The Glass House Mountains are actually a series of volcanic ‘plugs’; extinct volcano cores that resemble large rock formations extending high above the Sunshine Coast landscape. Visible for miles, these ancient volcanic skeletons are situated near the townships of Beerburrum, Beerwah, and Landsborough and make up the Glass House Mountain National Park.
These fascinating mountains were named Glass House by Captain James Cook during his Australian explorations in the 18th century. Captain Cook likened the mountains to giant glass furnaces or glasshouses back in England; a fitting name considering the fiery past of these giant formations.
The Glass House ranges consist of 12 mountains, from the smallest Wild Horse Mountain at just 123 metres high, to the tallest Mount Beerwah at 556 metres (1,821 feet). There are walking paths around the summits of many of the mountains, while park lookouts offer wonderful perspectives for photography and viewing. For nature lovers and those interested in plants and flowers, the surrounding area is rich in endemic (native Australian) flora species. Certain summit tracks may be closed and rock climbing could be off limits on some of the mountains due to rock instability. Always check with the park authority and be mindful of signage advising of such conditions.
The Glass House National Park is approximately 70 km north of Brisbane and situated along Steve Irwin Way. There are clearly marked exits on the Bruce Highway from both the north and south. While there are no camping areas inside the park, there are several in nearby Beerburrum State Forest and on Glass House Mountains Road.
