To chat face-to-face to a local about all the best things to see and do in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, step into a Visitor Information Centre.
Feeling adventurous? it would be a shame to miss an opportunity to explore the Glass House Mountains. These local icons are as stunning as they are historic - named by Lieutenant James Cook during his journey along Australia’s eastern coastline, these volcanic plugs were born millions of years ago. With native flora and fauna in spades, it’s an untouched playground for young and old. Meander the many walking tracks of Mount Tibrogargan or climb the rugged outcrops, taking in the view from the lookout in Beerburrum State Forest.
Or take a different walk on the wild side at Australia Zoo in Beerwah, where Steve Irwin's legacy lives on through an impressive collection of native and exotic animals, and its busy wildlife hospital.
Spend the afternoon navigating the charming country towns that call the hinterland home. Trips to Maleny, Montville and Kenilworth are non-negotiables, each boasting a flourish of antique stores, markets, bed and breakfasts, and galleries aplenty.
Or taste your way through – producers aplenty scatter the land, with the historic town of Yandina home to the Ginger Factory, and neighbouring Nambour laying claim to the much loved (and much visited) Big Pineapple. Wash down the day's adventures with a drop from one of the many microbreweries or wineries in the area.
While low on beaches, the Sunshine Coast Hinterland’s refreshing waterfalls and swimming holes prove there’s more than one way to cool off after your countryside adventures.