There is no denying that we love a good hike! After living on the Sunshine Coast for the last five years, we’ve been lucky enough to have some fantastic hiking trails right on our doorstep.
From short walks with incredible views to rainforest trails, mountain climbs and a couple of serious calf burners, there is something here for every level of fitness. Some of these hikes are easy, some will definitely get your heart pumping, and one or two might have you questioning your life choices halfway up!
Of course, the Sunshine Coast is famous for its beautiful beaches, but there is so much more to explore away from the sand. So, if you’re visiting the coast and fancy swapping the beach for your hiking shoes for a few hours, this post is for you.
Here are some of our favourite hikes on the Sunshine Coast, starting with the Glass House Mountains before heading further north along the coast and into the hinterland.
Short on time? For mountain views, our favourite is Mount Ngungun; for a longer hike, Yul-yan-man; for coastal scenery, Noosa National Park; and for rainforest and waterfalls, Kondalilla Falls.
Glass House Mountains Hikes
Some of our favourite hikes on the Sunshine Coast are found around the Glass House Mountains. Whether you want a quick walk with a fantastic view or something much more challenging, there are plenty of options here.
1. Wild Horse Mountain
Distance: Approximately 1.4 km return
Difficulty: Easy, but steep
Time: Around 30–45 minutes
I would barely call Wild Horse Mountain a hike, it’s more of a very steep walk! But the views from the top are so spectacular that I had to include it on this list.
The paved track climbs for around 700 metres to a fire lookout with incredible 360-degree views over the Glass House Mountains, Pumicestone Passage and the surrounding landscape.
It’s short but surprisingly steep, so you will still get the heart pumping on the way up. If you can, come for sunrise or sunset when the views are even more beautiful. This is one of the best short walks on the Sunshine Coast if you want maximum reward for minimum effort.
2. Mount Ngungun
Distance: 2.8 km return
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: Allow 1–2 hours
Mount Ngungun is one of our favourite quick hikes on the Sunshine Coast. It’s a little harder than Wild Horse Mountain but still very manageable if you have a reasonable level of fitness.
The track climbs steadily through the forest before reaching the summit, where you are rewarded with fantastic views across the Glass House Mountains, including Mount Tibrogargan, Mount Coonowrin and Mount Beerwah.
It’s particularly beautiful at sunrise or sunset, but it is also one of the most popular walks in the Glass House Mountains, so don’t expect to have it to yourself. We prefer to start early, especially on weekends.
3. The Coochin Twins
Distance: Approximately 2–4 km depending on route
Difficulty: Hard
Time: Around 1.5–2.5 hours
If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous, the Coochin Twins are great fun. They are also a serious calf burner!
Unlike Mount Ngungun, this isn’t a well-developed National Park walking track, and navigation can be tricky in places. We wouldn’t attempt this hike without downloading a navigation app such as AllTrails beforehand.
The hike involves some very steep climbing and a bit of scrambling as you make your way over the two peaks. We recommend starting with the West Peak and completing the hike anti-clockwise, which we find easier and safer.
The views along the way are fantastic and, although this hike is relatively short, don’t underestimate it. It’s much tougher than the distance suggests and is one of our favourite adventurous hikes in the Glass House Mountains.
How to Find the Coochin Twins Car Park
The Coochin Twins car park is surprisingly difficult to find, as there is no obvious National Parks signage from the road and the entrance looks like a private driveway!
Enter Mount Coochin Trailhead into your navigation app or use 2672 Old Gympie Road, Beerwah. Look for the letterbox marked 2672 and the “No Standing” signs nearby — this is where you need to turn.
Once through the entrance, immediately veer right and follow the gravel track alongside the fence and past the palm trees for about 20–30 metres. You’ll reach a small hidden gravel parking area where you’ll finally see the Mount Coochin National Park gate and sign.
Trust us, the first time we went there we wondered whether we were about to drive into someone’s backyard!
4. Yul-yan-man Track
Distance: Around 9 km return from Beerburrum
Difficulty: Hard – officially Grade 5
Time: Around 3–4 hours
Yul-yan-man is our favourite longer hike in the Glass House Mountains. It takes a good half day to complete and offers some fantastic views along the way.
The track follows the Trachyte Range through forest and across rocky sections, with a few sections of scrambling. It is officially rated Grade 5 and Queensland Parks recommends it for experienced walkers with rock-scrambling skills. Personally, we’ve never found the scrambling particularly difficult. It’s more a case of carefully making your way up and down the rocks rather than anything technical or scary.
That said, this is still a proper bushwalk and not one I’d recommend to complete beginners. Wear good hiking shoes, bring plenty of water and avoid it in wet weather or extreme heat. We also like having a navigation app downloaded as a backup.
