This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.
Perched high in the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is more than just a hotel. Surrounded by ancient beech trees, misty escarpments, and the soundtrack of whipbirds and waterfalls, this is where you can find uninterrupted serenity in the heart of Queensland.
It’s elevated rainforest living, quite literally, as its famous for its canopy walk and direct access to the hiking trails of the national park.
But while it all sounds idyllic on your blue-lit screen, what is it actually like? This review of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Lamington National Park sheds light on what sets it apart from other hotels in the area, and what it’s like to stay there.
If you’re craving cool mountain air, log fires, and views that stretch across the Gold Coast hinterland on a clear day, here is a place where time slows, phone reception fades, and the forest becomes your homes.
- About O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat
- O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat Review: Accommodation
- Amenities at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat
- How to get to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat
- What is there to do at O Reilly's Rainforest Retreat?
- Check-In/Check-Out Experience
- The verdict: would we recommend O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat?
- Gold Coast Travel Tips
About O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
The road to the western edge of the Australia World Heritage-Listed Lamington National Park is long and windy, but at the end of it, is the iconic O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Famous for not only its eco accommodation offerings, but the variety of activities and attractions you can do from its doorstep.
There’s actually a great story behind the family run O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Three generations of O’Reilly family members have been welcoming people through its doors. For over 90 years, this retreat has been their home, and framed by the most beautiful backyard.
We met two generations in the breakfast room, and both were very warm and friendly chatting with all their guests. Jack was even popping bread in the toaster for everyone.
As well as opening their doors to guests, the O’Reilly family have carved their way into the history books. On the 19th of February 1937, when a Stinson airliner crashed into the Lamington Ranges killing four of the seven on board. A search failed to turn up any wreckage, but determined to find the plane, Bernard O’Reilly set out on foot to find it in the thick bush. He found it, along with two people still alive and in desperate need of medical help. They were rescued and survived.
You can follow in his footsteps by following the 35km Stinson walk trail. If you stay at O’Reilly’s, you can go on a guided hike with one of the ancestors of Bernard O’Reilly to the crash site. Talk about a unique experience?
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Review: Accommodation
We drove through the beautiful sub-tropical rainforest and by about the 73rd turn we were over it and hoped that our destination would be worth it. When O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat appeared before us, we were so happy to see it.
And you know what? After our two-night stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, I’d easily do this windy scenic drive again – multiple times!
Sometimes the best places are hidden away to preserve their sanctity, and that’s how it felt at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. The chaos of life cannot enter here. There are just ancient forests, birdsong, potoroos and simplicity.
O’Reilly’s offers a range of accommodation options from the traditional charm of the retreat (formally the guesthouse) or the modern self-contained villas, located 700m away from the main building.
Eco-Villa
Up here in Lamington National Park there are no shops or roads, only a lodge, a Lost World Day Spa, and luxurious eco-villas. And what beautiful villas they are. Modern, contemporary, spacious, and self-contained and designed to melt into the Gondwana rainforest setting.
They had all the amenities you would need for staying in a rainforest, but with the additional luxury ironing boards, towels, and hot showers, plus the rooms were air-conditioned. You also have a full kitchen with a refrigerator, coffee/tea makers, and a big island for preparing meals.
Each villa has all the safety features to ease the minds of worried travelers, such as a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a security system, and window guards. With all these safety features, it felt secure.
You’ve got green mountain views from the balcony, or through the glass fold-back doors if it’s a little chilly. But, don’t worry if there is, the gas fireplace in your rainforest villa will warm you up.
Since we were travelling as a family, we opted for one of their mountain villas. Thankfully, it wasn’t too cold for us to enjoy a spa bath on the balcony with a cold glass of wine after one of the most awe-inspiring days we had as a family on our Australian road trip.
If you are travelling with small children, you can put in special requests with the front desk staff for extra beds for 0-3-year-olds, which are small rollaway beds with additional bed sheets. This does cost a small additional fee.
They also have other mountain view rooms of different sizes, some with either a queen bed, king bed, or twin bed. Some rooms have a twin trundle bed to allow you some extra space during the day.
Amenities at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
O’Reilly’s is not a flashy place and is known for its quiet comforts, which are thoughtfully designed to deepen your connection with the rainforest.
The retreat’s amenities strike a careful balance between ease of living and immersing into the wilderness. These are the amenities that really stood out to us…
The Rainforest Bar
We enjoyed some happy hour cocktails in The Rainforest Bar. It wasn’t a clear night for us, but the sunset on the verandah overlooking the mountains with views that go on forever is spectacular (although it was also quite good from our room in the spa!).
The Dining Room
For dinner, we dined in the dining room, which is open for a buffet breakfast and a gourmet a la carte dinner. The food here is exceptional. The soup of the day was one of the tastiest soups I’ve ever had, and the pizzas are to die for.
You can also order room service from the dining room during limited hours or eat at the retreat’s coffee shop, O’Reilly’s Mountain Café and Gift Shop, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Go to dinner early if you want to see the glow worm tour at 8pm in the evening. We did find service in the dining room and lunch cafe a little slow.
