THINGS TO DO
While Blue Ridge Lavender Cottage offers peace and seclusion—the perfect retreat from the bustle and stress of your daily life—you may decide you’d also like an adventure or two during your stay.
If you feel like wandering beyond the haven of your cottage, this short list will help you pick an outing from some of the activities, restaurants and cafés only a short drive away.
The Local Township
Dayboro
The quaint township of Dayboro is only 2.5 kilometres away. Stroll this sweet country town, replete with friendly locals, a visitors’ information centre, art gallery, hotel, post office, restaurant, cafés, country supermarket and much more.
Click here to find the Dayboro information centre via Google Maps
Dining Out
The Dayboro Drop
Just 3 minutes down the road on the Dayboro village main street you’ll find the Dayboro Drop, a new restaurant offering high-quality, creative food and drinks in a great atmosphere. The restaurant is proud to support and showcase produce from Dayboro and its local surrounds.Opening Hours:11:30am – 2:30pm and 5pm – 9pm, 6 days a week (closed Tuesdays).
Click here to visit their website
The Old Storehouse
Just 3 minutes away in a quaint Queenslander, The Old Storehouse offers seasonal breakfast and lunch fare along with a collection of deli goods, pantry provisions and more. They also do great coffee.Opening Hours:Wednesday & Thursday 7am – 2pm, Friday 7am – 8pm, Saturday & Sunday 7am – 2pm.
Click here to visit their website
Silverwood Cafe
A dog-friendly cafe just 3 minutes away offering great food for breakfast and lunch in the heart of Dayboro.Opening Hours:6:30am to 2pm every day of the week
Ocean View Estate Winery
In less than 10 minutes, you’ll be dining in a stunning restaurant, sampling award-winning wines and enjoying mouth-watering food prepared by an award-wining chef.
Opening hours:
Restaurant – Thursday 10am – 9pm. Friday & Saturday 8:30am till late. Sunday 8:30am – 5pm.
Cellar Door – Wednesday 10am – 3pm. Thursday to Sunday 10am to 5pm.
Click here to visit their website
Birches Restaurant
Perched on top of Mt Mee, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and panoramic views to the coast and beyond. Enjoy delicious Modern Australian cuisine (vegetarian options available) for brunch, lunch or dinner. Or sample the quality coffee on their relaxed verandah café. Part of the pleasure of a visit to Birches is the 20-minute scenic drive to get there.
Opening hours:
Wednesday to Friday from 10am. Weekends from 8:30am.
Click here to visit their website
Bushwalks and Picnic Spots
Mt Mee State Forest
A 15-minute drive will find you immersed in a strikingly diverse national park, part of the D’Aguilar Range. This park features rocky waterholes, cool streams, diverse birdlife and rainforest walks through open scribbly gum forests and lush subtropical rainforests. Walks range from a short 1-kilometre circuit through a grove of Piccabeen palms to the Somerset trail, a 13-kilometre circuit that will take you between three to four hours to complete.
Click here for more info
Maiala National Park
Take a 30-minute drive through the village of Samford and on to Mt Glorious to this peaceful, lush picnic ground just past Mt Glorious township. Alongside the generous shaded picnic areas, bbqs and toilets, you’ll find three stunning sub-tropical walks. Try the ‘Greenes Falls Track’, a 5-kilometre walk from Maiala Picnic Ground to a lookout over Greenes Falls. The walk is a one-and-a-half-hour rainforest experience through tropical palms and dense, lush vegetation, past rockpools and giant gums. The falls are spectacular.
Click here for more info
Activities
Lyell Deer Sanctuary
Experience an Australian country farm where you can hand feed the friendly spotted deer. Lyell’s morning and afternoon teas are a delight, and their leather and craft warehouse is worth a browse.
Opening hours:
Saturday & Sunday 10am – 4pm. Weekdays by appointment only.
Click here to visit their website
Australia Zoo
This attraction is a little further afield, but if you’re after an adventure it’s worth the one-hour drive to reach the home of Australia’s Crocodile Hunter. Spend a great day out at Australia’s favourite zoo with an enormous range of happy animals, including tigers, elephants, kangaroos and koalas. The Crocoseum show is not to be missed.
Opening hours:
7 days a week 9am – 4.30 pm.
Click here to visit their website
Slickers Horse Riding
Join a trail ride and travel on horseback through 3,500 acres of gorgeous eucalpyt forests, green paddocks and mountainsides. Slickers offers a range of packages to suit any level of experience, from a short one-hour ride to overnight rides including dinner at a local winery.
Click here to visit their website
Old Petrie Town Craft Market
Set in a charming pedestrian-only historical village, these markets offer something for everyone; they’re folksy and fun with lots of art and craft and old-fashioned wares. Visit the pottery and blacksmithing displays and head to the central barn where a variety of international foods, everything from bratwurst to Belgian waffles, are on offer.
Opening hours:
Every Sunday from 8am to 2pm.
A: Corner Dayboro Road and Young Crossings Road P: 07 3285 5934
The Dayboro Shed Antiques
Stop in at The Dayboro Shed and wander its grand selection of antiques and collectables. You’ll find antique mid-century furniture and vintage and retro pieces, kitchenalia, enamelware and canisters, plus art, signs, militaria and tools (just to name a few categories). This vast collection of wares are great fun to explore.
Opening hours:
Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.
Click here to visit their website
Maleny and Montville Villages
Stroll down the quaint streets of the charming, neighbouring villages of Maleny and Montville to discover a wealth of unique shopping experiences, quaint cafés and quality restaurants. These villages are a one-hour drive through spectacular country. Don’t forget to stop at a lookout or two: the views are breathtaking and well worth the drive.
Click here to find Maleny township on Google Maps
Click here to find Montville township on Google Maps