The picturesque Sunshine Coast region of Queensland draws visitors with its varied and unforgettable experiences. Here you can admire mountain panoramas and pastoral scenery, walk through untouched forest, discover a wide variety of tropical plant life, hear the unusual calls of tropical birds, visit charming villages and their art galleries, and sample local exotic delicacies and fragrant wines.

On this two-day tour of the Sunshine Coast with a English guide, you'll visit 4 National Parks on a scenic loop route that passes through forested foothills with unusual cone-shaped mountains and along the ocean coastline with golden beaches.

Day 1

As you travel through the Blackall Range, past nature reserves, fertile valleys and charming towns, the following program has been prepared for you:

• visit one of Queensland's most famous parks, the "Glass House Mountains," named by Captain Cook. The isolated, cone-shaped volcanic peaks reminded the famous navigator of glass-smelting furnaces back in England 
• experience the historic charm of the villages of Maleny, Montville and Eumundi, showcasing excellent local arts and crafts
• take an informative walk through Kondalilla National Park, where you'll see an impressive waterfall, palm groves, ancient bunya pines dating back to the Jurassic period, remarkable grass trees, a wide variety of dry and wet eucalypt forest, hear the striking calls of tropical birds, and watch for goannas and rock wallabies
• visit local factories producing ginger and macadamia nut delicacies
• overnight stay in the resort town of Noosa

Unlike its busy, bustling neighbour the Gold Coast, this spot can be called an oasis of calm: low-rise, cosy architecture, lush tropical vegetation, spacious sandy beaches along the bay, and the calm waters of the river's vast estuary.

Day 2

In the first half of the day you'll get to know the unique Noosa region and its national park. 

Your choice:

• A guided walk (8 km) with a professional ecologist through the Noosa Biosphere Reserve, where you can watch for rare birds, huge pythons and unusual animals such as echidnas, platypuses, koalas and wallabies - 6 hours (extra charge $165.00 per person);

OR

• A walk (90 minutes) through Noosa National Park with a scenic cruise along the mirror-still river and its many channels.

 In the second half of the day, return to Brisbane or the Gold Coast along a scenic coastal road, with stops at the seaside resort towns of Coolum and Mooloolaba.

If you wish, you can also visit the famous zoo of Australian naturalist Steve Irwin, or an oceanarium with an enormous collection of Australia's underwater life.

If you'd prefer not to stay overnight in Noosa, you can return the same day to your hotel in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast.

The tour price does not include entrance tickets, lunches and dinner, or accommodation