Sunshine Coast Hikes: 12 Best Walks from Noosa to the Glass House Mountains

Published 26 October 2026

Photo: Alandean88, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Sunshine Coast packs a lot of walking into a small area. There are headland walks past rocky bays and beaches at Noosa, volcanic summits like Mt Coolum and the Glass House Mountains, and rainforest waterfalls in the Blackall Range. This guide picks the 12 best Sunshine Coast hikes across those three zones, with every distance, grade and time taken from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) pages, checked on 25 October 2026.

Sunshine Coast hikes at a glance

Sources: QPWS pages for Noosa, Mount Coolum, Kondalilla, Mapleton Falls and Glass House Mountains national parks. Grades follow the QPWS system, where Grade 1 is easiest and Grade 5 is hardest.

Coastal hikes: Noosa and Coolum

1. Noosa Coastal Walk

The Sunshine Coast's most famous walk follows the headlands past rocky bays and enclosed beaches. It's 10.8 km return, Grade 4, and takes about 4 hours, according to QPWS's Noosa walking tracks page. The first stretch to Dolphin Point is wheelchair and stroller accessible. QPWS puts the Headland section 160 km north of Brisbane and says parking is limited. Walk 1 km along the boardwalk from Hastings Street, or catch the bus in peak periods.

2. Alexandria Bay walk

This sandy track runs through open woodland and heathland to Alexandria Bay. It's 4.2 km return, Grade 4, and takes 1–2 hours.

3. Noosa Hill walk

A tranquil hillside climb into the forested heart of the park: 2.8 km return, Grade 4, 1–1.5 hours. If you want to go further, the Tanglewood walk (8 km return, 2–3 hours) finishes near Hell's Gates.

4. Palm Grove walk

QPWS describes this 1.1 km Grade 3 walk as "short, family-friendly", with lush palms, pines and birdsong. It takes 15–30 minutes, so it's ideal with kids.

5. Emu Mountain summit walk

In Noosa NP's Emu Mountain section, 125 km north of Brisbane, this short but strenuous 1.1 km return climb (45 min–1 hr) leads through coastal heath to a summit with coastal views. QPWS describes the mountain as an unusual rocky knoll of volcanic origin.

6. Mount Coolum summit walk

This Grade 4 climb is 1.6 km return and takes about 2 hours. The summit is 208 m above sea level, with views to Point Cartwright and the Glass House Mountains in the south, the Blackall Range in the west and Noosa Heads in the north, according to QPWS's Mount Coolum page. QPWS says it suits "fit walkers only". There are steep, rocky sections and loose gravel, and the track becomes extremely slippery when wet. In summer, walk in the cooler parts of the day. Mount Coolum is a laccolith, a dome of magma that cooled underground about 26 million years ago, and you'll walk over hexagonal cooling columns. You may spot whales offshore in winter and spring.

Hinterland hikes: the Blackall Range

7. Kondalilla Falls circuit

At Kondalilla, Skene Creek drops 90 m into the rainforest valley, according to QPWS. The 4.7 km Grade 3 circuit (2–3 hours) follows the Picnic Creek circuit down past rock pools and a falls lookout, through rainforest to the base of the waterfall, then back up the ridge. There are over 300 stairs, so you need to be reasonably fit. See QPWS's Kondalilla things to do page. For something easier, the Picnic Creek circuit is 1.7 km and Grade 2.

8. Wompoo circuit, Mapleton Falls

This 1.3 km return Grade 2 circuit (about 45 minutes) winds through rainforest and eucalypt forest to Peregrine lookout, which has views of Mapleton Falls and the Obi Obi Valley. QPWS says Pencil Creek plunges 120 m here. Listen for the wompoo fruit-dove's booming call.

9. Baroon lookout

From the Narrows Road car park, this 4.4 km Grade 3 walk (about 2 hours) follows the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk through vine-filled gullies to views over Obi Obi Gorge and Baroon Pocket Dam. The full Great Walk is 58 km, Grade 4, with overnight campsites.

