Mount Ngungun hiking
As you steer the car west from the southern end of the Sunshine Coast you can’t miss the incredible craggy peaks of the Glass House Mountains, where outdoor treks and epic sunsets are just the beginning.
The Glass House Mountains are a group of 11 ancient volcanic peaks that formed more than 26 million years ago. This is a spiritually significant area to our First Nation Peoples, the local Kabi Kabi and Jinibara peoples, with many ceremonial sites still present and protected today. We encourage visitors to be mindful of this significance when visiting the area and to keep to the designated walking trails and lookouts. For any further information or guidance, please click here.
With stunning panoramic views, challenging hikes and plenty of local delicacies to indulge in, we’ve put together the ultimate guide so you can discover for yourself just what makes the Glass House Mountains so special.
Where to play in the Glass House Mountains
Mount Tibrogargan, Sunshine Coast
When it comes to ticking off bucket list activities in the Glass House Mountains, clocking in some steps around Mount Tibrogargan is a must. The circuit will take you on a 90-minute showcase of casuarina groves, eucalyptus and melaleuca forests as well as flashes of circling peregrine falcons. Plus, if you really believe that there ain’t no mountain high enough, strap your Merrells on for a trail that truly hails as the gift that keeps on giving. The Mount Ngungun summit walking track bears lock screen-saver worthy shots of Mount Tibrogargan, Mount Coonowrin and Mount Beerwah so you’ll want to make sure your smartphone has enough juice for this 2.8km stretch of wilderness.
Mount Ngungun, Glass House Mountains
For an adrenaline buzz, make sure you get around Glass House Mountains Trail Bike Tours—punch some pedal over 120km of off road tracks with a guided dirt bike circuit, one of the coolest ways to witness Glass House Mountains’ rugged volcanic peaks.
You can also jump aboard a guided tour with Glass House Country Tours. This local business has a solid repertoire of expeditions to get around including the Meet Our Farmers Food Tour. With more than 455 farmers in the Glass House region alone, you’ll be itching to get your boots dirty and get to know the growers as you tuck into all kinds of fresh goodness (like custard apples, strawberries and pineapples).
Naturally, your time in the Glass House Mountains will see you working up an appetite and when that happens, you’ll want to be placed in prime real estate. Pack a Mediterranean picnic spread or sizzle up a chain of kebabs on the BBQ while you lap up sky-high views of Brisbane, Moreton Island, Maroochydore and Caloundra at the Glass House Mountains lookout day use area.
Meet the wildlife at Australia Zoo
The world-renowned Australia Zoo packs some serious bite but in the best way possible too. With a huge focus on conservation, Australia Zoo holds several daily conservation shows including a bird garden feed out and even a live tortoise demonstration. If you’re keen to scale up for even more jaw-dropping action, you can’t miss the Wildlife Warriors Show packed with slithering, snapping and swooping theatrics!
For another feather in your cap, stretch your wings at Parrots In Paradise, an absolute sanctuary of beautiful and coloured parrots hailing from all around the world. The photo opportunities here are plenty (you’ll want to flock straight to the Macaws) and there’s a dedicated Freedom Flight area where you can actually feed and enjoy the chirpy company of birds landing on you for their treats!
Not many places look like they’re from straight out of a picture book but Bankfoot House packs some serious 19th century charm. You can make the most of a free guided tour around this heritage-listed estate which also happens to be the oldest residence in Glass House Mountains, having served as a meeting place for social events, rest for travellers and a farming property since the late 1800s.
Where to eat in the Glass House Mountains
Warrior Restaurant & Bar
You can’t put it past the Warrior Restaurant & Bar – located at Australia’s Zoo’s Crocodile Hunter Lodge - to plate up an unforgettable modern-Australian feast after all that adventure. The menu not only takes a leaf from First Nations plant knowledge that has been used for over thousands of years but also draws inspiration from the Sunshine Coast’s distinctive local produce (like chillies that are harvested from Australia Zoo’s Elephantasia).
Elsewhere and as its name suggests, The Lookout Cafe is offering up the kind of dessert you’ll want to devour with your eyes. When you’re not tantalising over views of the mango orchard and Mount Coonowrin, dive into a delicious assortment of home-baked cakes and flans, toasted sandwiches, freshly-ground coffee and a swell of Devonshire teas.
You’ll also want to stock up on snacks so when overloading your reusable mesh bag with fresh fruit and veggies clocks your radar, make your way to Everything Good. This roadside marketplace boasts a large variety of tasty sides for your next picnic or pantry fillers to take home. We guarantee this small produce store will be the apple of your eye, as it is for everyone else who passes by.
If you’re looking for an epic place to knock back a cold one after a long day filled with activities,the recently refurbished Glasshouse Tavern has stood the test of time as a reliable watering hole and now, having new life breathed into it, bears an indisputable reputation as one of the best family friendly venues in the area. No matter what time of day you show up, the tavern can mix anything from a food coma-inducing iteration of a big breakfast, an oyster platter of briney bites Kilpatrick-style or even a mammoth Philly cheese steak rolled pummelled with beef brisket, crispy bacon and pickles.
Where to stay in the Glass House Mountains
Stay at Glass On Glasshouse, Glass House Mountains
Now, if you’re not perched somewhere on a hilltop in the ancient ridges of the Glass House Mountains, you’re doing them wrong. Glass on Glasshouse offers total immersion in your surroundings with its three-metre floor-to-ceiling glass walls giving you orchestra seats to the best natural show around.
For a getaway that clocks in as the perfect base for all your outdoor adventures, Glass House Mountains Eco Lodge is conveniently located right in the beating heart of the Glass House Mountains. Don’t expect any old run-of-the-mill getaway though, your choice of accommodation here ranges from train carriages, bungalows and even a 125-year-old timber country Queensland church.
The Crocodile Hunter Lodge, Beerwah
For a little bit of luxury on the wild side the Crocodile Hunter Lodge, with its cabins nestled in bushland, offers the perfect place to unwind. Inspired by the legacy of Australia’s very own ‘Crocodile Hunter’—Steve Irwin, you’ll be privy to unlimited Australia Zoo entry and a sneak peek into the zoo’s celebrated wildlife hospital too during your stay here.
If you’re looking to let the kids run free range, book your stay in a tiny house or cosy cabin at Blackwattle Farm. Here your mornings are spent helping feed the animals, collecting fresh eggs from the chicken coop and harvesting the beautiful organic produce grown on the farm. Trust us, your cup will be full after a back-to-basics stay at this sustainably focused family-run farm.