The national park in the
Sunshine Coast hinterland protects eight rugged volcanic mountain peaks called the
Glass House Mountains. When Captain Cook sailed up the coast of Queensland on his first voyage to the Great Southern Land, he looked towards the land and in the early morning sun, there was a reflection on the volcanic rocks of the mountains that he mistook for pieces of glass. The open eucalyptus and heath landscape is a real paradise for many endangered species of animals and plants. Three tracks lead to mountainous lookouts which provide fantastic vistas of the coastal plain and the
Pacific Ocean; due to the degree of difficulty of the tracks, they are recommended for experienced walkers only.