Wet weather warning: QPWS closes Blackall Range tracks during severe wet weather. When we checked, alerts listed heavy rainfall conditions (22–26 October 2026) and a temporary Great Walk closure (23–30 October 2026). QPWS also warns that people have died or been permanently paralysed after slipping over waterfalls at Kondalilla and nearby parks. Stay behind fences.

Glass House Mountains walks

The Glass House Mountains are the region's volcanic icons. QPWS's Glass House Mountains walking tracks page lists:

10. Tibrogargan circuit

This 4.1 km return Grade 3 walk takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. It's only 1 km to Mountain View lookout, with views of Beerwah, Coonowrin, Tibberoowuccum and Tunbubudla. QPWS calls it "a great walk for families" and says peregrine falcons are often seen overhead.

11. Trachyte circuit

This 5.7 km return Grade 3 walk takes 2–3 hours. It runs through open woodland and heathland linking Tibrogargan and Tibberoowuccum, with good views of the surrounding peaks from Jack Ferris lookout.

12. Mount Ngungun summit walk

This 2.8 km return Grade 4 walk takes about 2 hours and ends with summit views of Tibrogargan, Coonowrin and Beerwah. QPWS warns that the track passes close to sheer cliff edges and that rocks get very slippery when wet.

Ready for more? The 3.5 km Mount Beerburrum summit walk climbs a steep 750 m concrete section to a fire tower. The Grade 5 Yul-yan-man track is for experienced rock scramblers only. Summit routes on Beerwah and Tibrogargan aren't walking tracks. QPWS says they need critical skills and can be fatal if you get them wrong.

Safety and planning

• Check QPWS park alerts and the Bureau of Meteorology forecast before every hike.
• Beat the heat: Coolum, Emu Mountain and the Glass House summits are exposed. Start early and carry plenty of water.
• Dogs: Dogs aren't allowed in Queensland national parks.
• Read QPWS's Walk with care advice. In an emergency, call 000.

Turn hikes into quests

Active Quests turns Sunshine Coast trails into GPS check-in quests. Walk the track, check in at the finish and earn ACTIVE Coins. See how many of the 12 you can tick off. Browse all quests.

Related guides

• Waterfalls Brisbane: 7 Falls Walks Near the City
• Waterfalls Sunshine Coast: Kondalilla, Mapleton & More
• Lamington National Park Trails: 12 Best Walks by Section
• Gold Coast Waterfall Walks

Browse every trail on our Sunshine Coast hikes and walking trails hub, or read our full guide to the Kondalilla Falls circuit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best hike on the Sunshine Coast?

The Noosa Coastal Walk (10.8 km return, Grade 4) is the most popular coastal hike. Mount Ngungun (2.8 km return, Grade 4) is the classic Glass House Mountains summit.

What is the easiest Sunshine Coast hike?

The Palm Grove walk in Noosa (1.1 km return, 15–30 minutes) and the Wompoo circuit at Mapleton Falls (1.3 km, Grade 2) are both short and easy. The first section of the Noosa Coastal Walk to Dolphin Point is wheelchair and stroller accessible.

How long does the Mt Coolum walk take?

QPWS says to allow about 2 hours for the 1.6 km return walk. It's steep and rocky, and the summit is 208 m above sea level.

What are the best Glass House Mountains walks for beginners?

The Tibrogargan circuit (4.1 km return, Grade 3), which QPWS calls "a great walk for families", and the Trachyte circuit (5.7 km, Grade 3).

How many stairs are on the Kondalilla Falls circuit?

QPWS says there are over 300 stairs on the 4.7 km Kondalilla Falls circuit, so you need to be reasonably fit.

Can I swim at Kondalilla Falls?

Check on-site signs and QPWS advice before entering any water. Stay behind fences near waterfalls, as QPWS warns people have died or been paralysed after slipping over waterfalls in these parks.

Go explore

From Noosa's headlands to the Glass House summits, there's a Sunshine Coast hike for every weekend. Track your progress with Active Quests, available on the App Store.