"The Glass House Mountains don't ask to be climbed. They ask to be witnessed — and the trails around their bases offer views that make the effort feel like a privilege."
The Sunshine Coast hinterland is one of South East Queensland's most under-celebrated natural treasures. The Glass House Mountains — twelve craggy volcanic peaks formed 25 to 27 million years ago from ancient lava flows that cooled and hardened into trachyte and rhyolite plugs — rise dramatically from flat coastal plains about 70 kilometres north of Brisbane. Behind them, the Blackall Range lifts into a world of subtropical rainforest, 90-metre waterfalls, piccabeen palm groves and panoramic ridge lookouts stretching from the mountains to the Coral Sea.
Whether you want a gentle 30-minute rainforest boardwalk suitable for a pram, a heart-pumping summit scramble before breakfast, or a multi-day wilderness trek through national park wilderness, this guide covers every trail worth walking — with honest difficulty ratings, exact distances and the practical insider knowledge that makes the difference between a good walk and an unforgettable one.
🙏 Respecting Country — Please Read Before You Walk
The Glass House Mountains hold profound spiritual significance for the Jinibara and Kabi Kabi peoples — the Traditional Custodians of this Country for thousands of generations. In their Dreaming stories, Mount Tibrogargan is the father, Mount Beerwah the mother, and the surrounding peaks their children — with Mount Ngungun as the loyal dingo who stayed close to protect the family.
The Jinibara and Kabi Kabi peoples respectfully request that visitors refrain from climbing to the summits of Mount Tibrogargan and Mount Beerwah out of respect for the sacred values these peaks hold for their communities. We strongly encourage all walkers to honour this request. The base circuits and lower trails around both mountains are fully accessible, spectacular, and deeply rewarding in their own right.
Glass House Mountains National Park
🏔️ Queensland Heritage Listed
6 Walks Listed Below
Listed on both the Queensland and National Heritage Registers, the Glass House Mountains National Park protects the remnants of ancient volcanic plugs surrounded by open eucalypt woodland, heathy coastal vegetation and pockets of rainforest. Three trailheads — Ngungun, Tibrogargan and Beerburrum — provide access to the main walking tracks, all within a few kilometres of the Glass House Mountains township.
The park sits approximately 70 km north of Brisbane (one hour's drive via the Bruce Highway) or 40 minutes from Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast. The Glass House Mountains tourist drive winds through the peaks — an extraordinary scenic road even if you never leave the car, but infinitely better when you do.
Mount Ngungun Summit Track ⭐
The most popular and most rewarding summit walk in the Glass House Mountains — and the best-value scramble in South East Queensland. The track passes through open forest with a fern understorey, past a small rock overhang known as Lovers Cave, before climbing steeply to a 253-metre summit with spectacular 360-degree views of Tibrogargan, Coonowrin and Beerwah. Families with children aged 8 and above manage it comfortably. Arrive before 7:30 AM on weekends — the small carpark fills completely by mid-morning. Rocks become dangerously slippery in wet conditions; postpone the summit sections after rain.
Tibrogargan Circuit
A family-friendly loop around the base of the dramatic Mount Tibrogargan through casuarina groves, open eucalypt and melaleuca forests. Stop at Mountain View lookout for views across to Mount Beerwah and the twin spires of Coonowrin (Crookneck). Peregrine falcons often soar above the sheer cliff faces in the morning thermals. No steep climbing on this circuit — an excellent introduction to the park for all ages and fitness levels, and particularly good for those who want to respect the cultural request not to summit Tibrogargan itself.
Mount Beerburrum Summit
Short but brutally steep — a partially concrete path climbs through a pocket of mixed rainforest and eucalyptus woodland to a heritage fire tower at the 280-metre peak. Panoramic views of the entire Glass House Mountains range, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane city skyline and Moreton Island reward the effort considerably. A popular sunrise and sunset destination. The sustained steepness makes this more demanding than the short distance suggests — expect burning calves and genuine satisfaction at the top.
Trachyte Circuit
Links Mount Tibrogargan and Tibberoowuccum through open woodland and coastal heathland. The highlight is Jack Ferris Lookout on Trachyte Ridge, offering one of the most dramatic and unusual views of the peaks from an elevated lateral angle. In spring (August–October), the heath erupts in extraordinary colour — yellow candlestick banksias bloom spectacularly, attracting clouds of honeyeaters and rainbow lorikeets. At dawn and dusk, eastern grey kangaroos and whiptail wallabies graze openly beside the trail.
