Worldsaway Retreat

Worldsaway Retreat is a stunning eco friendly Ocean View retreat, just 50 minutes by car from Brisbane, yet literally worlds away.

Australian owned and operated, Worldsaway Retreat is simply breathtaking from the moment guests enter the property until the stars come out to play in the evening. Owner, Dean Sullivan has created a slice of heaven, set on 40 acres of hillside at Ocean View and overlooking the Rocksberg Valley below.

The breathtaking vista from the two luxury cabins and three campsites affords visitors stunning views from Noosa to the Redcliffe Peninsula.The absolute stars of the show, however, are the beautiful Glasshouse Mountains which draw the eye to them time and time again.

This property was logged 40 years ago with a portion later used as a banana plantation. Retreat Manager, Fiona MacLean offers genuinely warm hospitality and happily takes guests on guided walks and hikes through the property, stopping to enjoy the retreat's waterfall, rock pools, creek and the headwaters of the Caboolture River.For keen walkers and those who enjoy a fine wine, Fiona has a special hike to the Ocean View Estate winery where visitors can enjoy a little tasting at the cellar door and something delicious at the winery's restaurant.

Whilst this area has much to offer, the temptation to just "be" is overwhelming. Having visited over 100 countries as he's travelled the world, Dean is well placed to know what It takes to create something truly special - and he has. The design, decor and perfect aspect of these cabins combine to deliver a very unique destination to those lucky enough to visit. Artwork and prints from Dean's travels give cause for both contemplation and inspiration, whilst the peace and tranquility of Worldsaway slows the heartbeat and calms the soul.

The interiors of the cabins are beautiful and guests are sure to enjoy relaxing on the covered timber deck which joins the two wings of each cabin. Here, the ironbark of a locally crafted private bar beckons and as the sun rises from below the horizon, this is the place to be. The skyline lights up with hot pinks and vibrant oranges as the sun makes its way to a new day. At the other end of the day it's also the spot to enjoy a bottle of bubbly and a pre-dinner platter of whatever takes your fancy. As the sun says farewell, the stars and the far-off lights from the surrounding area below turn the view into a twinkling fairyland.

Whether it's a romantic weekend, a family get together or simply a time to spend with friends away from the daily grind, Worldsaway Retreat is a special place to be. Each of the cabins at the retreat have two wings and can sleep 6 people, utilizing the fold out sofas in the lounge rooms. In one wing are two queen bedrooms and a bathroom whilst the other wing houses a second bathroom, kitchen and lounge. The kitchen is well stocked with crockery, cutlery, glassware, cooking utensils, saucepans and basic pantry items. The cabins are self contained with a full sized fridge, oven and cooktop. A surround sound stereo system delivers your music inside the cabins and onto the decks, via your personal devices. There are no televisions here, the views from floor to ceiling windows in the bedroom and lounge room command guests' full attention.

Three campsites (aptly named Heaven, Stars and Clouds) are serviced by an amenities block that is of a standard that isn't found in campgrounds. Facilities here include 2 bathrooms (each with shower, toilet and vanity), two washing machines, two dryers, an iron and ironing board, a large ice-making stainless steel fridge and a seperatel ice-making machine. These facilities can also be utilized by guests staying in the cabins when they are using the retreat's entertainment pagoda - that's right, there's more.

The entertainment pagoda stands alone on the property and here you will find: the BBQ, an umbrella heater, two hammocks, Thai day beds, tables, chairs, a large esky for cold drinks (ice from the ice machine in the amenities building) a full stereo system, a DVD player and a drop-down projector screen - perfect for movie nights. Alongside the pagoda is a large campfire pit, all set to go and just in need of a match.

Whilst this all sounds like a "couples retreat", Fiona says the demographic of the retreat's guests is varied, with families enjoying the open spaces, nature and of course, feeding the resident goats.

Not surprisingly the birdlife here is wonderful: finches, kookaburras, owls, hawks, butcher birds, magpies, wedge-tail Eagles, sulphur crested cockatoos, black cockatoos, whip birds, bell birds, lyrebirds and lorikeets all provide nature's soundtrack for a stay here and the addition of over 1,000 plants to the property is an open invitation to birds and wildlife. In quiet times, wallabies can also be seen on the property and four very contented cows can be found grazing in the paddock. Not to be outdone by the wildlife, the four-legged welcoming committee of Harry and Juanita keep a close eye on guests during their stay.

Future plans here include the addition of another cabin, able to sleep 8 and a range of wellness retreats. Dean says, "The retreat as it is now is just the canvas - the real artwork is yet to come - so watch this space".

In a nutshell - Treat yourself to a stay at the beautiful Worldsaway Retreat where it really is enough to "simply be".

By Sandy Ludinski

Must do Brisbane.com was a guest of Worldsaway Retreat