Australian Traveller

Secret hamlets of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland

It’s famed for its golden beaches, but beyond them lies the charming HINTERLAND VILLAGES, where the scenery is breathtaki­ng and the locals friendly. This winter be embraced by NATURE and travel to SUB-TROPICAL paradise.

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GLASS HOUSE MOUNTAINS

The are a GLASS HOUSE MOUNTAINS captivatin­g sight as you drive north to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane. Stand atop one of the peaks as the sun rises over verdant farmland, and you’ll be in awe of the stunning vistas. Walking around the bases or to the tops of the mountains is a favourite local pastime. Rock climbing is also popular, and there are plenty of picnic tables for a bite afterwards. Learn why the region is referred to as the Sunshine Coast’s ‘food bowl’ by popping into

PLANTATION, a tropical GLASSHOUSE orchard. For those not keen on hiking, GLASS HOUSE MOUNTAINS SCENIC

is great, as is farm (pick LOOKOUT QCAMEL up some organic camel milk chocolate). Rest your head at the GLASS HOUSE ECOLODGE, where you can MOUNTAINS expect a memorable, unique experience sleeping in a restored train carriage or old timber church.

WOOMBYE & PALMWOODS

The Sunshine Coast area is most famous for home to live music THE BIG PINEAPPLE, events and zoo, where you WILDLIFE HQ can feed monkeys and meerkats. But there are some other cool attraction­s, too.

in Palmwoods is one, with RICKS GARAGE its American roadside diner vibes and whopping burgers. If you order one, you’ll want to wash it down at COMPANY, NAMBOUR’S where beer STALWART BREWING styles follow those in the UK and USA. If hops isn’t to your liking but juniper is, head along to to sample CAVU DISTILLING its Sunshine & Sons Original Dry Gin. Rest your head at STARRY NIGHTS LUXURY CAMPING, an off-grid family-owned property with safari tents.

YANDINA

Yandina’s biggest claim to fame is THE

FACTORY, home to delicious GINGER Buderim Ginger beer, cordial and sweets, plus a historic train, children’s rides, cafe and live bee show. As for Yandina, it’s one of the oldest towns on the Sunshine Coast, dating back to 1870, and there are many preserved buildings, including the

(establishe­d 1887). YANDINA HOTEL Yandina is also where celebrated restaurant and cooking school SPIRIT

is. The classes focus on HOUSE contempora­ry Asian cuisine, while the tropical setting whisks visitors straight back to Thailand.

Rest your head at STATION,a YANDINA country estate that is a popular wedding venue, with two-bedroom cottages.

For more log onto sunshineco­astforreal.com

 ??  ?? CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Yandina Station; QCamel farm; Mount Ngungun; The Big Pineapple; Starry Nights; Kondalilla Falls; Dry gin from CAVU Distilling; Glass House Mountains Ecolodge; Ricks Garage.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Yandina Station; QCamel farm; Mount Ngungun; The Big Pineapple; Starry Nights; Kondalilla Falls; Dry gin from CAVU Distilling; Glass House Mountains Ecolodge; Ricks Garage.

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