Spicers Tamarind Retreat Maleny, Sunshine Coast Hinterland
Spicers Tamarind Retreat sits quietly on the edge of Maleny, wrapped in rainforest and removed from the tempo of the coast. It isn’t a resort in the usual sense. There’s no arrival theatre. No background noise. No feeling that the day has already been planned for you.
People come here for space. For privacy. For time that isn’t managed.
It’s one of the longer-established luxury retreats in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, and that maturity shows. Nothing feels hurried. Nothing feels overworked. The retreat knows what it is — and doesn’t try to be anything else.
Setting and Location
The drive climbs into the hills above Landsborough, close enough to the Sunshine Coast to remain accessible, but far enough that the shift is immediate once you arrive. The air cools. The road narrows. The rainforest closes in.
Forest villas and Privacy
Accommodation is dispersed across the grounds rather than clustered. Each villa is freestanding, positioned deliberately to maintain distance and quiet.
No shared walls. No foot traffic outside your door.
Inside, the design leans toward comfort rather than display. Cedar finishes. Open fireplaces. Day beds. Deep baths. Private decks that feel properly private. These are villas designed for staying in — reading, resting, eating slowly, and letting the hours stretch.
Many villas include private outdoor cedar hot tubs. Set beneath cover and surrounded by foliage, they’re usable year-round and tend to become the centre of a stay. Once you settle in, there’s little reason to leave.
Falls Villas beside Gardners Falls
The Falls Villas offer a slightly different rhythm.
Located adjacent to Gardners Falls, one of the region’s most popular swimming spots, these villas sit close enough that the sound of water carries through the forest, particularly in the evenings. A private path allows access without leaving the property.
Despite the proximity, the villas remain secluded. The sense is less of visiting nature, more of being immersed within it.
Restaurant The Tamarind
Food is central to the experience.
Restaurant The Tamarind anchors the retreat, both physically and conceptually. The renowned Tamarind Restaurant focuses on modern Asian flavours, guided by seasonal produce and regional suppliers.
The cooking is confident rather than showy. Dishes arrive considered and balanced. Meals unfold at an unhurried pace. You’re encouraged to savour, not rush.
The Tamarind Cooking School adds a more hands-on layer for those interested. Sessions are practical, relaxed, and flavour-driven — not performative.
Spa Anise and Unstructured Time
Spa Anise complements the retreat without defining it. Treatments are calm, well-executed, and quietly professional. Some guests book multiple sessions. Others don’t book at all.
Between hot tubs, garden paths, long lunches, and slow evenings, there’s no shortage of ways to occupy your time. Or not. Doing very little fits easily here. If all thi sis not enough, checkpout our guide Things to Do In Maleny.
While many guests arrive for a two-night stay, longer visits suit the pace of the place — particularly for those looking to properly disconnect.
Booking and Who it Suits
Spicers Tamarind Retreat offers consistency rather than novelty. It suits couples. It suits repeat visitors. It suits travellers who value quiet over entertainment.
For those comparing Sunshine Coast Hinterland luxury accommodation, this retreat stands apart for its villa layout, privacy, and onsite dining. It doesn’t try to do everything — and that restraint is exactly what makes it work.