Glass House Mountains

The peaks of Glass House Mountains



We were headed to Glass House Mountains after more than a week in Brisbane. Well it was unexpected since the bus was having a "makeover" so we have to be in the city longer than expected. It was a blessing anyway since we were able to do some cleaning, laundry, car washing and shopping before we continue our journey. Glass House Mountains is 70 kms north of  Brisbane. It is approximately an hour drive from the the Bruce Highway taking the Glass House Mountains turnoff along the Steve Irwin Way. It is a group of 11 hills or peaks that rise abruptly from the coastal plain on the Sunshine Coast. We first saw the hills when went in Mt. Mee a week earlier and the view could not get any better when you are closer.

A nice view from the Glass House Mountains lookout.

We stayed at the Glass House Mountains campground for a night and after setting up the bus we toured the town anxious to see the beautiful hills closer. Mount Beerwah was the nearest peak from the campground so this was our first stop.



 

At 556 metres, Mt. Beerwah is the tallest of the 11 peaks.



Impressive "Organ Pipe" on the north side of Mt. Beerwah

Unfortunately the 3.4 km return track to the summit was
closed so this was the closest we can get to Mt. Beerwah.

"Glass House Mountains is a national park in Queensland. It consists of a flat plain punctuated by rhyolite and trachyte volcanic plugs, the cores of extinct volcanoes that formed 26 million to 27 million years ago. Ovetime, extensive erosion and lowering of the land surface has removed the exteriors of the volcanic cones and the surrounding softer sandstone rocks. The volcanic mountains cooled and formed vertical columns and this can be seen today at Mt. Beerwah, Mt. Ngungun and Mt. Coonowrin."



A view of Mt. Coonowrin near the campground.



Mt. Coonowrin from the lookout. It is 377 metres high.



The Glass House Mountains lookout is just a short
drive from the town's information centre.

The lookout has a cafe and public amenities. From the plaform you can also
view Maroochydore, Brisbane and Moreton Island.

Macadamia trees are everywhere around Glass House National
Park and nearby towns.


The national park has several lookouts and tracks so anyone can explore the peaks. The tracks ranges from 500 meters to 6 kms so if you are up for bush walking, drop by the information centre first so they can guide you where to go.