Escape the heat with these cool Rainforest Retreats

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, Gold Coast Hinterland

Comfortably cooler than coastal areas, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in the Gold Coast Hinterland is the perfect place to escape the heat. Soak up the fresh mountain air and natural beauty of World Heritage listed Lamington National Park. Offering much more than comfortable accommodation, this property showcases the amazing views, waterfalls and 160km of walking tracks this region is famous for.



McPherson Ranges from O'Reilly's

Don’t feel like walking? Then one of their new Segway tours may be for you! Virtually silent and with zero emissions, you will tour through a creek crossing, back into rainforest and then into a Eucalypt forest for some spectacular views of Morans Falls and the Great Dividing Range.

Segway tour at O'Reilly's

If a spa treatment is more your speed O'Reilly's Lost World Spa embraces the natural elements of the surrounding environment, offering discerning guests a chance to be nurtured amongst nature. The soothing sights and scents of the rainforest will calm your mind and refresh your soul as you surrender to the healing touch of qualified therapists.

Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, Gold Coast Hinterland

Looking for a more rustic feel but still want to enjoy Lamington National Park? Settle into the natural charm of Binna Burra Mountain Lodge. The unique isolation provides the perfect escape from the stresses of every day life and a chance to get back to basics, interact with nature and experience a freedom and sense of peace that few places can offer. Surrounded by cool-temperate rainforests, this region is up to 5 degrees cooler than the nearby Gold Coast and even cooler in the evenings!

Binna Burra Mountain Lodge

  

Wile away your days being pampered in the Rejoove Day Spa, or get amongst the rugged mountain scenery with a huge array of walks from easy family friendly paths to guided full day hikes with a packed lunch. Want more adventure? Try your hand at some exhilarating nature based activities like the flying fox, the ropes course or my favourite, abseiling. With some expert advice and guidance from the Binna Burra crew, you could be abseiling down a 10m volcanic escarpment in no time. Then, challenge the knee-shaking, specially selected, 40m or 90m cliff-face – Wow!

Abseiling at Binna Burra

After a hearty country style meal you may wish to join the complementary Spotlight Walk and see possums, frogs or even a tawny frogmouth. Then back at the lodge swap stories around the open fire in the lodge’s communal lounge while sipping a delicious hot chocolate. Or if its Bush Dance night, you could be spinning new friends around the dance floor to the tunes of a real bush band. Too tired from your daylight activities? A glass of wine as the sun sets in the Numinbah Valley may be the perfect end to your day.

Binna Burra sunset

Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat, Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Narrows Escape Rainforest Retreat in Montville offers peace, seclusion and romance with 6 luxurious cottages set in lush rainforest. Privacy is assured with cottages nicely separated by surrounding tropical vegetation, some overlooking the refreshing waters of a freshwater creek. Each self contained cottage is beautifully furnished with quality appointments and contains a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and a double spa bath, air-conditioning, ceiling fans, log fire, TV and more.

There are many fine restaurants within a few minutes drive of Narrows Escape; however should you wish to stay in your cottage for the evening, ask the staff to prepare a gourmet BBQ hamper for you, so you can light a candle or two and enjoy intimate dining in the privacy of your cabin.

Narrows Escape creek side cottage

Wake up to the morning calls of the native birds and the faint creak of foot on wood as a basket of warm croissants and breakfast treats is delivered. After the last of the homemade jam is licked from your fingers, the large verandas invite you to sit and watch nature at its best or you may want to relax under a tree in a creek side hammock. Towering trees, babbling brook, king parrots and sugar gliders make this a paradise to treasure.

Your luxurious creek side cottage may be nestled in seclusion but the pretty towns and villages of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland are just a stones throw away. Spend a day touring the wineries, art galleries, craft shops, restaurants, cafes, cheese factories, day markets or partake in some water sports on Lake Baroon. As a real holiday treat why not borrow a rug from the cottage, gather wine and cheese from the local providores and enjoy a picnic with an amazing view of the Glass House Mountains.

Picnic overlooking the Glasshouse Mountains

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat, Atherton Tablelands

If it’s time for a cool change in North Queensland then it’s time to head to Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat in the Atherton Tablelands. It’s an easy 80 minute drive from Cairns or 2 hours from Port Douglas but you are a million miles away from all your cares. Escape to total privacy in your pole and timber treehouse with no sign of civilisation (not even another treehouse). Soak away the stresses in your own private spa bath, or view some of the over 160 bird species from the privacy of your verandah. Once you’re ready to stretch your legs there are beautiful walking tracks and even the chance to spot platypus in the pristine rainforest creeks.

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat

But don’t feel that you are a million miles from the regions attractions; you can hop in your hire car and within 60 minutes drive visit:

• Villages & markets of Malanda, Yungaburra & Atherton
• Numerous waterfalls – Millaa Millaa, Malanda, Millstream
• Crater Lakes Eacham & Barrine
• Arts, craft & antique shops
• Historic sites - Chinese Temple & Herberton village
• Giant trees - Curtain Fig & Cathedral Fig
• Wetlands – Bromfield, Nyleta (Hasties) & Mareeba
• Tinaroo Dam & Ravenshoe Wind Farm
• Malanda Environmental Park

Milla Milla Falls