Glass House Mountains Walks: Ngungun, Tibrogargan, Beerburrum and More
Published 9 November 2026
Photo: Mt Coonowrin and Mt Beerwah seen from Mt Ngungun, by Tatters, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped to fit.
The Glass House Mountains are a cluster of craggy volcanic plugs rising out of pine plantations and farmland between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, about an hour's drive north of Brisbane. They're protected in Glass House Mountains National Park, and QPWS says the plugs formed about 27 to 26 million years ago. You can't walk up every peak, but a handful of graded tracks give you big views for modest effort. This guide covers the main Glass House Mountains walks, with distances, grades and times from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS), plus parking, best season and safety.
Quick facts: Glass House Mountains walks
- Park: Glass House Mountains National Park, managed by QPWS.
- Drive time: roughly an hour north of Brisbane, between the Glass House Mountains and Beerburrum townships.
- Summit tracks: only Mount Ngungun and Mount Beerburrum have formed summit walking tracks. QPWS describes the other peaks as not easy climbs.
- Easiest walks: the Mountain View lookout (about 1 km from Tibrogargan trailhead) and the 200 m Mount Beerwah viewing walk.
- Facilities: picnic tables and toilets at Tibrogargan trailhead and at Beerwah trailhead (a 100 m walk from the car park). No rubbish bins, so take everything out.
- Best time: cooler, dry months and early mornings. QPWS advises avoiding walking in the heat of the day.
- Fees: QPWS lists none for day walking.
The best Glass House Mountains walks at a glance
| Walk | Distance (QPWS) | Time | Grade | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Ngungun summit walk | 2.8 km return | 2 hr | 4 | Ngungun trailhead |
| Mount Beerburrum summit walk | 3.5 km return | about 1 hr 30 min | 3 | Beerburrum trailhead |
| Tibrogargan circuit | 4.1 km return (1 km to Mountain View lookout) | 1 hr 30 min | 3 | Tibrogargan trailhead |
| Trachyte circuit | 5.7 km return | 2 to 3 hr | 3 | Tibrogargan trailhead |
| Mount Beerwah walk | 200 m return | 15 min | easy stroll | Beerwah trailhead |
Other sources round these numbers differently (for example, some tourism pages list the Tibrogargan base circuit as 3.2 km and the Beerburrum track at 1.4 km), so treat the figures above as the QPWS track-map numbers and check the signs at the trailhead.
Mount Ngungun summit walk: the best view for the effort
At 253 m, Ngungun is the smallest of the big peaks but it has the best viewpoint of its neighbours. QPWS lists the Mount Ngungun summit walk at 2.8 km return, allow 2 hours. The trailhead is about 3 km from Glass House Mountains township via Coonowrin Road and Fullertons Road.
The track starts in open forest with a fern understorey, passes a small rock overhang, then climbs to a summit with 360 degree views of Tibrogargan, Coonowrin and Beerwah. QPWS cautions that the track passes close to sheer cliff edges, so stay on the track and keep children close. The rock is very slippery when wet.
Start the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk quest at the trailhead and check in at the GPS points on the way up.
Mount Beerburrum summit walk: a short, steep fire-tower climb
Beerburrum is the other peak with a formed walking track. QPWS lists 3.5 km return, allow about 1 hour 30 minutes, with views and a small fire tower at the top. It's a very steep, paved track that can be slippery, so wear ankle-supporting shoes with good grip. Along the way you pass twisting fig trees where rainforest meets open forest.
Try the Mount Beerburrum Summit Walk quest from the Beerburrum trailhead.
Tibrogargan circuit: the best family walk
The Tibrogargan circuit is a base walk around Mount Tibrogargan rather than a summit climb. QPWS lists it at 4.1 km return, allow 1 hour 30 minutes, and calls it a great walk for families. A short walk of about 1 km (around 20 minutes) leads to the Mountain View lookout, with views of Beerwah, Coonowrin, Tibberoowuccum and Tunbubudla. The track then loops through casuarina groves and open eucalypt and melaleuca forest. Look for yellow-tailed black-cockatoos and birds of prey overhead.
If you want to tick it off in the app, start the Tibrogargan Circuit quest at the trailhead. For a steeper bit of Tibrogargan, there's also our Mount Tibrogargan Summit Walk quest (read the safety section below first).
