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If I could give this stay Six Stars I would. We have stayed here several times over a number of years and this stay didn’t disappoint. From the moment you arrive at Secrets you know you have just arrived somewhere very special. We booked the Possums Cabin including breakfast as well as the BBQ dinner pack and a welcome Cheese platter. Everything was perfect, so much food and so beautifully presented and tasty. I also need gluten free food and this was very well cared for. The coffee in the Restaurant is excellent.
We decided to have our breakfast in the beautiful Secrets restaurant, the food, the view and the staff were excellent. These cabins have been here for a very long time but are in pristine condition, so well maintained. Everything that you need for your stay is here, plenty of firewood, the fire is easy to light, you air conditioner as a backup, blankets to take out side and sit on the beautiful swing, a small kitchen with plenty utensils, a BBQ on the balcony, a very comfortable bed, bathroom products, candles to light around your spa…… the list goes on!
So as you can see we loved it all! Thank you so much to George, Aldy and the Secrets team for an another amazing stay. See you next time🌺
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Personally I think the colder months are better because you can use the fire but I can image...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
If you're looking for a romantic escape for one or a few nights, this is the place! Honestly my husband and I only managed one night away, but we feel like we were away for 3 days! If you can't find romance and relaxation here, you won't find it anywhere! I booked directly over the phone and everything was quick and easy. We arrived at 1:30pm and George the owner (the most delightful man and loved chatting with him) showed us to our room and explained things, like using the fireplace and spa. We stayed in Waterlillies which is the closest to the lake and we loved it. All the treehouses seem so gorgeous and private, I don't think you can go wrong here. The whole property is an oasis. We really were blown away by the stunning gardens, lake and sheer tranquility of it all. We immediately explored our treehouse and the surrounding area. Loved the curved timber swing on our deck, the intricate carvings everywhere and the special touches, like candles, a fresh rose for a rose petal spa bath, plenty of linen, fluffy bathrobes (bring your slippers, they are an eco friendly place and don't offer the throw away ones) and the divine lavender hand and body lotion. The breakfast hamper is plenty, we didn't have a hope of finishing it all and a hot bag with fresh muffins was placed at our door in the morning. George showed us where to go for a short walk to a little waterfall on the property, through the rainforest. We also kayaked in the morning on the calm lake (Baroon Pocket Dam) in the free ones provided near the little jetty. On check in we were given a $20 voucher, so we used it to have tea and scones at the restaurant in the afternoon which was lovely. I'm keen to go back to the restaurant for lunch, now that Covid restrictions are lifting. The meals coming out looked amazing and the prices were very reasonable. We brought our own dinner and dessert from home and it was easy to heat up in the well equipped kitchen. Checkout was quick and easy and they encouraged us to stay as long as we liked being a quiet check in day when we left.
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Date of stay: May 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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Just finishing off our 4 night stay in the Dragonfly tree house at Secrets on the Lake. Having had our overseas trip to the U.K and New York for our 30th wedding anniversary cancelled due to Covid, and limited alternative options available, we chose Secrets as we have always said we would stay here one day. Our accommodation is excellent and secluded with great views of the lake and decorated with ornate wooden furniture and carvings, and a log fire great for the cold evenings. Had an excellent Christmas in July meal in the restaurant one day and we purchased a BBQ pack on another day to cook in our accommodation, which was good value. The hot croissants or muffins delivered daily and the breakfast basket we received on arrival was also a nice touch. Although disappointed that we could not travel overseas as planned, we are glad we chose Secrets as our alternative and we are sure that we will return in the future.
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Date of stay: July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aldath Johnston, Owner at Secrets On The Lake
Responded 4 Sept 2020
Thank you so much for your extensive review. It gives others a clear idea of what we offer. It was our gain that you couldn't travel. So thank so much for visiting us. Kind regards George and Aldy!
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Our stay was actually in November 2018 to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary because we had our honeymoon there, but also to have a little getaway before we moved to the UK. We’ve been there a few times to either stay or eat at the main house restaurant over those 10 years and the quality has not waned at all in that time.
