Hello Sunshine!

A recent weekend away started with a quick drive to Newcastle airport followed by a mid morning ‘holiday’ beer at the bar before a short flight to Brisvegas. We were then on our way for the short drive to the Sunshine Coast hinterland paradise that is Maleny and Montville for the weekend.

If the romance is a bit stressed at the moment or you just want to take your better half for a well-deserved weekend away, then you will be hard pressed to find a lovelier location than these two neighbouring towns.

Maleny is located just north of Brisbane in the hinterland behind the Sunshine Coast high up on the southern edge of the Blackall Range with dramatic views across to the Coast and to the Glass House Mountains.

In the 1980s the place attracted sculptors, painters, craftspeople and potters who provided the local galleries with their works. Soon cafes, coffee lounges and restaurants complemented the galleries and craft shops. It’s been booming ever since.

It’s a little bit hippy but don’t let that put you off.

Today the town is permanently busy on weekends with day-trippers and the reasons are simple. This is beautiful part of the world with plenty to see, eat and do. There’s an abundance of boutique accommodation and chic eateries. The views are sensational with the mountains and valleys to the west and the broad coastal plain and Pacific Ocean to the east. The area is dotted with gracious gardens and small national parks of rainforest, many with dramatic and beautiful waterfalls.

Just as beautiful, nearby Montville, first settled in 1887, has grown into a thriving village with a wonderful array of quality art galleries, stylish cafes and restaurants, gift shops and beautiful fashion stores set in the picturesque surroundings of a shady tree-lined street with more incredible views all the way down to the coast.

Some might say Montville is the creative soul of the region.

History and architecture buffs will marvel at the fine buildings which run along and around Main Street, Montville and across the range. Lovers of nature will be at home among the parks & gardens, walking the rolling hills, exploring the lake, national parks, rainforests and waterfalls.

Both of these terrific little towns will take your breath away and resolve any anger management issues you may be experiencing. As the old ad for Queensland used to say…Beautiful one day. Perfect the next. Not a truer word have I ever heard.

Strap your backside into a plane seat and get up there for a weekend.