Trachyte circuit: a quieter half-day
From the same trailhead, the Trachyte circuit is 5.7 km return, allow 2 to 3 hours, through open woodland and heath linking Tibrogargan and Tibberoowuccum. The Jack Ferris lookout on the northern end of the Trachyte Range gives a good angle on Tibrogargan's profile. The range is named after trachyte, the volcanic rock that forms many of the peaks. Our Trachyte Circuit quest follows it.
Want something even gentler? The Soldier Settlers Trail quest is a forest walk along the shared trail near Tibrogargan, and the Wild Horse Mountain Lookout Walk quest is a short sealed climb to a fire-tower lookout in the surrounding state forest.
What about Mount Beerwah, Coonowrin and Tibrogargan summits?
QPWS says the Glass House Mountains are not easy climbs and that rock climbing and abseiling on Ngungun, Tibrogargan and Beerwah are only for experienced, well-equipped climbers. For Tibrogargan and Beerwah it warns of a risk of severe injury or even death from accidents. QPWS's walking track map only lists summit walks for Ngungun and Beerburrum, plus a 200 m viewing walk at Beerwah. The mountains also hold deep spiritual significance for First Nations peoples, and visitors are asked to use only the walking tracks and lookouts provided.
If you aren't an experienced climber, stick to the graded tracks, and watch QPWS's 6-minute Glass House Mountains safety video before you go.
Best time to walk the Glass House Mountains
Go in the cooler, drier months, roughly April to October, and start early. Most tracks are exposed, and QPWS advises avoiding the heat of the day. After rain the rock becomes slippery and rockfall risk rises, so postpone summit walks if it's wet. Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast before you leave.
Parking and getting there
- Tibrogargan trailhead: between Beerburrum and Glass House Mountains townships via Marshs Road and Barrs Road. Starting point for the Tibrogargan and Trachyte circuits.
- Ngungun trailhead: about 3 km from Glass House Mountains township via Coonowrin Road and Fullertons Road.
- Beerwah trailhead: off Mount Beerwah Road, with picnic tables and toilets a short 100 m walk from the car park.
- Beerburrum trailhead: at Beerburrum, for the summit walk and the shared trail to Tibrogargan.
Car parks are modest in size and fill on cool weekends, so arrive early. The Glass House Mountains Visitor and Interpretive Centre in the township is a handy first stop for orientation.
Safety checklist
- Check Queensland park alerts for closures and track conditions. At the time of writing (9 November 2026) QPWS listed no alerts for Glass House Mountains National Park.
- Stay on the track, especially near cliff edges on Ngungun, and keep children close.
- Wear sturdy, ankle-supporting shoes with good grip.
- Carry plenty of water, sun protection, a charged phone and a first-aid kit. Mobile coverage can be patchy.
- Clean soil off boots, poles and packs when you enter and leave to help stop the spread of Phytophthora dieback.
- Tell someone your plan and turn back if the weather changes or anyone is struggling.
Our hiking essentials checklist has a full packing list.
Make a day of it
Pair a morning walk with a coffee or picnic in the township, or explore more options in our Sunshine Coast hikes guide, our guide to the best hikes near Brisbane, and the full list of Noosa and Sunshine Coast walks on Active Quests. New to bushwalking? Start with hiking for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
Which Glass House Mountains walk is best for beginners?
The Tibrogargan circuit is a good start. QPWS lists it at 4.1 km return (about 1 hour 30 minutes, Grade 3) and calls it a great walk for families. For an even shorter outing, walk about 1 km to the Mountain View lookout, or take the 200 m Mount Beerwah viewing walk.
How long does the Mount Ngungun walk take?
QPWS says the Mount Ngungun summit walk is 2.8 km return and to allow 2 hours. It's a Grade 4 track with cliff edges near the top.
Can you climb Mount Beerwah, Tibrogargan or Coonowrin?
Not on a formed walking track. QPWS lists summit walks only for Ngungun and Beerburrum and describes the Glass House Mountains as not easy climbs. Rock climbing on Tibrogargan and Beerwah is only for experienced, well-equipped climbers and carries a risk of severe injury or death.
Is there an entry fee for Glass House Mountains National Park?
QPWS doesn't list an entry fee for day walking in the park. Check the QPWS website for current information.
What is the best time of year to walk the Glass House Mountains?
Cooler, drier months from about April to October, starting early in the morning. QPWS advises avoiding the heat of the day, and wet rock is very slippery.
Are dogs allowed on the Glass House Mountains tracks?
Domestic animals are generally not permitted in Queensland national parks, so leave dogs at home and check the QPWS rules before you go.