The treehouses are magical not only because of their quality but because of the incredible carving along the walkways and in the treehouses throughout. The spa bath fit for two people overlook the lake and on arrival are surrounded by rose petals and chocolates, and the music is relaxing and welcoming all the same. Not to mention the shower in the secrets cabin looking out onto a waterfall when the rain has been good.
The porch as a wooden couple swing overlooking the lake and forest, and there is a bbq for use with table and chairs, and if so desired you would not need to leave the treehouse. In the morning your hot croissants and newspaper (if you wish) are delivered to your door in a heat bag, and the breakfast basket included in the price is filled with local products, fruit, home baked goods and eggs.
This place has my heart and my husband and I will continue to visit, in fact it will be one of our first stops when we return from the UK to the Sunshine Coast in a couple of years. The owners truly have created a unique place to be cherished and preserved.
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Date of stay: November 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Secretsonthelake, Owner at Secrets On The Lake
Responded 20 Mar 2020
Hello Intrepid Nurse Thankyou for your wonderful review. George and I love our place. We are amazed when we consider the decisions we made back in 1995 when we planned Secrets on the Lake. Today we can offer a delightful secluded and peaceful break in a rainforest accessed by boardwalks and with views across our beautiful gardens to Lake Baroon which at present is brimful. We are here for those seeking perfect isolation. We can offer pre-registration online. Guests need just to ask. We can provide BBQs and meals from our cabin menu to the room prepared by our chefs. Our restaurant is an outdoor restaurant where every detail is in place. Look forward to when you are able to return to our peace of heaven. Kind regards Aldy.
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Don’t miss out on this, book your next holiday here, the perfect, relaxing getaway, high in the treetops, overlooking the lake with only sounds of cicadas and birds, the worries of the world will fall off your shoulders. We have now stayed in 3 of the cabins - The Bower, The Nest, and Lizards Lair. Each one had a swing seat on a deck, overlooking the most sensational picturesque view. Spa bath is great to do at night, candles provided, BYO drink of choice (or use the complementary wine given on arrival for repeat guests). Attention to detail is phenomenal, the upkeep so meticulous, you can’t fault this one. Bravo to the owners for thinking of everything to make your stay memorable and comfortable. Recommend to stay in and make use of the treehouse as that is the pearl in the oyster, as well as going to see sights and getting out and about (right on doorstep of quaint and cute Montville).
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Date of stay: January 2021
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Couples could choose any of the treehouses, The Nest is very big and private.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aldath Johnston, Owner at Secrets On The Lake
Responded 13 Feb 2021
Pleased you had a great time. Although our place is extraordinarily beautiful its the company that counts. We were very lucky that the council, that built the Lake, were not interested in tourism at all which allowed us to buy our land in the first place. The rest is the result of hard work and some amazing wood workers and our friend Ralf the blacksmith. George and I love this place., so pleased that yo do too. Kind regards Aldy.
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We first saw Secrets on the Lake on a travel show and decided that we just had to stay here! Secrets is so unbelievably beautiful it takes your breath away! We are frequent travellers and have travelled all over Australia and also the world and Secrets must be one of our favourite places that we have ever stayed in. From the moment we arrived, we were met with the warmest of greetings from the staff, which continued throughout our stay. Nothing was too much trouble and they were so friendly and so professional that you instantly felt relaxed! So we knew we were in for an amazing stay. We stayed in the Dragonfly Luxury Penthouse and it was absolutely stunning! When we opened the door the view took our breath away! We were greeted with panoramic views over Lake Baroon and I don't think I have ever taken so many photos, The sunsets were mesmerising. We were shown around our treehouse which contained everything you could possibly think of, nothing has been overlooked. Our treehouse had a sunken spa with views over the lake, and even chocolates were left next to the spa! There is an abundance of beautiful soft towels and the bed and pillows are so comfortable and soft I cannot even remember going to sleep! The toiletries are beautiful and I bought some to take home so I could continue using the beautiful products at home.
