Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World is located on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

With an interactive walk-through aviary, beautiful gardens, views of the Glass House Mountains and plenty of farm animals, this is a wonderful day out for the whole family.

The Birds

The highlight of Bird World is obviously the birds. More specifically, the walkthrough tour of the aviaries.

This tour lasts 50 minutes and you are led through five aviaries by an experienced birdkeeper. The birds in these aviaries are beautiful, multi-coloured tropical birds. You’ll see black and white cockatoos, sunset-coloured parakeets, bright green parrots and the spectacular tropical macaws.

You’ll really get up close and personal with these birds throughout the tour, with the birds landing on your head and shoulders whenever they like. Your tour guide will actively encourage interaction with the birds. With the help of nuts and seeds to entice them, they’ll make sure everyone gets a turn with a bird on their shoulder or head.

If you’re not a fan of birds and get anxious when they swoop around you, this may not be the tour for you. However, if you would like to experience the walkthrough tour without having the birds land on you, your tour guide will give you a coloured feather duster to carry around which lets the birds know to avoid you.

The walkthrough tour is fantastic fun, and our kids loved it. It provides plenty of laughs and entertainment. Younger children may be a little scared by the birds, so the feather duster could be the way to go for the more nervous children.

Be warned – you’ll be advised to remove all jewellery and hats before you go in, and you should heed this advice. The birds are partial to shiny things and will take your earrings. hair clips and hat buttons if they see them!

If you’d prefer not to do the aviary tour at all, you’ll find a birdkeeper with a couple of birds near to the gift shop where you can have a photo opportunity with one of the brightly coloured tropical birds once you have your entrance tickets.

If you prefer less interaction and enjoy just watching animals, Sea World Gold Coast could be the place for you. Read my full review here.

The Botanic Gardens

The botanic gardens themselves are delightful and extensive. With 23 acres of terraced gardens there’s plenty to explore here, so do allow yourself enough time to enjoy these.

There’s a rose garden, fairy garden, rock garden, waterfalls, oriental garden, fish ponds, rainforest and plenty of lawns. There are walking trails that meander through these gardens.

A picnic blanket would be a great idea, there are lots of lawn areas and rotundas that would make a perfect spot for a picnic.

The other marvellous part of the botanic gardens is the far-reaching views of the Hinterland and Glass House Mountains in the distance.

Buggy Hire

The gardens are extensive and hilly. If you want to explore these but have tired legs, you can rent golf buggys by the hour. This is a fun way to explore the gardens, especially with the kids.

Note: there is an extra charge to rent the buggys – $45 per hour for a 4 seater buggy.

Farm Animals

Maleny’s Bird World is also home to lots of farm animals. There’s a farm shed with rescue guinea pigs and rabbits. The kids will be able to enter the enclosure and sit and feed the guinea pigs and pat the rabbits.

Beyond this, there’s a large walkthrough enclosure full of your favourite farm animals including goats, sheep, chickens and even miniature donkeys. You can purchase food to feed the animals from the gift shop. Watch out for the goats – they can be particularly rambunctious if you have food!

If your kids really love animals, why not try being a Zookeeper for a Day just down the road at Australia Zoo – read more about that here.

Final Thoughts of Maleny’s Bird World

Maleny Bird World and Botanic Gardens is a great choice for family fun. The walkthrough aviary tour with its beautiful tropical birds is a must-do, and the gardens have so much to explore. Not to mention the stunning views of the Hinterland beyond and then there’s all the farm animals. It’s a great day out for the whole family.

Good To Know

Maleny Bird World and Botanic Gardens has an onsite gift shop and cafe selling takeaway food, drinks and picnic boxes.

There is plenty of onsite parking.

It’s also very pram-friendly.

The gardens are exposed and hilly so don’t forget your hat and water.

The only toilets onsite are at the top near the gift shop, so plan in advance to avoid getting caught out in the far reaches of the gardens!

Tickets

Ticket prices are:

• Gardens and farm animals only – $25 for adults, $15 for children
• Gardens, farm animals and aviary tour – $45 for adults, $30 for children
• Family day pass – $120 for 2 adults and 2 children
• Buggy hire – $45 per hour

On busy weekends or school holidays the tours do sell out. You’ll be best buying your tickets in advance online, and you will need to select timed entry for the aviary tour.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Getting There

Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World is located in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland area of Queensland, 5 minutes from the town of Maleny, and a 1.5 hour drive from Brisbane.

You’ll need a car to explore this area.

Where To Stay

Maleny and Montville are lovely country towns with a traditional feel and quaint shops and cafes. They are destinations in their own right and would make for great places to stay.

For accommodation options in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland have a look here.

Further Afield

There’s plenty more to explore on the Sunshine Coast.

What about Amaze World just down the road in Buderim. This is great fun for the kids – read my full review here.

Or for a day out on the beach plus more animal fun in the aquarium, what about spending a perfect day in Mooloolaba – read more about that here.