Glass House Mountains, Qld

We had been to the Glass House Mountains so many years ago when on a holiday to the Sunshine Coast. We remembered it as a stunning place with photographs of amazing volcanic plugs in so many directions. Needing a short break we decided to visit the area and
spent more time getting to understand the Mountains and the towns and villages that surround them. The Mountains are truly amazing.

Getting There

We did our trip to the Glass House Mountains on Saturday 17 September 2022. This was part of a caravan holiday we did to the Maleny area and to the Mountains. Our post for the Blackall Ridge part of the trip can be read here

We had expected to be staying in Maleny, but the only caravan park is the Showgrounds. And you can only stay there for 3 nights. So we booked a spot in Landsborough, only 10 km north of the Glass House Mountains.

Landsborough to The Glass House Mountains 10 km.

Kerry’s comments in fuchsia

History

The Glass House Mountains – those plugs standing proud on the Sunshine Coast hinterlands – are remnants of volcanic activity that occurred approximately 25–27 million years ago. So they have a long history from the activities of First Nations people to the settlements of the British. This history can be read here

Sat 17 Sept 2022

It was an overcast and muggy day. It was the first day of the Queensland school holidays and a Saturday so we were expecting there would be lots of people around. We were correct on that score.

We left Landsborough at about 8.30 taking the Old Gympie Rd as the Steve Irwin Way was undergoing major roadworks. It was a pleasant drive through some nice countryside. Approaching Glasshouse Mountains, we saw Mt Coochin off to the right. Very impressive.

Our first stop was at Mt Ngungun. The car park was almost full but we got a spot. There are no facilities at the car park – you park on the road. Nor facilities anywhere close by.

We were warned that the track passes close to cliff edges so to supervise children closely, to wear supportive footwear and to take extra care around the summit area especially in wet weather, as rocks can become very slippery and the edges are close.

The walk to the top of Mt Ngungun features one of the most popular hikes on the Sunshine Coast. Even though it is a very steep climb. The track is a 2.8 kilometre return trail that begins in open forest but soon we started the assent. There were many people dong the walk – all shapes and sizes, all ages.

In many places the track is a large collection of fixed rocks with steps fashioned into the pile. It was at the first such place that Kerry decided that she could not complete the climb because of her hip issues and she headed back.

It is a very interesting trail but getting steeper with each step.

I came to a massive rock protruding from the mountain side, which forms a cave.

Finally I got to the top but saw that there was another 50m scramble to get to the very top.

The views are incredible – well worth the steep walk up. You really needed to be careful on the top. There is no track for the last 50m and the edges are close. But what an amazing climb – no wonder so many people were on the trail.

Next up was Mt Tibrogargan. This includes the easiest of all the mountain trail options – a 4.1km circuit through casuarina groves and eucalypt forest around the mountain’s base. There are toilets and a number of picnic tables at the Tibrogargan trailhead.

The walk to the start of the Circuit is 830m, along a good track. We walked through a forested area and then came to a circle of sandstone blocks with great views of Tibrogargan as a backdrop. Really nice place.

Further on we came to some cleared areas where we could see some of the adjacent mountains.

We went up a low hill to get to the start of the Circuit, taking the anti-clockwise walk. Either way would have been fine. It was a good track with a couple of bridges on the way. Occasionally we could see the mountain above the trees. We heard people too, presumably climbing the mountain, but couldn’t spot anyone. I did spot a small brown snake, but it slithered off the track quickly.

We did notice that the trees on the left hand side of the trail – the downhill side – were burnt, but the uphill side were not.

About half way around we came to an elaborate seating area which provided a better look at the mountain top.

The walk continued through the forests, and we also saw some pretty flowers. There were also some small blue flowers. I’d recently bought an app to identify plants. It did give me the name (but I’ve forgotten), but the flowers only last 1 day, then die. So sad!

It is a short drive to the Glass House Mountains Lookout. The road is sealed to the entrance to the Lookout. There are fabulous views from the fire tower, with all the mountains laid put before us. This may be best seen on the video. There is also a timber panel right the way around identifying all of the mountains.

There are toilets and picnic tables at the Lookout and we ate our lunch under the shade. It is very popular. We only found out later that there was a short walking track from the lookout through a scribbly gum forest. It’s 800m each way. But to be honest we were both hot and bothered and tired, so we may not have done the walk even if we knew about it.

Out last place was Mt Beerwah. This is described as a “fairly breezy” 200m return walk through eucalypt forest to a grassy viewing and day-use area, with views of Mount Beerwah in the distance. The facilities at the car park are very good, although some of signage is confusing. It seemed clear that the walk to the picnic area would be straight ahead from the car park. But along that were signs warning us about trying to do the walk to the peak. I had heard that the track was closed after some rock falls, but it appeared to still be an option.

Anyway, we walked to picnic area and enjoyed great views to the top of the Mountain with the organ pipes clearly visible.