The allure of the Sunshine Coast’s “romance capital” just went up a notch.
When Montville’s Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat was crowned the Most Romantic Hotel in the World in the annual Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards last year, it claimed bragging rights over hotels in more famous love nests including Tahiti, Paris and Venice.
Narrows Escape owners Ali Kahn and Xochi Lindholm are known for their passion for detail.
And they have just added a few more diamonds to the retreat’s sparkling accommodation offering with the launch of two luxury Balinese-style villas set in rainforest. Each has its own plunge pool, private veranda, double spa and log fireplace.
With a soundtrack of a bubbling creek and bird song to serenade guests, the two new villas have been named White Cockatoo and Black Cockatoo, with interior designs to match the contrasting colours.
Ali and Xochi say their goal is to enable guests to “cocoon in nature and just relax, unwind, and luxuriate in the amazing setting”.
Inside the luxury villas, guests will delight in the little details such as fresh roses, handmade chocolates, organic bath products, indulgent bedding, double spa bath, log fireplace, kitchenette and flat screen TV.
The fridge is stocked with the best local produce, plus complimentary port on the bench.
Local journalists supporting local people. Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
Ali and Xochi can arrange quality ingredients and wine for guests to cook up a gourmet meal on the barbecue on the veranda.
The two new villas add to Narrows Escape’s existing six pavilions, and the owners are looking to add plunge pools to each of those in the future.
While many guests are happy to stay within the retreat, taking advantage of the swimming pool and nature tracks, a popular Luxe Trekking Package also is available, incorporating guided walks along the Hinterland Great Walk, while providing luxury overnight accommodation and facilities for the ultimate revival treatment.
Meanwhile, the aptly named Lovestone Cottages has also unveiled two stunning, fully redesigned and indulgently decorated cottages – Quandong and Rosewood – joining the originally-refurbished Maple Cottage.
Named after the rich forest trees and orchards that attracted European settlers to Montville in the late 1800s, each private, fully self-contained cottage is designed for luxurious getaways.
Features include a free-standing spa bath with sweeping views over the rainforest escarpment, and fireplaces in every cottage for cool hinterland nights.
A private wooden deck with hooded barbecue, along with a fully-equipped kitchen and separate lounge and bar seating, make each cottage ideal for intimate dining. An outdoor garden area with fire pit provides a cosy setting for stargazing.
Like stories about Sunshine Coast people doing great things? Help us deliver more by registering for our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. SUBSCRIBE here now!
Lovestone Cottages’ owners Tamara and Jonathan Large say each cottage boasts a contemporary, luxe design, with a palette of colours blending harmoniously with the local setting.
“As well as fully renovating the cottages, we have been upgrading the landscaping and gardens to make this a perfect romantic retreat,” they say.
“Lovestone is situated on five acres of land adjoining the rainforest. We totally respect the landscape and as part of the Land for Wildlife program, we have removed vast amounts of weeds to ensure the environmental integrity of the rainforest.
“One of our primary goals is to fully revegetate the area to provide a food source for the native wildlife, enabling a sustainable habitat that can develop and be preserved for future generations.”
Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat and Lovestone Cottages are both just five minutes’ drive from Montville on the Blackall Range.
SUBSCRIBE here now for our FREE news feed, direct to your inbox daily!
