No one does romance quite like Spicers does, and nowhere is that more true than at Spicers Tamarind Retreat, which you’ll find tucked away in the Sunshine Coast hinterland just outside of Maleny. If you just need to escape, unwind and reconnect for a few days without any chance of your day-to-day life seeping in, this luxe rainforest retreat is the place to do it.
While it’s located a mere five minutes from the centre of Maleny, Spicers Tamarind Retreat feels worlds away from city life, with just 22 rooms spread across 14 private villas each in their own little pocket of paradise. You also won’t need (or want) to leave, with award-winning Thai restaurant The Tamarind onsite to ensure your taste buds are as spoiled as you are. Read on to find out everything you need to know before you book your stay.
The Villas
With just 14 villas to choose from, you’d think it would be easy to choose which one you’ll make your sanctuary for a weekend—but that’s not the case. It all comes down to where you’d rather soak—will it be seated in an outdoor cedar hot tub on your own private verandah overlooking the lush rainforest, or reclining in a cocoon bathtub with glass doors that open out to an enclosed courtyard?
While all the villas come with everything you could need for a romantic getaway, from a mammoth king size bed to heated floors and towel racks in the ensuite bathrooms, a Luxury Falls Villa will score you one of those cedar hot tubs while the Luxury Forest Villa features those glorious cocoon bathtubs. Each option also comes with a fireplace for toasty winter vibes—so choose your time of year wisely if you want to make the most of that.
The Restaurant
Dining at The Tamarind at least once during your stay is a must, or even multiple times so you can sample everything on the menu. A destination in itself, the iconic restaurant is a Sunshine Coast favourite thanks to its line up of regional Thai dishes created using only the very best locally sourced produce. You’ll enjoy a two-course breakfast here each morning of your stay too, but the lunch and dinner menu is the undeniable drawcard—and what a drawcard it is.
We’d recommend going for the three course a la carte option, which lets you choose your own adventure from dishes like wagyu beef tataki with crispy garlic and daikon pickle, Korean BBQ pork ribs with kimchi fried rice and must-order slow cooked lamb massaman curry. However if you can’t settle on what to order, The Tamarind is famed for their eight-course banquet which comes with the bonus of being able to add matched wines.
The Cooking School
Not just known for their flavoursome Thai feeds, The Tamarind is also famed for their cooking school, and if you’re heading this way, you’d be remiss not to take the time to fit in a class. It’s not just Thai cuisine you can learn to whip up either—the team here also offer French and Italian workshops if that’s more your style. And yes, of course you get to eat everything you help prepare, with recipes provided so you can recreate them at home later.
Everything Else
If the idea of cooking your own lunch or just sipping wine by the fire isn’t doing it for you in terms of recreational activities, that’s not all Spicers Tamarind Retreat offers. A five-minute stroll to nearby Gardeners Falls is a must—you can even take a dip if you’re up to it, or just stick to swimming in the retreat's own pool, which features an outdoor stone spa for cooler days. While Spa Anise, Spicers Tamarind’s luxe day spa, is still closed, you can book an in-room massage, and other experiences on offer include gourmet picnic hampers, morning yoga sessions, cocktail masterclasses and more—check them all out here.
Image credit: Spicers Tamarind Retreat | Supplied