Picnic Point to Table Top

A terrific hike from the waterfall at Picnic Point to Table Top Mountain and return. Challenging in some sections of Table Top with rock scrambling and lots of gravel. The return trip to Picnic Point is also hilly. 12k is an approximate distance. You can add to this or shorten the walk with a few different options.

Waterfalls

Lookouts

Bird Watching

Picnic Facilities

Toilets

Scrambling or Climbing

Eucalypt Forest

715m

Maximum Elevation

550m

Total Climb

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Getting there:

Start the walk anywhere at Picnic Point which is on the Eastern escarpment of Toowoomba. Plenty of free parking, toilets, cafe.

Maps:

None found.

Route/Trail notes

Follow the signs to the Picnic Point waterfall and start heading East on the Pardalote Walk. Follow the Pardalote Walk to South Street Car Park then walk downhill on South Street for a couple of kms until you reach the base of Table Top Mountain. The track then starts immediately uphill over a rocky path. Be prepared to scramble over a lot of rocks and boulders as well as large gravel. It's not an easy hike but can be negotiated by anyone with a good level of fitness and enthusiasm. You can either return the same way via South Street or go a different way via a wide track in the middle of private land. A sign to this track is at the Table Top carpark on the left hand side at a gate. The track is really well signed all the way back to Picnic Point. You end up back at the base of Picnic Point and have a choice to take the Bridle Trail or the Fantail Walk back to the circular roadway around picnic areas which then takes you back to the waterfall.

Permits/Costs:

No costs.

Other References/Comments:

https://www.qt.com.au/news/your-say-best-walks-toowomba/2665888/#/0

GPS Tracks

No GPS available for this walk yet.

Comments

Great walk, took just about 3 hours to complete. The climb up Tabletop mountain was a lot of fun, but the loose rocks towards the summit make it very easy to slip over. The walk back to Picnic point was definitely the toughest part, but all in all a very beautiful hike.
Campbell on 23 Jul, 2023

We just completed the Picnic Point to Tabletop Mountain walk. It was 9.75kms and took us 3hrs with a lot of stops for photos and breath. It is a Grade 5 walk and lives up to its rating as there were many steep rock scrambles to get to the top. Recommend doing this one early as there are many exposed spots and it’s gets intensely hot. Take plenty of water and hydralytes if attempting this in summer. Would not recommend doing this one in wet weather as the rocks would be extremely slippery and dangerous. We did the Fantail Track down and back from Picnic Point and walked along the Stevenson Rd - Table Top Dr to the trailhead carpark. The view from the top is incredible with 360 degree views of all surrounding areas. There is also amazing flat grasslands where one can practice there best Sound of Music rendition. Highly recommend this walk to anyone who loves a good climb and breath taking views. It’s well worth the effort.
Paul on 21 Jan, 2023

I did the loop walk, including the "new" Reserve trail. The top itself deserves some time to enjoy the views and grasses all around.
Wanderlust on 2 May, 2022

Did this as a loop from the Waterfall Cafe area, incorporating Firetail down and Fantail up. Nice to do to fit in as many of the walks in the area as I knew none of them beforehand.

The road from Stevenson St. to Mt. Tabletop is just over 1.4ks and the alternative route through the bush is a little over 2.8ks. They make a handy loop from the mountain and back.
MDWL on 3 Jun, 2021

did the picnic point section separate to the table top . would only class the table top part as hard the other section is just long, was ok but not that nice for scenery in my opinion
vlad on 8 Mar, 2020

Started this walk with a foggy morning at Picnic Point. It took under 2hrs to get the top of Table Top and the same to return. Beautiful and green the entire walk and at some parts, we hiked through metre high grass. There was a fair amount of rock scrambling once negotiating Table Top but it was enjoyable. The difficulty came from the humidity and then the constant hills on the return walk. I wouldn’t do this hike again but would walk the shorter Table Top mountain hike from the carpark at its base (3km return) at the end of South Street.
S K on 18 Feb, 2020