We had pre-ordered a cheese platter and spent the afternoon on the deck enjoying a sensational cheese platter with cheese from Maleny Cheeses ( which was delicious)! and enjoyed a bottle of wine while soaking in the stunning view! It really doesn't get any better than this! The treehouses are so private and so quiet it felt like we were the only ones there which we just loved. We parked the car in the car park and we were shown to our treehouse via the elevated walkways which were so unique. As you walk along the walkway you are greeted by these amazing carvings in the railings of animals and reptiles and there are little secret statues all through the property. The walkways are very easy to walk on and very manageable. The staff take your bags so you don't even have to think about that either! On the deck there is a beautiful wooden swinging chair, this is where I spent most of my time, gently swinging in the warm sunshine and balmy breeze reading my book, this was such a highlight of our stay! We had planned to go to some of the local restaurants for dinner but we loved our treehouse so much that we decided to eat in because we didn't want to leave! The restaurant onsite is open for breakfast, lunch, coffee cake and high teas. You can order your dinner and this is delivered to your room with reheating instructions, our meals were divine! Breakfast is served in the restaurant and is included in your room rate and each morning a bag of fresh croissants is delivered to your room and left discreetly on the shelf near the front door. These are made fresh by the chef and they are so delicious. The gardens are spectacular, they are so pretty and so well maintained, they are absolutely stunning!! We didn't want to leave Secrets and if we could have stayed longer we would have! We will most definitely be back again and again!! It really is a magical place! Thank you so much for making our stay so fantastic and so memorable!!
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Date of stay: January 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in Secrets, which is a beautiful treehouse. The view and overall atmosphere is 5 star. Restaurant staff were amazing, and did not charge for a main I forgot to order as gluten free and could not eat. However, we paid for the Christmas package and whilst there was ample food, much could not be eaten due to dietary requirements which I had advised twice, prior to arrival. There was no effort to indicate what food was gluten free on the Christmas platter, and we had to clarify on delivery. Nectarines were large but not ripe and all fruit was served next to prawns leaving them smelling and tasting of seafood. Garden salad was small and dressing was less than a teaspoon. The turkey was stuffed with gluten causing cross contamination on platter. Simple attention to request for gluten free, and understanding of cross contamination would have meant food was edible instead of needing to be binned to avoid health consequences. Breakfast was meant to be included and as the restaurant was closed for two days of our stay provisions were to be delivered, these only arrived for one day. My husband and I are still trying to work out how 1 tablespoon of butter for two people is generous. Breakfast at the restaurant whilst lovely on the day we had it was meant to be to $20 value each, we ordered $38 of meals, and were then charged nearly $14 for two coffees. Overall, very disappointing, which is a shame as there was so much potential for better when paying close to $2, 700 for a 3 night stay including the Christmas package.
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Date of stay: December 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and I visited Secrets this week to have a morning high tea for our anniversary, we are very glad we did.
The location is beautiful, as is the drive to the venue, with the restaurant nestled in rainforest overlooking the lake. We were seated on the outdoor deck and were delighted to find the table set so beautifully for us, with extra touches like fresh rose petals for our anniversary. The sweets and savouries were delicious, with more food than we could comfortably get through. We found the staff friendly and professional - they appeared to really enjoy providing good service which made the whole experience more enjoyable. We definitely look forward to returning the next time we are on the Sunshine Coast again, and have already recommended the venue to friends. Thank you!
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Date of stay: October 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aldy Johnston, Owner at Secrets On The Lake
Responded 18 Dec 2020
Thank you so much for your lovely review. George and I are pleased you had a memorable anniversary at our place. Kind regards Aldy.
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Had heard Secrets is a lovely restaurant from various friends who have been there so thought it would be a great spot to try for our wedding anniversary. Bit of a mistake really. The view is lovely and the timber decor is beautiful and quite special but that’s not enough for a great anniversary meal.
First it was so busy it was not at all the right atmosphere. Not the restaurants fault they are popular but it’s not the place for a special anniversary lunch. When we arrived and after lining up for some time, we were shown to our table near the main route to the kitchen with a sign on it saying happy anniversary. Great thought except the sign was dirty and clearly an old print out reused and reused so it felt less special on closer inspection.
The menu was fairly limited I thought but just my opinion. We ordered our meals and were served fairly promptly. Wait staff were nice but so busy that we ended up having to attract attention to ask what the soup of the day and fish of the day were by a adding waitress with an arm full of dishes. Would have expected to be told upon seating or at least have it written on a board somewhere.
