From farm stays to island escapes – five perfect Queensland getaways

5 days ago 8

Hamilton’s five-star resort reset, a hinterland haven that becomes stargazer heaven at night, mid-rainforest luxury – and more.

The Sundays

10 Palm Terrace Way, Hamilton Island; 1800 370 800

THE LOCATION Reach this island retreat at the northern end of “Hamo’s” Catseye Beach via a direct flight from Sydney or Melbourne, or a 60-minute ferry ride from Airlie Beach.

THE PLACE Family is the focus at this ’80s block’s five-star reset. Fronted by swaying palms, rooms are styled with soft curves, calming coastal tones, and the odd pop of modern art by First Nations and Hungarian artist Tiarna Herczeg. Some feature ocean-view terraces or balconies, some double as connecting rooms. Greenery looms large at The Sundays’ star restaurant Catseye Pool Club, where bi‑fold doors and indoor tropical planters lead to lawn-fringed sea views. Poolside, dining settings and daybeds offer guests ample spots in which to enjoy a native ingredient-powered cocktail.

Dining settings and daybeds poolside provide ample spots for guests to enjoy a cocktail.

THE EXPERIENCE This is luxury laced with nostalgia: a soak in a yawning egg-shaped tub, followed by a Neapolitan ice-cream by the pool, perhaps – paid for with complimentary “Mer-money” from your room (cute) and served from a vintage-style gelato cart (very cute). At Catseye, acclaimed restaurateurs Josh and Julie Niland present a menu that is a study in resort-kitchen goals; guests versed in Josh’s fish-forward cooking will delight in non-seafood standouts like roast chook with chicken-fat potatoes.

DON’T MISS A cultural tour by local Ngaro man Robbie Congoo whisks you to Hook Island aboard a luxurious 55-foot motor yacht to view some of the oldest rock paintings and stone quarries in eastern Australia.

FROM $891 a night; two-night minimum stay. Katherine Scott

Yajambee Farm Stay

1479 Mount Mee Rd, Mount Mee; 0432 387 715

THE LOCATION Yajambee is a world away in the lush Moreton Bay hinterland, less than an hour-and-a-half north-west of Brisbane and just an hour from the Sunshine Coast.

THE PLACE On a 42-hectare grassfed cattle farm run by Jamie and Gabe Gates, who prioritise ethical and regenerative practices, this open-plan, two-bedroom house is designed to maximise the views that take in the Glasshouse Mountains and even, on a clear day, Moreton Island. Contemporary country touches such as barn doors, a fireplace and natural materials create a warm and convivial atmosphere. The centrepiece of the property, seen from every angle, is the heated magnesium plunge pool at the base of the outdoor entertaining area.

THE EXPERIENCE Gaze out past the sliding doors to green pastures, where cattle mooch about grazing. Or go walking and get up close to them. A well-equipped kitchen entices you to cook up a feast and when it’s time to rest and refresh, find hotel-grade beds alongside terracotta-tiled bathrooms. A basket of blankets awaits evenings spent in front of the fireplace or outside stargazing at the low-light-pollution night sky.

DON’T MISS On your doorstep, you’ll find wineries, the entrance to D’Aguilar National Park for hikes and charming coffee spots, including The Owlery cafe in Samford, which is littered with Harry Potter references.

FROM $365 a night; two-night minimum stay. Neesha Sinnya

Mondrian Gold Coast

3 First Ave, Burleigh Heads; (07) 5508 0000

EV charging

THE LOCATION Thirteen kilometres from the skyscrapers of Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads’ first five-star hotel fronts the beach and is a mere five-minute walk to the boutiques and cafes of the enclave’s main drag, James Street.

THE PLACE The prestige brand Mondrian’s entry into Australia is in the sleepier Burleigh Heads – albeit in an emphatic two-tower development. Still, the undulating profile of the striking 24-floor hotel is an architectural nod to the surrounding dunes and headland. Interiors by California-based Studio Carter and Sydney-based Alexander and Co offer “easy tactility” throughout the property of 208 keys, and include handmade tiles, exposed brickwork, leather banquettes, pink marble vanities and solid timber furniture. From studios to two- and three-bedroom ocean homes, floor-to-ceiling windows capitalise on glorious ocean and hinterland vistas.

