clear and sunny and by the time I reached the summit about an hour later, the rain clouds had moved in. I made it down the mountain within 500 metres of the dam wall before it started pouring and I got soaked through. Lucky I had a dry bag on me!

The hike up is about an hour and 15 minutes including photo stops. If you’re trying to beat the rain, you can get down in 45 minutes!

Haigh Park offers plenty of picnic tables and viewpoints to enjoy the water views so plan to stay around for a while to soak in the beauty of the Scenic Rim region.

If you’re wanting to enjoy the lake views for longer, you can stay at the nearby Lake Moogerah Caravan Park, which also offers boat, kayak and paddleboard hire.

Essential Gear

Camera
Water
Insect repellent
Long pants

Activities

Hiking
Photography
Camping, kayaking and paddleboarding at campground
Picnicking and barbecuing

How To Get There

From Brisbane, head down Ipswich Road and connect onto the Ipswich Motorway, which turns into Cunningham Highway, following the signs to Warwick. Turnoff at Boonah-Fassifern Road and follow the signs to Lake Moogerah. Park at Fred Haigh Park and walk across the dam wall to the trailhead. The drive will take about 90 minutes.