22.04.2026

We left Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia, in the morning with a white Mitsubishi Outlander. We experienced the rush hour before 9 AM once again, when the crowds stream to their workplaces and quickly grab breakfast on the way. We did the same today. The luggage stayed at the hotel while we went out for breakfast and then picked up the rental car. Then we returned to the hotel. After loading our luggage, we quickly left the city on the highway that runs north parallel to the coast. However, our destination was the 'Sunshine Coast Hinterland,' which is indeed named that way. This refers to the area of the Glass House Mountains. These mountains, of volcanic origin, rise between 250 - 400 m. Mixed forests dominate here, featuring completely different trees than those we know from the rainforests.

We quickly found our accommodation in a quaint garden - the 'Glass House Mountain Ecolodge.' Due to the short distance, we arrived much too early to check in. But the kind lady at the reception quickly explained to us with a blue marker on the map what one can and must see, as well as the distances involved. Afterward, the map was quite blue, and we had to sort ourselves out first. We headed to a nice café with a nearby observation tower. The 'open areas' visible from there were created by the bushfires of 2019 and are now being reforested. Each observation tower here also functions as a fire lookout tower. Today, at one of the viewpoints, we saw the first mini-kangaroos, the wallabies, grazing peacefully. We decided to 'walk around' one of the mountains. A 6 km easy trail at a pleasant 24°C. Before entering the forest, it’s advised to clean one’s shoe soles, which is also applicable when leaving the hiking trail. Along the way, we spotted a short-nosed echidna, which looks more like a porcupine. On our way back to the lodge, we passed orange and coffee plantations. We were welcomed by a bungalow with a bedroom, a large well-equipped kitchen, and a bathroom. While walking through the garden, we discovered coffee, lemon, orange, and starfruit trees bearing fruit. Cactus pears and dragon fruits (also known as pitaya) and naturally bananas were also found. Some rooms are built in old railway carriages, as is the communal kitchen for all. A place where one can endure and the night is sure to be quieter!