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National park · Beerwah, Queensland
Glass House Mountains
Thirteen volcanic rock peaks around Beerwah, the highest at 556 meters, sacred to the Jinibara and Kabi Kabi, with a lookout and trails such as Mount Ngungun.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Glass House Mountains
The Glass House Mountains are thirteen hills and volcanic rock peaks rising from the plain inland of the Sunshine Coast, around Beerwah. They are remnants of ancient lava chimneys, exposed after the softer surrounding rock eroded. The highest, Mount Beerwah, reaches 556 meters.
Navigator James Cook named the peaks on May 17, 1770, when he saw them from the sea because they reminded him of the glass furnaces of his homeland in Yorkshire. The landscape has been on Australia’s National Heritage List since 2006.
The region is the land of the Jinibara and the Kabi Kabi. Mounts Beerwah and Tibrogargan are sacred to these peoples, and local groups ask visitors not to climb them; additionally, the ascent requires technical skill, and there have been many rescues. Mount Ngungun, at 253 meters, has a public trail and offers views of the higher peaks.
The Glass House Mountains lookout, on a dirt road west of the town of Glass House Mountains, shows the whole group at once, with panels about the geology and culture of the place.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 30 minutes at the lookout to 2 hours including the Mount Ngungun trail.
Best time
In the morning, in the cooler months from April to September. After rain, the rock trails become slippery.
How to get there
By car, a few kilometres from Beerwah, via Steve Irwin Way and local roads. Some trails start on foot from Glass House Mountains station on the same train line.
Tip
Prefer Mount Ngungun, which has a marked trail, and respect the request not to climb Beerwah and Tibrogargan.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Glass House Mountains
Why are they called the Glass House Mountains?
The name was given by James Cook in 1770: the peaks reminded him of the glass furnaces of Yorkshire, England.
Which trail to do in the Glass House Mountains?
Mount Ngungun’s trail, at 253 meters, is the most popular and offers views of the highest peaks. The Glass House Mountains lookout shows the full group without a trail.
Can you climb Mount Beerwah?
The mountain is sacred to the Jinibara and the Kabi Kabi, who ask that it not be climbed, and the ascent requires technical skill. Prefer the open trails, such as Mount Ngungun.