An adaptive metaheuristic optimization-based QoS-aware, energy-balancing, secure routing protocol (AQoS-ESRP) is proposed in this article. The network is modelled as a biconcentric hexagon (BiCon-HexA), and the clusters are formed within the BiCon-HexA network. The BiCon-HexA is divided into six sectors to support effective data aggregation, and then clusters are formed within all sectors. The optimal cluster head (CH) selection mechanism is modelled by an Adaptive Hunter-Prey Optimization (AdapH-PO) algorithm considering QoS parameters. Data aggregation is then done securely with an enhanced encryption approach. Here, upgraded elliptic curve cryptography (UEllip-CC) is used to encode data in CH. This UEllip-CC approach provides security improvements in data transmission. Furthermore, in this study, CHs are combined in the multi-hop routing of data packets to reduce the power consumption problems of wireless sensor networks (WSN). To determine the optimal route for data transmission, an energy-balanced multi-path routing algorithm called improved convolutional osprey network (ICON) is presented. Nevertheless, the data transmission nodes can be overloaded in the data routing phase. Here, the congestion problem can be solved by applying an improved version of the Random Early Detection (RED) congestion control model to discard the data packets more noticeably. The simulation of AQoS-ESRP is done with Matlab, and the performance is evaluated using different metrics. When compared to existing systems, the simulation results clearly indicate a significantly higher throughput and delay. Thus, the AQoS ESRP model is employed to maximize the overall data transfer in the WSN.