Located in Lamington National Park in Queensland, Australia’s Scenic Rim is O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD which offers glamping in addition to tent camping, lodge, and villa accommodations.
My family opted to stay in the Safari-tents at O’Reilly’s on our first ever glamping trip. We spent a long weekend in May, which is considered Autumn in Australia, glamping at O’Reilly’s.
Though I had heard about the drive to O’Reilly’s, there were even more twists and turns than I imagined. Plus, due to recent summer rain, there were lots of holes in the road.
Once we reached the campground, we quickly forgot about the drive and just stopped to enjoy the beautiful view.
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Glamping Tents at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD
The glamping tents at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD are located with the tent campsites and are walking distance from the lodge. A communal camp kitchen, toilet and shower blocks, and a campfire pit are located at the campsites.
Though you can opt to have the beds made, we chose to save money and bring our own sheets, blankets, and pillows.
Our kids were thrilled to see bunk beds which were located on one end of the canvas tent. A queen-sized bed was adjacent to the bunks. Each Safari-tent includes a porch. Ours was out back and included a picnic table and a view of the park.
The Safari tents have power inside, though there are no TVs.
The Atmosphere at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD
The campground is located on a slope with the communal camp kitchen at the top.
The Safari tents are scattered throughout the campground and connected by walking paths. Three different blocks of toilets and showers are located at the campground. None of the glamping tents have an ensuite.
While the tent camping sites are close to each other, once we were in our Safari tent we felt more secluded.
A short 5-minute walk from the campground leads to the lodge, restaurants, and activities centre.
The Rainforest Retreat QLD Check-in Process
When checking in to the glamping sites at O’Reilly’s, you receive a code that can be used to enter your tent and at the amenities block.
Though help should not be required, there is a check-in desk at the lodge where you can go if you have any questions.
We saved the text that O’Reilly’s sent in the morning before check in as it had important information, but in the end, we were able to access the internet during our entire stay.
Activities and Entertainment at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD offers a full schedule of activities each day in addition to their hiking trails. Each of the activities has a charge, and a 24-hour pass that includes most of the activities is available to purchase at a reduced cost.
Though none of the activities are necessary, you can opt to participate in:
- Guided hikes
- Wildlife encounters
- Glow-worm tours
- Photography workshops
- 4WD tours
- Segway tours
- Flying Fox
For those who would rather participate in free activities, a treetop walk is located near the lodge with a suspension bridge and a ladder that you can climb to get a bird’s eye view of the area. The walk lasts around 30 minutes and leads to a botanic garden.
Board games and DVDs can be borrowed from the front desk of the lodge. There is a kid’s room that is open for use when the kid’s club is not in session. Games including ping pong and air-hockey are available outside of the lodge.
During school holidays, a kid’s club runs at O’Reilly’s, called Eco Rangers.
Food and Dining at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD
While you can opt to cook your own meals in the camp kitchen, it does get crowded, especially at mealtimes. You also have the option of going to the café or the restaurant at O’Reilly’s and you can even order in meals to be delivered to the camp kitchen.
The camp kitchen as a stove, microwave, toaster, hot water dispenser, and BBQs. A large refrigerator is provided and everyone at the campground can put their labelled bags of food inside. The camp kitchen has power points if you have other small appliances, though they are often used to charge cell phones.
Plates, pots, pans, and cutlery are not provided. Soap and sponges are plentiful and available to help you clean up after cooking.
Don’t want to cook? O’Reilly’s Mountain Café is open for breakfast and lunch. The Dining Room is open for breakfast and dinner. The Rainforest Bar is also open for dinner. Be sure to make a booking for dinner, especially during the busy times such as school holidays.
Scenery and Surroundings at the Rainforest Retreat
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD is in Lamington National Park in Queensland’s Scenic Rim close to the border of New South Wales.
The area is lush and green with mountains, waterfalls, and plenty of wildlife.
Near the lodge, you will be able to see birds including crimson rosellas, bowerbirds, catbirds, king parrots, and Australian brush turkeys.
While you are guaranteed to see wildlife at the Wildlife Encounter, you may also be able to find wallabies, possum, snakes, and frogs.
Highlights and Challenges Faced
The biggest challenge to glamping at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD is the drive up. While it is located just 2 hours south of Brisbane, 30 minutes of that drive is on a windy hill with many potholes.
We also learned that the road leading up to O’Reilly’s has Gympie-Gympie plants which cause a lot of pain to anyone that touches one.
Thankfully, it is rare to come in contact with a stinging tree and the road to O’Reilly’s ends with an incredible accommodation. Just note that you won’t want to leave the area during your stay so be sure to stop in town to get whatever you need before driving up the mountain.
Our Best Moments at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD
It may sound silly, but our kids loved filling up their water bottles with the fruit-infused water located in the lobby of the lodge. They drank a lot of water during our visit.
It was wet during our stay, and while we were unprepared for the longer hikes, we did complete the Treetop Walk multiple times. We were happy to find the kid’s room in the lodge and that we could borrow games and movies.
As a family that is used to camping, this was our first glamping trip. Though we did bring our own linens, it was amazing to not have to pack a tent, air mattresses, chairs, and everything you need at a campsite. Note that the glamping tents do not have rubbish bins, so either bring a bag or be prepared to walk to the camp kitchen when you have rubbish.
That’s a Wrap
Despite the rain, we all enjoyed our glamping trip to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
It was nice to be able to enjoy everything that camping has to offer without the need to pack the supplies. While we chose to bring our own food, there is an option to eat in the restaurant or order meals to the camp kitchen.
One thing to remember is that despite your tent being set up, you do still need a torch, shower shoes, and anything else you want to glamp comfortably.
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat has many activity options and the lodge is a quick 5 minute walk away from the campground.
Overall Thoughts on Glamping at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD
We loved our weekend at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat QLD and to be honest, the drive up the hill is the only thing holding us back from visiting more often.
I did find the campground to be crowded and was happy to be in a large glamping tent and not in a regular tent that was extremely close to other tents. You would be able to hear your neighbors all night.
The camp kitchen did get crowded, but we brought ready to eat meals as it was our first time at O’Reilly’s and we were not sure what to expect. We did purchase coffee from the café each morning, but often had to wait for it to open.
While there was plenty to do, the kids would have loved to use the pools that we were able to see but unable to swim in as they are for resort guests only.
Our glamping tent was perfect and I loved seeing the sky full of stars as I made my way to the amenities block in the middle of the night.
Recommendations and Tips
They say that the temperature at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat is 7 degrees cooler than down the hill, which means that it can be very cold in the winter months.
We visited in autumn and it could be a bit hot during the day, but the nights were cold. I recommend not going to bed with wet hair!
As you are not able to use the pools, I wouldn’t want to be there when it is too hot, so spring and autumn are the best times to visit.
Bring everything you need to avoid trips down the hill and to the expensive shop located at O’Reilly’s.
If you are considering signing up for an activity, make sure to do that quickly as they do fill up.
Author Bio
Lanie van der Horst – Make More Adventure
Lanie started the blog Make More Adventures when her family moved to Australia from the US in 2020, which was supposed to be a temporary move.
An avid traveler, Lanie is happy to be able to explore Australia with her family which includes her husband and two kids. Camping is something Lanie used to do annually growing up and hopes to continue that tradition with her own kids, even if it slightly alters to glamping instead.
Our guest authors at All About Glamping are from all around the world. Each one exploring glamping sites, glamping resorts and local regions and bringing that information to you through our articles. Enjoying the outdoors with a touch of luxury is what Glamping is all about and we encourage our readers and writers to seek out those experiences and share them with the world!