Entrance to the Visitor Centre - Image: Elaine de Wet
You've decided you're going to visit the
Glasshouse Mountains but have no idea where to start. Do yourself a favour and make the Glasshouse Mountains Visitor and Interpretive Centre your first port of call. This accredited Visitor Centre is literally your one-stop shop for all things travel related, including maps, brochures and itineraries. It's also an interpretive centre with interactive displays on the history of the area.
Glasshouse Mountains through the Ages - Image: Elaine de Wet
Besides all the 'paper' information you can pick up, the local volunteer staff are friendly, polite and extremely enthusiastic to assist you with directions and planning for your trip i.e. what to see, what to do and where to eat. I think, given half the opportunity, they would hop in the car with you and take you to where you wanted to be.
The Visitor and Interpretive Centre offer a small selection of local products and souvenirs for sale - popular items are local honey and jams - making for unusual gift ideas. Local gift cards, childrens' books and handmade jewellery are also available.
Interesting and informative - Image: Elaine de Wet
Other interesting products are the Hinterland Feijoas - this is a fruit that originated in the forests of South America and are fragrant smooth-skinned green sub-tropical tree fruits that have creamy sweet jelly centres. They are part of the Myrtle family, which includes other fragrant plants such as eucalyptus, allspice, guavas, and cloves. Their distinctive complex flavour has been likened to a mix of strawberries, pineapple and guavas, with undertones of quince, lemon and mint. In Australia they are sometimes known as pineapple guavas.
You'll find the
Glasshouse Mountains Visitor and Interpretive Centre in the Settlers Rotary Park on the corner of Bruce Parade and Steve Irwin Way in the Glasshouse Mountains. Free wi-fi is available for visitors and the Centre is open from 9.00am to 4.00pm every day.
Settlers Rotary Park with playground in the background - Image: Elaine de Wet
Settlers Rotary Park has an impressive childrens' playground, barbecue and picnic tables, public toilets as well as off-street car parking.
The day we visited they had a group from Buderim who were enjoying a picnic under the trees, while they waited for a pre-booked talk on Geology from a local enthusiast.
Memorial Plaque in the gardens - Image: Elaine de Wet
So, for answers on everything
Glasshouse Mountains and surrounds, pop in to see the Visitor and Interpretive Centre - they'll definitely put you on the 'right' road and ensure your travel plans run more smoothly.
