Montville and Maleny Tour

The Blackall Range rises behind the Sunshine Coast like a green balcony, and its villages of Montville and Maleny are the best-known stops on the hinterland circuit. A guided tour is a practical way to see them: you travel by coach or minibus, skip the winding drive and parking and spend your time browsing, tasting and looking at views. Montville is the prettier and more polished of the two, with a main street of timber shops, galleries, candle makers, chocolate and fudge sellers and cafes with outlooks over the valleys. Maleny is a little more rustic and community-minded, known for dairy, farm produce, markets and a strong arts scene. The tour we link includes lunch and takes in lookouts and local producers, with a pace that suits travellers who like a day of gentle wandering.

The climate is a reason to come in itself. The range is higher than the coast, and on hot days the air is noticeably cooler, with mist in the valleys on winter mornings. Waterfalls and rainforest tracks, such as those at Kondalilla and Mapleton, add a walking option, and some tours include a short bush walk or a viewpoint stop.

The scenery is lush dairy country, rainforest pockets and views that reach to the sea on a clear day. Photographers will enjoy the open outlooks, particularly in the morning light or just after rain.Food and shopping are the heart of the day.

Expect stops that might include a cheese or dairy producer, a bakery or chocolate maker, a gallery or craft shop and a cafe or restaurant for lunch. Local produce, such as macadamias, honey, jams and sauces, makes good gifts, and the village shops sell everything from ceramics to herbal remedies. Shops in Montville tend to be open daily, though some close early, and the pace is slower on weekdays, so a weekday tour can be pleasantly quiet.

Tours differ in length, size and style, so compare them with your priorities in mind. A small-group tour usually offers more flexibility and a deeper commentary, while a larger coach tour may be cheaper but more rigid.

Check the pickup points, the lunch arrangements, the dietary options, the amount of walking and the cancellation terms when you book. If you would rather go on your own, the drive from Noosa takes about an hour and the road has plenty of lookouts, but you will need to plan parking and the winding return. The tour pairs well with the Ginger Factory or the Eumundi Markets, and it makes a good rainy-day alternative when the coast is grey, since the villages have plenty of indoor shopping and cafes.

Seasons add their own character. In spring the gardens are in flower, in summer the air is a relief from the coast, in autumn the light is clear and in winter fog can fill the valleys at dawn.

Rain does not spoil the day, since most stops are indoors, and the green hills look even richer afterwards. Wear layers, because the range can be several degrees cooler than the beach.Spending money goes a long way here on small purchases such as chocolate, fudge, candles and local art. Cards are widely accepted, but a little cash helps at roadside stalls and small markets, which often add colour to the drive between the villages.