Sunrise at Mt Cordeaux

The 180-degree panoramic view from Mt Cordeaux’s peak is well worth the early start. Sitting at 1, 135m above sea level and offering wide scraping views over Mt Barney, Moogerah peaks, and Mistake Mountains, the 6.8km track is easily accessible from Brisbane. Here’s what you need to know:

GETTING THERE

From Brisbane, take the Cunningham Highway towards Cunningham’s Gap. The 116km journey should take about 90 minutes. At the top of the Cunningham’s Gap, you’ll find the car park just adjacent to the highway.

WHEN TO LEAVE

Winter is arguably the best season for sunrise starts. As Mt Cordeaux is a 90-minute drive from Brisbane, you will probably want the extra sleep. I aim to arrive at least 15 to 30 minutes prior to sunrise to set up when shooting, for us this meant aiming to arrive by 6:15 am for a 6:30 am sunrise. Our itinerary looked like this:

3 am – wake
3:15 am – drive from Brisbane
4:45 am – arrive to Mt Cordeaux base
5 am – start walking
6 to 6:15 am – arrive at summit

THE TRACK

The “moderately” graded track is well signed along the way and a gradual ascent up the mountain. We had to climb around fallen trees on the path so keep that in mind. Make sure to spot the uniquely Australian native “Grass Tree” plants along the track and at the peak, which can be found up to 600 years old! Take a breather at the mini lookout about 3/4 way up the mountain for a taste of more beauty to come. At a brisk pace, the track took about an hour for us to hike. For slower walkers or walking at a more leisurely pace, I’d recommend giving 1.5 to 2 hours walking time. Take your time on the way down and soak in all of the greenery that couldn’t be seen before without the golden hour sunshine – it will feel like an entirely new track. The early morning will bring with it an abundance of morning glow and lively fauna.

WHAT TO BRING

  • Headlamp or torch
  • Backpack
  • Tripod (always an essential for low light landscape photography, I use a super budget lightweight one from Officeworks)
  • Camera (I shoot with a Fuji XT-20 and usually the kit 18-55mm lens)
  • Water
  • Snacks…always have snacks 😉
  • Warmth layer (fleece or light weight down jacket)
  • Thermos (a hot brew atop a mountain never goes astray)
  • Good pair of trainers or hiking boots (I love my Scarpa Terra GTX’s)
  • The neighbouring Mt Mitchell. 18mm, f2.8, 1/60.

Good luck on this local adventure! Let me know how you go and leave a comment below!

Jess xo