If you’re within a couple of hours of Brisbane and planning an anniversary escape, you already know the obvious options. A night in the city. A beach resort on the Sunshine Coast. A crowded long weekend at Noosa.
Here’s a suggestion: go the other way. Head inland, up into the hills, and discover why the Sunshine Coast Hinterland has quietly become one of Queensland’s most romantic destinations for couples who actually want to connect.
Why Montville is the answer
Perched on a ridge above the Sunshine Coast, Montville is a village that operates at its own pace. Winding streets lined with art galleries, boutique stores, chocolate shops, and cafes that don’t rush you. Views over the ranges that stop you mid-sentence. A community of makers, growers, and creatives who genuinely care about what they’re putting into the world.
It’s the kind of place that makes you wonder why you don’t do this more often.
Things to do around Montville for couples
Wander the village — Montville’s main street is a genuine pleasure to explore. Duck into gallery spaces, pick up locally made ceramics or artwork, and stop for a long coffee somewhere with a view. There’s no agenda required.
Kondalilla Falls — A short drive from Montville, Kondalilla National Park offers a beautiful rainforest walk to one of the hinterland’s most stunning waterfalls. Cool, green, and completely unhurried — exactly the right energy for an anniversary day out.
Local dining — The hinterland punches well above its weight for food. Seek out restaurants using local produce, hinterland wineries worth a tasting, and the kind of relaxed dining experiences that turn into a two-hour lunch without anyone noticing.
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland scenic drive — The road through Montville, Maleny, and the surrounding ranges is genuinely beautiful. Wind the windows down and take your time.
Where to stay
An anniversary deserves more than a hotel room with a view. It deserves its own private world.
Lovestone Cottages offers three adults-only rainforest retreats in the heart of Montville — each one a completely private, self-contained cottage with a wood fireplace, spa bath for two, private deck, fire pit, and gourmet breakfast hamper delivered each morning.
For an anniversary stay, our Romancing the Hinterlands package ($1,785 for two nights) wraps champagne on arrival, a deluxe dinner delivered to your cottage, and a 60-minute couples massage into one beautifully considered experience. Or, if you want to go all out, the Indulgence Curation package adds handmade chocolates, Prosecco, a three-course restaurant dinner with private transfer, and a charcuterie platter for a long, starlit evening on your deck.
Brisbane is less than two hours away. You could be here by afternoon tea, watching the mist roll through the canopy with a glass of something cold, wondering why you ever stayed in a hotel.
Book your anniversary escape at lovestonecottages.com.au — Maple, Rosewood, and Quandong cottages are available for two-night stays from $1,190.