Yul-yan-man Track
For experienced bushwalkers with rock-scrambling confidence. This point-to-point track links the Beerburrum and Tibrogargan trailheads through varied and challenging terrain, requiring navigation skills and appropriate footwear. Can be walked one-way with a vehicle shuttle, or combined with other circuits into a more ambitious longer loop. The Soldier Settlers trail section passes through historically significant farmland with excellent interpretive signage documenting post-WWI settlement of the area.
Wild Horse Mountain Lookout
About 10 km from the Glass House Mountains township in Beerburrum West State Forest, this often-overlooked lookout offers one of the most comprehensive panoramic views of all twelve volcanic peaks simultaneously — along with sweeping views of the coast from Caloundra to Noosa, and on clear days, Brisbane city and Moreton Island. A short bush loop through scribbly gum forest descends through a wet eucalypt gully before returning. The lookout deck is wheelchair-accessible and has excellent interpretation panels.
Mount Coolum
⛰️ World's 2nd Largest Rock
Moderate · 1.6km return
Closer to the coast, Mount Coolum rises 208 metres from the coastal plain — considered the world's second largest monolith rock after Uluru — just 3.5 km from Coolum Beach. The 1.6 km return track (allow 90 minutes) climbs steadily through coastal heath and scribbly gum woodland via a series of well-maintained zigzag sections to a summit plateau with sweeping 360-degree views stretching from Double Island Point near Noosa in the north all the way to Caloundra and the Glass House Mountains in the south.
It's one of the best sunrise spots on the Sunshine Coast — arrive in darkness and watch the first light flood the coast from sea level to mountain. The track is well-suited to families and fitness enthusiasts, though the last section to the summit involves a short scramble over bare rock. Start early or late to avoid the brutal midday heat, bring at least 1.5 litres of water per person, and wear closed-toe shoes rather than thongs — the granite surface becomes a serious hazard when wet.
Hinterland Waterfall Walks
💧 4 Waterfall Walks
Blackall Range
The Blackall Range — the long mountain spine running through the hinterland between Maleny and Mapleton — captures rainfall from the south-east trades and funnels it over dramatic escarpments in a series of spectacular waterfalls. The hinterland is approximately 35 minutes' drive west of Maroochydore via the Nambour-Mapleton Road or Maleny-Landsborough Road. Water flow is best immediately after significant rainfall; in prolonged dry periods, some falls reduce dramatically — Mapleton Falls is most affected by drought.
Kondalilla Falls Circuit ⭐
"Kondalilla" means "rushing waters" in the local language — and the name delivers. Water cascades 90 metres over Skene Creek into a lush subtropical rainforest valley where ferns drip with mist and the sound is overwhelming. The circuit descends via approximately 300 steps through towering piccabeen palms and strangler figs to a rock pool at the base — bring your swimmers in summer for a refreshing dip that few Sunshine Coast visitors ever experience. The return climb is the real workout. A shorter 1.7 km option leads to the valley lookout without the descent. Arrive before 8 AM on weekends for parking.
Mapleton Falls & Wompoo Circuit
Mapleton Falls drops an impressive 120 metres from Pencil Creek into the Obi Obi Valley escarpment below. Start at the primary lookout for a vertiginous bird's-eye view of the falls (peregrine falcons regularly ride the thermals above), then descend the Wompoo Circuit through tall piccabeen palms, giant strangler figs and the lush creek rainforest where the Wompoo fruit-dove calls. The falls themselves are actually better seen from the walking trail than the main lookout. Visit after rain for full impact — in prolonged dry periods, flow reduces significantly.
Gheerulla Falls — The Local Secret
One of the hinterland's genuinely best-kept secrets, and one of the most rewarding walks on this list for the effort required. A gentle, unhurried walk through Mapleton National Park winds steadily down through dry sclerophyll forest into the lush creek valley, arriving at a secluded waterfall and natural swimming hole that is frequently deserted even on summer weekends. No 300-step descent, no weekend queues for the car park — just peaceful national park bush and a swimming hole cold enough to stop a heat headache immediately. Best visited December through February when water levels are highest.
Gardner's Falls, Maleny
Access from Obi Lane South off the Landsborough–Maleny Road. A very short, accessible walk reaches a multi-tiered cascade and popular rock swimming pool that Maleny locals have been swimming in for generations. In summer, rope swings dangle above the deepest pools and the atmosphere is genuinely joyful. The falls themselves are relatively modest, but the accessibility, the community atmosphere and the ease of combining with a Maleny café visit make this an excellent family swimming stop, particularly appealing to younger children who want to play rather than hike.
