Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve

A great free activity for little ones, with rainforest walks, a playground, interactive displays and plenty of space to stop for a picnic.

📍 148 Mountain View Rd, Maleny
🗓️ Rainforest Walks: Daily 7am – 6pm | Discovery Centre: Daily 9:30am – 3:30pm
💲Rainforest Walks Free | Discovery Centre Gold Coin Donation

👍🏻 Toilets
👍🏻 Shade
👍🏻 Parking
👍🏻 Grassy Area
👍🏻 Tables + Chairs
👍🏻 Bites
👍🏻 Sips
👍🏻 BBQ’s
👍🏻 Pram Friendly – path can be rocky at times
❌ Suitable for wheels/scooters
❌ Dog Friendly
❌ Fenced

One of the highlights for us was borrowing one of the free forest experience kits before heading into the rainforest. It gave the kids things to look out for along the way and kept them engaged as we explored, so we’d definitely recommend asking about the kits at the Discovery Centre before your walk.

The Rainforest Discovery Centre itself is worth allowing time for too. It’s filled with interactive, multi sensory displays designed to help kids learn more about the rainforest and the plants and animals that call it home. Our kids especially loved the cosy reading area and projected microscope, and the volunteers were incredibly welcoming and happy to share their knowledge.

Outside you’ll find a playground suitable for children aged 12 and under, a large open lawn, picnic shelters and free BBQs, so it’s easy to pack some food and make a few hours of your visit. Mountain View Cafe is also right there if you’d prefer to grab something to eat or drink, with beautiful views across to the Glass House Mountains.

The rainforest itself is a sensitive natural environment, so make sure little ones stay on the designated tracks while exploring. The main rainforest tracks have gravel, exposed roots, rocks and some steps, so we wouldn’t recommend taking scooters or bikes. If you do have a pram, the Glider Gallery Boardwalk and Butterfly Walk are the better options to explore.

We’d also recommend packing insect repellent, particularly after wet weather, and checking the What’s On section before visiting as there are exhibitions, workshops and other activities held throughout the year.

We visited December 2024. While we do our best to keep our listings up to date, information can change. We recommend checking the business’s website or social media before visiting.