Nina Karnikowski's guide to the Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Discover a different side of Queensland.Credit: Nina Karnikowski

Despite exploring the world for a living, Nina Karnikowski was surprised by what is on offer in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

"All the very best things – beautiful connection to nature, cute towns, amazing food," she says. "My accommodation was surrounded by lush rainforest and within easy reach of beautiful small hinterland towns. It almost feels like a village in the Swiss Alps, which was interesting, and not something you think about when you think about the Sunshine Coast."

From her hometown of Byron Bay, Nina hit the road to discover a different side of Queensland. Here's her guide to a perfect weekend in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Check into Narrows Escape in Montville, Sunshine Coast Hinterland

It's those small-but-meaningful touches that stay with you long after your journey ends that make a getaway so much more special. Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat are masters at it.

"There's a river weaving through the property and hot tubs on the deck so you can sit and watch the birds in the trees. There's something like more than 300 species of birds there. I don't think I've ever experienced something quite like it – shrouded in nature in that part of the world," she says.

Enjoy being one with nature.Credit: Nina Karnikowski

Best of all, Narrows Escape offers packages to wrap up a variety of stays and experiences into the one wholesome getaway.

"They have fireplaces, and give you a little martini kit and cheese board and all those special touches for a very romantic stay. And the beautiful owners bring freshly baked croissants to your door in the morning."

A match made in heaven, Narrows Escape takes sustainability seriously, with practises in place to lessen their carbon footprint – a cause close to Nina's heart as a sustainable travel advocate. Here, produce is locally sourced with an emphasis on regional and seasonal.

Enjoy a private degustation

Dinner onsite was a culinary experience that can be summed up in a single word – "magic".

"Chef Alan Dawes focusses entirely on local Sunshine Coast produce. On his menu, he has a hand drawn map to show where everything is from," she says. "He cooked us an amazing vegan degustation and I've never had plant-based food quite like it. He really created magic."

Dawes plated up dishes like beetroot tartare wrapped in diakon with wasabi butter milk, and confit cauliflower with corn mustard and macadamia. (Carnivores, fear not – he also does meat-focused menus).

"He can either cook for you right on the deck of your room, or you can do what we did, and go out onto a deck overlooking the rainforest. It's a full restaurant experience but at your own private stay," says Nina.

Savour a world-class dining experience.Credit: Nina Karnikowski

Head off on a guided hike for two

Sometimes to truly appreciate where you find your feet, it takes a local's touch. Chris Baleen from Outdoor Adventure Australia offers guided hikes along the Sunshine Coast Great Walk – stretching 58 kilometres across three national parks.

"You pass through subtropical rainforest, then there's eucalypt as far as the eye can see," she says. "We stopped for snacks by a river and had a picnic overlooking this incredible lookout that takes in soaring views of the National Park."

Chris was an invaluable guide. "He was so knowledgeable, talking about the connection between trees and how they communicate with their root system, and about Indigenous land management, showing us all the plants that you can use to pack wounds and clean your teeth. That was a very special experience."

Take an adventure through the forest with local guides.Credit: Nina Karnikowski

Have a dinner you won't forget at Long Apron restaurant

For another unforgettable culinary encounter, Nina dined at Long Apron restaurant in nearby Montville, a quaint village perched atop the Blackall Range. It's a chef-hatted dining experience with a French-inspired menu set in lush gardens.

"You get picked up from where you're saying and then they take you back. So, if you wanted to enjoy the five courses with five matching glasses of wine, that would be a pretty fun way to spend the night," she laughs.

Some stand outs from the menu? You can't go wrong with the scallop, served raw with orange, shisho, raddicho and roe; or the wagyu rump cap with truffle and chive pomme purée, mountain top mushrooms, stout mustard, shallots and bordelaise sauce.

End your stay with an in-villa massage

Nina's stay was complete with an in-room massage at Narrows Escape – after a soak in the hot tub, of course.

"It was a real treat," she says. "It was just the perfect way to loosen up those tired muscles and you could hear the birds and the rainforest while your body relaxes all over."

Experiencing a different side of the Sunshine Coast is something Nina will fondly remember

"It was a really nourishing experience – you're wrapped up in nature, you've got all this beautiful food and you leave feeling completely renewed."

Scratch beneath the surface and you'll find something unexpected in Queensland. For more inspiration, visit Queensland.com.