Visit 9 Beautiful Nature Spots on the Sunshine Coast

There is so much to see on the Sunshine Coast, but sometimes the most beautiful and tranquil parts of nature are overlooked. Here you’ll find a selection of the best parks, waterfalls and zoos showcasing nature on the Sunshine Coast.

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links, I receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps me maintain this site. Thank you.

If you plan on travelling around Australia, the best way to get around is by car. You get to see more, and you will find hidden gems that the average traveller doesn’t see.

A car is needed to get around this vast area easily.

Need A Car?

If you want to book a car, you can use one of these rental websites: EconomyBookings.com, DiscoverCars or Expedia.

Need Accommodation?

Try using these accommodation websites: Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia to find a comfortable place to sleep after your day of exploring.

Subscribe to my blog and stay up-to-date as I share more information about my travel experiences.

All prices and times were accurate when this was written or updated, but please verify the information on the websites before your visit.

Would you like to contact me for more information about this blog or another? You can leave a comment at the bottom of the page.

Popular Spots on the Sunshine Coast

Noosa National Park

There are 15km of walking tracks here in the Noosa National Park, which will keep you busy all day.

The most popular track is the 10.8km return coastal track, which takes you to beaches you can’t reach by car. On this walk, you might catch sight of dolphins and humpback whales between June and November.

Mt. Coolum

You must be fit to do this 1.6km return walk up Mt. Coolum.

It doesn’t take long on this track for the stairs to start, and they don’t get any easier as you go up. I haven’t gone to the top, maybe a third of the way, as there isn’t any barrier or handrail, and I’m not good with heights, and it’s so open. The steps are uneven, and I get very uneasy on winding, uneven, exposed steps, so know your limits.

The views from the top are supposed to be 360° over the Sunshine Coast, from the beach to the hinterland.

Buderim Falls

This walk on the Sunshine Coast has a great reward at the end: the rock pool at Buderim Falls, a popular swimming hole. Also known as Serenity Falls, this walk has two tracks leading to the falls: Harry Lane off Upper Lindsay Road and Quorn Close, which is also off Lindsay Road at the lower end.

The Harry Lane entrance has a large car park. This is also where Harry’s on Buderim, the fine-dining restaurant, is located.

The track gets a bit off-road and will be hard to get through if there has been a lot of rain, as you have to clamber over rocks in the water.

Your reward at the end is the falls and the cool waters of the swimming hole on a hot day.

The Quorn Close entrance has a small car park but is a quicker walk than Harry Lane. Only a 15-minute walk on this track takes you down an incline and some natural rock stairs.

You cross the Serenity Bridge, which has excellent views of the falls. There isn’t much water coming off these falls as Buderim is a hill and isn’t high, but it is a beautiful place to visit, especially for families.

Wildlife HQ and the Big Pineapple

Wildlife HQ is another great little zoo on the Sunshine Coast, located where the Big Pineapple is in Woombye. If you take in the zoo, Big Pineapple, and Treetop Challenge, you can spend all day in this area.

With only 200 animals, you won’t need all day to visit, but it can take 2-3 hours if you take your time going around.

You have a small train, which goes up to the Big Pineapple from a couple of stations at the zoo.

The Big Pineapple’s new attraction for the adventurous is the TreeTop Challenge, a high rope and zipline course through the bush.

There are about 120 activities across the 2km course, with challenges including a 120m zipline. The course will take around half a day to complete. PLEASE NOTE: BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL.

The car park is at the Big Pineapple, and you take the train to the zoo.

Wildlife HQ Hours

• Daily
  • 09:00 am–04:00 pm Last entry 3:00 pm
• Closed Christmas Day

Wildlife HQ Night Tour

Friday and Saturday nights at 6.30 pm for 1 hour.

Train Hours

• Daily
  • 09:00 AM–04:00 pm Last train at 3:30 pm

Big Pineapple Hours

• Daily
  • 09:00 am–04:00 pm

Prices

Wildlife HQ Zoo with Train

• Adult $47
• Children (under 3) Free
• Children (3-15 years) $34
• Seniors $41
• Family (2 adults, 2 children) $143

Train

$10 per person

Click here for more prices.

Night Zoo

• Adult $59
• Children (under 3) Free
• Children (3-15 years) $39
• Seniors $49
• Family (2 adults, 2 children) $179

Click here for more prices.

Kondalilla Falls

Kondalilla Falls is a very popular walk, not only on weekends but during the week as well.

You’ll need moderate fitness for this walk in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, especially if you want to go to the very bottom of the falls. Going from the car park to the picnic grounds is a steep downhill walk, but at least it is sealed.

The sealed path goes nearly to Picnic Creek, with a lovely view from the path before you start to head up.

The path goes up some stairs, then it’s a slight to no incline to the 300 steps down to the rockpool and bottom of the falls. You can take a small detour to view the valley or wait until you get to the rock pool.

You can either walk back up the 300 steps or take the path down to the bottom of the falls. If you’ve returned to the steps to take the left path down, you’ll have views of the falls.

Once you reach the bottom, you can return to the other side as this circular track returns to the rock pool. You can take a break here before tackling the 300 steps back to the track, eventually taking you back to the car park.

The Kondalilla Falls circuit is 4.7km long, and you should allow 2.3 hours. Hopefully, along the tracks, you’ll see some of the local wildlife that calls this place home.

