About Beerburrum
- Getting there and getting around
- Park features
- Camping and accommodation
- Things to do
- Things to know before you go
- Staying safe
- Looking after the park
- Park management
- Tourism information links
- Further information
Getting there and getting around
- Glass House Mountains and surrounds map (PDF, 493K)*
From Brisbane, follow the Bruce Highway north, take the Steve Irwin Way turnoff and follow the signs to the Glass House Mountains. Glass House Mountains lookout, located in Beerburrum West State Forest, is a great place to visit first for an orientation to the area.
Wheelchair accessibility
The toilets at Coochin Creek and the Glass House Mountains lookout are wheelchair accessible.
Park features
Coochin Creek camping area is on the banks of Pumicestone Passage, in Beerburrum State Forest. Photo: DERM.
Beerburrum State Forest and Forest Reserve
These extensive forests lie either side of the Bruce Highway and extend north from Caboolture to Caloundra, and from Pumicestone Passage west to Woodford. They include exotic pine plantations, open eucalypt forest, rainforest and coastal wallum remnants. Coochin Creek camping area is located in Beerburrum State Forest, east of the Bruce Highway, on the banks of Pumicestone Passage.
Mooloolah River National Park, Jowara Section
Situated on the banks of the Mooloolah River, this is one of the few remaining coastal rainforest areas. It is an important home for wildlife including the wompoo pigeon, eastern yellow robin, and the vulnerable Richmond birdwing butterfly.
- Read more about the nature, culture and history of the Glass House Mountains area.
Camping and accommodation
Camping
The camping and day-use area at Coochin Creek in Beerburrum State Forest is ideal for visitors who enjoy fishing and boating. Facilities include picnic tables, wheelchair-accessible toilets, tent and caravan sites. There is a boat ramp nearby. Pets are not permitted at the camping area.
Preferably bring a fuel stove. For wood fires use the fireplaces provided—open fires are not permitted. Bring your own clean milled firewood. It is illegal to collect wood from the State forest.
Use insect repellent to deter mosquitoes and leeches.
Camping permits are required and fees apply.
To get to Coochin Creek, take the Roys Road turnoff east from the Bruce Highway and follow the signs. You can reach the camping area by conventional vehicle.
- Find out more about Coochin Creek camping area.
- Book your camp site online.
- If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.
There are also private camping areas on the Glass House Mountains Road—see the tourism information links for further information.
Other accommodation
A range of holiday accommodation is available in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. For more information see the tourism information links.
Things to do
Coochin Creek camping and day-use area. Photo: DERM.
Wild Horse Mountain—paved track to the lookout from the car park. Photo: DERM.
Enjoy a walk through rainforest along the Mooloolah River circuit. Photo: DERM.
Picnic and day-use areas
There are picnic tables, wheelchair-accessible toilets and gas barbecues at Coochin Creek camping and day-use area. Bring your own clean milled firewood. It is illegal to collect wood from the park.
Walking
The parks and forests in the Glass House Mountains area offer some spectacular walking opportunities through open woodlands and heaths to panoramic lookouts and mountain summits. The walks range from easy rainforest walks to challenging mountain summit trails.
Key to track standards
Class 2 track (Australian Standards)
- Easy level track, suitable for all fitness levels.
Class 3 track (Australian Standards)
- Gently sloping, well-defined track with slight inclines or few steps.
- Caution needed on loose gravel surfaces and exposed natural lookouts.
- Reasonable level of fitness and ankle-supporting footwear required.
Class 4 track (Australian Standards)
- Distinct track usually with steep exposed inclines or many steps.
- Caution needed on loose gravel surfaces and exposed natural lookouts.
- Moderate level of fitness and ankle-supporting footwear required.
Track descriptions
(Numbers in brackets are map references).
- Glass House Mountains and surrounds map (PDF, 493K)*
(1) Glass House Mountains lookout track—800 m return (45 mins) Class 3
The lookout is about 10 km from the Glass House Mountains township, in Beerburrum West State Forest. It offers panoramic views of the mountain peaks, Caloundra, Maroochydore, Brisbane and Moreton Island. A short walking track starting at the lookout leads you through open scribbly gum forest, down through a wet eucalypt forest gully and returns back to the lookout. There are picnic tables, toilets and free gas barbecues at the start of the track.
(2) Mount Beerburrum track (280 m)—1.4 km return (1 hr) Class 4
The car park for the Mount Beerburrum track is just outside the Beerburrum township, in Beerburrum State Forest. This steep, paved track leads you to a fire tower which offers great views. Mount Beerburrum's fire tower is used to detect and manage fires throughout the surrounding parks and forests.
(3) Wild Horse Mountain lookout track (123 m)—1.4 km return (1 hr) Class 3
The Wild Horse Mountain lookout is in Beerburrum State Forest, east of the Bruce Highway. Turn off at the Mobil Service Station and drive along Johnston Road to the lookout. Named after the brumbies (feral horses living in the wild) that once lived there, Wild Horse Mountain offers a paved track to the lookout from the car park. Enjoy 360-degree views of Pumicestone Passage, coastal plains, the Glass House Mountains and pine forestry plantations from the sheltered fire tower platform. This site is managed by Forestry Plantations Queensland Pty Ltd.
(8) Mooloolah River National Park, Jowarra Section
- Glass House Mountains and surrounds map (PDF, 493K)*
(a) Mooloolah River circuit—500 m return (20 mins) Class 2
This short, self-guiding rainforest walk winds along a crystal clear creek. The fruiting fig trees here attract many birds and this is a good spot for birdwatching.
(b) Melaleuca walk—1.3 km return (40 mins) Class 2
Rainforest with piccabeen palm groves, eucalypt forest and melaleuca swamp awaits those taking this longer walk. The river here is home to platypus, which can be seen at dawn and dusk.
