There’s just something about this picnic that has me dreaming of Jane Austen novels. Maybe it’s the wicker basket or the way our cheese board is delicately tied up with a sprig of lavender. Or perhaps it’s the rolling hills, where I can easily picture Mr Darcy appearing in the distance, white shirt and all.

Beechmont Estate, in the Gold Coast Hinterland, is certainly a world apart from Jane Austen’s English countryside, but for a special moment, it feels like we’ve stepped away from reality and into our own little romance novel.

Image: Beechmont Estate

One hour’s drive inland from Surfers Paradise, or for us, a 90-minute drive south of Brisbane, Beechmont Estate sits behind grand gates on the edge of the Scenic Rim. There are just 21 cabins, three larger pavilions and one very grand Owner’s Residence, clustered around a central lodge. No matter your type of romance, it’s a spot that’s perfect for loved-up honeymooners.

Grand Gestures

If your romance is one of grand gestures, you could of course book the entire Estate for a wedding, or a special anniversary. Plan a long lunch at The Paddock Restaurant, where you’ll work with chefs to design your menu, add little touches like fresh flowers on all the tables, and perhaps write a speech to share with your sweetheart and your closest family and friends.

Image: Dylan Evans Photo

Food for the Soul

The Paddock Restaurant has a chef’s hat under its belt and a team in the kitchen dedicated to putting the local produce on your plate in spectacular fashion. At dinner time, you can choose two or three courses, from a seasonally changing menu, or why not throw out the rule book and choose Paddock Table, where the chefs choose the menu and all you need to do is enjoy the culinary ride. We start with whipped potato butter and whole wheat bread, moving on to shaved pumpkin marinated with olive oil and served with overnight germinated seeds. There’s pork shoulder and rainbow chutney, with port fat cured in egg yolk. A wagyu rump cut with pink oyster mushrooms is as decadent as it sounds. Dessert is strawberries and cream, with charcoal marshmallow that tastes just like pound cake. This feast is definitely not your average fare.

Small Touches

If your love language likes the little things, you’re in luck, because the Beechmont Estate team are all about the details. For me, I’m instantly enamoured with the pot belly fireplace in our bedroom. Each day, fresh firewood is delivered straight to our door, so each night, my other half has flames merrily burning away in minutes. Curled up cosy in the glow of a wood fire is my happy place.

Mood Lighting

Well away from the bright lights of the big city (and Surfers Paradise strip) there’s a plethora of stars to light your night. On our short walk from dinner back to our cabin, we take the time to look up and soak in the view. In summer, snuggle up on your balcony and watch the sky with a wine or two.

Image: Beechmont Estate

Romantic Picnics

Let’s get back to my picnic. The chefs can prepare a hamper for guests to take out on the 75 acres of grounds, or further afield into Lamington National Park. You’ll be fueled up for your bushwalk with this beautiful feast. We unwrap our cheese board, diving into beetroot hummus and cured meats, before realising we each have a steak sandwich waiting for us in the basket, along with lavosh, breads and a whipped yoghurt fruit salad for dessert.

A Few Celebratory Drinks

Whether it’s bubbles, cocktails, a bottle of Australian wine, or a nightcap or two, the well-stocked bar awaits you. The bartenders are passionate about their tipples, working with the chefs to make their own syrups and dehydrated garnishes straight from the kitchen garden. Book in for a cocktail tasting and you’ll have a front-row seat to the magic of cocktail making, or settle in outside for a wine and cheese tasting and wind down for the afternoon.

Whether you and your special someone want to strike out and explore, or stay in and soak up the scenery, Beechmont Estate knows just how to lean into all things romance.

Lisa was the guest of Northern Escape Collection.

About Lisa Perkovic: Lisa has spent the past decade travelling the world writing for Australia’s leading newspapers, magazines, and blogs about all things travel. Her own honeymoon was her pièce de résistance – an epic journey to the Maldives and South Africa. Now she loves nothing more than sharing destinations and tips to help other newlyweds work out how to have the honeymoon of their dreams.