Let's face it - climbing any of the Glass House Mountains is hard. Beerburrum is steep and Tiborgargan is long. All of course offer up amazing sights, but if you're after a view without the effort, or want to see it all in one go, then check out the Glass House Mountains Lookout.
A wild wallaby hanging around the Glass House Mountains Lookout
The Lookout is a great place to get yourself orientated with the
national park. From here you get
views of everything in the area including Mount Beerwah, Mount Coonowrin and
Mount Ngungun. It's the perfect place to familiarise yourself with the mountains, or even if you're after somewhere quiet for a scenic picnic. They have several tables, electric barbecues and big open grassed areas with
public toilets nearby.
Taking in the sights of the Glass House Mountains from the Lookout
If you've come out all this way then you've got to give the lookout circuit a whirl. It's a mere 800 metre walk with no steep climbs and no rocky paths - it's the easiest scenic walk you could hope to do in the Glass House Mountains National Parks. The track takes you through open eucalypt forest, down through a gully with many rainforest species and then back to the lookout.
Enjoying the view from the summit walk
This was there we came across the highlight of our trip to the lookout - we saw a wild wallaby. We must have startled it as we walked along the summit because we saw it bounding away in the distance. It was truly beautiful - I can't remember last time I saw one in the wild. Eventually it bounced off and that was it. But when we returned to the fire tower at the lookout peak she was back, happily eating grass. She gave us plenty of photo opportunities and made the trip completely worth while.
Getting the best views from the old fire tower
There are also plenty of information boards for anyone interested in the history of the mountains. From the reason behind the naming of the Mountains by Lieutenant James Cook in 1770, to 1779 when Matthew Flinders explored the area, and the significance of the area to the local Aboriginal people. They've also got details on how the mountains were formed over millions of years.
The 800m summit walk is one of the easiest you could hope for in the Glass House Mountains National Park
These information boards also line up with the mountains themselves, clearly naming them and offering up a bit more information on the wildlife, vegetation and the multiple use of the forests. The area is home to many species, including 11 frogs, 114 birds, 5 mammals and 11 reptiles and as many as 26 species of vegetation of conservation significance.
The gorgeous wallaby was happy to let us snap more than a few pictures
The Lookout is the best place to come and experience the flora and fauna of the Glass House Mountains National Park. Bring your family, have a picnic and pick which mountain you're going to take on next.
