Understanding Sunshine Coast Accommodation – Coast, Hinterland and Lake
To choose the right Sunshine Coast accommodation, you need to decide not just where you want to stay, but how you want your time to feel. Broadly, the region offers three complementary settings: the coast, the hinterland ridge, and the lakes and valleys in between.
On the coast, accommodation tends to be:
• Beachfront hotels and apartments on or near the sand.
• Larger resorts with pools, lifts, lobbies and multiple room categories.
• Close to bars, restaurants, surf clubs and foreshore activity.
This style of Sunshine Coast accommodation is ideal if you want to be in the middle of things – sunrise walks on the beach, surf during the day, waterfront dining at night, and a sense that the esplanade is an extension of your living room.
In the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, around Montville and Maleny, the energy changes completely. Here, accommodation is more likely to be:
• Cottages, villas and cabins on acreage, with gardens, paddocks or forest all around.
• Boutique retreats and B&Bs with shared lounges and wide verandahs.
• Treehouses and romantic cabins in rainforest or overlooking Lake Baroon.
Instead of busy streets, you get quiet country roads and short drives between villages. Instead of constant surf noise, you hear birdlife, breezes through the trees and, in some places, the gentle lap of water against the lake edge. The hinterland is particularly popular for romantic getaways, weddings, honeymoons and special celebrations, because it feels like a genuine escape while still being part of the Sunshine Coast.
Between the coast and the ridge sit valleys, dams and lakes – and this is where Lake Baroon stands out. Nestled between Maleny and Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Lake Baroon is a calm, tree-framed lake with walking tracks, picnic areas and viewpoints. Choosing accommodation here, rather than directly in town, gives you:
• A sense of refuge: you are tucked beside the lake, surrounded by forest, with Montville and Maleny just a short drive away.
• A unique outlook: water, hills and trees instead of buildings and roads.
• The option to spend whole days on the property without feeling like you are missing out on the “real” Sunshine Coast, because the landscape itself becomes the experience.
When you look at Sunshine Coast accommodation through this lens – coast, hinterland, lake – it becomes easier to map out your stay. You might:
• Spend your entire trip in the hinterland, using a lakeside retreat in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland as your one and only base.
• Combine two locations: a couple of nights on the beach, then several nights in a treehouse or cabin near Montville and Lake Baroon.
• Choose a single, central property in the hinterland that gives you easy access to both villages and coast for day trips.
Secrets on the Lake exists in that third space. It is clearly Sunshine Coast Hinterland accommodation – on Lake Baroon, near Montville – but it also functions as a Sunshine Coast base, close enough to the beaches for day trips and deeply rooted in the hinterland for treehouse-style escapes.
Secrets on the Lake – A Signature Sunshine Coast Hinterland Stay on Lake Baroon
Within the broader world of Sunshine Coast accommodation, Secrets on the Lake offers something very specific: a luxury lakeside treehouse and cabin retreat on Lake Baroon in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, just minutes from Montville. Rather than being a repurposed hotel or generic apartment complex, it has been purpose-built as a romantic and special-occasion escape, with each retreat crafted to celebrate the landscape.
The property is set on rainforest-covered slopes that run down to the edge of Lake Baroon. Elevated, carved boardwalks wind through the trees, leading to a collection of individually designed treehouses and cabins. Each is positioned to maximise privacy and views, so when you step onto your deck you look out over Lake Baroon, surrounding rainforest or the hinterland hills – not directly into another building.
Inside, the accommodation is designed for comfort and connection, not just for sleeping:
• Many treehouses feature spa baths or spa-style tubs, often situated to capture glimpses of Lake Baroon or forest.
• Fireplaces or hearths add warmth and atmosphere, especially in the cooler months when the Sunshine Coast Hinterland feels crisp and clear at night.
• Private decks are furnished for lingering: morning coffee with mist over the lake, a long afternoon with a book, or evening drinks watching the sky change colour above the water.
• Kitchenettes or full kitchens, plus barbecues on many decks, allow you to cook together, eat in and treat your accommodation as your own temporary home in the hills.
The cabins and larger retreats on the property add flexibility, making Secrets on the Lake suitable not only for couples but also for small groups and families wanting a more refined hinterland experience. Wedding couples and guests often book multiple retreats together, turning the Lake Baroon and Montville setting into a shared base for the whole celebration.
