A new Mt Coot-tha nature retreat and hike are coming to Brisbane

Mt Coot-tha is set for a glow up with the announcement of a new hiking trail and nature retreat.

Long a popular retreat for Brisbane locals, Mt Coot-tha Reserve is the city’s largest natural area. Just a 15-minute drive from Brisbane’s CBD, it’s already the place for unbeatable skyline views of the city. But now, it will be more than just a short break. Brisbane City Council appointed Brisbane Sustainability Agency to transform the area into a nature-based tourism and recreation hub, including a world-class Mt Coot-tha nature retreat.

person making a heart from their hands at mt coot-tha lookout — The view from Mt Coot-tha is already much loved. (Image: Visit Brisbane)

The plan is to transform the location ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be hosted in Brisbane, with the intention of developing a long-term strategy make it an an eco-tourism destination and protect the precinct’s native bushland while also enhancing the offerings and accessibility for the over one million visitors Mt Coot-tha already receives per year.

In a press release, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated the revitalisation of Mount Coot-tha includes “a 170-kilometre wilderness walking trail with overnight huts, glamping, a botanic gardens night-time lights show and a reimagined tropical dome".

That tropical dome will transform the one that currently stands on-site to be reminiscent of green tourism destinations like Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay and Butchart Gardens in Canada, complete with botanic gardens and an immersive night-time light experience, a treetop walk and upgrades to the current summit lookout. The current Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is also slated for an upgrade. Visitors will be able to make the most of it by staying in the new nature retreat, with glamping spots.

exterior render of Mt Coot-tha tropical dome after renovation — A brand new dome, hiking trail and Mt Coot-tha nature retreat are coming.

For those keen on a little more adventure than the retreat can provide, a key feature of the proposed improvements is the Brisbane Wilderness Walking Trail. This 170-kilometre track would connect Mt Coot-tha to Mt Archer. Drawing inspiration from longer hiking trails like Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain and New Zealand’s West Coast Wilderness Trail, the trail will enjoy features to make hikers more comfortable along their journey, like bush huts, way-finding signage, composting toilets, camping sites and refurbished picnic areas.

“Brisbane is riding a wave of international popularity as a tourism destination and with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games coming, now is the time to start planning more to see and do in our city," continued Schrinner.

“We have South Bank, the city, Howard Smith Wharves and Fortitude Valley for locals to enjoy and visitors to explore. I believe Mount Coot-tha presents an incredible opportunity for nature-based destinations and attractions, which is exactly what international visitors are looking for".

a render of the inside Mt Coot-tha tropical dome after renovation — The current tropical dome will be transformed to match the likes of Singapore.

What can you do in Brisbane while you wait for the Mt Coot-tha glow up? Try these experiences and these delicious restaurants.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

A new 170-km hike and nature retreat are coming to Brisbane

Mt Coot-tha is set for a glow up with the announcement of a new hiking trail and nature retreat.

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