Blackall Range Hinterland

The Blackall Range is the hinterland ridge behind the Sunshine Coast, a plateau of rainforest, farmland, and small towns sitting 400-500 metres above the coastal plain. The contrast with the beach towns below is striking — cooler temperatures, ferns, waterfalls, and Queensland rainforest instead of sand and surf.

The main access road from the coast runs from Landsborough through Maleny and Montville, with lookout points offering views back toward the coast and the Glass House Mountains. Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve near Maleny has a 55-hectare patch of lowland subtropical rainforest with well-maintained walking tracks and good birdwatching. Montville itself is a tourist town with cafes, galleries, and craft shops; Mapleton has a waterfall and forest walks accessible without crowds. The range is a classic Sunshine Coast day trip from the beach.

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A story
The town of Montville in the Blackall Range sits at 450 metres elevation and was settled largely by European immigrants in the late 19th century — Danish, English, and German farmers who found the cooler climate and red volcanic soil suited to dairying and small farming. The arts and crafts economy that now sustains the town developed gradually from the 1970s as artists moved into the affordable hinterland properties. Montville has been called the "rainforest village" and draws weekend visitors from the coast throughout the year.

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