Secret town that has some of the best accommodation in the country, according to Trivago

IT’S A TINY town that few outsiders have heard of — and yet it’s been named the destination that Australians are loving the most.

Leah McLennan

@LeahMcLennan

2 min read

November 12, 2015 - 10:42AM

View of house 'Clovelly', 38-68 Balmoral road, Montville, Queensland.

IT’S A TINY town that few outside of Queensland have heard of — and yet it’s been named the destination with the best online reputation for accommodation in Australia.

Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, a charming historic town located 90km north of Brisbane, topped the list with its accommodation providers rated at an average of 88.78, according to hotel search site Trivago’s 2015 reputation ranking.

The ranking is based on averages of user ratings and reviews compiled from more than 250 booking sites. Destinations must have more than 1000 ratings and more than 12 accommodation providers.

Tourists love wandering around Montville. (Picture: Tourism Queensland)

Montville is Maleny’s sister town, and the more shopping orientated of the two, according to Sunshine Coast Hinterland Tourism. The town has stores offering everything from Indian fabrics to cuckoo clocks. It’s also a place where local designers offer their unique clothing designs.

Comments on review websites posted by visitors to the town are extremely positive. They describe Montville’s accommodation offering with words such as “secluded and romantic”, “outstanding service” and “fair price”.

A number of travellers have also commented on Montville hotels having amazing breakfasts.

One property frequently mentioned is Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, an upscale hotel about 4km from central Montville. One user of Tripadvisor writes that they “had a wonderful time as per usual”.

“My husband and I have been going to the Narrows yearly for over 10 years now for a four night stay with a group of friends,” writes ‘Panda 882001’ from Brisbane.

“We always find the time at Narrows to be a highlight of our year. The cabins are luxurious and we could not want for anything while we are there. The basket on arrival is filled with yummy local produce and is well and truly generous for the length of your stay.”

Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat looks good.

The Long Apron at Spicer's Clovelly in Montville.

Located on the range overlooking the Sunshine Coast, Montville was predominantly a logging and then farming community, becoming known as a popular tourist metropolis in the early 1900s. But these days it’s all about tourism and shopping.

In second place on the list of the top Aussie destinations for accommodation was Stanley in Tasmania with an 88.36 rating, followed by Rothbury in NSW’s Hunter Valley.