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Sunshine Coast Daily
May 16
1999
by Valerie and Gerry Zwart
The Blackall range has much to interest both tourists and residents alike. Attractive villages contain everything from delightful art studios to beautiful walking tracks, all types of food outlets including prize-winning restaurants, and a very broad range of accomodation venues.
This week we discovered Treetops Cabins on the Lake and felt we must share it with you.
Although Treetops has only been open for about 16 months, it has been so well designed that it fits cosily into the property beside Lake Baroon, without disturbing the natural suroundings.
Owners George and Aldy Johnston have 18 ha of lush rainforest, with the lake on one side and Queensland State forest and Kondalilla national Park on the other. into this supurb area, they have built the reception and six treehouses - the latter all well separated and reached by raised timber walkways in the rainforest canopy.
Less than one hectare has been used, and this so discreetly that it has enhanced the area. Each treehouse has delightful views of the lake through the canopy. Local potters, blacksmith, glass blower and woodcarvers have been employed to add some unique touches to both the inside and outside of buildings, with walkway railings carved to depict a variety of animals and reptiles. Even the garden lamps have added features to suit their surroundings.
The front entrance has colourful planter boxes below the windows and a water feature created from the local rock provides the welcoming sound of gently falling water. Indeed, the only sounds one here are the waterfall and many kinds of birds singing happily.
Below the elevated walkways, easily accessed meandering paths lead through the surrounding gardens, with large tree trunks and rocks providing natural borders. Friendly wildlife such as goannas and possums go about their business, and we saw a very busy whipbird gathering food. The addition of palms treeferns and other exotics between the existing growth, as well as natural elkhorns, staghorns and birdsnest ferns high in the canopy provide the finishing touches. Down towards the lake, sweeping lawns with Attractive palms and other trees bordering the water provide a lovely area to pause and watch the ibis and herons grazing along the waters edge, and waterlilies float in the protected corner. This beautiful property also provides access to walking tracks through the ancient rainforest with natural rockpools, or you may prefer canoeing on the lake.
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