Spicers Tamarind Retreat

We dined at the Tamarind Restaurant in Maleny Qld this week. The carpark and entry are tricky to navigate as it is quite dark with little lighting making it unsafe. The ambience is good and the service was good but a bit overdone.
Unfortunately, the menu only allows set courses with the dearer one paired with wine for $245 per person. The cheapest is a set three course at $102 per person but you need to pay an extra $20 per person if you want fish! Had we known this in advance we would not have booked. Their web site, while it has “menu” on it , doesn’t allow you to open it so that you can study it. Obviously, a deliberate ploy to get you in.
The wine list is extensive but expensive. There is 10% surcharge for Sunday plus a 1% card fee.
I have eaten better Asian food for far less cost so I have a lot of difficulty recommending it based on our experience. I could only give it 3 stars based on value for money.

Restaurant meals for dinner and Breakfast were delicious. Close to Gardener Falls and other local sites.

Location
The natural environment, the bird calls , hearing the falls ,a fireplace , a bath

Perhaps having lived abroad and travelled widely - and only recently relocated back to the Sunshine Coast - we had higher expectations of this place as being something of a ‘5 star’ resort. However, it is nowhere close.

Our Spa Studio villa was ‘nice’ in that it had the promised outdoor hot tub, and a pleasant aspect overlooking the rainforest. The bed was big and comfortable too, and the bathroom was huge. We also had a personalised welcome card which was a nice touch.

Otherwise it felt very basic. The sliding door entry is reminiscent of a motel, there was a very grubby mat inside for wiping feet (at least leave a clean mat), the towels were threadbare, shower tiles cracked, and overall lacking any character or personal touch - like some fresh flowers instead of pots of diffuser sticks.

As for the hot tub, it is actually a 37 degree warm tub that you can’t increase the temperature of - so in a cold month like when we visited it just feels lukewarm. It was also not properly full and the water was very brown. Maybe that’s cedar hot tub water colour, but it seemed slightly strange.

I will review the restaurant separately but our experience was generally underwhelming - especially for dinner which was overpriced, under portioned, stiffly served and with an inappropriately expensive wine pairing option which we had to formally complain about and have partially refunded. Breakfast was much better.

Plus points are privacy, quiet, location and aspect. If I had paid half what this place cost I might have reviewed it differently, but at AUD $650 a night (with a breakfast included deal), this is a very expensive place by Australian standards, and should be so much better - like a LOT better.

The staff and food

Just beautiful

Last time we stayed at Spicers Tamarind back in June 2025, we rated it a 5. However after staying this time we feel like things have changed.
We like to stay here because it has it all, private and peaceful accommodation, great parking plus an onsite restaurant. However general maintenance appears lacking this time with visible cobwebs etc. Our room had 3 spiders inside and a couple of tiles cracked in the bathroom. Whilst the villas are in the bush and it maybe expected, pest control needs to be top of mind.
Breakfast was ok but was missing the little extras. Previously we were served fresh yoghurt and berries with homemade banana bread. This time it was a couple of sad pieces of melon with watermelon juice which was quite a strange taste, presume extra sugar added. The area designated for breakfast used to be the front dining area which has a veranda overlooking the property however it appears this is not an option now.
The food quality in the restaurant for dinner was also not good. If the restaurant is not maintained to a high standard then the overnight experience no longer remains a preferred getaway, especially for the 5 star price charged

We had perfect celebration for my partner’s birthday at Spicers Tamarind Retreat in Maleny. It was absolutely lovely!
Nestled in a gorgeous private, tropical setting. Excellent villa accommodation and an outstanding restaurant. We loved it 🩷

Great location very relaxing our own hot tub very clean staff very friendly great mini bar selection