Somerset Lookout
Moreton Bay
D'Aguilar National Park (Mount Mee)
A magnificent lookout toward Lake Wivenhoe and Somerset Dam, accessed either by 4WD track or a half-day walk through a variety of forest types.
This lightly trafficked, well-marked trail is accessed via a high-clearance 4WD on the Western Escarpment Forest Drive, which allows you to drive within metres of the lookout.
Alternatively, a well-marked trail (the Sommerset Trail - 13 kms return) to the lookout starts opposite the small road to the parking area for The Gantry, on Sellin Road.
Somerset Lookout, which includes a constructed platform, offers uninterrupted views to the west towards Lake Wivenhoe and Somerset Dam, as well as the surrounding mountain ranges.
If accessing the lookout by 4WD, it is worth exploring the track south of the lookout for a few hundred metres, with a number of rocky outcrops offering similarly spectacular views. With the exception of the lookout, there is no barrier at the cliff edges, so care is required.
The day-use area at The Gantry has toilets, picnic tables and BBQ facilities. Nearby tracks include Rocky Hole, Bulls Falls and Falls Lookout and the Mill Rainforest walk, all of which require high-clearance 4WDs to get to by driving along the Mount Mee Forest Drive.
Track: Graded, short and well-signed, the track is easy to follow.
Difficulty: The track is suitable for all fitness levels. With the exception of the lookout, there is no barrier at the cliff edges, so care is required.
Direction: This is a short out-and-back track that returns the way it came. For directions for the 4WD track, see the Western Escarpment Forest Drive activity page.
getting there
The trail starts from the small car park on the Western Escarpment Forest Drive, which is accessed just prior to The Gantry, at the end of Sellin Road in Mount Mee, 1.25 hours drive northwest of Brisbane.
Parking is ample for how trafficked the walk is, however The Gantry day-use area can get very busy on weekends and public holidays.
A high-clearance 4WD is required to get to the lookout, if not doing the longer trail.
best time to go
The walk can be completed year-round.
Always check the Queensland Parks website for updates on track closures.
Remember, whenever venturing into the outdoors, practice the Leave No Trace principles and be considerate of others. This means: dispose of your waste properly, don't remove things or move things from their natural position and respect all wildlife. Also be sure to plan ahead and adequately prepare for any adventure.
I respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which all activities listed on this website are found, as well as Elders past, present and emerging. I strive to not promote sites where requests have been made for people not to explore due to the cultural significance of the site to Indigenous peoples, or note how to respectfully visit a site. If I have a promoted a site with cultural significance, please send me a message and let me know.