Wild Horse Mountain
Get there:
Great pit stop between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast if you don’t have time for a proper GHM hike or just want to see it fairly quickly.
What is it:
At the top of Wild Horse Mountain is an old fire watch tower with 360 degree views of the area but more importantly an incredible view of the other Glasshouse Mountains. Park at the bottom and hike up a steep but paved old road to get to the big viewing platform at the top. Sunrise to sunset, this is an awesome way to get a glimpse of Glasshouse Mountains.
Parking available at the bottom only
15 min hike each way (700m) on a paved road
Large 360 degree lookout with displays, seating, shelter and views of the mountains and the ocean/islands on a good day
Total elevation: 123m
What’s the story?
Not much exists online of the early indigenous history, and the English name of “Wild Horse Mountain” as opposed to the traditional names for all of the other Glasshouse Mountains indicates that some of the early historical stories may have been lost. There is an original Bora ring just across the highway though so it’s likely this area was of significance.
Beerburrum and Beerwah State Forests were heavily logged in the 1900s, first of their native giant gums, then eventually a big ole pine forestry was started in the 1950’s to support the industry. When you are at the top you can see the vast rows of pine trees and wonder maybe what it would have looked like lined with giant gums.
Looks like Telstra pitched in with the government to make this hilltop lookout to kill 3-4 birds with one tower as it were. It acts as a signal booster, fire watch tower, lookout, and educational hotspot. There are markings and posters throughout the large sheltered lookout that let you know what you are looking at and a bit of the history of the area.