Maleny: Rainforest, Culture and Cheese Tasting

Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is a specific natural highlight of a stay in Maleny: it covers 55 hectares of subtropical rainforest and offers views of the Glass House Mountains National Landscape. The trails in and around Maleny vary in length, format and theme—a useful guide when planning your outings.

Rainforest and Trails

The two trails at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve are loop walks, but differ in length. The Mary Cairncross: Interpretive Boardwalk is 0.2 kilometres long and suitable for walkers, strollers and wheelchairs. The Mary Cairncross: Rainforest Walk is a 1.7-kilometre loop. When planning, the boardwalk's stated accessibility is therefore just as relevant as the distance.

The Maleny Northern Wetlands Trail offers a different type of route: it is an easy, 2.0-kilometre one-way trail through a wetland. You can watch birds and hear frog calls there; sightings and sounds are not guaranteed. Unlike the two loop walks at Mary Cairncross, its one-way route is an important difference to consider when planning your walk.

Gardners Falls Park and Riparian Reserve is at the end of Obi Lane South in Maleny. A 300-metre trail leads to a popular waterhole, rock pools and natural rainforest. The Maleny Trail also follows Obi Obi Creek from the town centre, past the golf course, to the loop at Reynolds Crossing. The trail as far as the Reynolds Crossing area is suitable for walkers and recreational cyclists.

Also on Obi Obi Creek is the Peace in the Trees Sculpture Walk, also known as the Maleny Town Trail. It features numerous works by local artists along the route.

Local History and Events

The Maleny Cultural & Historical Society is based at Maleny Historical Village. It collects, restores, preserves and displays memorabilia that illustrates past ways of life in the Maleny district. This offers insight into local history through specific objects and their significance in everyday life in earlier times.

Tours at Maleny Historical Village are held on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, or by appointment. As times may change, check the details before your visit. If you plan to take a tour outside these hours, you can request an appointment.

The Maleny Music Festival takes place every November at the Maleny Showgrounds. Dates and the programme may change. If the festival is a key reason for your trip, check the specific dates and programme before planning around it.

Cheesemaking and Tasting

On Maleny Cheese's yoghurt and cheese tasting tour, you learn about cheesemaking from farm to flavour and can sample a range of products. The guided tasting includes artisan cheddars, bries and fetas, as well as seasonal buffalo cheeses. The tour combines knowledge of the production process with tasting.

The cheese selection and booking details may change. If the tasting is a set part of your travel plans, check both in advance. For other activities in Maleny, too, specific details about trail length, route type or tour times can help you plan activities to suit your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Cooroy, Caloundra, Mapleton, Buderim, Marcus Beach, Flaxton, Glass House Mountains, Curramore.

For the broader travel overview: Sunshine Coast.