Day 1 Brisbane to Sunshine Coast Trip

A ‘must see’ for all visitors to Brisbane, Mt Coot-tha’s Brisbane Lookout offers spectacular panoramic views over the CBD all the way to Moreton Bay. Walking tracks are abundant through the National Park and the Lookout itself showcases a historical timeline of this iconic destination. A bustling café and award winning restaurant ensure the precinct caters to all visitors.

Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha. Opening hour 8am Set on 56 hectares and featuring over 20,000 plants and 5,000 plant species, the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha are Australia’s premier subtropical botanic gardens. Once inside, you can pick up a map from the information stand so you don’t miss out on any attractions (and your little explorers can help you find your way around!). Along the way, you’ll be also be guided by helpful signposts pointing the way to key attractions. Most of the gardens can be accessed by flat pathways, making them accessible for prams and wheelchairs There are drinking fountains, plenty of benches for a short rest and toilets throughout the gardens. There are also picnic shelters and many lawns and shaded areas so you can find the perfect spot for a family picnic. The range of flora to be seen at the Botanic Gardens includes both native and exotic plants, from arid, tropical and temperate climates. There are stakes showing plant names, as well as more detailed signs to give you more information along the way.

Inhale the amazing aromas of the Fragrant Plants and Herbs, walk in amongst the towering Bamboo Grove, see the Fruit Trees bearing yummy treats and get lost in the Exotic Rainforest. There is everything from colourful flowers to prickly cacti, native grasses to huge conifers. You can even head further afield within the gardens to see Maleleuca Wetlands and Open Eucalypt Forest. Each separate area is a unique and wonderful world to discover, with its own amazing sights, sounds and smells! There is a wonderful array of bird and animal life to spot in the Botanic Gardens. Look out for water dragons and brush turkeys all around the gardens, as well as fluttering butterflies and buzzing bees hovering over the flowers. You will often hear the sound of a screeching sulphur-crested cockatoo overhead, and see many other beautiful birds that are regular visitors to the gardens. You can also see water birds such as egrets and Pacific black ducks in the lagoons, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for turtles and eels too! There is a wonderful array of bird and animal life to spot in the Botanic Gardens. Look out for water dragons and brush turkeys all around the gardens, as well as fluttering butterflies and buzzing bees hovering over the flowers. You will often hear the sound of a screeching sulphur-crested cockatoo overhead, and see many other beautiful birds that are regular visitors to the gardens. You can also see water birds such as egrets and Pacific black ducks in the lagoons, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for turtles and eels too!

Jollys Lookout Nestled in the heart of the D'Aguilar national park sits Mount Nebo, a popular spot for anyone looking for an active outdoor day trip. There are walkers, cyclists and the occasional motorbike, but the beauty of this place is that it often feels as if you have the whole place to yourself.

Buderim Falls, which are also widely known as Serenity Falls, are accessed by a short 20 minute return walk through towering trees, strangler figs and ferns of the surrounding sub-tropical rainforest.

Along the way, make sure to stop to see if you can spot any local wildlife, especially lizards and snakes, or hear the beautiful calls of the local native birdlife, such as whipbirds and catbirds. The upper entry point at the base of Quorn Close has a good amount of parking and a memorial garden in memory of Edna Wallings. Edna is famous for creating many gardens around the world and actually retired here to Buderim in Lindsay Road. Also at the top you will find picnic tables and barbeque facilities. Walk past the picnic area and the dirt path takes you through a reasonably steep bush walking trail, which is OK for people with moderate fitness, but is not accessible for wheelchairs and strollers etc. The paths take you straight to the Buderim Falls and the high arch bridge spanning the creek above the actual falls. This is a very popular and beautiful spot.