where to escape this autumn? five scenic spots out of the city
from brisbane to: montville
about 90 minutes north of brisbane you’ll find yourself in the lush greenery of the sunshine coast hinterland, and the quiet town of montville is the perfect rest from city living. quirky shops, galleries, and cafes with views over the mountain ranges are the highlight of montville’s main strip. nearby is the kondalilla national park, with quiet rainforest walks and gushing waterfalls. It's 30 minutes from the beaches of the sunshine coast - should you desire a change of scenery - and the equally quaint town of maleny is a short drive away as well.treetops is a cozy choice to stay, right next to kondalilla park. explore the park in the day and curl up by the fireplace at night, or watch the sunset from treetop’s baths, looking out onto the mountains beyond. for something extra luxurious, you can also treat yourself to a private cabin atocean view cottages, deep in the rainforest with amazing balcony views.
who would’ve thought that 30 minutes out of adelaide you’d find an old german settlement, with its heritage still present in its architecture and many restaurants. the town of Hahndorf can be a weekend getaway, or a nice day out. there’s plenty of uniquely german shops and pubs, as well as a cheese cellar and some picturesque wineries nearby, like the hahndorf hill winery and the lane vineyard. come autumn, the cute little streets take on a distinctly european feel, and you can seek out an airbnb or stay in a rustic cottage, like thehahndorf old mill hotel, or the beautifulhahndorf lodge.
while the famous scenery of the blue mountains or hunter valley might come to mind when you think of sydney getaways, the southern highlands is an equally beautiful stretch of countryside. bowral, about 90 minutes south of sydney, is the biggest town of the southern highlands area and has a lot on offer for you to explore over the weekend. aside from the great countryscapes of the southern highlands region, there’s more than a handful of beautiful nature reserves, gardens - like corbett or cherry tree walk - wineries, art galleries and more in the main town. there’s also amazing places to eat, like harry’s at green lane, which is covered with fascinating art, for an atmospheric dining experience. you’ll find plenty of scenic accommodation within the town and the surrounding area. a real standout ispeppers craigieburn, a beautiful country estate with views of stately gardens and pristine lawns.
an idyllic blend of ancient rainforest and beautiful beaches. cow bay, a few hours out of cairns, is a great location if you just want to relax, or are looking for a bit of adventure. cow bay beach is straight out of a postcard, and you can head up to alexandra beach for an amazing walk to alexandra lookout, where you’ll peek through the rainforest to see the ocean beyond. If you like, you can venture further into the daintree and explore the forest, or relax at some perfectly peaceful accommodations.daintree seascapesoffers beautiful views of the forest and coastline, and for some extra rejuvenation you can stay at thewait a while retreat, with its moody log cabins surrounded by lush jungle.
Built into the natural landscape of the surrounding valleys, the town of bright comes alive in the autumn months - bursting with orange, reds and yellows, and scattering the picture perfect streets with vibrant leaves. It's a bit of a drive, around 3 and a half hours, but the trip is worth it for the weekend, and if you leave early you’ll have plenty of time to explore. the boutique shops and cozy cafes will keep you busy for a while, and then you can take in the scenery, heading down to the ovens river or venturing out on a nearby walk. the canyon walk is a great country stroll that will let you see bright and its colourful trees from above, and Sullivans lookout is another stunning vantage point. as expected for such a pretty town, there’s some real standouts in terms of accomodation.bright mystic valleyis a great choice, overlooking a picturesque scene of autumn gardens and nearby mountains, with luxury rooms and dark stone walls.
