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Flying high with school holiday adventures
FAMILIES searching for a fun and affordable school holiday outing need look no further than Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World, where nature, wildlife and spectacular scenery combine for a memorable day out. Set across 23 acres of beautifully maintained gardens overlooking the iconic Glass House Mountains, the attraction offers more than eight kilometres of walking paths winding through waterfalls, lakes and vibrant displays of flowers and plants. A new feature is the Fairy Garden with the magical walk-in mushroom and its resident unicorns – sure to delight visitors of all ages! Visitors can also discover the popular Bush Tucker
Walk, where native plants such as lemon myrtle and native violets showcase the traditional uses and cultural significance of Australia’s unique flora. Bird World remains a favourite with families, featuring five walk-through aviaries housing more than 600 native and exotic birds. The farm precinct is equally popular, with miniature goats, alpacas, babydoll sheep, miniature donkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens and other friendly animals delighting young visitors. Open seven days from 9am to 4.30pm, with family passes available for $132, covering two adults and two children. For more information, visit online or call 5344 0010.
My Staycation By Desley Arnold RECENTLY I had a week’s holiday, and so hubby and I decided to take some time out from renovating and explore our own backyard. Armed with a very comfortable new hybrid car and the luxury of returning home each night, we planned a series of day trips across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions. We allowed for a couple of wet-weather days, which mostly involved scenic drives and eating out, and then set off on our adventure. While we didn’t manage to tick everything off our list, we certainly discovered
some wonderful places and experiences that we thoroughly recommend. One of our favourite drives took us along country back roads to Rainbow Beach and Tin Can Bay, where we enjoyed the changing scenery, interesting roadside signs and charming little whistle stops along the way. We also spent time at the historic Apollonian Hotel at Boreen Point, beside beautiful Lake Cootharaba. The food was excellent, the grounds were lovely and, best of all, we could take our fur babies along too. A high tea and tour at Sunshine Butterflies in Tewantin was another
highlight, offering a wonderful opportunity to support a local charity while enjoying a unique experience. The standout for us was a boat tour through the Noosa Everglades from Habitat Noosa EcoCamp. With only two everglade systems in the world, it was a truly memorable experience. Friendly kangaroos, great food and a relaxed atmosphere made it even more enjoyable. We also enjoyed lunch at Spirit House in Yandina, explored Maleny Botanical Gardens and Birdworld, sampled local produce at Maleny Cheese, stopped for an ale at Montville Hotel and visited the Ginger Factory.
MAL LENY
BOTANIC GARDENS — & BIRD WORLD —
School Holiday Family Pass
$132.00
(2 adults, 2 kids) Book Online @ malenybotanicgardens.com.au Or scan here
Phone: 5344 0010 | 233 Maleny-Stanley River Road, Maleny | Open 7 days 9am-4.30pm www.gcnews.com.au
Glasshouse Country & Maleny News, Tuesday June 23, 2026 PAGE 11