Boating and fishing
Coochin Creek is an estuary into the Pumicestone Passage. Boats can be launched from the Coochin Creek boat ramp which is located 1 km east of the camping area. Be aware that access to or from the Pumicestone Passage from this boat ramp is limited to high tide only due to rock and sand bars. Alternative public boat launching access to Pumicestone Passage is available at the end of Roys Road approximately 7 km east of Coochin Creek camping area.
Pumicestone Passage is part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Recreational fishing activities are permitted in the marine park, except in the Tripcony Bight–Long Island and Westaways Creek marine national park zones (see Moreton Bay Marine Park zoning map (PDF, 2.7M)*). Fishing, crabbing, bait collecting and other forms of harvesting are prohibited in these zones. Important habitats including mudflats, seagrass beds, mangroves, saltmarsh and claypan communities are protected here.
During winter the passage between Bells Creek and Caloundra Bar is one of South East Queensland's principal spawning areas for yellowfin bream. Flathead, bream, whiting, tailor and mangrove jack are often caught around Bribie Island. Many people catch sand and mud crabs during the summer months.
Other things to do
Registered four-wheel-drive vehicles and trail bikes, horses and bicycles may be driven or ridden on roads in Beerburrum State Forest. Drivers must be fully licensed and their vehicle/s road-registered. Conditionally registered vehicles are not permitted.
For your safety and to minimise damage to the forest, stay on existing roads. Observe and comply with the instructions on all signs.
Read about the SEQ Horseriding Trail Networks in the Caboolture, Bellthorpe, Kenilworth and Mapleton region.
All walking tracks listed above are accessible from public roads, but there are also forest roads that visitors may be permitted to use, subject to forestry operations and weather conditions. If driving on forest roads please read the following:
- Ensure your vehicle is mechanically sound—carry essential spares, water, tyre gauge, and air pump.
- Please obey speed limits and road rules—the maximum speed limit on forest roads is 50 km/hr. All normal road rules apply on forest tracks and roads.
- Watch out for the unexpected—slow down to allow time to react to changed road conditions, especially on gravel roads.
- Be aware of logging operations—heavy machinery may be in use within forestry areas at certain times. Please obey advisory notices regarding logging operations.
- Be aware of wet weather—please obey advisory notices regarding wet weather conditions. Access is not permitted in wet weather or where vehicle tracks sink into the road more than two centimeters.
Things to know before you go
Essentials to bring
- Bring adequate drinking water, a first-aid kit, insect repellent and a mobile phone.
- For walking, wear suitable shoes, sunscreen, a hat and long-sleeved shirt.
- If camping at Coochin Creek, preferably bring a fuel stove. Open campfires are not permitted. Only use the fireplaces provided for wood campfires. If using wood for campfires, bring your own clean milled firewood—such as untreated mill cut-offs. It is illegal to collect wood from the State forest.
Opening hours
For your safety, walk in Beerburrum State Forest and Forest Reserve and Mooloolah River National Park, Jowara Section in daylight hours only.
Permits and fees
Camping permits are required and fees apply.
- Book your camp site online.
- If you cannot book online, see camping bookings for other options.
Large groups and commercial users will need to obtain a group activity or commercial activity permit.
Pets
Dogs on leashes are permitted at Glass House Mountains and Wild Horse Mountain lookouts in Beerburrum State Forest.
Domestic animals are not permitted at Coochin Creek camping and day-use area, or in Mooloolah River National Park, Jowara Section.
Climate and weather
The Glass House Mountains area has a mild, subtropical climate. In summer, the average daily temperature ranges from 18 to 28 °C and in winter from 11 to 20 °C. For more information see the tourism information links.
Fuel and supplies
Fuel and supplies are available at Beerwah and other towns in the region. For more information see the tourism information links.
Staying safe
- Avoid walking during wet weather. Tracks can be slippery, especially after rain.
- Stay away from cliff edges.
- Never walk alone—if something happens to you someone in your group can go for help.
- Walk to your ability and fitness levels.
- Supervise children at all times.
- Carry enough drinking water, mobile phone and insect repellent.
- Carry a first-aid kit and know how to use it.
- Wear suitable shoes.
- Plan to complete your walk before dark.
- Protect yourself from the sun. Wear sunscreen, a hat and long-sleeved shirt, even on cloudy days. Start longer walks at cooler times of the day to avoid heat exhaustion on hot days.
- Tell friends or family where you are going and when you expect to return. If you change your plans inform them.
- Observe and comply with all regulatory signs.
For more information, please read the guidelines on safety in parks and forests.
Looking after the park
You can help protect the natural environment and help ensure the survival of native plants and animals living here, by following these guidelines.
- Everything within national parks and forests is protected. Do not take or interfere with plants, animals, soil or rocks.
- Do not feed or leave food for animals. Human food can harm wildlife and cause some animals to become aggressive.
- Stay on the track. Do not cut corners or create new tracks.
- Take rubbish home with you as no bins are provided.
- Obey signs and safety notices.
See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.
Park management
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) of the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) manages these parks and forests under the Nature Conservation Act 1992.
Tourism information links
For more information about activities, tours and accommodation in this region, contact:
Glass House Visitor and Interpretive Centre
www.sunshinecoastvisit.com.au
Cnr Reed St and Bruce Parade
Glass House Mountains, Qld 4518
ph (07) 5438 7220
email visitorinfo@glasshousetourism.com.au
Caloundra Visitor Information Centre
www.caloundratourism.com.au
7 Caloundra Rd, Caloundra Qld 4551
ph (07) 5491 9233 or 1800 644 969
email tourist.info@caloundratourism.com.au
For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see www.queenslandholidays.com.au.
Further information
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 25 November 2011