O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Review

Are you thinking about heading to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and wondering what to expect?

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat offers a variety of accommodations from campsites to their lodge to private villas, and while some are great for couples, others are better for families with kids.

There are so many options for both free and paid activities to do at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Some activities are open to day guests at the resort, while others are only offered to guests staying in the lodge.

My family stayed in a safari tent at O’Reilly’s when my kids were 7 and 8. We love camping and glamping and were excited to check out a new-to-us campground.

Read our guide and review of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park to determine which accommodations and activities are right for you.

Lamington National Park

Located about 2 hours south of Brisbane is the beautiful Lamington National Park in an area of Queensland known as the Scenic Rim.

The drive into Lamington National Park requires a long, winding drive up a mountain. Most of the hikes are accessible from O’Reilly’s rainforest retreat or nearby. There is a large variety of hiking options, from short and easy walks to harder hikes that take all day and even multi-day hikes.

The Scenic Rim was voted in Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions for Best Travel in 2022.

Types of Accommodations at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

There are 3 types of accommodations at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat: their campsite, the lodge, and the villas.

The lodge offers studio rooms as well as 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom suites. The villas stand alone, and you can choose from 1, 2, and 3-bedroom villas. Some of the villas include a jacuzzi on the balcony.

Book your stay in the Lodge or in a Villa.

For those who wish to camp, the campground at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat has 5 options. There are 3 types of basic campsites, which vary due to their location. Camper and campervan sites are available as well. For those who do not wish to bring a tent, Safari Tents are available.

Safari Tents are basically permanent tents. They have a queen bed and a double/single bunk bed. Linens are not provided but can be included for an additional cost.

There is power inside the safari tents, but no bathrooms. Toilet and shower blocks are dispersed throughout the campground.

The tent sites are not private. They are small and close together. Some of them are right next to the camp kitchen, which can be loud.

Campground Amenities at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Communal Camp Kitchen

Anyone at the campsite can use the communal kitchen from 7 am – 9 pm. The kitchen has BBQs, a stove, a microwave, a toaster, a hot water dispenser, and a refrigerator.

Guests need to bring their own plates, cups, and cutlery as well as pots, pans, and whatever else is needed to cook meals.

Those who wish can order food from the restaurant to be delivered to the Camp Kitchen.

There are picnic tables inside the camp kitchen and additional seating outside the camp kitchen.

The camp kitchen can get very busy at mealtimes. We chose to bring quick meals that don’t require cooking and cleaning. For those who plan to cook in the communal camp kitchen, get there early or late.

Dish soap and brand-new sponges are available for use; otherwise, everything needs to be brought into the kitchen.

The kitchen has electricity and plenty of plugs. Many of the tent campers use the plugs in the kitchen to charge their phones.

The stools outside of the Camp Kitchen have an amazing view of the mountains and are perfect to sit on during sunset.

Firepit

Right outside the Camp Kitchen is a fire pit. Firewood is available to purchase from the cafe at O’Reilly’s.

We didn’t purchase any firewood as the fire was always going before we got there. No one is “in charge” of the fire; it is communal. The only rule is that the fire is put out at 10 pm nightly.

The kids collected sticks to roast marshmallows, and we made s’mores each night. The fire does get crowded, but the crowds don’t stay too long.

Toilets and Showers

There are 3 blocks of toilets and showers throughout the campgrounds at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. The 2 ensuite blocks have 3 co-ed bathrooms that each have a toilet, sink, and shower inside them. These doors lock and need a key to open.

Close to the communal kitchen is a larger amenities building. There is both a men’s and women’s area as well as a co-ed handicapped bathroom. Each side has 6 showers and 6 toilets. Unlike the other bathrooms, they are separated. The showers have a changing area and a place to hang your towel.

I would suggest using these showers instead of the ones inside the bathrooms. If you are showering, bring shower shoes. The floors get really dirty. It rained while we were camping, and it seemed like the bathrooms were often muddy.

Community Hub

There is a small meeting room that can be used for groups at the campsite who want to spend time indoors. This room is locked unless you reserve it.

Looking for more fun places to glamp or camp with kids?  Check out Hosanna Farmstay in Northern NSW.