Most importantly, Secrets on the Lake holds all the key Sunshine Coast entities together in one experience:
• You are still on the Sunshine Coast, with beaches reachable in an easy drive.
• You are firmly in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, surrounded by rainforest, ridges and valleys.
• You are minutes from Montville, with cafés, galleries and restaurants at the top of the range.
• You are directly on Lake Baroon, with water views and lakeside access shaping the feel of every day.
For guests who want their Sunshine Coast accommodation to feel like an escape and not just a place to sleep between outings, this combination is powerful. You can design your stay around the property itself – slow mornings, short drives, early nights by the fire – and still know the wider region is there whenever you feel like exploring.
Practical Details – Location, FAQs & How to Enquire
Secrets on the Lake is located on the shores of Lake Baroon at 207 Narrows Road, Montville, in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. The retreat sits below Montville village, with treehouses and cabins stepping down the hillside towards the lake. From many retreats you can see Lake Baroon, surrounding forest and the distant shapes of hills and ranges.
Phone: +61 (0)7 5478 5888
Email: info@secretsonthelake.com.au
Google Business Profile : Secrets On The Lake
Booking : Secrets On The Lake Booking.com
Tripadvisor : Secrets On The Lake TripAdvisor
Expedia : Secrets On The Lake Expedia
Accommodation FAQ
Is Secrets on the Lake considered Sunshine Coast accommodation or just hinterland accommodation?
Secrets on the Lake is both. It is geographically located in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, near Montville and on Lake Baroon, but the hinterland is part of the wider Sunshine Coast region. Choosing to stay here means your Sunshine Coast accommodation is focused on lakeside and rainforest experiences rather than on the beachfront, while still keeping the coast within easy reach.
How far is Secrets on the Lake from Sunshine Coast beaches?
Driving times vary slightly based on exactly where you are heading, but as a guide, beaches around Maroochydore and Mooloolaba are usually around 30–40 minutes away by car. That makes it easy to include a beach day or two as part of an otherwise hinterland-based Sunshine Coast stay.
Can I use Secrets on the Lake as a base to explore both Montville and Maleny?
Yes. Secrets on the Lake sits on Lake Baroon between Montville and Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Montville is just a short drive up the range, and Maleny is an easy scenic drive away. From the property, you can comfortably visit both villages for cafés, shops, local produce and lookouts, then return to the lake and your treehouse or cabin at the end of the day.
Is Secrets on the Lake suitable for couples only, or can families and groups stay as well?
Many of the retreats at Secrets on the Lake are designed with couples in mind, making it popular for romantic getaways, honeymoons and anniversaries. However, there are also larger cabins and multi-room retreats suitable for small groups and families. This flexibility means you can choose accommodation that suits your group while still enjoying the same Lake Baroon and Montville setting.
How does staying in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland compare with staying on the beachfront?
Staying in the hinterland gives you cooler evenings, quieter nights and long views over hills, forest and lakes, instead of constant surf and esplanade activity. If you value privacy, fireplaces, spa baths and the sense of being “tucked away”, hinterland accommodation – particularly treehouses and cabins on Lake Baroon near Montville – often feels more restorative. If you want beach bars and ocean swims on your doorstep, you may prefer to split your time between the coast and the hinterland.
Do we need a car for a stay at Secrets on the Lake?
A car is strongly recommended. The Sunshine Coast Hinterland has limited public transport, and having your own vehicle makes it much easier to travel between Secrets on the Lake, Montville, Maleny, local attractions and the coastal Sunshine Coast. It also gives you flexibility with dining, day trips and wedding or event schedules.
How long should we book for a Sunshine Coast stay that includes Secrets on the Lake?
Two nights at Secrets on the Lake will give you a taste of the hinterland, but three or more nights allow you to fully settle into the property’s pace. If you are combining coast and hinterland, many guests choose one to two nights near the beach and three to four nights at Lake Baroon near Montville, so they finish their Sunshine Coast holiday in a quieter, more luxurious setting.
When should we book if we want specific dates or a particular treehouse?
Weekends, public holidays and popular wedding or event periods across the Sunshine Coast and Sunshine Coast Hinterland tend to book out first. If you know your dates – especially for honeymoons, anniversaries or special celebrations – it is wise to enquire early so you can secure the treehouse or cabin that best fits your plans on Lake Baroon.