Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat in Montville, Queensland

Yes, many people come to this region for its beaches – hello Noosa, Caloundra and Mooloolaba – but there’s an extra measure of tranquillity to be found in the subtropical rainforest that carpets the Blackall Range.

Narrows Escape rainforest retreat, Montville, Queensland

While we are sleeping, cocooned deep in our bed on an unseasonably cool morning, our host Ali Khan is busy rolling, folding, shaping and baking a neat batch of croissants. First light has barely pierced the thick rainforest canopy when the pastries he started preparing last night are ready to move from oven to pretty pull-string cloth bags, like miniature Santa sacks. Then he starts his delivery, tiptoeing around the resort, hanging the gifts on a hook outside each cabin so as not to wake the occupants, even though the waft of buttery goodness will soon lure them out. “I’ll give you the recipe, it’s easy,’’ he laughs later, knowing full well that the thought of making croissants strikes fear into most home cooks.

Ali does this each morning because he loves this hospitality gig, welcoming guests to his slice of paradise in the Sunshine Coast hinterland and watching them leave revived, possibly transformed. Yes, many people come to this region for its beaches – hello Noosa, Caloundra and Mooloolaba – but there’s an extra measure of tranquillity to be found in the subtropical rainforest that carpets the Blackall Range.

Inside the accommodation.

Ali and his wife Xochi Lindholm bought the resort – six spa cabins for couples on the edge of Kondalilla National Park – in 2019, and set about building two new villas with heated private plunge pools on the decks. They also launched guided multi-day hikes, part of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk, where guests can walk all day and return at night for more adventures of the culinary kind: fine dining at the French-inspired Long Apron restaurant in Montville or modern Asian at The Tamarind in Maleny; other nights Ali might whip up a Rajasthani feast or have a barbecue pack delivered to your room.

Those interested in more sedate pursuits can take the small nature walk beside the creek at the resort, explore the lookouts near Lake Baroon down the road or browse the quaint shops and galleries in Montville. But given the retreat’s reputation as a couples’ hideaway (it was named Tripadvisor’s most romantic hotel in the world in 2021) some won’t leave the seclusion of their cabins, and with full kitchens, including proper coffee machines, wood fires and large decks nestled in the rainforest, you can see why.

The villas have private plunge pools

For our mother/daughter escape we’re in one of the new pool villas where we find freshly baked biscuits by the teapot, sparkling wine and a cheese platter in the fridge, chocolates on the bed, a decanter of port for later and a generous cook-your-own breakfast hamper. The double-sided fireplace is ready to light, the plunge pool is heated, but the big bathtub is more inviting in this surprisingly cool mid-October weather. From the king bed we look out to the pines, palms and vines of the lush rainforest, as still and perfect as a painting, and laugh at the weird wailing of the green catbird.

Screened windows and glass sliding doors open onto the deck with its barbecue, two-person dining setting and sofa. Inside, a vase of fresh roses sits on a dining table and a television can be swivelled for viewing from the couch or the bed. The grand bathroom with its bathtub for two, shower and double handbasins is contained in one long open room with no doors, which won’t suit everyone – even loved-up couples tend to like a door on the loo. Bath products are organic and we’re asked not to bring any harsh products into this pristine setting.

In the bedroom

The other cabins, all timber and raised like tree-houses, come in slightly different configurations: where we have a couch on the balcony, others have hammocks; some have double spa baths in a separate bathroom, others in the living room. All come with broad rainforest views. Ali and Xochi don’t plan on building more villas – the rooms are nicely spaced for privacy and they’re keen to minimise impact on the 2.8ha site because it’s quite special. Look carefully through the forest and you’ll see birds – some 300 species are said to occupy the national park – as well as snakes, pademelons and the odd koala. And once you’ve reaped the full benefits of your forest retreat, that endless blue coastline is just over 30 minutes’ drive away.

Perfect for: Couples, walkers, special occasions.

Must do: Explore the walks and waterfalls of the Blackall Range (leech alert in the wet). Kondalilla Falls is popular for a summer dip

in the natural pools and the 4.6km circuit walk is stunning in all seasons. At Mary Cairncross Reserve take an easy stroll through the rainforest and admire the unusual Glasshouse Mountains. The 55km Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk can be broken into a number of shorter walks. Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World is highly recommended.

Dining: The breakfast hamper at the Narrows comes with all you need and the evening BBQ hamper has tender steak, sausages, salad and baked potatoes. For dinner The Long Apron restaurant, part of Spicers Clovelly Resort at Montville, does three-course ($95) and tasting menus ($140) with an excellent sommelier-led wine matching ($90). Try the Mapleton Public House for the coastal views and a new menu featuring old favourites (steak, schnitzels) with more inventive fare. Maleny Food Co has excellent gelato and a walk-in fromagerie.

Getting there: The Narrows is at 78 Narrows Rd, Montville, about

40 minutes’ drive from Sunshine Coast airport and 100km from Brisbane airport.

Bottom line: From $1000 for two nights; private pool villa from $1798 for two nights.

narrowsescape.com.au; visitsunshinecoast.com