Getting to the Lodge/Activity Center from the Campground

It is just a 5-minute walk from the campground to the main buildings at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. There is a dirt path from the campsite to the parking lot, and the restaurants, shop, activity center, and lobby are across the parking lot.

Free Included Activities at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

There are many activities included for free during your stay at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Those with an asterisk (*) are only free for lodge guests, not campground guests.

• Treetop Walk
• Stinson Plane
• Hiking
• Game and DVD rentals
• *Early Morning Bird Walk
• *Swimming in the Pools
• *Manager’s Welcome
• *Documentary Film

Treetop Walk

Right across from the lobby is the Treetop Walk. It is on a boardwalk and takes about 30 minutes. There are suspension bridges to cross and a ladder that is optional to climb. The ladder goes to a lookout high in a tree.

We did this walk multiple times during our weekend at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

In the middle of the walk, there is an entrance to the Botanic Gardens for those who wish to explore more. The gardens are beautiful and filled with a variety of plants.

Stinson Plane

Swimming Pools

The swimming pools are only available for guests in the lodge and villas, not the campgrounds.

The pools aren’t very big. The lodge has 2 small pools and a hot tub outside, and there is a plunge pool by the villas.

Game and DVD Rental

The lobby has lots of board games and DVDs that you can borrow. We took advantage of this during a rainy morning at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Daily Activities at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

While the schedule changes daily at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, there are a few activities that occur every single day, usually at the same time each day.

• Afternoon Tea/Manager’s Welcome, for all guests of the lodge. This is not for guests of the campsite.
• Documentary Film about O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat (there is more than 1 film, it changes daily)
• Lost World Day Spa, closed Tuesdays
• Bird Feeding, bird food available for purchase
• Game and DVD rentals

Add-On Activities at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

The Discovery Program is published a week at a time and includes dates and times of the events that will be taking place each day. Everything can be booked upon arrival.

If you are looking to do a lot of activities, 24-hour activity passes are available to purchase and include all public activities except the Segway tour and the eco rangers kids’ activity.

Additional Activities at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

• guided hikes
• photography workshops
• wildlife encounters
• birds of prey show
• segway safari tour
• glow-worm tour
• flying fox
• 4WD tour
• Billy Tea 4WD tour
• Eco Rangers (during school holidays only)

If you really want to book an activity, book it early as they do book out. We were too late to book the flying fox.

I wanted to book the Billy Tea 4WD tour, but it only runs on Wednesdays, and we visited O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat from Saturday to Monday. We weren’t going to book anything, but then it rained on Sunday morning, and the hike we attempted was too muddy, so we booked the 4WD Tour for that afternoon.

The 4WD tour is a great way to see more of the property. We went to 3 lookouts and learned a bit about the property and the history of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. While there is a bit of walking on the tour, it is good for those with younger kids who don’t want to do longer hikes and those who are unable to walk long distances.

The Food at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Whether you are staying in the lodge, at the campsite, or are a day guest, all of the dining options are available to everyone at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Breakfast at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

• The Dining Room
• O’Reilly’s Mountain Cafe

Lunch at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

• O’Reilly’s Mountain Cafe

Dinner at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

• Rainforest Bar
• The Dining Room

Drink and Snack Options at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

• Rainforest Bar
• O’Reilly’s Mountain Cafe

The Lodge at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Outside of the Lodge

There are lots of picnic tables outside the lodge. There are also BBQs and a fire pit.

Games like ping pong and air hockey are available to play. Check out the equipment needed to play at the front desk.

In the Lobby of the Lodge at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Right as you walk into the lobby, there is a variety of fruit-infused water. This might have been my kids’ favorite thing at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

To the right of the lobby is the Discovery Center. That is where you can book all of your activities, and it is where all of the excursions depart. They can answer your questions about the property and the state of the trails.

The front desk has board games and DVDs that you can sign out. We took ours to the kids’ room, where Eco Rangers is held.

Past the lobby is the library, where there are all kinds of books about the area and the history of O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. It is a great place to sit and relax when the weather isn’t good.

Next to the library is the kids’ room. This room is used during school holidays, but we went outside of school holidays, so it was empty. There are picture books about Australia, a large table great for board games, and a TV with a DVD player. We spent a rainy day in this room playing games and watching a movie.

