Situated 70 km northeast of Brisbane in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, the distinctive Glasshouse Mountains consists of a flat plain punctuated by volcanic plugs, the cores of extinct volcanoes that formed 27 million to 26 million years ago. The mountains would once have had pyroclastic exteriors, but these have eroded away. What remains are craggy volcanic peaks that tower over a scenic patchwork of pine plantations, bushland and cultivated fields.
Mt. Tibrogargan
Many of the peaks are protected in Glasshouse Mountains National Park, while the pine plantations and a range of native vegetation types are managed in several State forests and forest reserves near the park. The peaks support a diverse range of habitats including heath and shrubland, open forest and woodlands and small rainforest patches on some peaks. The montane heath is particularly rich in threatened and endemic species many of which can be found nowhere else on earth.
The Glasshouse Mountains offer some spectacular walking tracks through open woodlands and heaths to panoramic lookouts and mountain summits. The walks range from easy to challenging grades. Mt. Beerwah is the highest peak within the park at 555 m. Mt. Coonowrin 377 metres is the second highest and Mt. Tibrogargan at 364 m is the third highest. Walking tracks normally allow access to the summits of Mount Beerwah and Mount Tibrogargan (although Mount Beerwah summit track is closed), however climbing Mount Coonowrin is prohibited due to the danger of rock falls.
Picnic facilities are located at various points around the mountains with picnic tables, toilets and barbecues. One of these, Stony Creek day-use area in Bellthorpe Forest Reserve, is set in a rugged landscape containing open forest and rainforest with many small waterfalls, creek cascades and a rock pool. There are also picnic tables and toilets at the bases of Mount Beerwah and Mount Tibrogargan. Glasshouse Mountains lookout also has wood barbecues. Bring your own clean milled firewood as it is illegal to collect wood from the park.
Lieut. James Cook was the first European to see the mountains. It fact it was he who named them on 17th May 1770: "These hills lie but a little way inland, and not far from each other: they are remarkable for the singular form of their elevation, which very much resembles a glass house, and for this reason I called them Glass Houses."
Glasshouse Mountains from the Sunshine Coast
Aboriginal legend
According to Aboriginal legend, Tibrogargan (364m), the father and Beerwah (555m - highest peak) the mother, had a number of children. Coonowrin (377m - narrowest and most dramatic of all the volcanic plugs) was the eldest, Tunbubudla were the twins (293m and 312m), Coochin (235m), Ngungun (253m), Tibberoowuccum (220m), Miketeebumulgrai (199m) and Elimbah (129m).
The legend tells of Tibrogargan, the father, observes that the sea is rising and asks that Coonowrin the eldest son help their pregnant mother to safety. Terrified, Coonowrin instead flees. Infuriated by his sons cowardice Tibrogargan pursues him and strikes him so hard that he dislocates Coonowrin's neck.
Once the danger passes Coonowrin feels tremendous guilt for his actions and asks his father, brothers and sisters for forgiveness but all wept with shame. This is said to explain the many small streams that flow through the area. Tibrogargan turned his back on Coonowrin and gazes out to sea refusing to look at his son Coonowrin who continues to hang his head in shame and weeps.
Mount Tibrogargan summit - 3km return (Allow 3-4 hours)
From Mountain View lookout, the track continues to the summit. A high level of physical fitness and rockclimbing skills are required. Allow time to return from the climb during daylight hours.
Glasshouse Mountains from the Sunshine Coast