When the meals arrived, one of them was so inedible and revolting it had to be returned. No one at the table could stomach it. The flavour balance was off with way too much lemon and salt. It was the risotto.
They were nice about it and apologised and changed it for something else which was obviously delayed. the others had eaten before the replacement meal arrived. The replacement meal was ok but nothing to rave about. (Lamb shank)
Upon leaving, they gave all the women a rose which was a lovely touch.
I would suggest a review of the menu and taste the food before they dish it up. Also replace the tacky table signs with something more personal and less reused. I would also suggest the prices don’t suit the quality of the food and more staff on busy days or book a few less people in. We went on a weekend.
We personally won’t be returning. Plenty of restaurants closer to home with better and cheaper food.
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Secrets Montville, Owner at Secrets On The Lake
Responded 26 Feb 2021
I am sorry you were disappointed with your lunch. We appreciate your feedback and met today to discuss the issues. Firstly you made your booking and we accepted it and you were seated at the table that was available. It is a case of first in best dressed. Yes we can be busy but service can be affected due to late arrivals who have been held up on the Highway. However, we have discussed how to improve our service during very busy times. Regarding the food... did you mention your problem with our cafe manager who would have ensured that the food was rectified which is our policy. Unfortunately we all have differing tastes and we sometimes have to live with a poor choice. George always asks me "What do you think I will like." Having fed him for over 50 years I am aware that some like spicy some don't." So food is a personal decision. All the best Aldy Johnston.
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I've just arrived home after three incredible nights staying in Whistle Stop. I had been wanting to stay here for a decade but things just kept getting in the way but finally I managed to score a last minute availability! I found the Whistle Stop Cabin exceeded my expectations the highlights being the bush spa, the old world charm of staying in a building over 100 years old, the lawn, creek, bridge and gardens are visually stunning as well as the private exclusivity given its located seperate from the rest of the accommodation. The soft music playing on arrival was a nice touch as was the complimentary muffins each morning and bonus breakfast basket which is not normally included for stays at Whistle Stop. On the first morning I met George the owner who gave me great knowledge about the property including a secluded waterfall that I could visit - thanks George I had an awesome time adventuring!
I really enjoyed venturing around the main property itself the gardens and lake views are stunning - tip sitting on the jetty at sunset is the best way to finish the day and is very relaxing! I only saw two other guests the whole afternoon venturing around the lawns it was so quiet and peaceful I felt like I had the place to myself!
On checkout I enquired about inspecting some of the other treehouses and Aldy the owner was most accommodating and kind to accompany me as was one of the cleaners Amy who went out of her way to show me through Secrets.
All in all I felt very well looked after here, the accommodation couldn't have been better (except maybe for the addition of Foxtel on Demand or Netflix) and the staff were extremely professional and friendly particularly owners George and Aldy. I can not wait to come back and stay again hopefully in a few months time and I will be raving about the place to my friends and family some of which I'm told have already dined there in the cafe!
Thank you very much for a incredible stay and see you again soon!
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Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Aldath Johnston, Owner at Secrets On The Lake
Responded 1 Apr 2022
Thank so much Justin! Your text would make a wonderful blog about The Whistle Stop and what we offer. I have to admit with a great degree of difficulty Daniel our tech man has only just managed to bounce wifi from reception to our house and then to The Whistle Stop. The signal, from what I have been told, at this stage doesn't cope with netflix. We are still trying to improve this. NBN doesn't make it down the hill unfortunately.George and I are very pleased you enjoyed your stay with us. Kind regards Aldy Johnston.
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Hi Ashmark20,
Montville is 1 1/2 hours drive north of Brisbane situated in the Hinterland above the Sunshine Coast. It's about 2 1/2 hours drive from the Gold Coast. We would love to see you one day.
Driving at legal speed approximately 6 minutes, however if you are a visitor it will be longer as there is so much that is beautiful to see along the way.
There are more places to choose from in the Montville area.
PRICE RANGE
AU$447 - AU$608 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
AustraliaQueenslandSunshine CoastMontville
NUMBER OF ROOMS
13
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect total costs of the stay, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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