Pools

The pools are outside the lodge. They are only accessible to the lodge guests.

Villas

The villas are more private and located near the Lost World Day Spa. A plunge pool is located outside the villas.

Getting to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in the Scenic Rim

Canungra Valley Vineyards

About 45 minutes outside of O’Reilly’s, on the way to Lamington National Park, is Canungra Valley Vineyards and Mountain View Alpaca Farm.

The alpaca farm has a variety of options that include walking and feeding the alpacas. Alpaca picnics are available as well as morning and afternoon tea.

Those who don’t want to dine with the alpacas can order a picnic basket or off the à la carte menu at Canungra Valley Vineyards.

The town of Canungra has lots of options for dining as well. There is also a grocery store for last-minute items.

Checking in at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

A few days before your reservation, O’Reilly’s will send you an email with links to what will be happening during your stay as well as how to get there.

They include which internet services work on the mountain and which ones will have difficulty connecting. We decided to play it safe and save the important check-in information so we don’t need our internet to access our reservation. Luckily, our internet worked the entire stay at O’Reilly’s.

On the day of your check-in, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat sends a text message with relevant information. For us, in the safari tent, we got the code to our tent and the code to the amenities block at the campground.

Tips for Visiting O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

• Book your accommodation early. Rooms sell out, especially during school holidays and on long weekends.
• O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is very remote. It takes a long time to get on and off the mountain to get food. Plan on bringing your own food and/or purchasing food from their restaurants and market.
• Bring motion sickness medication if needed. The road to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is a winding one.
• Campground guests and day guests are not allowed to use the swimming pools at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
• Guest of the campground: bring paper towels and trash bags. There aren’t garbage cans in the Safari Tents.
• Bring glow bracelets for the kids to wear at night. It makes them easier to see.
• Bring a torch, even if you aren’t staying at the campground.
• Book your activities early; they do sell out.
• Fill up your water bottle with the fruit-infused water in the lobby.

Accommodation Nearby in Lamington National Park

For those who wish to stay elsewhere, there are a few options in Lamington National Park besides O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Binna Burra Sky Lodge

Two hours outside of Brisbane is the Binna Burra Sky Lodge. The Binna Burra Sky Lodge has rooms for 2-8 guests, a restaurant, and gorgeous views of Lamington National Park.

Spicer’s Hidden Vale

Just an hour outside of Brisbane, Spicer’s Hidden Vale has on-site activities, a restaurant, and beautiful mountain views. The rooms at Spicer’s Hidden Vale sleep between 2 and 8 people.

Spicer’s Hidden Vale has a pool, spa facilities, child-care services, an airport shuttle, and tours.

Tours to Lamington National Park and Scenic Rim, Queensland

O’Reilly’s Tree Top Walk from Brisbane

If you want to go to O’Reilly’s and don’t have a car, take a tour of the Tree Top Walk from Brisbane. This tour is about 6 hours long and includes entry to O’Reilly’s and lunch.

Lamington National Park, O’Reilly’s, and a Vineyard Tour

Head to O’Reilly’s on this 6-hour day tour. The tour stops at Canungra Vineyard and includes a glass of sparkling wine as well as a treetop canopy walk at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

This tour of O’Reilly’s leaves from the Gold Coast.

O’Reilly’s and Binna Burra Full-Day Tour

Leave from Brisbane and explore both sides of Lamington National Park on the O’Reilly’s and Binna Burra Full-Day Tour.

This tour lasts 9-11 hours and offers a lot of free time to explore. Morning and afternoon tea are included, while lunch is BYO (with options to purchase available).

Cycle Brisbane Valley Rail Trail & Hike Scenic Rim Trail

Those who want an active vacation can join a 6-day, 5-night cycling and hiking tour of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and the Scenic Rim.

All 5 nights of accommodations are included, including 2 nights of luxury camping. All meals are included.

More Fun Mountain Trips from Brisbane with Kids

• Tamborine Mountain with Kids
• Quick Country Mountain Escape from Brisbane with Kids
• Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt with Kids
• Springbrook National Park with Kids

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