As Brisbane dwellers fly along the Pacific Highway towards the Gold Coast’s sandy stretches of beaches, Logan City is often overlooked as just another concrete metropolis to pause at for a tank of petrol. But there’s more to the city than first meets the eye: like any lasting love, you need to invest a little time before its hidden beauty and endearing quirks will reveal themselves. Logan offers a bevy of distractions, from Logan Entertainment Centre to Kingston Park Raceway, but it’s the region’s wealth of waterways and wetlands that will really hook you in. Immerse yourself in nature this weekend and halt on the highway at Logan.

Start your morning wandering through the Eagleby Wetland Reserve, which plays host to more than 200 different bird species. Cast your eye across the freshwater lake, swamps and grassland and see how many native species you can catch in the binoculars. The Berrinba Wetlands Reserve is another must-do for nature enthusiasts, with its goldmine of 30,000 native plants and 100 nesting boxes for birds, possums and gliders. Let your legs carry you along the 8.5 km of walkways and bike paths, before recharging with lunch at the scenic barbecue and picnic area.

Those who want to get closer to the water can embark on a self-guided tour of Captain Logan’s historic journey via the Logan River Tinnie Trail, while bushwalkers can search for koalas, wallabies, bandicoots, birds and greater gliders in Cornubia Forest Park. If the day isn’t done and you have energy to spare, the open eucalypt forest of Daisy Hill Conservation Park and outdoor enclosure of Daisy Hill Koala Centre should offer plenty of opportunities to see the furry little guys up close.

If the koalas’ leisurely noshing has triggered your appetite, grab an afternoon snack from the nearby Christopher’s Fine Food and Wine. Celebrate a day well spent with a loaded cheese platter, cluster of Tasmanian Pacific oysters and a glass of crisp white.