We normally take close to four hours to complete the hike. It’s a great workout without the much more serious scrambling involved in summiting some of the Glass House Mountains, and the views make it one of our favourite hikes on the Sunshine Coast.
Other Great Hikes on the Sunshine Coast
The Glass House Mountains aren’t the only place to find fantastic hiking on the Sunshine Coast. Head further north and you’ll find coastal mountains, rainforest, waterfalls and one of the most beautiful coastal walks in Queensland.
5. Mount Coolum
Distance: 1.6 km return
Difficulty: Moderate – Grade 4
Time: Around 1 hour
Mount Coolum is probably one of the most popular hikes on the Sunshine Coast and it’s easy to see why.
The track is short but steep, with lots of steps as you make your way to the 208-metre summit. You don’t need any scrambling skills, but you’ll certainly feel the climb in your legs.
Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views over the coastline, stretching towards Noosa in one direction and the Glass House Mountains in the other.
Mount Coolum is also a great sunrise hike. Parking can be difficult, especially at busy times, so another good reason to start early.
6. Mount Ninderry
Distance: Approximately 3.4 km return
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Time: Around 1–1.5 hours
Mount Ninderry is a lovely alternative if you want something quieter than Mount Coolum.
The trail climbs through bushland to viewpoints overlooking the Maroochy River, surrounding farmland and the coast. There are a few steep sections, but overall we find this a fairly easy walk.
There are viewpoints on both sides of the mountain, so make sure you don’t turn around after reaching the first one.
Another bonus is that Mount Ninderry is one of the walks on this list where you can bring your dog, although dogs need to be kept under control and you should always check the current signage and regulations before setting off.
7. Mount Cooroora
Distance: Approximately 2–3 km return depending on your starting point
Difficulty: Hard
Time: Allow 2–3 hours
Mount Cooroora is definitely not for the faint-hearted!
Rising above the little hinterland town of Pomona, this is one of the toughest short hikes on the Sunshine Coast. The climb is steep and strenuous and requires some rock scrambling towards the top.
There are steps and chains to help you through some of the steepest sections, but the final section to the summit has no chains, so you’ll need to be comfortable using your hands and scrambling over rock.
Good shoes with plenty of grip are essential and I wouldn’t attempt this hike when the rocks are wet. Bring plenty of water and start early because it gets hot very quickly.
It’s hard work, but reaching the summit gives you a huge feeling of accomplishment and some fantastic views over the Noosa Hinterland.
8. Kondalilla Falls Circuit
Distance: Approximately 4.7 km return
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: Around 2 hours
If you’ve had enough of climbing mountains, Kondalilla Falls offers something completely different.
Located near Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, this beautiful walk takes you through lush subtropical rainforest to Kondalilla Falls.
There are plenty of stairs and some steep sections, especially on the way back up, so don’t assume that a waterfall walk means an easy walk! But the rainforest makes this a lovely option on a warmer day when you don’t fancy scrambling up an exposed mountain.
Kondalilla is extremely popular, especially on weekends and during school holidays, and the car park can fill quickly. As always, we recommend starting early.
9. Noosa National Park Coastal Walk
Distance: Up to 10.8 km return
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Time: 2–4 hours depending on how far you walk
The Noosa National Park Coastal Walk is completely different from the mountain hikes on this list, but it is easily one of the best walks on the Sunshine Coast.
Starting near Noosa Main Beach, the trail follows the coastline past Tea Tree Bay, Dolphin Point, Granite Bay and Hell’s Gates before continuing towards Sunshine Beach.
The coastal scenery is spectacular almost the entire way, and this is also one of our favourite places on the Sunshine Coast for spotting wildlife. Keep your eyes on the ocean for dolphins and, during whale migration season, humpback whales. You may also get lucky and spot a koala in the trees.
You don’t have to walk the entire 10.8 km return route either, you can simply walk as far as you feel like before turning around. Hell’s Gates makes a great turnaround point if you want a shorter walk while still enjoying some of the best scenery.
Parking around Noosa National Park can be extremely difficult, especially at weekends and during holiday periods, so arrive early or consider walking to the trailhead from Noosa.
Local tip:
If you’re not staying in Noosa Heads, consider starting the walk from Sunshine Beach instead. Parking is usually easier to find here (although it can still get busy), and you’ll get to enjoy exactly the same beautiful coastal walk, just in the opposite direction.
From Sunshine Beach, walk along the beach for around a kilometre before climbing the long and rather steep set of stairs up into Noosa National Park. There are quite a few steps but take your time, the views are gorgeous and it’s well worth the climb.
