Mt Glorious Day Trip from Brisbane
In this Mt Glorious travel guide, you will uncover the most unforgettable things to do for your Mt Glorious day trip. From amazing bush walks to the chance to seeing native animals in the wild, Mt Glorious is where you can visit to relax and unwind during your visit to Brisbane. Check out the local cafes in Mt Nebo or Samford Village and pop along to the only licensed Harry Potter store in Australia, grab yourself a bargain at the local charity shops or watch the electrical storms roll in above the city from incredible lookout spots.
Whatever you find appealing for your Brisbane itinerary, this Mt Glorious day trip will add some sparkle to it.
Best Time to Visit Mt Glorious
- Autumn (March–May): If you want your Mt Glorious day trip for hiking, then Autumn offers mild temperatures and lower humidity, ideal for exploring the rainforest walking trails.
- Winter (June–August): Winter is best for long drives, scenic lookouts and cozy nights in.
- Summer (December–February): Mt Glorious sits a few degrees cooler than the city due to its elevation and forested location.
- Spring (September–October): Much like Autumn, Spring is best for nature spotting and for seeing the rainforest come to life, and it is the peak season for spotting native fireflies.
Mt Glorious Accommodation
If you are just here for ideas for your Mt Glorious day trip then you can continue reading on, however if you are considering staying in the area for a few days then I recommend booking a room at Maiala Park Lodge. We were lucky enough to get a room at Maiala Park Lodge for our 3 day stay in Mt Glorious, this colonial styled house offered incredible views back towards Brisbane City allowing us to watch the electrical storms roll in as quickly as they rolled out.
The lodge is surrounded by trees down a quiet road and during the evenings the sky would come to life with yellow-crested cockatoos, kookaburras and bats.
Getting to Mt Glorious: Brisbane Car Hire
Getting to Mt Glorious from Brisbane is a simple drive as long as you have your own private transport. We hired our car from Europcar on Elizabeth Street in Brisbane CBD who were super quick and efficient. Hiring a car means you aren’t waiting around for busses and you have the freedom to change your plans at the last minute if something doesn’t suit your needs. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you if there are public bus or tour services that offer a Mt Glorious day trip.
Samford Village
Samford Village is a rural town east of Mt Glorious, sitting only a 20 minute drive from Maiala Park Lodge. This leafy township boasts character in the way of weekend markets, historic buildings, cosy cafes and great pubs. The location of Samford Village makes it the perfect stop for any day trips to Mt Glorious where you can gather supplies or even end your day at the Harry Potter store and inspired café.
Browse local boutiques and second hand stores, explore locals parks or even the Samford Museum, no matter what you’re interested in Samford Village will add some sparkle to your Mt Glorious day trip.
Harry Potter Store and Owlery Cafe
The Store Of Requirement is Australia’s largest store of officially licensed Harry Potter merchandise, from delicious butterscotch brew to picking out your own wand. This Harry Potter store in Brisbane will have any Harry Potter fan jumping out of their seat from excitement.
The Owlery Café is directly next door, and although not an officially licensed Harry Potter café – it certainly has the vibe of the wizarding world. Their multiple small building are decorated with owls of various types, witches hats and furniture straight out of Dumbledore’s office, and the toilets are also themed. If you love a bit of creativity I strongly suggest heading to the Owlery Café for a coffee.
Mount Nebo
Mount Nebo is one of Brisbane’s most peaceful and scenic escapes; a leafy mountain community tucked into the D’Aguilar Range, just 45 minutes from Brisbane city making it a perfect detour for a Mt Glorious day trip. Mt Nebo is known for its cool rainforest air, winding scenic drives, and lookouts with incredible views over the valley and out toward the Glass House Mountains.
Local and international visitors make the trip to Mount Nebo for its bushwalks, birdlife, and quiet picnic spots, with trails ranging from gentle forest strolls to longer hikes linking into Mt Glorious. Offering great cafes, boutique shopping outlets and calm atmosphere, Mt Nebo is the perfect place to relax and unwind during your Mt Glorious day trip before you head back into the city.
Northbrook Gorge Hike
If you’re looking for a great and challenging hike to ad to your Mt Glorious day trip, then look no further than Northbrook Gorge. This hike is suitable for people who are stable on their feet, have proper walking/hiking shoes and don’t mind getting a little bit wet. Northbrook Gorge is about as adventurous as we got when it came to hiking in Brisbane, we made it down the steep dirt path to the gorge where we had to rock hop along the river before coming to a cliff wall covered in spiders nest and logs covered in bull ants.
The gorge was a beautiful sight and offered incredible views of the natural landscapes, however I’m not a fan of insects so we turned around not long after coming across the wall of spiders.
D’Aguilar National Park
If you’re looking for some more great Mt Glorious hiking trails then D’Aguilar National Park is where you want to be check out. This National Park has remote gorges, subtropical rainforest, eucalypt woodland and spectacular views across to Brisbane CBD. Find yourself some great picnic spots, lookouts and great swimming locations. A Mt Glorious day trip isn’t used to its full potential if you haven’t added some sort of nature escape onto your itinerary and the D’Aguilar National Park is a great place to start.
Mt Glorious Wildlife Centers
A great Mt Glorious day trip can’t go without seeing some of the beautiful nature and wildlife that you wouldn’t otherwise find in Brisbane City. These Mt Glorious wildlife centers will introduce you to some of Australia’s native animals that you would be hard pressed finding in the wild (unless of course it is a kangaroo or a wallaby.) Great for family trips as what adult doesn’t enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitat?
Walkabout Creek Discovery Center
Walkabout Creek Discovery Center is a great way to escape the heat and get close to more native animals on your Mt Glorious road trip. This wildlife center in Mt Glorious offers great insight into nocturnal and water based animals in Australia, and have large outdoor enclosures with wombats, tree kangaroos and even a free roaming emu.
Walkabout Creek is a great family-friendly activity in Brisbane, the café deck allows great views above the enclosures if you wish to hold back in the shade with a cold drink while the rest of your family discover all the beautiful animals.
Hays Landing
Hays Landing is a great picnic location west of Mt Glorious, it’s a great location to stop on your Mt Glorious road trip if you’re looking for some animals in the wild, or if you happen to be travelling with a boat. Keep your eyes peeled in the long grass opposite the lake and you might just be able to spot mobs of kangaroos and wallabies; they are usually lounging about in the shade under the thick canopy of trees.
Lyell Deer Sanctuary
Lyell Deer Sanctuary is an animal shelter in Samford Valley, it is not a zoo or farm experience. Instead you can visit this animal sanctuary and see a small herd of deer, goats, cows and chickens thriving in a large outdoor environment. These deer have been rescued from the wild where they are considered a pest, and due to that a lot of wildlife and animal rescue organizations will not take these animals in if they are injured.
Lyell Deer Sanctuary allows you to interact with these animals peacefully, they have built this space hoping to create an area where humans and animals come together in peaceful curiosity, where children can foster a deep appreciation for nature and animals, while also inspiring conservation of natural environments.
Other Things to do in Mt Glorious
Mt Glorious is full of wonderful experiences but of course I haven’t indulged in them all. The following list of things to do on Mt Glorious are worth adding to you Mt Glorious day trip. . The following list of things to do in Mt Glorious are worth adding to your Mt Glorious travel guide. But be sure to do your own research as I am not lucky enough to share my own personal experiences! Check out my other posts for more day trips from Brisbane.
- Maiala Rainforest Circuit
- Cypress Grove Track
- Boombana National Park
- Phoenix Sculpture Garden
- Greenes Falls Trail