Rainforest Reserves
🌿 Free Entry
All Fitness Levels
Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve — The Crown Jewel
Fifty-five hectares of National Estate-listed subtropical rainforest on the edge of Maleny, with panoramic views of the Glass House Mountains from the elevated viewing deck of the excellent Discovery Centre. The 1.7 km Rainforest Walk loops through towering piccabeen palms, giant strangler figs, hoop pines and a rich understorey on a mostly flat track — accessible for all fitness levels, with certain sections suitable for prams and mobility devices.
The interpretive Discovery Centre is genuinely engaging for all ages — interactive displays on rainforest ecology, wildlife identification, and the geological history of the Glass House Mountains are well-researched and avoid the patronising tone of lesser visitor centres. The on-site café serves excellent coffee and gluten-free options. Free entry. Open daily 7 AM to 6 PM.
Wildlife here is extraordinary for a 55-hectare reserve. Red-necked pademelons graze openly on the forest floor at dawn and dusk, lace monitors patrol the rainforest floor, green tree frogs inhabit the creek banks, and the birdlife — Wompoo fruit-doves, topknot pigeons, paradise riflebirds and numerous honeyeaters — makes this one of the finest birdwatching locations on the Sunshine Coast. It is, without exaggeration, one of the best free nature experiences in South East Queensland.
Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens
Located at Tanawha between the coast and the hinterland, these community gardens combine curated plant collections with excellent walking trails through different local habitat zones — dry sclerophyll bushland, wetlands, rainforest patches and creek frontage. The Whipbird Village is a genuine delight — an award-winning play space made entirely from living and natural materials, where cubbies, pods and climbing structures constructed from grown shrubs and timber create a magical landscape children adore. Free entry, ample parking, open year-round.
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk
🚶 58km Multi-Day Trek
3–4 Days
The 58 km Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk is the region's premier multi-day wilderness trek, running north from Baroon Pocket Dam near Maleny through the Kondalilla National Park, Mapleton Falls National Park and Mapleton National Park before reaching Mapleton township. It is one of eleven designated Great Walks in Queensland — a category reserved for the state's most significant and exceptional long-distance hiking experiences.
The track traverses an extraordinary variety of terrain: subtropical rainforest with towering piccabeen palms, wet and dry sclerophyll forest, open heathland, creek crossings (including a suspension bridge over Baxter Creek), and elevated ridgeline walking with views from Gheerulla Bluff, Thilba Thalba viewpoint and the dramatic Narrows Gorge lookout. Wildlife along the route includes pademelons, platypus in the creek sections, glossy black cockatoos, paradise riflebirds and abundant birdlife throughout.
Most walkers complete the full route in 3–4 days using the four designated walkers' camps at Flaxton, Ubajee, Thilba Thalba and Gheerulla Creek. The ideal group size is four walkers; do not exceed twelve per camp. Carry a portable fuel stove (no campfires permitted along the route), a minimum of 3 litres of water per day (no guaranteed refill points), and properly printed or digital topographic maps — the basic brochure map is insufficient for navigation in poor visibility.
Day-Walk Sections Worth Doing Solo
Baroon Pocket Dam to Kondalilla Falls (11 km, 3.5 hours): The most popular standalone section, taking in the dam, creek country and arriving at Kondalilla Falls from above — a completely different perspective from the standard circuit approach. Flaxton to Mapleton Falls (6 km, 2.5 hours): The most scenic middle section, passing through the best rainforest on the walk and arriving at Mapleton Falls from the track rather than the car park. Arrange a vehicle pickup at Mapleton at the end.
🗺️ Great Walk Booking & Preparation
Book walkers' camps through the Queensland National Parks booking system — they fill well ahead during school holidays. The Cooee Tours office can assist with Great Walk planning, guided options and transport logistics.
Navigation: Download the Queensland Parks app and/or carry printed 1:25,000 topographic maps. The paper brochure map is orientation-only and unsuitable for backcountry navigation.
Water: Carry at least 3 litres per person per day. Creek water should be treated before drinking; a filter or purification tablets are essential.
⚠️ Walking Safety Essentials
Planning Your Hinterland Day
Everything you need to make the most of the Glass House Mountains and hinterland — timing, logistics and how to combine experiences.
