When you are day tripping through the Sunshine Coast hinterland, a stop at the Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World is one of the big attractions. But what can you expect there?
We spent some time looking around this place so have put together a quick guide and review of what to expect. We loved it, but we are into birds and botanic gardens. Read on to see if this should be on your to do list.
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Contents
What can I See & Do – in a Nutshell
There are actually three parts to the Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World. There are the sprawling and beautiful gardens, three large bird aviaries where birds will land on you if you want, and a fun, supervised petting zoo.
The whole place is set on the side of a hill which has amazing views south over the Glasshouse Mountains and beyond to Brisbane. So not only are the gardens lovely, but the backdrop is incredible too.
We saw plenty of families here. The petting zoo and birds were a big hit, but the kids were enjoying the gardens too. It is one huge, exciting backyard to explore!
Getting There
Maleny is in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. If you are based in Maroochydore or Alexandra Headlands, it is about a 45 minute drive.
If you are coming via the gallery and café town of Montville, it is about 20 minutes from there to Maleny and Montville is 30 minutes from Maroochydore.
Parking, Facilities & Cost
Quite a windy road leads down to one of several parking area. We were here during school holidays and had no trouble finding a park. There are four parking areas including one near the petting zoo.
At the main entrance there is a small souvenir shop and a café that serves snacks like toasted sandwiches, baguettes, cakes and cookies. On weekends and school holidays, hot food options like nuggets and chips are available. You can also grab a picnic box which is a nice idea if you want to find somewhere in the gardens to sit and relax.
There is an entry fee that gets you into the three areas.. As well as the usual adult and family tickets (2 + 2), there are also pensioner, student and concession prices.
Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World are open 7 days a week from 9.00 to 4.30.
Is there much Walking?
If you want to get around and see all the gardens, you will be getting a few steps in. The paths are all nice and smooth, but there is a bit of a slope as the botanic gardens are set on a hillside. If walking is an issue, there is a solution.
There are little golf buggies for hire if you want to save your legs or if you are getting around with young children who run out of puff.
There are 4 and 6 seat buggies. They cannot be pre-booked and are available to hire by the hour. And if you are cruising around in one of them, 60 minutes would be long enough to take in the views.
Botanic Garden Highlights
The gardens are a magic place to explore. There are little lakes, sculptures and hidden surprises around every corner. Some of our favourite spots included the Oriental Garden, waterfall, the lookout and Rose Garden (even though it wasn’t flowering).
Highlights for families will include the boat lake and the fairy house. The giant chair and tree house which are located near the start of the walk were cool. Also keep an eye out for fish and turtles in the ponds. There are plenty of birds and butterflies flitting around the place too.
We found it a very relaxing place to walk around. From little water features to bridges and tropical plants, it was a lot of fun looking through the different areas. And the views of the Glasshouse Mountains never get old.
Bird World Highlights
If you are someone that curls into a trembling ball of fear at the thought of large, colourful birds landing on your head, you might not like the idea of these interactive aviaries.
But if you want to get up close and personal to these stunning creatures, Bird World is a lot of fun. We love birds so didn’t hesitate to go on the 50 minute tour which is included in the cost of admission. There is no age minimum for the aviaries, prams are allowed and you can take all the photos you want.
It wasn’t long before we had some beautiful parrots perched on top of us. Sure, their claws can be a bit sharp (wearing a hat is a good idea) and their squawks can be ear piercing, but it is still a thrilling encounter, we loved it. Bird World was a highlight of our time here.
The guides will keep you both safe and informed about the range of birds they look after – most of which are rescues and pet donations. And if you want to see the birds without getting landed on, they will give you a bird deterrent (in the form of a feather duster of all things) so you can enjoy them from a distance.
If you want a slightly less intense bird meeting, look for the Feathered Friends area near the park entrance where some friendly birds are available for perching and pictures.
Petting Zoo Highlights
We are a couple of middle aged adults travelling without kids, but we still had a quick look through the petting zoo. It was full of miniature farm animals including mini donkeys, baby-doll sheep, miniature pigs, heaps of chooks, mini goats, bunnies and guinea pigs. Cuteness overload!
There is food available and yes, the animals will come over to see if you have anything for them. We had a lot more fun here than a couple of grown ups probably should, you can only imagine how much the kids will enjoy it. Have some storage left on your phone because you will be taking lots of adorable pictures.
Final thoughts…
We had a great time at the Maleny Botanic Garden and Bird World (and petting zoo). Whether you are family travellers, nature lovers or gardening enthusiasts, it is hard not to enjoy this place.
We spent just under 3 hours here and really enjoyed mixing up our beach and rainforest holiday with something a bit different. Taking in the views and gardens was relaxing and the birds and petting zoo were great fun.
Having buggies for hire is a good option to make the place accessible too. Combine your visit here with a stop at Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve, Kondalilla National Park, and maybe a stop at Montville for lunch and you have a fun day trip from Maroochydore.
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