Just south of Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast, the Mount Coolum climb is a Grade 4 walking track covering 1.6 km return. The summit rises 208 m above sea level and reveals sweeping 360-degree views, taking in Point Cartwright and the Glass House Mountains to the south, the Blackall Range out west, and Noosa Heads north. Formed around 26 million years ago, Mt Coolum is an impressive dome-shaped magma rock that features topographically uneven terrain, loose gravel surfaces and exposed naturally occurring lookouts.
Recommended for “reasonably fit” walkers with an estimated trek time of 1.5 hours return, it took us 1hr 40mins, but that did include time to soak up the soaring views, pit stops to hyperventilate in lieu of passing out and side-barring to allow Birk and barefooted ascenders to pass (only in Straya, right?).
Best time to climb Mt Coolum is outside the school holidays, either early morning for sunrise or early evening for sunset, thus avoiding the oppressive summer heat and madding crowds. We climbed over Christmas, around noon, and were joined by countless hordes of fellow numpty bushwalkers, oblivious to heat stroke and unbothered by balancing precariously on rocks to allow others passage.
The hike begins with a gentle ascent through native bushland, dappled sunlight peeking through a canopy of eucalypts and melaleucas. Lulled majestically into an aesthetic sensibility, then dun dun dah – the trail transitions into steep, stony terrain with uneven rocky steps. As we emerged from dense woodland into searing, sun-scorched montane heath, a fierce wind whipped across the rock and that wobbled me around a bit.
Much of the time was spent looking down, seeking footholds among rocks that wouldn’t break an ankle, and my spatial awareness went a bit wonky, and my breakfast pancakes threatened an encore. That said, there were five-year-olds on the trail, parents toting tots on shoulders and sweat-hogs powering through hill sprints. It buoyed me knowing there were enough people around to stretcher me down should the need arise, and that I wouldn’t appear on the 6 o’clock news being choppered out!
The ends most certainly justified the means when we popped out at the summit, with spectacular views forever. Mad if you don’t put this on your bucket list!
A complete and utterly pleasant juxtaposition to the Mount Coolum Summit is the Trachyte Circuit in the Glass House Mountains.
Like Mount Coolum, the Glass House Mountains are remnants of ancient volcanoes, a collection of volcanic plugs formed 24 to 27 million years ago. The range includes Mounts Beerwah, Tibrogargan, Coonowrin, Ngungun, Beerburrum, Coochin Hills, Elimbah, Cooee, Wild Horse Mountain, Miketeebumulgrai and Tunbubudla (The Twins). If you haven’t got at least one Glass House Mountains trail on your Sunshine Coast itinerary, I think you need to self-flagellate!
I dragged along the reluctant, “I hate hiking” not-so-mini male version of me on the Trachyte Circuit. Seduced by the “not much elevation” description and Grade 3 classification, the 5.7 km circuit winds through a surprisingly varied mix of landscapes – from pine forest to rain forest, open woodland to heathland – linking Mount Tibrogargan and Mount Tibberoowuccum. The hike can be extended by ducking out 100 m to see the iconic views from Jack Ferris Lookout, or by misreading the “You Are Here” map and adding an extra two kilometres around the base of Mt Tibrogargan.
Being the height of summer, we were eyes down to avoid any nasty confrontations with “moving sticks”. A necessary Aussie bushwalking preoccupation, we did spot one slithering off the trail and pretended it was a friendly as we skittered by. Monitor lizards were abundant, with one leading the way for quite a while, it reluctant to go off-trail, we unwilling to have it yeet up our legs if we tried to pass. Another crashed noisily through the undergrowth, launching up a nearby paperbark, and a change of underwear was almost imminent.
One of the trail’s many highlights is the Jack Ferris Lookout on Trachyte Ridge. Here, you can snap that ubiquitous shot that tantalises on Insta feeds, capturing the iconic peaks of Tibrogargan, Beerwah and Ngungun. Even on an overcast day, their majesty is absolute!
This trek reaffirmed my passion for hiking Sunshine Coast trails, and with such a smorgasbord of options, you are spoiled for choice!
