Aquila Retreat is only a minute from the centre of Buderim but is a world away from the hustle and bustle. Set on a hillside above the central Sunshine Coast, it is surrounded by its own lavishly landscaped private gardens - four hectares of subtropical beauty which are a fine example of permaculture and biodynamic gardening techniques.

Escape to a tranquil world of exotic and native flowering bushes, where a spring-fed pond, dam and creeks wander through tall stands of bamboo, orchards and vegetable patches surrounded by natural bushland, mountains and coastline.

Aquila Retreat hosts, Horst and Ophelia Rechlin, themselves keen gardeners, spent years understanding the land and preparing the gardens to create a magic environment before building. The result is a holiday house in harmony with nature.