Scenic Maleny is postcard-ready, nestled as it is in the heart of dairy country and surrounded by lush rainforest, but this small town is also home to a thriving arts community, one of the best botanic gardens in Queensland — if not all of Australia — and other hidden treasures.
Thanks to the altitude of the Blackall Range, Maleny tends to be on the cooler side all year, at least by Queensland standards, so it’s an ideal destination for those seeking to escape the heat and have plenty to do in the meantime, feasting on fresh produce to exploring awe-inspiring waterfalls and energising swimming holes.
First up, it’s possible the best-known attraction in Maleny, but it’s not all hype! We contend that there’s an excellent reason why Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World will always get brought up in any conversation about the town, and that’s because it exceeds expectations.
With multiple tourism awards to its name, this park specialising in birdlife will have you feeling like you’re in a Disney movie, with five walk-through aviaries that are home to more than 600 native and exotic birds from around the world, and interactive guided tours, which allow visitors to get up close and personal with the birds! There are also farm friends to meet and pet, so you can make furry as well as feathery friends.
And even if you’re not an avian fan, there’s the other half of the name: the stunning botanic gardens! Stroll along almost 23 acres of gardens with the breathtaking Glass House Mountains as a backdrop, and the rainforest for scenery. There’s over 8 paradisical kilometres to explore, transporting you at least a million kilometres away from your troubles!
Want to keep the nature love fest going? Pristine lakes like Baroon Pocket Dam offer the perfect opportunity for picnics and fun water activities, or even dining with a view at picturesque Secrets on The Lake, whose woodsy design and décor mean blending seamlessly into the beautiful surroundings.
There’s no shortage of bodies of water in the area, with nearby Gardners Falls offering its crystal clear waters for swimming and the spectacular Kondalilla Falls always ready to impress, conveniently surrounded by several walking trails and even a barbecue are so you can make a whole day of it.
You will also find yourself in the vicinity of luscious Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve and its 55 hectares of subtropical rainforest with unbelievable views of the Glasshouse Mountains and the Blackall Range. Stroll the length of their walking tracks and venture deeper into the forest, and you may even spot some wallabies and other wildlife.
If views of the Hinterland and the Glass House Mountains are what you’re after, you’ll be spoiled for choice in the surrounding countryside, as close to Maleny as a 15-minute drive! Mountain View Lookout, One Tree Hill Maleny Lookout, McCarthy’s Lookout, Howells Knob Lookout and Gerrards Lookout as well as the road between Montville and Maleny are just some of the spots that offer the best views.
Missing civilisation? Maleny proper has plenty for the less outdoorsy to explore too! A good compromise between both man-made and natural is the famous Obi Obi Boardwalk, which starts in the town itself and takes you into the forest in an easy 6-kilometre loop, complete with a platypus viewing platform!
When it comes to the town itself, we’re talking about one of the Sunshine Coast’s most vibrant hubs, with a thriving art and handmade goods scene, and the local Maleny Markets, which take place every Sunday from 8am to 2pm are a must for anyone looking for unique mementos, antiques and delicious bites and drinks.
Speaking of tasty treats, no visit to Maleny would be complete without a trip to Maleny Dairies, for all your milk, yoghurt and custard needs and learn all about the process, including a hand milking demonstration and even bottle feeding calves; Maleny Cheese, where you can stock up on a mouth-watering variety of hard and soft cheeses and, for dessert, swing by Maleny Chocolate Company, which serves up smooth, luxurious chocolate, made with milk from — you guessed it! — Maleny Dairies.
If, on the other hand, you’re craving a tipple, Brouhaha Brewery, one of the most popular craft breweries on the Sunshine Coast, has a taproom right in town, so you can get your fill of small-batch craft beers, like their Strawberry Rhubarb Sour, not to mention outstanding food to go along with it. Or, if you’re craving some fine dining, look no further than The Tamarind, an award-winning restaurant whose specialty is modern Asian cuisine, with bold flavours that’ll please any palate.
Round out the day with a stroll along picturesque Maleny Lane, where many of the town’s best local businesses set up shop and, if you go on a Friday or Monday night, you may even catch one of their live music nights with talented locals playing and singing for all to enjoy!
How to get there
Maleny is only 100 kilometres from Brisbane, meaning it takes roughly two hours to make the drive on the M1 motorway. You can also make a detour to Noosa and take the scenic route from there, soaking in the stunning views of the Sunshine Coast. And, as a bonus, Maleny is only about a 40-minute drive from Kenilworth, so you can indulge in one of their famous coffee-filled doughnuts and make a whole weekend of it!