After Saturday’s winter solstice heralded the beginning of winter’s really cold weather, we put our cabin-hunting caps on to find some accommodation that turns up the heat.

We’re thinking indoor fireplaces, saunas and spas – and, believe it not, some of the best can be found across the sunshine state.

If you’re keen for a cute little getaway, these cosy cottages and cabins are perfect for a winter weekend escape.

Sunshine Coast

Lovestone Cottages, Montville

Wake up in total seclusion to a symphony of cicadas and Australian kfing parrots serenading the exterior of your Lovestone Cottage in Montville.

Nestled within a two-hectare rainforest and near a 300-year-old fig tree, this is the place for a romantic waltz with nature.

Some of Lovestone Cottages unique features include nearby waterfall walks, locally-sourced meals delivered to your door and sipping bubbles in your own spa bath. The hardest decision you’ll have to make is whether to book the Maple, Rosewood or Quandong Cottage.

Bookings here

Donnington Ridge, Maleny

Want to teach your kids all about digital detoxes and reconnecting with nature? Donnington Ridge in Maleny might be just the spot for you to pull up for the weekend.

This off-grid eco-friendly stay is set on 6½ hectares of pristine bushland (Kabi Kabi land) offering 360-degree views of the Glasshouse Mountains out to Moreton Island and is undoubtably the best place to take in golden hour. Other notable features include a woodfire pizza oven, outdoor bath and life-size outdoor games.

Bookings here

Adventure and relaxation is available at Lake Weyba Cottage. Photo: Facebook

Lake Weyba Cottage, Peregian Beach

Nestled on the shore of Lake Weyba and a 15-minute drive from Noosa, this Peregian Beach accommodation is the ideal location for a romantic weekend with your significant other or for a reunion with your high school besties.

Each cottage has a double spa, an indoor wood fire (winter only), smart televisions and plenty to see on eight hectares of gardens, lagoons and grazing kangaroos.

Feeling adventurous? Go wild with the complimentary use of canoes, mountain bikes and fishing rods available. Or, if you’re desperate to relax, aromatic oil therapy and facials are available to book direct to your cottage. Can we please go this weekend?

Bookings here

Tallowwood Cabin, Maleny

Feel completely and utterly out of sight, out of mind at the quaint and cutesy Tallowwood Cabin in Maleny. Enjoy complimentary breakfast at the breakfast bar overlooking the lush garden, before curling up with a good book and cup of tea while the world melts away.

Located a half-hour from Sunshine Coast Airport and close to Australia Zoo, this quiet hideaway might be easy to find but is extremely difficult to leave.

Bookings here

Gold Coast hinterland

Homeostasis Retreats, Tamborine Mountain

As the name suggests, this wellness cabin overlooking the rainforest on Tamborine Mountain is a magical home-away-from-home oasis.

Unwind with your own private bathhouse, fireplace, fire pit, micro-organic gardens and chicken pen. Enjoy the complimentary wellness menu which has been curated with local practitioners to enhance your stay.

Need more space? Haul up for the night at the Main Haus, which can be booked in combination with the Wellness Cabin to sleep up to 11 guests.

Bookings here

Serenity and scenery at Beechmont Estate. Photo: Weekend Edition

Beechmont Estate, Beechmont

Rolling up to the grand gates of Beechmont Estate, the scenery is nothing short of breathtaking. The long driveway guides you up past hills dotted by charming cabins until you reach the main estate.

Stay a weekend in the Hinterland View Cabin, complete with a fireplace and panoramic views on the back deck, and you’ll feel blissfully relaxed.

Also important to note is the on-site restaurant, The Paddock, which has a sustainable and ethical farm-to-table ethos and provides the freshest food (minus the washing up too!).

Booking here

Water & Woods, Springbrook

Become one with nature at the picturesque Cosy Cabin Getaway in the Gondwana rainforest. Some notable features of this cabin is the outdoor bath, exposed cathedral-style interior, breakfast bar and rainforest views from all windows.

With limited phone access, Water & Woods invites guests to fully switch off for the weekend. Say goodbye to pesky work emails and hello to serenity.

Bookings here

Acute Abode, Currumbin Valley

Everything you need under one pointy roof. Cradled in the heart of Currumbin Valley, the Acute Abode is a unique yet cosy escape.

On the outside, the A-frame building is a majestic gentle giant offering an aesthetic takeover for your Instagram feed. Inside the belly of the beast is an open-plan living and kitchen area, split-level loft-style bedroom that peers over through the colossal windows, and a beautifully designed bathroom.

Don’t leave your furry friends behind over the winter weekend as they are also welcome to enjoy Acute Abode with you (pre-approval is required).

Bookings here

Neranwoods, Springbrook

Attention sauna lovers, here’s a place for you. Wake up at Neranwoods Bathhouse Cottage or Hillside Cabin and enjoy a lovingly restored country-style property.

Suited for couples or small groups and just 15 minutes off the M1 and Robina, this is the ideal rendezvous for those seeking a cosy getaway close to home.

Bookings here

The wood-fired hot tub at Palmer & Gunn. Photo: Weekend Edition

Palmer & Gunn, Austinville Valley

Let us show you the tiniest stay to feature in this article. Tucked away in the lush Gold Coast hinterland, the Wee Tiny cabin by Palmer&Gunn is a cosy combination of all the right things you’ll need to enjoy an off-grid winter experience – even just for the weekend.

Think high-pitched ceilings, quality French linen and a clawfoot iron tub to help live out your Victorian-era dreams. For us, the piece de resistance is the wood-fired hot tub perched right on the creek under the stars, the perfect spot to slow down and reconnect.

Bookings here

Mouses Rainforest Retreat, Springbrook

We might be cheating here as this retreat is technically a chalet. However, we’ll make an exception due to the fact it can accommodate larger groups.

On the property are 14 chalets, kitted out with hardwood timber furnishings, homely fittings and alluring views. If you’re a hardcore Disney fan then you’ll be excited to know that every chalet is named after Disney characters – furthering providing a unique charm and magic.

Bookings here

This article first appeared in The Weekend Edition. Read the original here