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 From the volcanic Glass House Mountains to crafty Maleny and campy Montville, the Blackalls offer a quiet village getaway, writes Alistair Sutton.
The Blackall Ranges are only an hour north of Brisbane and 30 minutes from the Sunshine Coast, making it a great choice for a weekend getaway or day trip in these times of high petrol prices.
On the way up check out the Glass House Mountains, so named by Captain James Cook because they reminded him of glass houses he’d seen in England. Formed by magma from extinct volcanoes, they are certainly impressive from a distance, particularly at sunset.
On the drive through the surrounding national park, lookouts provide spectacular views of the hinterland to the coast.
There are a variety of walking tracks and climbs for the more energetic. This area is known to volcanologists world-wide, as well as being sacred Aboriginal land.
The nearby Mary Cairncross Park includes some the largest stands of original rainforest still remaining in South East Queensland and is a favourite with walkers.
Because of its setting, Maleny is a popular destination for the eco-tourist. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk covers 59 km of this scenic landscape, winding through the Maleny Forest Reserve, Kondalilla National Park and Mapleton Falls National Park. Stiletto shoes are not recommended.
Maleny, set against a backdrop of green fields and undulating hills, is a vibrant mix of cafes, shops and galleries with a laid-back and friendly feel to the place.
Maleny started out as a timbering centre, but the focus these days is very much on tourism. There are cheese shops and wineries to visit and plenty of craft and pottery shops.
This is Devonshire tea country, so be warned.
Many businesses feature organic produce grown locally. Want more? Visit the Eumundi Markets on the coastal plains and held every Wednesday and Saturday mornings, featuring a huge assortment of goods.
It’s worth a trip to nearby Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton. Montville has been made over within a centimetre of its life and now boasts a bizarre hodgepodge of Tudor, Irish and English cottages, Swiss and Bavarian chalets, colonial Queenslander architecture, even a pseudo vintage water mill just in case you get bored with the rest. It’s the campest hamlet on the range.
Flaxton, located half way between Maleny and Mapleton on the seaward side of the Blackall Range escarpment, features panoramic views of the Sunshine Coast. It’s a pretty little place, but blink and you’ll miss it.
Mapleton, settled in 1888, is slightly bigger, yet it still manages to support gift shops and eating spots, just in case the cake and scones you ate back at Maleny have worn off.
There are also farm stays and B and Bs to choose from as well as the usual motel/hotel options. If you feel up for it there are cycling tours to take to see the ranges at your own pace.
Aviation tours are also available, which afford the experience of seeing the beautiful countryside around Maleny from the air.
There is a Hinterland Information Centre located on the Landsborough-Maleny Road that provides maps, brochures and a booking service.
www.malenyqueensland.com
www.brbta.com
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