Montville and Maleny are two of the places that sat on our bucket list for a while. I must say these are must-see places especially with young kids, with so many things to do and see.
Is Maleny or Montville Better?
When you visit Maleny, we highly suggest not to miss out on Montville as well. Both towns are nothing short of spectacular, each has its own amazing places to see and visit.
We visited both places on a 4-day holiday which was definitely worth coming back for. Here is a list of the fun things we did with our twin girls:
Things to Do in Montville
Montville is a lovely little town in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland boasting great views and hidden gems. This charming town is perfect for a day trip, family outing or romatic holiday for couples.
Is Montville worth visiting?
This small but beautiful town has so much to offer. If you want to have a laid-back country escape sans the crowd then this is the place to be.
Here is a list of things to do to add to your itinerary.
1. Walk around Montville Town
Montville is a very laid-back town with cute little shops and cafes just along the road. Do not miss the water wheel which kids always find fun to watch and the Poet Cafe with great views. We did last-minute grocery shopping at IGA and bought a few items we forgot for the trip, too.
2. The Montville Clock Shop
Very nice little shop in Montville town with all kinds of clocks you can imagine, from the smallest to the largest of sorts. My personal faves are the cuckoo clocks, fascinating for the girls and us adults alike, but quite pricey.
3. Chocolate Tasting, Montville
Experience the sugar rush with a variety of five top-selling Belgian chocolates at Montville Chocolate Country. We got to choose between a Belgian hot chocolate topped with marshmallows or Belgian iced chocolate with ice cream.
Surely we tried both and were very good indeed. We had some Belgian waffles and brownies with ice cream, too. I must say that was one of the highlights of our trip, not to mention a fun experience for our twin girls.
4. Rushwood Park, Montville
Let the kids run loose at the park and playground. It is always a go-to place for kids to use all that energy. Here we met a very nice lady walking her dog. She was more than happy to let her very excited pooch play fetch with the girls. Oh, how they enjoyed it!
5. Stay in a Log Cabin in the Middle of the Rainforest
This was a dream come true. We stayed in one of the log cabins at Kondalilla Eco Resort. The moment we opened the door we were greeted by very soft, relaxing music and an aroma that seemed like a combination of eucalyptus and pine.
The cabin was way beyond our expectations. It has very large windows where you can see the rainforest outside, making you feel you are one with nature. All we could hear from our log cabin, aside from the sound of two cute little girls giggling or screaming, was nature.
You can book your dream log cabin holiday by clicking on the link below:
6. Wine Night by the Fireplace
Staying in the middle of the rainforest in autumn means the nights get colder. We lit up the wood-burning fireplace, put the kids to sleep and enjoyed a bottle of wine in peace. Who says you can’t have quality time as a couple even with twin girls?
7. Forest Walk
Since we were staying within Kondalilla National Park, we made it a point to wake up early on our second morning and just walked around the rainforest.
We did not go all the way towards Kondalilla falls as it seemed to be a long and steep climb with two little humans in tow, but seeing the forest and a couple of small waterfalls was good enough for us.
8. The Barn Cafe
This cafe is highly recommended by one of the ladies at the reception. It was a laid-back, farm-themed, Instagram-worthy cafe. I loved that it was kid-friendly and most importantly, the food was great.
9. Movie Night in the Cabin
In the evening we decided to just relax on a good movie with the fireplace lit and a glass of wine in one hand. Ahhh one of the best things in life!
10. The Edge Cafe, Bar and Restaurant, Montville
This place has spectacular views. I repeat, SPECTACULAR. We were seated on the balcony overlooking lush green landscapes. On top of that, the food was superb. No wonder they always have a long queue. We would definitely come back here on a day trip.
Things to Do in Maleny
Next to Montville is the town Maleny also boasting fantastic views as you go about your road trip, with so many things to do with the family.
Is Maleny Worth Visiting?
Maleny is 90 kilometres north of Brisbane. This lovely little town is perfect for a day trip, overnight stay or a romantic getaway. The drive boasts scenic views and the place itself has so much to offer for all ages, making your trip worthwhile.
11. Maleny Bird World
I pre-purchased tickets online and prebooked at Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World, which is always the most convenient thing to do when you have kids.
