There was a light smattering of rain as I drove into the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve car park. The region had been hit by storms only a few days before and the lingering showers provided much-needed relief to summer’s humidity.
The added bonus, of course, is the cooler environment the towering canopy of trees provides, and as we walked towards the 1.7-kilometre rainforest loop, the earthy scent of wet leaves filled the air.
Our feet crunched along the gravel path, the sound softened by the fallen foliage.
“It smells different. Nicer,” remarked my inquisitive five-year-old. He was right. There is nothing quite like that unmistakable rainforest scent – the one that clears the mind and refreshes your body.
As we made our way along the path, the kids excitedly searched for fairies in their natural habitat. And although we didn’t find any magical creatures, we were lucky enough to see and hear a number of eastern whipbirds. We also spotted pademelon wallabies and the unmistakable Aussie favourite, the bush turkey, strutting across the path as if he owned the place.
It’s no surprise they call this place one of the Sunshine Coast’s ecological treasures. Within its 55 hectares of subtropical rainforest, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve houses a remarkable diversity of life – 391 plant species, including seven listed as rare, vulnerable or near-threatened; 141 bird species and 68 species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians, eight of which are also considered near-threatened or threatened.
Scientists are still counting the invertebrates and fungi that make the forest their home.
Interestingly, many of the animals and plants that live in this region are found only between southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales. This stretch of the Blackall Range, with its meeting point of climates, has created a unique pocket of biodiversity.
It’s also fragile: more than 88 per cent of subtropical lowland rainforest has been cleared since European settlement, which makes this protected reserve so vital. While some species that once lived here, such as the long-nosed potoroo and rufous bettong, have disappeared locally, conservation efforts continue to ensure the remaining habitat flourishes.
Fortunately, Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is well protected. Sunshine Coast Council and the volunteer group Friends of Mary Cairncross work together to monitor threats and preserve this haven for future generations.
If shorter walks are more suited to your needs, the reserve features two other options – the Pademelon and Piccabeen loops. Along all three tracks, wooden viewing platforms give visitors the chance to pause and take in the sights. The Strangler Fig lookout shows off one of the forest’s more dramatic features – this species of tree can grow to a towering 45 metres in height and up to three metres wide. Meanwhile, the Fryer Creek platform gives walkers the chance to spot freshwater crayfish in the shallows below.
A visit to Mary Cairncross isn’t complete without a stroll along the 130-metre Butterfly Walk. The path (which is accessible friendly) opens up to a viewing deck and features information panels about the Richmond Birdwing butterfly’s lifecycle.
While these walks are the reserve’s main attractions, the Rainforest Discovery Centre is at its centre – plonked between the rainforest entry point and the adjoining boardwalk. Opened in 2017, it provides education about the area’s ecology and history. Inside, interactive displays tell the story of how this landscape was formed and how its fragile ecosystems are sustained.
The centre itself is staffed by a team of volunteers who share their knowledge with the steady stream of visitors. Their work, along with that of the association, is a testament to community spirit and the legacy of the reserve.
It is a legacy that stretches back more than 80 years. In 1941, 40 hectares of land were transferred to the former Landsborough Shire Council under a deed of trust. The land was gifted by three sisters – Elizabeth (Bessie), Mabel and Mary Thynne – and the reserve was named in honour of their mother, Mary (nee Cairncross). Their father, Andrew Joseph Thynne, had purchased the property in 1902 as an investment, never imagining it would one day become one of the Coast’s most beloved green spaces.
Turning that “patch of scrub” into a community asset took decades of work. From 1959, members of the Rotary Club of Maleny dedicated countless volunteer hours to transform the site. They carved walking tracks, built bridges, removed weeds and rubbish, erected signs and picnic facilities and catalogued plant species.
In 1960, the reserve was officially opened by the Governor of Queensland, Sir Henry Abel Smith, with donor Bessie Thynne in attendance.
Bessie’s generosity continued: in 1966, she donated another two hectares of land adjoining her home. Sunshine Coast Council has since secured more land to expand the site.
Of course, the connection to this land reaches back far beyond European settlement. In 2012, the Jinibara People were recognised by the Federal Court as the traditional owners of the Blackall, D’Aguilar and Conondale Ranges – an area that includes the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve. The Jinibara are the mountain, rainforest and freshwater people whose cultural heritage and spiritual connection to Country continue today.
After all that exploring and learning, we rewarded ourselves with a stop at the on-site Mountain View Café. Breakfast is served until 11 am, followed by lunch. The cabinet is filled with tempting sweet treats.
The kids devoured their cakes and then we stopped by the playground, which overlooks a grassy space popular with families for picnics and gatherings.
As the rain began to fall and we coaxed the little ones from their natural playground, our conversation turned to the importance of preserving special places like this.
In 2023, Sunshine Coast Council endorsed the Sunshine Coast Ecological Park Master Plan to protect a further 65 hectares of land adjoining the reserve. The long-term plan aims to restore natural ecosystems, educate and create what has been described as a “living laboratory” for environmental research and cultural storytelling.
Needless to say, it appears our cultural and environmental heritage is in the safe hands of the community. Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve is a living, breathing testament to that.