Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Rainforest Walk and Discovery Centre

Are you wondering if Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is worth visiting?

Located in Maleny, Queensland, about 88 kilometers north of Brisbane City, a visit to Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve makes for a nice day trip out of the city, plus there are lots of things to do in Maleny and in nearby Montville.

The Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve has an easy rainforest walk, a discovery centre, and a cafe. Outside by the parking lot, there is a playground, picnic shelters, and lots of space to run (watch out for the ant hills).

My family visited on a day trip from Brisbane. We completed the rainforest walk and let the kids learn in the discovery centre. We even checked out a kit for them to take on our walk.

Continue reading to learn about our experience on the rainforest walk and in the discovery centre.

Arriving at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve

There is plenty of parking at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. The rainforest walk, discovery centre, and cafe are open daily, except on holidays.

A playground is located near the car park. The playground includes swings, a slide, and climbing areas.

Picnic shelters are located near the car park as well. There is also a block of toilets near the playground.

When walking toward the buildings, the Mountain View Cafe is on the left, and the Discovery Centre is on the right.

Mountain View Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch daily, with the exception of some holidays. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and there is a beautiful view of the Glasshouse Mountains from the cafe.

More toilets are located just past the cafe.

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Discovery Centre

Entry to the rainforest walk is through the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Discovery Centre.

While there is no cost to enter, there is a suggested gold coin donation. Coins can be deposited into a box, or there is a way to tap your card to donate.

The discovery centre has many interactive hands-on exhibits for all ages.

Before you go on a rainforest walk, binoculars and Junior Ranger kits are available to borrow. The Junior Ranger kit includes binoculars, a magnifying glass, a journal, and colored pencils.

In addition to the Junior Ranger kit, there is a Junior Ranger Adventure book with a scavenger hunt and puzzles inside. We ended up keeping the kids’ adventure books until lunchtime. They were a good thing for the kids to work on while waiting for their meals.

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Rainforest Walk

There are 3 possible walking loops at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, and they range from 1.3 to 1.7 kilometers long. All of the hikes leave and return to the Discovery Centre.

Part of the path is a boardwalk, but the beginning is unpaved. The entire loop is just about completely flat, making the walk an easy one.

The path is very shady. There are benches along the path for those who want to stop and enjoy the view.

At one point, near the viewing platform, there is a large pair of binoculars that are free to use.

We saw birds, but not much other wildlife. There was a small black snake and a large lizard close to the discovery centre, but not along the trail.

TIP: Wear long pants and closed-toed shoes. While it is an easy hike, and I did wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, a leech somehow got under my sock.

Wrap Up

If you are visiting Maleny or another town on the Sunshine Coast, it is worth visiting the Mary Cairncross Reserve Rainforest.

The walk is easy, and the discovery centre is informative. Plus, you can always take a break to enjoy a meal or drink at the cafe.

Visiting with kids is especially fun as they have not only a playground, but a kit that kids can borrow to use on the walk, helping to keep their interest.

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve FAQ

Things to do Nearby

• Things to do in Maleny
• Things to do in Montville
• Things to do in Cooroy
• Hiking the Glasshouse Mountains
• Things to do in Bli Bli
• Things to do on the Sunshine Coast

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