The best walks and hikes in Peachester State Forest

This is one of the main junctions on the track, marked by a sign pointing toward Beerburrum trailhead, Soldier Settlers’ Trail, and the Trachyte Circuit. The paths split in different directions through open forest, with sandy ground and loose leaf litter underfoot. It’s an easy place to check your route, especially if you’re linking different sections rather than sticking to the main circuit.

Mount Coochin trail is a short but varied walk that connects the mountain’s twin peaks via a narrow saddle. It’s a faint, often unmarked path that climbs steadily through open forest to the first summit, then drops into a steep gully before a more rugged ascent, sometimes involving light scrambling, up to the second peak. The route is easy to lose in places and requires care on the descent, so having your offline komoot GPS route handy is a good idea to stay on course. The short navigation is well worth the effort, where you can enjoy beautiful sweeping views across the Glass House Mountains from both summits.

The East Peak is the more open and exposed summit of Mount Coochin, featuring a rocky outcrop that provides wider, more expansive views across Glass House Mountains National Park and out toward the coastal plain. Reached via a steep descent and climb through the saddle, the summit offers fantastic long-distance views over the western peak, making it the primary vantage point of the twin peaks. The terrain near the top is rugged with light scrambling, but it is rewarding, with wide panoramas over the surrounding volcanic peaks and lowlands.

The West Peak of Mt. Coochin is a rocky, partially enclosed summit within Glass House Mountains National Park, where scattered boulders and low vegetation frame the view toward the East Peak and surrounding ranges. From the top, the view is beautiful, with the ridge leading across to the second summit, where you can see the steep saddle and the route between the two peaks.

This trailhead is a small, unsealed gravel area located off 2672 Old Gympie Road (Beerwah) and serves as the primary, albeit limited, access point for the Mt. Coochin Twin Peaks trail. Access involves driving up a residential-looking driveway to a gate with a National Park sign, so it’s a good idea to use GPS to be sure you are in the right spot. The Mount Coochin Twin Peaks route begins with a rough fire track that quickly leads into the forest, then splits toward the East and West peaks. The East Peak track is generally open; however, the West Peak section, which forms part of the informal loop, is periodically closed due to Phytophthora disease management. Access can change at short notice, and signage is often not updated, so it’s best to check current conditions and alerts via the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service before setting out: https://parks.qld.gov.au/parks/glass-house-mountains

Rising to around 364 metres in Glass House Mountains National Park, Mount Tibrogargan is one of the most prominent peaks in the range, with a steep, exposed rock face that dominates the surrounding landscape. The mountain is covered in pockets of vegetation around its base, transitioning quickly to bare, smooth rock higher up. While it is possible to reach the summit, the route involves near-vertical scrambling in sections and is not suitable for most walkers. Instead, many choose to walk around the base, where the mountain appears between the trees, often with peregrine falcons seen circling overhead.

Located on the Tibrogargan circuit track, Mountain View lookout opens up to wide views across several of the Glass House peaks, including Mount Beerwah, Coonowrin, Tibberoowuccum, and Tunbubudla.

This 4.1 kilometre return Grade 3 circuit in Glass House Mountains National Park loops around the base of Mount Tibrogargan through a mix of casuarina groves, open eucalypt woodland, and melaleuca forest. The track remains largely shaded due to dense tree cover, offering some relief from the heat along the route. Expect a mostly well-defined path with sections of uneven ground. The mountain’s rock face appears at different points as you move around the circuit.