This week we are going to Maleny and hiking around two very unique areas in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.  We visit a large protected rainforest area which is full of wildlife (including snakes) and some endangered species as well as the cute little pademelons you can easily see jumping around the rainforest undergrowth. Oh pademelons are little wallabies by the way. Next we go walking around a 110 acre tropical paradise garden and bird sanctuary.  This area used to be a cattle farm and is now completely transformed to be one of, if not the most beautiful places on the Sunshine Coast. This is the where you can see the best views of the iconic Glass House Mountains (which are actually 13 unusually shaped ancient volcanic vents that dominate the landscape) There are tropical gardens, ponds and lakes, waterfalls, oriental gardens, rotundas dotted everywhere, plus so much more.  It is truly beautiful.  The bird sanctuary was started to house rescue birds and there are four walk-through aviaries where you can have an interactive experience with the birds from all over the world. There is even one parrot that sings opera and Old Macdonald had a farm. Stay listening to the end though, where I literally scream and escape over the fence from the miniature animals in the farm enclosure and then while I have a chat   -  up close and personal with a red-tailed black cockatoo. Advanced warning though– he is very vocal. We tell you about Maleny, the pretty little town that you can visit just a few kilometres away from these stunning places and the best accommodation and venues to eat while you are visiting. This episode is so full of nature, beauty and wildlife with the background chorus from the rainforest, birds and insects. If you would like to see the pictures I took while visiting this stunning area – then click here www.beachtravelwine.com/podcast/90/maleny