Gardner’s Falls

Gardner’s Falls is not a hard walk, just a lovely stroll beside the Obi Obi Creek for 400 metres in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Calmer pools are safe for kids as long as parents keep their eyes on them. At the falls, there is a deeper waterhole, which is popular with teenagers and adults.

The track ends at the drop, but if you are confident about going “off-road”, you could scramble beside the waterhole.

The car park isn’t huge and will fill up quickly on the weekend. You could bring a picnic to one of the many sites along the Obi Obi River.

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve

The Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Rainforest Discovery is a 55-hectare subtropical rainforest that is great for families of all ages.

BBQs, picnic tables, and parkland are available, or there is the Mountain View Cafe, where you can enjoy your lunch or a snack. Remember to put your rubbish in the bin or take it home with you.

Above the Cafe, you can enjoy views over the Glasshouse Mountains. It is accessed from either the stairs or a lift.

A gold coin donation will allow you to enter the rainforest through the interactive gallery. Here, you can learn about the area’s geology, fauna, and flora.

There are no steep inclines and only a couple of stairs now and then to negotiate. Some areas have boardwalks helping to protect the fragile environment.

Keep an eye out in the undergrowth for Pademelons and all the birds flitting about the branches. Also, watch out where you’re stepping, as snakes and lizards may be on your path.

Rainforest Walks

• 7.00 am – 6.00 pm daily. Locked daily after sunset.

Rainforest Discovery Centre Hours

• Open daily
  • 09:30 am–03:30 pm
• Closed Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Mountain View Cafe Hours

• Daily for Breakfast and Lunch
• Monday-Friday
  • 08:30 am–04:30 pm
• Saturday-Sunday
  • 08:00 am–05:00 pm
• Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World

The Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World are just eight minutes from the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Rainforest Discovery Centre.

Over 18 acres of beautiful gardens, with ponds and viewpoints across the Glasshouse Mountains, are available for you to freely wander around.

The park is steep in parts, but if you have mobility issues, you can hire a buggy to get around.

When you have finished walking around the gardens – or maybe when you arrive – there are three aviaries to walk through.

Guided tours take you through these huge aviaries with the birds flying freely around you.

Birds big and small are on show, but be prepared for them to land on you. If you wear jewellery, especially earrings, it’s best to take them off before the birds do. These cheeky feathered friends will use their beaks to rip any earrings from your lobe for themselves.

After seeing the birds, you can continue around the gardens or enjoy a snack at the cafe, which has views across the Glasshouse Mountains. You could also bring a picnic to one of the many gazebos or the parklands.

Hours

• Open 7 Days a week
  • 09:00 am–04:30 pm
• Closed Christmas Day

Aviary Tour Times

• 10:30 am
• 11:30 am
• 01.00 pm
• 02:00 pm
• 03:00 pm

Additional tours may be added during peak holiday periods.

Prices

For entry prices to the Gardens, Aviaries and Farm Friends, click here.

Australia Zoo

Back down the mountain in Beerwah, you’ll find Australia Zoo.

Australia Zoo is home to the Crocodile Hunter and Crocodiles. You’ll see the Crocodiles performing in the Crocoseum and the birds in flight show.

Shows are timed during the day, so you can see all the animals here, including Otters, Tigers, and everyone’s favourite, the Koalas, up close and awake.

It’s an easy walk around 1000 acres, where you can explore animals from all over the world. The zoo has been split into zones: Africa, Wetlands, Bindi’s Island, walk-through Kangaroos and Koalas, Snakes, and the Tiger Temple.

Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is in the car park. You can see the operating theatres, recovery areas, and animals there.

Hours

• Daily
  • 09:00 am–05:00 pm

Bedtime for some animals is 4.30 pm.

Prices

For prices, check their website here.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy visiting these nature attractions on the Sunshine Coast and getting away from it all in the hinterland.

Caution

Queensland is the world’s capital for skin cancer, so always bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses, even in winter, and don’t forget your water.

Have You Found This Blog Helpful? Then Why Not Buy Me a Coffee?

Links

If you’d like to read more of my blogs on Australia, you can find them on the following links: Queensland, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Camping and Silo Art. If you’re after New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or Photography, you can click on their links.

Travel Resources

• Flights & Accommodation—You can search for the cheapest flights and accommodation using Booking.com, Skyscanner, Tripadvisor, and WayAway, which offers 5% cashback.
• Car Hire—Take to the open road with great deals from EconomyBookings.com, RentalCars.com and DiscoverCars.
• Train & Bus Tickets UK & Europe—Use Trainline to plan and book your rail and bus travel in the UK and Europe.
• Travel Insurance is the number one thing to pack when you’re travelling. Cover-More Australia, Cover-More New Zealand, EKTA, Travel Insurance Master, and Insubuy provide insurance coverage during your travels..
• Attractions—buy before you leave home with these great sites: Big Bus Tour, Get Your Guide, GoCity and Viator.
• House Sitting is a great way to save on accommodation, and Trusted Housesitters offers house sittings worldwide.
• Photo Editing is a great way to bring your photos to life, and you can try Luminar Neo, which I use.
• Visa Applications—apply online for your visa requirements with iVisa.
• Sim cards—Try Airalo, the world’s first eSIM store, which solves the pain of high roaming bills by giving travellers access to eSIMs (digital SIM cards).

If you want more, try my Travel Links and Resource page.

Did You Like This Post? Then Pin It!