Lost World Day Spa
Of course, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is not all about adventure and fun, it’s also a place for relaxation and rejuvenation. Well, it is a resort, after all!
We headed over to the Lost World Day Spa for a nourishing body treatment. It offers wellness treatments such as hot stone massages, facials, body wraps, body scrubs, and more.
The onsite spa has seven treatment rooms including special rooms for couples. You can also have aromatherapy treatments and enjoy the sauna and infinity pool.
We opted for a simple relaxation massage which was 90-minutes of bliss! We then topped it off with a swim in 25-metre wet edge infinity lap pool, which has a separate children’s area.
The spa is open Monday – Sunday from 9am – 5pm (6pm on Friday and Saturday), but hours differ on Tuesdays. You will need to check with reception on times if you are planning your visit for a Tuesday as hours always change. The spa is only for ages 16+.
Swimming pools
If you’re travelling during the warm summer months, you’ll be pleased to know that there are several outdoor pools to cool off in. Underneath the Observation Deck, you’ll find some refreshing outdoor pools, including a children’s pool for toddlers to splash around in.
Public areas
If you are not planning on staying at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and are just interested in visiting for a day, you’ll find there are plenty of public areas where you can enjoy a picnic and relax in the jungle.
The public areas are free to visit but there is an additional charge to join the guided walks and enjoy the attractions and wildlife encounter shows. There is free wifi in all public areas and free self parking.
How to get to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is located only a two-hour scenic drive from Brisbane and 90 minutes west of the Gold Coast. It’s 86km away from Coolangatta Airport (about 1 hour 45 minutes drive).
Follow the signs through Canungra to O’Reilly’s Plateau. This stretch of road winds inland through rolling countryside before climbing into rainforest, which can get quite windy with lots of curves (as mentioned earlier).
Note of caution – some navigation apps mistakenly direct towards Binna Burra, so to avoid this, put Kidston Street, Canungra in the GPS as your destination and then follow the signs up the mountain road to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
All guests staying at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat can enjoy free parking.
What is there to do at O Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat?
Nestled in Lamington National Park with the rainforest as a backdrop, you can expect many amazing attractions that get you out of your room and exploring the outdoors.
Whether you’re looking to walk along ancient walking tracks, drift through the treetops on a zip line, or learn about the region’s conservation history, there are many activities on offer that get you exploring the park’s natural world.
1. Flying Fox Zip Wire Experience
We enjoyed our time suspended 30 meters above the ground as we zipped along a 180m cable over the rainforest. Back and forth we went on the flying fox. Not just Craig and I, but the whole family. Yes, it’s a moment I’ll never forget. The girls watched me as I set off first, zooming above the forest and waving to them down below.
They were harnessed up just in case, but I wasn’t expecting a just-in-case. I hopped off at the end ready to tag Craig when Savannah piped up and said, “I’m going to go on it, Mum.”
I looked down to my knees at the eyes trying to peak out and above the helmet engulfing her head.
“You want to go Savannah. Are you sure? It’s very high up.”
“Yes. I want to go.”
She turned and walked off with Craig and Kalyra.
“I’ll come to get them if they change their minds,” I shouted at Craig knowing that when they stood on the edge of the platform they’d chicken out. It’s a long way down from that vantage.
I watched from afar as a tiny speck walked onto the platform and got connected. My heart started racing and my breath caught in my throat.
“OMG she’s going!”
I screamed to the catcher behind me. She walked straight to the edge of the sloping platform holding Craig’s hand until he could hold it no more and then weeeeee off she flew.
I was stunned. She faced fear head-on, my two and half-year-old, the youngest and smallest to take on the flying fox at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat at the time. She went soaring through the air, 30 metres above the trees holding on and looking around.
Her spirit made my heart soar with love and admiration. She was a little shell-shocked, but said she had fun. We sat and watched Kalyra get ready to go. I could tell she was scared and, if her sister had not just shown her how it was done, I’m sure she would have bailed. But she followed in her footsteps and away she went. There was no silence from her, only pure squeals of joy.
We had to drag her away after her sixth go. She did get off and took the helmet off with a very firm, “no more.” She does love to tell the story of the Flying Fox now and she always says how she was not afraid.
I was so super proud of my girls for displaying such courage despite their fear. I think it taught them so much about fear and how we can move through it and still be alright.
When you go to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat soar on the flying fox! It will enhance your Gold Coast family holiday memories.
Birds of Prey Show
It wasn’t just the flying fox that made it such a special couple of days for us. We also enjoyed a couple of wildlife shows that the retreat puts on for its guests.
The Birds of Prey Show was a highlight for the girls. They loved getting close to wedge-tailed eagles, barn owls, and kites and learning all about their skills as hunters and flyers.
Kalyra can now recognise these birds when we’re out and about and I love how much she is learning because of experiences like this.
