Mount Ninderry

I love hiking and climbing but I also don’t love leaving my dog behind which is necessary if you head into a National Park. This is why I love the short trip up Mt Ninderry!

Mt Ninderry is the wave-shaped mountain located between Coolum and Yandina, and is probably one of the Sunshine Coast’s most underrated hikes. The best bit is, this one is pup-friendly and not very crowded.

It’s a relatively easy hike – if you remember that this is a mountain and you will have to go UP for the first half. I find myself slowing down on the steeper sections.

The mountain itself is 304-metres high and the walk you will take is 1.4km one-way.

The carpark here is quite small so you might have to park in the residential street below.

From the carpark, you start walking up and down through the bush before reaching a steeper, rocky section that goes up toward the mountain top. Some sections are covered in loose gravel that can be a little slippery, so make sure to wear shoes with good grip – especially if you have an excited 4-legged friend pulling you along.

Meandering switchbacks take you up through the bush and rocky terrain to the summit with ocean views peeping through the trees on the way up.

Once you reach the summit, the ground is quite flat and enjoyable to stroll around. There is plenty of shade at the top here too – a big contrast to Mt Coolum.

At the top, two well-constructed viewing platforms on either side of the mountain allow you to take in panoramic views of both the coastline and Mount Coolum to the east, and Yandina and the Blackall Range to the west.

You will also find big rocks along the edges of the summit that make a great backdrop for photos.

It takes me about half an hour to reach the top of this mountain and less to come down, but I always make time to stop at the top and soak in the views.

Just a note - your pup will need to be on a leash for this trip and pack some doggy bags and water for everyone.