Escape to a sub-tropical wonderland laden with ancient rainforests, breathtaking waterfalls, and peppered with crystal clear creeks. A place where sunrises illuminate expansive mountain ranges, where the air is fresh, and every day starts with that feeling of holiday excitement. Gold Coast Hinterland accommodation in the World Heritage listed Lamington National Park is an adventure like no other and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat provide an unrivalled getaway.
O’Reilly’s have been facilitating hinterland escapes for over 92 years; so as you can imagine, they have it down to a fine art. One of the aspects that makes the experience so enchanting is that you are truly immersed in the flora and fauna of the rainforest, yet there is still SO MUCH to do! Located on the western edge of the Lamington Plateau, the retreat is 930 metres above sea level gifting those that journey out to the resort breathtaking views over McPherson Range and the Great Dividing Range. It is when you arrive to these panoramic images, that you know it will be a special trip.
As well as the magnificent scenery, the location also allows visitors to get up close and personal with nature by exploring 160 kilometres of walking tracks, visiting over 500 waterfalls, and seeing over 250 unique species of Australian wildlife.
These adventures are all either walking distance or a short drive from the retreat that is comprised of 66 rainforest retreat rooms and 48 self-contained luxury eco-villas. Both options are free from the everyday distractions of televisions and telephones and immersed in the 20 000 hectares of rainforest.
On your way up to the retreat be sure to stop off at the O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards for a wine tasting and bite to eat. The restaurant is set amongst the vineyards and offers a tasty menu, or you can order a picnic hamper to take down and enjoy by the creek – complete with blanket!
The restaurant onsite at O’Reilly’s boasts a charming atmosphere and is the heart of the retreat. It offers vegetarian and gluten free options as well as an extensive beverage list including their very own O’Reilly’s wines. The restaurant is framed by rainforest and quiet often Brushtail possums, Regent and Stain Bowerbirds, and even Sugar Gliders are seen munching on berries while guests enjoy meals.
Since opening their doors in 1926 O’Reilly’s have been passionate about providing opportunities for visitors to be involved with the Heritage Listed National Park and its expansive, yet intricate eco-system and wildlife. The range of eco-activities will keep you entertained for days, the O’Reilly’s Suspension walkway is a famous activity on the Gold Coast Hinterland that takes guests around the tree tops via a series of 9 suspension bridges approximately 15 metres off the ground! There are a number of profiles depicting the flora of the rainforest to assist visitors identifying the orchids, ferns, and other plants growing around them. There are also two observation decks accessible by climbing above the bridge up a Strangler Fig ladder elevating you to 30 metres above the ground with incredible views over the rainforest canopy. This amazing experience is complimentary to all guests of O’Reilly’s, however, parental guidance of children is required.
Elabana Falls in Lamington National Park | Image by @oliver86_photography via InstagramThe daily ‘Discovery Program’ is run by O’Reilly’s wildlife experts who guide guests through an intimate and informative rainforest experience and connect with the native animals. The program consists of interpretive rainforest tours, bird walks, 4WD bus excursions, and nocturnal adventures that are all an integral part of O’Reilly’s commitment to preserving the World Heritage Lamington National Park.
O’Reilly’s also cater to the hungry minds of children through their Eco Rangers program for kids aged 4 to 14. The program is a fun and creative way for kids to learn about the environment and rainforest eco-systems while Mum and Dad have a chance to relax! The Eco Ranger activities run during school holidays and Queensland public holidays subject to numbers.
Tree Top Bridge | @watchingivygrow via Instagram If you really want to have some fun, you can jump on a rainforest Segway tour. If you have never been on a Segway before the tour starts with a tutorial before you head off into the wilderness in search of the stunning Moran Falls. The tour takes guests down winding dirt tracks, across creeks, and even to the original O’Reilly family settlement before reaching the falls.
After all your wildlife and wilderness adventures you can relax into some of the unique therapies of the Lost World Spa. Embracing the natural elements of the surrounding subtropical rainforest, the spa offers guests a rare opportunity to find relaxation, rejuvenation, and balance through massage, therapeutic skin care treatments, and Vinotherapy – which employs the anti-aging bodies of the grapes from O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards. Enjoy your restorative relaxation time solo or share it with someone special.
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat promises an unforgettable hinterland escape framed by stunning views, friendly wildlife, and amazing customer service. When you are ready to book, Discover Queensland are ready to take you away on an amazing, thank-you-DQ experience to the Gold Coast hinterland today. Check out our Trip Advisor customer reviews below to see what other visitors loved about this escape.
This place is fantastic. Keep an eye on the deals and specials as it can be pricey but it is definitely worth the investment either way. The staff were so lovely and cheerful. Stop in for wine tasting at the vineyard just before the mountain. Log fires and mulled wine makes a trip in winter perfect <3
Moominoid from Canberra, Australia
I had a wonderful 3 days with 5 friends at Laminton NP staying in one of the Mountain Villas at O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat. Accommodation was perfect with stunning views out to the valley and the mountains beyond. The villa was well appointed and it was perfect for 6 friends with 3 bedrooms and an en-suite for each bedroom. Great kitchen so we were able to cater for ourselves. A cocktail at the Rainforest Bar was fun with fabulous sunset views. The walks in the national park were fantastic. There seem to be walks for all levels of fitness. Bird life was amazing too!!
Christine K from Sydney, Australia
We thoroughly loved our four day stay at O'Reilly's to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. The staff are all great and made our stay especially enjoyable. The birds and wildlife are amazing, as were the beautiful rainforest walks. The Birds of Prey show was excellent, as were the early morning bird watching walks and Mick O'Reilly's Nature and history tour. Would love to go back!
Susan Q from Melbourne, Australia
What a great time we had in Lamington National Park!
There is so much to see & do, it is well worth staying a few nights at O’Reilly’s to soak up the atmosphere. We stayed for 3 nights, which was just enough to relax, unwind and enjoy the surrounding rainforest. We found the early morning bird feeding walk with Glen Threlfo was so informative and entertaining that we did it twice! This was a fun way to learn a about the local wildlife; Crimson Rosellas, King Parrots, Regent Bowerbird, Satin Bowerbird (Churchill & The Undertaker) and not forgetting the amazing Whipbirds (Mr and Mrs Whippy).
There are well marked walking trails. One such walk is the box forest trail. This is a gentle circular walk (approx. 2 hrs) that took us past a number of waterfalls and rock pools where we saw the blue crayfish.
The accommodation was clean and tidy. We stayed in a mountain view room with a balcony perfectly positioned for watching the sunset. Aside from the bathroom being a little outdated, we really could not fault the accommodation. The breakfast was great!
We found all the staff to be extremely friendly. Claudio deserves a special mention for his hospitality and especially for recommending “Claudio’s Pizza”, which was delicious!
Overall, a great experience that I would wholeheartedly recommend.
And977 from Bristol, UK
At the end of 3 days away and I don't really want to leave!
This trip has been wonderful. To a warm welcome from the manager on my first afternoon right through to watching the sunset yesterday it has been beautiful.
The staff are knowledgeable, professional and always friendly. The manager’s story has been told thousands of times, no doubt, but he was still enthusiastic and humorous.
My wildlife experience included plenty of birds, pademelons at dusk by the hundreds, the magical Glow worms tour, and a red-bellied black snake, camouflaged in the grass! I also spent a couple of hours at Lost World Spa- simply wonderful!
If you need some beautiful fresh air, rejuvenate in the rainforest walks and enjoying the gorgeous nature around us, definitely come to O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat. You won't be disappointed.
Christine W from Brisbane, Australia