If you’re a bird lover then you will love coming out to O’Reilly’s Retreat. I don’t know much about birds except that Australia has more species than any other country. And I met plenty of bird lovers who were recording each of the ones they’d seen in small black notebooks.
One couple from the States had seen over 350 on their five-month tour of Australia. They came over here for bird watching and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat was one of their first stops. The Lamington National Park is renowned as one of Australia’s premier birding areas with over 232 recorded species.
Early Morning Bird Watching Tour
I had risen early to join the bird-watching tour, which was free to guests staying at the retreat. I didn’t care much for seeing the birds, I just wanted an early morning walk in the forest without any children climbing all over me.
I surprisingly enjoyed myself on the bird walks and loved looking at all the birds. There are so many of them and so pretty and their personalities are so different and cute.
I didn’t mark any off in my book and I can’t remember many of their names, but I enjoyed their little beaks snatching walnuts from my fingers.
And I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the passion the others in our group had for birds and the joy on their faces when each new one flew on our path. Isn’t travel a wonderful portal for pursuing those things that make our hearts sing?
Segway fun at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
Craig was able to break off and have his time out later once the sun had warmed up the mountains.
The girls and I just chilled in our rainforest villa with the mountain views, while he went cruising on the rainforest road two-wheeled segway through the rainforest.
It was his first time on a segway, and whilst he said it was a little weird at first, once he got the feel of it after a 30-minute training session, it was easygoing. The 90-minute guided segway tour goes to the lookout point over the top of Moran’s Falls.
The Tree Top Walk at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat
On our first afternoon, we took the lovely Tree Top Boardwalk through a canopy of flowering and fruiting vine-covered trees. The Tree Top Walk was the first of its kind in Australia, is 180 meters in length, and is made up of 9 suspension bridges, with much of the walkway being 15 meters above the ground. It’s also free to do the Tree Top Walk, one of the few free things to do in O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
There were ladders going up a Strangler Fig tree to an observation deck 30 metres above the ground. The views of the Lamington National Park out to NSW and Mt Warning were stunning. The Gold Coast Hinterland is something special.
I should have realized then Kalyra would have done the flying fox as she scrambled up the tree with her daddy to take a look. Savannah wanted to do the same, but fearful Mummy pulled her back ( I have a slight ladder phobia).
Bush walks in Lamington National Park
The Lamington National Park contains over 160 km of graded walking tracks and a similar distance of walking trails that lead to lookouts waterfalls and some of Queensland’s most significant wilderness.
O’Reilly’s offer guided walks or you can set out on foot yourself on any of the trails that suit your fancy. There is the fun creek crossings to Moran’s Fall, a popular walking track from O’Reilly’s.
The Border Track is a popular full-day hike between Green Mountains and Binna Burra. Boasting stunning scenery and spectacular views, the Border track is the backbone of the national park and part of the longer Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk
Glow Worm Tour
We had to scoff down desserts and the girls had to leave ice-cream in their bowls (tragedy I know!!), but it was worth it though as the glow worm tour was really awesome, and one of the main activities you can do at O’Reilly’s.
Again, another experience where my girls absorb the magic of the world they live in.
Our guide kept us entertained as we walked through the bush by torchlight to the Glow Worm Grotto. Hundreds of them sat on the rock wall at the edge of the creek, luring insects into their home using their bioluminescent taillight.
It was truly spectacular, and our guide was very informative, and humorous, about the life of a glow worm. We also saw many bandicoots along the walk – the first I’d ever seen in the wild.
You can check out more adventures in the Gold Coast Hinterland at Binna Burra here and Springbrook National Park here.
Canungra Valley Vineyards
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat also has its own vineyard, which is located outside of Canungra on Lamington National Park Road. Here you can enjoy wine tasting (of course) and walk around the vineyard grounds. You’ll even find an alpaca farm here!
You can also enjoy the vineyard’s delicious food, which is known for its pizza and cheese boards. They also offer picnic baskets packed with some delicious cheeses and wines, which is ideal for those who forget to pack their own picnic!
Check-In/Check-Out Experience
It was super easy to check in and out of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. You simply need to show them your booking confirmation, the credit card or debit card you used to make your booking, and your passport.
The front desk is open every day between 7am and 9pm, so if you plan to arrive after 9pm you must inform the staff in advance. They require a cash deposit for incidental charges, but you get this back when you check out.
The verdict: would we recommend O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat?
Overall, we would highly recommend O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat for anyone who loves nature and prefers a place of wilderness over polished luxury. You can’t get a better setting in Queensland for rainforest lovers. It’s location on the doorstep of Lamington National Park is unbeatable.
While the journey to get here requires a little effort, and potentially some motion sickness tablets (there are a lot of curves), it’s precisely that remoteness that gives it a lasting appeal.
For walkers, wildlife lovers and anyone craving a genuine rainforest escape, O’Reilly’s is one of southeast Queensland’s most rewarding stays.
Gold Coast Travel Tips
Thinking of spending time on The Gold Coast? Then these guides may help you plan your Gold Coast family holiday:
