By Marina Gomide
WITH school holidays almost half way through, there is the pressure to find fun things to do with your kids.
To try to ease some of that weight off your shoulders, we have compiled a list of free places to explore and enjoy the hinterland area this spring break.
Starting off with one of the most well-known spots on the Sunshine Coast, the Glass House Mountains offer a large variety of hiking trails to get up or around its six mountains. Mt Beerburrum offers one of the easiest trails, a short 15-minute hike following the Glasshouse Mountain Lookout Track.
Also amongst the shortest and easiest is the Wild Horse Mountain lookout trail, taking only 20 minutes. Mt Tibrogargan base walk, which takes 45 minutes, is also amongst the easiest and child-friendliest hikes, being slightly longer, along with Mt Ngungun summit walk, which takes one to two hours.
Lastly, the Trachyte Circuit offers the longest of the easy trails, taking between two and three hours to complete.
Following the hiking inspiration, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve in Maleny also provides adults with an easy, child friendly walk for their little ones through the rainforest. The reserve also provides you with a lookout overlooking the Glasshouse Mountains – you can even see Brisbane CBD on a clear day. It is also a beautiful spot to watch the sunset.
Neighbouring Mary Cairncross is the beautiful Gardners Falls in Maleny, a waterfall with a big swimming hole at its base, including rope swings to make a splash. These falls are very popular with locals and tourists and can get quite busy, with people often bringing picnic lunches to spend the day.
If you are in Maleny, you can use the Obi Obi Creek Walk to get from town directly to the falls, following an easy five-kilometre trail that’s takes you along the creek and through the golf course.
If your kids like swimming but you want somewhere less crowded, there are two lakes that are a bit less known: Lake Baroon in Maleny and Maddock Park in Mooloolah Valley.
Both have recreational areas along the water for barbeques and picnics, as well as netted swimming areas. These spots are also great for water sports, such as fishing or kayaking, and Ewen Maddock Dam Trail, starting at Maddock Park, is also a great, easy trail to walk your dog on-leash.
Another popular swimming spot to visit is Kondalilla Falls in Montville.
Offering two hiking trails, one easier and one harder, you can swim at the waterhole on top of the falls and enjoy a scenic view or hike all the way to the bottom and admire the amazing dropping water from below.