Head to the Irish bar

Finbar’s Irish Bar is at 12 Bicentennial Lane and is a popular venue for lovers of Celtic music and…pizza, seeing as it has a wood-fired oven. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome – just make sure you’re staying somewhere comfortable like the Blue Summit Cottages, because the Guinness flows…

Walk the Blackall Range

This gorgeous mountain range has lots of trails, walks, parks, picnic areas and lookout points to discover. It’s also the only area where the Bunya pine grows naturally. As a guest at Blue Summit you can have private access to old Bunya pines growing on part of the 82 acres that now makes up this beautiful property.

Taste the cheese

The Maleny Cheese boutique offers a taste of Europe to visitors, from feta to water buffalo cheese, there’s loads to try. You can’t tour due to health and safety regulations, but you can observe proceedings (procheesedings?) from the upstairs café.

Sample some wines

Maleny Mountain Wines offers a selection of wines to taste for $5 and if you decide to buy a case or bottle, the fee is refunded! There’s also a sweet little café.

Mooch along Maple Street

Maleny’s main street has some lovely, independent shops, cafes and restaurants, as well as the Rosetta bookshop. Just wander around at your own pace and see what you can see.

Visit Crystal Waters Eco Village

A little way out of Maleny – 26km – is this amazing, 650-acre community co-operative offers all sorts of treats and experiences, from retreats, feng-shui and wildlife management courses. 65 Kilcoy Lane, Conondale.

Hit the trails

Maleny is surrounded by several state and national parks that feature trails and climbing routes of all grades – some wheelchair and pushchair accessible – so that everyone can enjoy the nature and the scenery.

Go barefoot bowling

That’s right – bowling, barefoot. Apparently it causes less damage to the green. Best of all, a bowling session at Maleny Bowls Club (2, Bunya Street) often ends with homecooked food and a few drinks.

Go down the Pocket

The Pocket is the locals’ nickname for the Baroon Pocket dam, a 380-hectare lake that is surrounded by picnic spots and trails. You can swim and fish in the lake, but you need to watch out for the cheeky kookaburras who want your lunch!

Visit Australia Zoo

This world-famous zoo, established by the late celebrity wildlife expert Steve Irwin, offers visitors the chance to watch crocodiles feeding, as well as to get up close and personal with many more creatures.