Sunshine Coast, AustraliaMaleny
Spicers Tamarind Retreat
Rainforest culinary lodge
Maleny Sunshine Coast, Australia
Price
$$$
Rated for
Design Luxe WellnessOutside the door
The house
Spicers RetreatsRainforest culinary lodge
An Asian cooking school and restaurant share the grounds with secluded pavilions and walking trails through the canopy.
What it’s good at
Notable
Private timber decks fitted with outdoor cedar wood hot tubs overlook the rainforest.
Listed
Villas hold wood burning fireplaces, deep soaking bathtubs, and expansive private daybeds.
Listed
In-villa massage rituals and walking tracks wind directly into the Maleny rainforest.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
The hotel’s verdant setting makes it a true R&R haven, especially for travellers who have already hit up the big cities.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
The retreat sits along Obi Lane outside Maleny, where craft breweries and local galleries line the town center.
1 of 5
The rooms
Falls Villas open onto timber decks with Japanese cedar hot tubs, and wood-burning fireplaces warm the living areas.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
The outdoor swimming pool curves across a grassy lawn, with loungers set against the edge of the rainforest.
Spa treatments
Therapists deliver massage treatments directly to guest villas, opening onto private timber decks and the quiet forest.
The Tamarind Restaurant
Chef Daniel Jarrett serves modern Thai dishes across timber dining pavilions and open verandas surrounded by rainforest gardens.
How it began
Chef Paul Blain originally opened the property as an intimate restaurant before Spicers founder Jude Turner bought it in 2007.
Sunshine Coast
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.