BARB and Lloyd Campbell just wanted to retire on their hinterland property but five years later it has been named Queensland’s top retreat.
Yabbaloumba Retreat has taken out the HotelsCombined Stellar Stays award for Queensland and placed fifth in Australia with an almost perfect score of 9.94 out of 10.
HotelsCombined is the world’s biggest hotel-search website and based the competition on millions of ratings by travellers.
But the Campbells, who have 80 years of tourism experience between them, originally bought the 80ha property to retire on.
Barb said she built the retreat’s cottages to share her love of the hinterland, not for personal rewards.
“We’re definitely trying to retire here,” she said.
“It’s a lifestyle choice for us. We love to be able to share what we have here and, working in tourism for so long, it’s nice to see the wow factor on people’s faces.
“If you’re honest about what you’re delivering, the awards speak for themselves. We don’t nominate ourselves for them.”
Yabbaloumba has also received two excellence awards from Trip Advisor to add to Lloyd’s 2004 Most Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to Queensland Tourism award.
They have a saying at Yabbaloumba, “Lose yourself in the romance of nature”, which couldn’t be more appropriate.
Wild deer can often be seen drinking from one of the two creeks that converge on the property, which is about a 30-minute drive past Mapelton, nestled between the Conondale Ranges and the Imbil State Forest.
Barb is incredibly passionate about promoting the hinterland.
“(The award) gives us an edge on other operators but more importantly, it promotes the region.
“It’s important to let people know that the hinterland doesn’t finish at Maleny.
“If we’re successful, then everyone else is.
“No one comes just for us. They come to see what’s available in the entire region.”