The Glass House range offers more than scenic drives; its volcanic plugs host a network of walking tracks that vary from casual strolls to technical scrambles. For those hunting summit views, the popular ascent of Tibrogargan is best tackled early to avoid the heat and the crowd of day‑trippers that congregate around the summit cairn. More seasoned climbers gravitate towards the rugged south‑west ridge of Mount Beerwah, where the rock is slick after rain and a few sections demand a rope. Regardless of ability, the local climbing community expects hikers to carry a basic first‑aid kit, use marked trails, and respect the cultural significance of the peaks to the Gubbi Gubbi people. Leaving no trace is especially vital, as the thin soils on the rocky outcrops erode quickly.
Long before European surveyors named these hills, the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people wove the mountains into their Dreaming narratives, attributing each summit to ancestral beings. Guides in the area often share stories of the turtle and the giant goanna whose battles are said to have shaped the skyline. Visitors with an interest in deeper context can arrange a walk with an accredited Aboriginal guide, who will point out subtle rock markings and explain traditional fire‑management practices that have helped preserve the surrounding forest. Engaging with these perspectives transforms a simple hike into an insight into a living cultural landscape, adding layers of meaning that maps and guidebooks rarely capture.
The mountains form a natural backdrop to a surprisingly diverse low‑country offering. A short drive east brings you to the coastal town of Caloundra, where the surf‑break at Dicky Beach contrasts sharply with the inland volcanic silhouettes. To the west, the Beerburrum State Forest provides mellow bushwalks through eucalypt woodlands, where birdwatchers can spot the elusive white‑browed woodswallow. For a taste of agritourism, stop at one of the small farms dotting the hinterland for fresh produce and a coffee break overlooking the ranges. These adjoining experiences give a fuller picture of the Sunshine Coast’s blend of sea, forest and volcanic geology, making a day trip feel more like a regional immersion.
Mountain range in Queensland, Australia For other uses, see Glass House Mountains (disambiguation). Glass House MountainsAerial photo of Glass House Mountains township with the Glass House Mountains in the distanceHighest pointPeakMount BeerwahElevation556 m (1,824 ft)Coordinates26°54′S 152°55′E / 26.900°S 152.917°E / -26.900; 152.917GeographyGlass House Mountains CountryAustraliaStateQueenslandRegionSouth East QueenslandGeologyFormed byVolcanic plugsRock ageTertiary The Glass House Mountains are a cluster of thirteen hills that rise abruptly from the coastal plain on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. The highest hill is Mount Beerwah at 556 metres above sea level, but the most identifiable of all the hills is Mount Tibrogargan which from certain angles bears a resemblance to a person facing east towards the ocean. The Glass House Mountains are located near Beerburrum State Forest and Steve Irwin Way. From Brisbane, the mountains can be reached by following the Bruce Highway north and taking the Glass House Mountains tourist drive turn-off onto Steve Irwin Way. The trip is about one hour from Brisbane. The Volcanic peaks of the Glass House Mountains rise dramatically from the surrounding Sunshine Coast landscape. They were formed by intrusive plugs, remnants of volcanic activity that occurred 26–27 million years ago. Molten rock filled small vents or intruded as bodies beneath the surface and solidified into land rocks. Millions of years of erosion have removed the surrounding exteriors of volcanic cores and softer sandstone rock.[citation needed] On 17 May 1770, the hills were named the "Glass House Mountains" by explorer Lieutenant James Cook. The peaks reminded him of the glass furnaces in his home county of Yorkshire. The traditional names of the individual peaks are much older however and are derived from the local Aboriginal languages of the Gubbi Gubbi and Jinibara people.[citation needed] Matthew Flinders explored the area and climbed Mount Beerburrum after sailing along Pumicestone Passage in 1799. The Glass House Mountains National Landscape was added to the Australian National Heritage List on 3 August 2006. In the land between the peaks, pineapple and poultry farming, as well as commercial forestry and quarrying are the main land uses. In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Glass House Mountains was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as a "Natural attraction".
[edit] Sacred Site Mountain View The range was formed as molten lava cooled to form hard rock in the cores of volcanoes 26–27 million years ago. The source of the lava was from the East Australia hotspot. The cores of the hills contain columns of comendite from lava which cools quickly into a hard rock. The surrounding softer rocks have been eroded in the subsequent time, forming the spectacular volcanic plugs that remain today. The peaks' location relative to each other exhibits an alignment that is believed to have occurred due to fracturing. Mt Ngungun consists of subvolcanic rock, also known as a hypabyssal rock, an intrusive rock emplaced at medium-to-shallow depths within the crust and has intermediate grain size, and often porphyritic texture between that of volcanic and plutonic rocks.[citation needed]
[edit] Glass House Mountains viewed from Mary Cairncross Reserve The cliffs of Mount Beerwah Each of the peaks is protected within the Glass House Mountains National Park. Some of the peaks display vertical columns, particularly Mount Coonowrin, Mount Ngungun and Mount Beerwah at the Organ Pipes. These columns are the result of lava contraction. Scattered throughout the hills are shallow caves which have been formed by wind erosion on rocks that were softened by groundwater. The peaks are culturally significant to the traditional owners, the Gubbi Gubbi people and the Jinibara people. To the south east of the Glass House Mountains township is an Aboriginal bora ring. Prominent peaks in the range include: Mount Beerwah, 556 m Mount Coonowrin or Crookneck, 377 m Mount Tibrogargan, 364 m Mount Tunbubudla East, 338m Mount Tunbubudla West, 296m Mount Beerburrum, 278m Mount Ngungun, Mount Ngun Ngun said as Gun Gun 253 m Mount Coochin West, 235m Mount Coochin East, 230m Mount Tibberroowuccum, 220m Mount Miketeebumulgrai or Mount Mike, 202m Mount Cooee, 177 m Wild Horse Mountain, 123 m Mount Elimah or The Saddleback, 109-120m (depending on source) Round Mountain, 97m
[edit] The Glass House Mountains are located in the traditional lands of the Jinibara and Gubbi Gubbi people. First Nations Australians have an elaborate legend about the mountains. Mt Beerwah in particular has extreme significance to the Jinibara People, with sites used as birthing areas by Indigenous women.
[edit] The mountains are managed by Queensland National Parks and are promoted as a tourist asset. Historically bushwalking and climbing has been undertaken for more than a century. However the two largest mountains have been closed by National Parks in recent years. Firstly, Coonowrin was closed in 1999 as a result of a geological report and the development of an adjacent rock quarry. Secondly, the walking track used to access Mt Beerwah was closed in 2009 as the result of a rock collapse from the caves area across the main tourist track and was reopened January 2016. Tibrogargan and Ngungun are open to the public for bushwalking and climbing.[citation needed] The Beerwah and Tibrogargan mountains are culturally significant and are sacred to the local Jinibara and Kabi Kabi people. Mt Beerwah is considered the mother of the range and is considered so sacred to the Gubi Gubi, that stories about it are not discussed. Both local groups ask visitors not to climb the Beerwah and Tibrogargan mountains out of respect for the mountains' sacred values and have been calling for a ban publicly since the mid-1990s. In the Gubi Gubi tradition, climbing Mt Beerwah brings bad luck. The Beerwah and Tibrogargan mountains require some climbing ability and scrambling to reach the summit. Several climbers have fallen to their death. More than 110 rescues have been undertaken to save stricken climbers in the mountains.
[edit] There are many different types of plants including trees, grass, bushes and the occasional shrub. Animals that live there include birds, reptiles, frogs, bats, rats, cats and mammals. The Elf Skink, a small lizard, also populates the area.