Maleny Botanic Gardens, QLD: Why visit the Sunshine Coast bird aviary?
If you’re on a trip around the Sunshine Coast hinterland, a tour of the Bird World aviary at Maleny Botanic Gardens in Maleny is an enjoyable way to spend an hour or so. But whether this Sunshine Coast bird aviary is a must-see very much depends on personal tastes.
Maleny and Montville are generally regarded as the two best places to stay in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Montville is more obviously pretty, with fudge shops, cafés and the Kondalilla National Park on the doorstep. Maleny is bigger, though, and arguably has more to offer – including Gardners Falls on Obi Obi Creek and the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve.
Book your aviary tour here.
Maleny Botanic Gardens is another attraction weighing in Maleny’s favour. Queensland rainforest surrounds this privately owned garden, set on a 110 acre property.
Maleny Botanic Gardens walks
There are more than six kilometres of walking paths through Maleny Botanic Gardens, which sits high on an escarpment. The gardens are layered and terraced, with lakes and waterfalls filling the gaps.
The views at Maleny Botanic Gardens help, too – the Glass House Mountains form the backdrop.
12 fantastic Sunshine Coast experiences to book now
- Taste coffee and ginger, do rainforest walks, and visit the best lookouts on a highlight-packed hinterland tour.
- Take a serene Noosa Everglades cruise along the mirror-like waterways – or canoe through the Everglades.
- Learn to surf at a Sunshine Coast surf school – or try paddleboarding instead.
- Combine sight-seeing and thrills on a fast boat tour.
- Go e-mountain biking on the downhill trails of Tewantin National Park.
- Kayak with dolphins as part of a beach 4WD tour.
- Explore the Sunshine Coast from above on a seaplane flight.
- Take an indigenous cultural tour – with bush tucker tasting.
- Visit the region’s best craft breweries and distilleries on a drinks tasting tour.
- Go jetskiing through the gorgeous Pumicestone Passage.
- Taste wines, cheeses and chocolates on a hinterland food tour.
- Watch migrating humpbacks on a whale-watching cruise.
Maleny Botanic Gardens: Sunshine Coast bird aviary
But for many visitors, the highlight of the Maleny Botanic Gardens is the on-site aviary. Bird World opened in 2013 and is home to four separate aviary sections. These contain more than 700 birds, some of which are native, others of which are exotic birds from around the world.
Bird World at the Maleny Botanic Gardens can only be visited as part of a guided tour. But once in there, you can get close to the birds and have your photos taken with them. Several tours of Bird World depart every day.
Sunshine Coast hinterland attractions
How high up your list of Sunshine Coast attractions you put this is very much dependent on taste. Bird World at Maleny Botanic Gardens is enjoyable but not unmissably stellar. And there’s plenty more competing for attention with this Sunshine Coast bird park.
Hinterland alternatives include Booloumba Creek in the Conondale National Park, walking around Mount Tibrogargan, swimming in Buderim Falls or hunting for treasure at the Yandina flea markets in Yandina.
Entry to Maleny Botanic Gardens costs $17 for the gardens only, or $37 for the gardens plus aviary tour. You can easily combine this with a Maleny Dairies tour.
Top Maleny accommodation choices
The best places to stay in Maleny are:
- For luxurious pampering surrounded by rainforest: Spicers Tamarind Retreat and Spa.
- For rooms at a classic Aussie pub: Maleny Hotel.
- For charm and mountain views: Maleny Terrace Cottages.
More Queensland travel
Explore the Cape Upstart National Park on the Bowen to Townsville drive.
Sleep underwater at Lady Musgrave HQ near Bundaberg.
Is it worth taking the Nambour to Brisbane train?
Take a submarine tour in Mooloolaba.
Go on a Queensland outback tour to Roma, Longreach and Winton.