Many locals prefer doing the walk this way simply to avoid the madness of trying to park around Noosa Heads. You’ll add a little beach walking and a decent stair workout to your hike, but that’s certainly better than driving around Noosa looking for a car park!
10. Baxter Falls Hike
Distance: Around 7 km return
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: Around 2–3 hours
If you’re looking for a quieter Sunshine Coast hike that many visitors don’t know about, Baxter Falls is a great one to add to your list.
This walk forms part of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk and takes you through beautiful forest before descending towards Baxter Falls. It’s completely different from the exposed mountain hikes on this list, with lush forest, creek crossings and a lovely waterfall waiting for you at the bottom.
The funny thing about this hike is that it almost feels like it’s designed the wrong way around! It’s pretty much downhill all the way to Baxter Falls, where you can cool off with a swim, followed by a long uphill climb all the way back to the car. On a hot summer’s day, you’ll probably be wishing the swimming hole was at the top instead!
The hike isn’t technically difficult, but don’t underestimate that climb back out. There are some steep sections and the track can become muddy and slippery after rain.
Bring plenty of water, wear decent hiking shoes and pack insect repellent. Leeches can also make an appearance after periods of heavy rain, so be prepared for those little suckers too!
One of the things we love most about this hike is how peaceful it is. It’s certainly not a complete secret amongst Sunshine Coast locals, but compared with places such as Mount Coolum, Mount Ngungun and Kondalilla Falls, it receives far fewer visitors.
If you want to discover a quieter side of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and don’t mind earning that uphill walk back to the car, Baxter Falls is well worth it.
Which Sunshine Coast Hike Should You Choose?
If you only have time for one hike, it really depends on what you’re looking for.
· Best easy hike: Wild Horse Mountain
· Best for Glass House Mountain views: Mount Ngungun
· Best coastal hike: Noosa National Park
· Best waterfall/rainforest hike: Kondalilla Falls
· Best quieter hike: Baxter Falls
· Best longer hike: Yul-yan-man
· Best challenging hike: Mount Cooroora / Coochin Twins
Whichever one you choose, start early, carry plenty of water and always check current track conditions before heading out.
Best Time to Hike on the Sunshine Coast
You can hike on the Sunshine Coast year-round, but autumn, winter and spring are our favourite times, when temperatures are cooler and hiking is much more comfortable.
Winter is particularly good for the more exposed mountain hikes, while spring and autumn offer a nice balance of comfortable temperatures and longer days. Summer hiking is certainly possible, but start very early and avoid the hottest part of the day — the Sunshine Coast heat and humidity can make even a relatively short climb feel much harder!
We also avoid mountain hikes during or immediately after heavy rain. Rocks can become extremely slippery, creek crossings can rise quickly and some tracks may close during severe wet weather.
Whatever the season, always check the weather and current park alerts before setting off.
What to Bring Hiking on the Sunshine Coast
What you need will depend on the hike, but we always recommend bringing plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent and good walking shoes. For longer or less clearly marked hikes such as Yul-yan-man and the Coochin Twins, download your route before setting off rather than relying on mobile reception.
In the rainforest, insect repellent is especially useful as mosquitoes, ticks and leeches can be present, particularly after wet weather. And, of course, always take more water than you think you’ll need, especially in summer.
Where to Stay for Hiking on the Sunshine Coast
If you’re planning a hiking weekend on the Sunshine Coast, where you stay will depend on which walks you want to tackle.
For the Glass House Mountains, consider staying around Glass House Mountains, Beerwah or Maleny. For hinterland hikes such as Kondalilla Falls and Baxter Falls, Montville or Maleny make great bases, while Noosa or Coolum are better choices if you want to combine coastal walks with some beach time.
→ Find accommodation on the Sunshine Coast with Agoda
Sunshine Coast Hiking FAQs
What is the best hike on the Sunshine Coast?
It depends on what you’re looking for. Mount Ngungun is our favourite for classic Glass House Mountains views, while Noosa National Park is hard to beat for coastal scenery.
What is the easiest hike on the Sunshine Coast?
Wild Horse Mountain is one of the easiest. It’s short but steep, with fantastic views from the lookout at the top.
Where can I hike with ocean views on the Sunshine Coast?
The Noosa National Park Coastal Walk offers some of the best ocean views, while Mount Coolum has spectacular coastal views from its summit.
Can you hike on the Sunshine Coast in summer?
Yes, but start very early to avoid the heat and humidity. We prefer hiking in autumn, winter and spring, especially for exposed mountain hikes.
Are Sunshine Coast hikes dog friendly?
Most hikes inside national parks don’t allow dogs. Mount Ninderry is a good dog-friendly option, but always check current local regulations before visiting.
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