The best Sunshine Coast day trips from Woombye stay in the hinterland, and the pick of them is the Blackall Range loop. From our front door at Sunshine Coast Motor Lodge it is about 25 minutes up to Montville, Maleny and two free waterfalls, an easy round trip you can do in a day. Here is the route, the stops and the timing.
What is the best day trip from Woombye?
The Blackall Range loop is the one to do. From us, head west toward Palmwoods and climb the range to Montville, then follow the ridge road south through Maleny and back down via Landsborough or Palmwoods. The full circuit is about an hour and a half of gentle, sealed driving, which leaves the rest of the day for stops. The Blackall Range Tourist Drive links the villages with tree-lined ridges, farmland and lookouts across to the Glass House Mountains. It suits a slow pace: coffee in one village, a rainforest walk, a waterfall and lunch in the next. Do it clockwise from Woombye and the views open up as you climb.
What is there to do in Montville?
Montville is the first stop, about 25 minutes up the range, and it is built for a slow wander. Park once on Main Street and browse the galleries, craft shops and cafes strung along the ridge, with lookouts back over the coast between the buildings. Guests keep mentioning the fudge and the gallery browsing, so give yourself an hour. Arrive before lunch for the easiest parking, as the village fills on weekends. Prams roll fine along the main strip. It is a cool-climate contrast to the coast, so pack a light jacket even in summer, and pick up a coffee for the drive on to Maleny. The whole village is walkable, so leave the car in one spot and take your time.
Is Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve worth the drive?
Yes, it is the natural highlight of the loop. Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve sits near Maleny, with walking tracks and picnic grounds open 7am to 6pm. The lookout across the Glass House Mountains is free and one of the best views on the range. The shaded rainforest circuits run about 1.3 to 1.7 kilometres and are easy underfoot, with a good chance of spotting pademelons near the boardwalk. The rainforest walk is by gold-coin donation through the Rainforest Discovery Centre, so carry a couple of coins. There are toilets, sheltered tables and a cafe at the picnic area, which makes it a natural mid-loop stop.
Which waterfalls can you visit on the loop?
Two free national-park falls sit right on the route. Kondalilla Falls, near Montville, has a free car park and the easy 1.7-kilometre Picnic Creek circuit, plus a longer 4.6-kilometre track down to a rock-pool swimming hole at the base of the falls. Mapleton Falls, a little further north, drops into the Obi Obi Valley with a short rainforest circuit and a valley lookout that needs no ticket. Both are best in the cooler months when the tracks are dry, and both have picnic tables and toilets. Pack sturdy shoes and water. Dogs are not permitted on national-park tracks, so leave them back at the motel for these two.
Where should you stop for lunch in Maleny?
Maleny, at the southern end of the loop, is the lunch stop. Maple Street is lined with cafes, a local dairy and cheese, produce shops and art galleries, all an easy stroll once you park. For something longer, Brouhaha Brewery on Coral Street is a popular lunch spot for stone-baked pizza and local beer, though it is worth checking their current hours before you go. Maleny sits cooler and greener than the coast, so it is a comfortable midday stop even in summer. From here it is about 30 minutes back down the range to Woombye, in time for a swim before dinner.
FAQs about Sunshine Coast day trips from Woombye
How long does the Blackall Range loop take from Woombye?
Allow a full, relaxed day. The driving itself is only about an hour and a half all up, but with stops in Montville, a walk at Mary Cairncross, a waterfall or two and lunch in Maleny, most guests are out from mid-morning until late afternoon. It is an easy, unhurried day from our front door.
Is the hinterland drive suitable for the whole family?
Yes. The roads are sealed and gentle, the villages are pram-friendly, and the reserve boardwalk and shorter waterfall tracks suit most ages. Bring water, hats and a jumper, as the range sits cooler than the coast. Dogs on a lead are welcome in the villages, though not on the national-park tracks.
Do you need to pay for anything on the loop?
Very little. The villages, lookouts and the Glass House Mountains view at Mary Cairncross are free, and Kondalilla and Mapleton Falls have free car parks and no entry fee. Mary Cairncross asks a gold-coin donation for its rainforest circuit. Your only real spend is coffee, lunch and any galleries you can’t resist.
When is the best time to do the hinterland loop?
Cooler months and clear mornings are ideal, when the range is crisp and the waterfall tracks are dry. That said, the loop works year-round. Start earlier in summer to enjoy the walks before the heat, and later in winter once the morning fog lifts off the range. Weekdays are the quietest for parking.
The best part of the Blackall Range loop is how close it starts. From our saltwater pool and gardens in Woombye you are 25 minutes from the villages, the lookouts and the falls, and back again in time for an afternoon swim. It is the day trip we point most guests toward. When you are ready to plan yours, book your room with us and browse the attractions near the motel to map out the drive.
Image credit: Peter.watts165, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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