Swooning Over Secrets on the Lake
It’s time to treat yourself to a trip to this award-winning retreat with handcrafted treehouses, stunning vistas, fantastic food and a sense of calm you won’t find anywhere else. Rebecca Jamieson Dwyer discovers more about the Coast’s best-kept secret.
There’s something about Secrets on the Lake that makes people exhale the moment they arrive. Maybe it’s the crisp hinterland air, the glimpse of Lake Baroon flashing through the trees, or simply the sense that you’ve stepped away from real life and into a precious pocket of calm. Whatever it is, it doesn’t take long before shoulders drop, heart rates slow and everyone remembers how nice it feels to just… relax.
For more than 28 years, George and Aldy Johnston have poured their hearts into creating this lakeside retreat, just a seven-minute drive from the quaint village of Montville.
Secrets on the Lake isn’t just a collection of beautifully built treehouses; it’s the result of decades of craft, creativity and the duo’s generous philosophy about how people should feel when they go away for a break.
It’s a place for couples, families and anyone who needs a truly tranquil reset – the kind you can’t get from a rushed weekend at an overcrowded resort. Each treehouse has its own personality, with hand-carved details, cosy corners and views that make you want to sit still.
Aldy says that guests often design their own rhythm: “You can paddle a canoe across the lake, wander through the gardens, head out on the Sunshine Coast Great Walk, play pool, book a massage or stay on your deck with a cheese board with no intention of being productive,” she says. “It looks like early-morning birdsong for some; sleep-ins without guilt for others.”
If you’re looking for a place to celebrate the festive season, Secrets knows how to make it feel super special. Right through to the end of December, their atmospheric restaurant, Dining on the Deck, takes on a cheerful buzz as friends, families and workmates gather over long lunches with views of the gently swaying rainforest and sparkling lake.
The team has created an à la carte Christmas menu for everyday diners, along with a group menu for celebrations of 15 or more. The ingredients are seasonal, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the view does half the hosting for you. It’s a busy time, so booking ahead is very much recommended!
Of course, some people prefer to escape the Christmas rush entirely – and for them, a treehouse getaway is hard to beat.
Swap crowded shops for rainforest walks, trade stress for stillness, and let the sunshine, the lake and a private deck do their thing.
Whether you’re celebrating with a partner or bringing the family for a slow summer escape, Secrets gives you space to reconnect over fun, wholesome activities such as canoeing, fishing, bushwalking, playing billiards, getting massages and more.
“Many guests return every year for that exact reason,” says Aldy.
“It becomes their special place, woven into their family traditions.”
Once the festive season is firmly in the rear-view mirror, the Secrets on the Lake team gears up for one of their favourite annual traditions: Love Month, running for the whole of February.
George and Aldy have always believed that love deserves more than a single day – and with a 67-year love story behind them, it’s clear they know a thing or two. They first met as high school teenagers who rode their bikes to class and sat near each other whenever they could. After graduation, life took them in different directions – Aldy became a teacher, George became an electrician and travelled the world – until, at 24, George tracked down her phone number and asked her to a Highland ball. The rest is history!
“Running Secrets has been a long journey, but we’ve always had rules: look out for each other, back each other up, keep small gestures alive, and never leave the property without saying goodbye,” says Aldy. “So it becomes 365 days of being a team.”
During Love Month, Dining on the Deck becomes a hub for all kinds of love-fuelled celebrations – anniversaries, proposals, reunions, or simply two people deciding to treat themselves.
This year, anyone dining in February can enter a draw to win one of three prizes. First prize is a $500 treehouse voucher; second prize is two monogrammed robes; and third prize is a bottle of Louis Perdrier plus a luxe box of divine Montville Country Chocolates.
It’s a great excuse to make a booking and an even better excuse to linger!
Throughout summer, the restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 4pm for breakfast, lunch, morning tea and afternoon tea. The fresh air, lake views and the gentle hum of rainforest wildlife are all amazing but the real highlight is being able to experience it with people you love.
If you’re ready to recoup, revive and thrive this holiday season and beyond, it’s time to book your trip to Secrets on the Lake! You’ll love it!
Celebrate Love IN February!
Make a booking at Secrets on the Lake’s Dining on the Deck restaurant any day during Love Month – not just Valentine’s Day – and you’ll go in the draw to win:
FIRST PRIZE: A $500 voucher towards a treehouse stay
SECOND PRIZE: 2 monogrammed robes
THIRD PRIZE: A bottle of Louis Perdrier French sparkling + Montville Country Chocolates
Be sure to book early, as tables fill quickly!
Visit www.diningonthedeck.com.au
DISCOVER THE SECRET:
Click here to read the ebook, The magic of Secrets: 35 years in the making