The twins soooo much enjoyed seeing the birds up close, not to mention having them rest on their arms, head and back! I actually thought it would scare them but boy, are they keen!
12. Buggy Ride Around Maleny Botanic Gardens
The Maleny Botanic Garden is massive, and the best way to explore it with kids or anyone I must say would be to hire a buggy. It was so much fun for kids, too.
Within less than an hour, we already explored the whole garden. It is a nice place to relax and enjoy little walks with the kids. Make sure you have a jumper handy, especially on a cold and windy autumn day.
The Botanic Garden is also the perfect place to let the kids run loose. It is definitely another sure way to use up all those energies!
13. Maleny Cheese
A very quick stopover to see a variety of cheese. It has a nice and cozy cafe as well. We were planning to order a cheese platter, however, the sumptuous lunch at the Barn Cafe left us so full that we just had to pass.
14. Maleny Food Co.
Later in the afternoon, we fulfilled our cheese platter cravings at Maleny Food Co. We also had the best raspberry-banana bread with a cup of coffee to match.
They offer a variety of meals, snacks, different kinds of cheese to take home, cheese platters, and their popular gelato and sorbet.
The place was packed but we managed to get a table outside. It was a perfect spot to do a bit of people-watching and just see the pretty little town pass you by.
15. The Barrel at Clouds Vineyard, Maleny
Literally, you will walk inside the big barrel. The twins found it really amazing, while I found it so Instagram-worthy. We stopped here on our way home and decided it was too early for wine. Good thing they serve Maleny ice cream (soo yum!) and coffee!
Hubby and I had the luxury of time to sit back and relax while we watched the twins play in the playground. What a fabulous idea to have a fenced playground here!
This is another place added to the list to visit again on a day trip. We simply enjoyed the quiet and relaxing time before our drive home.
16. Maleny Dairies
We went here last year on a day trip and I must add this to the list given the very good experience we had. Our girls got to feed a calf, witnessed how to milk a cow and tasted raw milk straight from the milked cow (I did not have the guts but hubby said it surprisingly tasted so rich and good).
You must spend at least half a day here to be able to do the dairy tour and enjoy the scenery with a cup of coffee or tea paired with freshly baked scones.
Free Things to Do in Maleny
For the budget-conscious, there are still lots of things to do and see on Maleny without hurting the pockets.
17. Explore Maleny Town
Downtown Maleny is filled with busy little shops and cafes. We stopped by another chocolate factory, had some nice cheese platter at Maleny Food and Co. and just slowly strolled our way around the town.
18. Enjoy a Picnic at Baroon Pocket Dam
Make sure you have your cameras ready the moment Google maps tells you to turn left towards Narrows Rd. When you do, the view of the lake and surrounding rainforest will take your breath away.
19. Take a Dip at Gardners Falls
Kids and parents will love a visit at Gardners falls as it is a very easy 300-metre walk from the parking lot, and voila! A very beautiful scenery will greet you. You can hear the wonderful sound of the waterfalls as you walk, which is quite relaxing.
You can take a dip or bring a picnic, as there are also picnic tables located nearby. We enjoyed munching on our sandwich here while enjoying the view.
20. Enjoy the Scenery at McCarthy’s Lookout
This lookout located at Mountain View Road is a great stopover if you are going to or from the Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World as it is just a 3-minute drive. A good place to chill if you want some quiet time while savouring the spectacular views.
21. Browse Through Maleny Shops
A stroll along downtown maleny would mean window shopping around its lovely shops. I cannot help but buy a lovely wooden soap dish and a couple of essential oils at on of them.
You can find a plethora of cute shops selling books, vintage items, arts and crafts and whatnot.
You can also try out and taste some chocolates at the Maleny Chocolate Co.
The Wrap Up: Things to do in Maleny and Montville with Kids
That sums up all the fun things you can do in Maleny and Montville when you tag your little kiddos along. To be honest, there are still so many beautiful places you can see and things you can do in these lovely towns. Maleny and Montville are definitely worth coming back for.
Read more about our 35 Hours in Stanthorpe for more fun things to do with Kids.