Nestled in the middle of a picturesque rainforest and dairy farming country, Maleny is a charming hinterland town with a gourmet food scene, natural spoils and rejuvenating day spas. Relax with one-of-a-kind winery and brewery experiences, browse local artwork and spot native wildlife on unforgettable bush walks in this beautiful Sunshine Coast destination.
Things to do in Maleny
Begin your Maleny holiday with a stroll down Maple Street, where you’ll discover a wealth of organic cafes, secondhand booksellers, artisan markets, vintage clothing and locally-run bakeries. On Coral Street, you’ll find Brouhaha Brewery, a relatively young brewpub that serves its own unique beers, along with regional wine, award-winning rums and casual Australian fare.
Maleny Botanic Gardens & Bird World is on the edge of town and boasts over six hectares of exquisite gardens comprising roses, azaleas and some of the rarest cycads in the world. You’ll also see cascading waterfalls, lakes and native birds, including peacocks. If you’re up for a short walk, head over to Gardners Falls and immerse yourself in shallow rock pools, giant river gums and native animals.
Do you love cheese? Maleny is one of Queensland’s dairy hotspots, particularly when it comes to cheese. Start at Maleny Dairies, where you can meet the animals, join a farm tour, watch cows being milked and taste an assortment of milk, yoghurt and cheese. Afterwards, visit Maleny Cheese to watch cheesemakers in action and purchase soft and hard cheeses and award-winning yoghurt.
If you’re looking to relax, book a pampering treatment at Spa Anise, part of Spicers Tamarind. Afterwards, treat your taste buds to dessert, red and white wines from Australia and around the globe at Maleny Mountain Wines.
Getting around Maleny
Maleny is about a 40-minute drive from Sunshine Coast Airport, which welcomes direct daily flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide. Maleny’s town centre is easily explored on foot, but you’ll need your own car to travel further afield.