Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve comprises 55 hectares of subtropical rainforest overlooking the Glass House Mountains landscape. A remnant of the rainforests that once covered the Blackall Range, the reserve is a living museum of diverse plant and animal life which will delight with its tranquility and beauty.
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Conspicuous ground-dweller Noisy pitta
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Endangered beauty Richmond birdwing butterfly
Bugs in the system
Invertebrates
An abundance of invertebrates inhabit the undergrowth in our forest: ants, butterflies, wasps, bees, spiders, centipedes and even crustaceans. Invertebrates are thought to make up 97% of all animals on earth. They are crucial workers in the ecosystem as pollinators, garbage collectors and food sources. Many species remain to be identified, here we have profiled a few known to live in the reserve.
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Vulnerable colour-changer Cascade tree frog
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Have you seen this species? Purple shelf fungi
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A wallaby with status Red-legged Pademelon
Visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring the multi-sensory, interactive educational displays
Visiting as a school group? Visiting as a tour group? click here .
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Geological history
Learn about the ancient and changing landscape and how the Glass House Mountains were formed
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European history
Learn about early settlement, timber extraction and the families and individuals who protected the forest for future generations
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Traditional Owners
Learn more about Jinibara people - their history, culture and future
Become a nature agent these school holidays with Agents of Discovery, an award-winning app. This free digital game gets kids outdoors, exploring our spectacular conservation areas whilst learning about the creatures who live in them. A cute koala guide shows players where to find hidden challenges, unlocked in the game by simply walking in the forest. Choose from two missions: Bushland Discovery 2.0 in Tanawha or Rainforest Discovery at Mary Cairncross. Suitable for 4 - 12yrs. Download the free Agents of Discovery app from google play or app store and load the Sunshine Coast missions onto your smart device. Mobile phone coverage can be limited in the forest, so make sure you get your device loaded and ready before heading out. The app requires min. 2GB of RAM, standard on devices 2017. Solve all the challenges and become an Agent of Discovery!
Have you ever found a bug and wished you even knew where to start to identify it? Or is there an amateur entomologist inside you just waiting for the right opportunity to learn? In this fun, interactive presentation you'll work with some unique Australian insects to learn how the incredibly diverse group 'insect' fits into the animal kingdom and how they differ from other arthropods such as arachnids and myriapods. Join entomologist Michelle Gleeson aka "The Bug Lady" for a fascinating exploration of different insect characteristics, behaviors and reproductive strategies. You'll even learn how to use a dichotomous key to classify a variety of insect specimens into various orders, so next time you find a strange bug, you'll know how to ID it! (Note: this workshop is designed for adults but may be suitable for older children accompanied by a parent).
Find out about new opening hours and COVID-19 restrictions in place from June 12, 2020.