THE EXPERIENCE Dine alongside locals at the breezy and social Lito Mediterranean restaurant and bar fronting the beach or head to Level 3 for restaurant Haven’s “hyper-local” seafood by internationally renowned executive chef (and local) Aaron Teece – he’s cooked for the likes of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Tom Hanks. Poolside, settle into a lounger or book a private breeze-block cabana where the tequila-spiked watermelon and mango and macadamia icecream is the ideal accompaniment to a sea breeze and views of the iconic Norfolk pines. Your holiday is here.

DON’T MISS Easy sunrise and sunset walks to North Burleigh lookout or, in the other direction, into Burleigh Head National Park along the Ocean View Track.

FROM $525 a night. Jane Reddy

The Tamborine

99 Alpine Tce, Tamborine Mountain; (07) 5545 0088

THE LOCATION An easy hour’s drive south from Brisbane or north from Gold Coast Airport, wind up the mountain until you reach this rainforest haven.

THE PLACE Queensland’s Scenic Rim, a stunning rainforest region, has been lacking in hotel-style accommodation. Friends Gina McNamara and Nina Aberdeen (of Cassis Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula) bought The Tamborine Motel circa 1978 and set about creating a 23-room boutique getaway that has gone some way to changing that. Inspired by the hacienda style of the original motel, the hotel has a Palm Springs aesthetic that blends quiet luxury with a laid-back vibe.

THE EXPERIENCE All 23 rooms have a terrace or balcony to ensure guests can soak up the sublime views. The glam mineral pool is heated to a balmy 27 degrees and it’s partnered with a hot tub. There are treatment rooms for massages and other wellness rituals, and every evening, at Peacock O’Clock (5–6pm), complimentary drinks are served. There’s no on-site restaurant, but the area is a foodie enclave with a pub next door and Main Street offering the Picnic Real Food Bar and a fabulous French-inspired brasserie, the Saint Marthe. Head out for multiple short walks to waterfalls and lookouts in Tamborine National Park.

DON’T MISS The Rainforest Skywalk is an easy 1.5-kilometre walk right through the rainforest. A cantilever bridge soars above the creek and rainforest, making you feel a part of it.

FROM $390; two-night minimum stay on weekends. Gay Alcorn

Woodstock 1892

Elaman Creek, address given after booking; 0483 865 051

EV charging

THE LOCATION An hour’s drive from Sunshine Coast Airport, this 1890s cottage is within easy reach of the bustling hinterland town of Maleny, yet offers glorious solitude and captivating valley views.

THE PLACE A storybook two-bedroom Queenslander looks right at home in its new hilltop locale after being relocated from Brisbane. This is “cottagecore” charm at its finest with dado walls, flax linen, comfy lounges, vases of dried flowers and nary a screen in sight (there is Wi-Fi, though, so BYO if you must). Air-conditioning (in the larger bedroom and lounge) offers respite from Queensland’s hot summers, while a wood fireplace makes for cosy winter nights. Views extend over bushland and paddocks with grazing cattle.

Enjoy views over bushland and paddocks with grazing cattle, then relax by the firepit beneath the stars.

THE EXPERIENCE Enjoy crisp country air, collect eggs from the resident chickens and watch prolific native bird life from the front porch, cuppa in hand. The owners’ friendly dogs visit unannounced for belly rubs. Come sundown, roast marshmallows around a firepit beneath a blanket of stars.

DON’T MISS Do lunch on the verandah of the pink-hued Mapleton Public House, where Cameron Matthews (a former Spicers Retreats group executive chef) is redefining pub cuisine, utilising produce picked fresh that morning from nearby seasonal and organic market garden, The Falls Farm.

FROM $381 a night; two-night minimum stay. Sheriden Rhodes

Get more short-break inspiration from Good Weekend‘s 52 Weekends Away round-up:

From a mudbrick hut to a tranquil harbourside B&B – 17 perfect getaways in Victoria
Just 90 minutes from Sydney, you can relax in your own balcony bathtub with stunning views: 16 NSW short-break ideas
‘More Med than Rotto’: 4 of the best weekend getaways in Western Australia right now
An hour from Adelaide, you can wake up to giraffes outside your window: great escapes in SA, Tasmania and NT

For more travel inspiration, visit our Traveller section

To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.