Gold Coast Hinterland weekend getaway: O’Reilly’s & 2025 wellness escapes

Despite living in Queensland most of my life, I’d never been to Lamington National Park so I had no idea what to expect. That’s why the biggest surprise came before we even arrived: the drive itself.

Planning your trip?
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Hotels, I use Agoda
Insurance: Cover-More
Rentals: Discover Cars
RVs: Motorhome Republic
Transfers: Welcome Pickups
Travel eSIM: Simify

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The road starts easy, taking you southwest from Brisbane through long stretches of quiet countryside and small towns until you reach the charming village of Canungra. From here, you turn onto Lamington National Park Road and the adventure begins.

Twisting lanes lined with giant gum trees, sheer rock faces, and open farmland give way to sweeping lookouts where wallabies graze and golden wattle bursts with colour. As you climb higher, the bushland folds into dense rainforest. Massive trees form a green canopy overhead, vines twist like braids, and mossy trunks line the roadside. By the time you reach O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat, it feels like you’ve stepped into another world.

Where to stay: O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

Walking into a Mountain Villa at O’Reilly’s instantly brings on a smile. These modern, self-contained villas feel like luxury treehouses tucked into the rainforest. The kitchen and dining room open onto a spacious deck—perfect for a private spa soak at sunset or a glass of wine while rosellas flutter past.

Inside, bedrooms are generous, the beds are enormous, and mornings come with birdsong instead of traffic noise. At night, you can snuggle by the fireplace, toast marshmallows, or sink into a book while pademelons quietly feed outside. O’Reilly’s has thought of every detail, making it effortless to relax.

Eight amazing things to do at O’Reilly’s

1. Glow worm tour – A magical night-time walk into a secret grotto where thousands of glow worms light up the forest walls. Conservation messages from guides add depth to the wonder.
2. Treetop walk – A 180-metre series of suspension bridges weaving 15 metres above the rainforest floor. Don’t miss the climb up the old Strangler Fig to the lookout decks 30 metres high.
3. Flying fox – Strap in and zip 180 metres across the rainforest canopy, 25 metres above the ground, wind in your hair and heart in your throat.
4. Segway safari – Glide through Lamington National Park on a Segway to Moran’s Falls, passing dairy farms, creeks (sometimes with platypus!), and eucalypt forest before soaking in the view of the Great Dividing Range.
5. Bird encounters – Hand-feed King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas, or catch the spectacular Birds of Prey show with eagles, falcons, and owls in free flight.
6. Hiking & bushwalking – Choose from short strolls or full-day trails. O’Reilly’s provides maps and a daily log system to keep walkers safe while exploring the park.
7. Eco Rangers kids’ activities – Fun, supervised activities for kids to learn about conservation while parents enjoy some downtime.
8. Feed alpacas at Mountain View Alpaca Farm – On your way up or back, stop in for coffee, alpaca socks, stunning views, and a hilarious feeding session with these quirky characters.

What’s new in 2025: wellness & boutique escapes

The hinterland has levelled up in recent years, adding new reasons to linger:

• SOL Elements (Tamborine Mountain) – brand new this year, this floating bathhouse features magnesium float caves, plunge pools, sauna, and a Himalayan salt cave. It’s a must for anyone chasing wellness and relaxation.
• Ground Bathhouse, Soak Bathhouse & Native State (Kirra) – stylish sanctuaries blending nature with modern design.
• Tiny Wild Houses at Binna Burra Lodge – cliff-top tiny homes with epic views and minimalist luxury.
• Songbirds, Camelot Boutique, Pethers Rainforest Retreat – boutique options offering romance and seclusion among the trees.

More ways to explore the hinterland

If you can drag yourself away from O’Reilly’s, the Gold Coast Hinterland has endless adventures:

• Glow worm caves at Tamborine Mountain – walk through illuminated caverns for a surreal experience.
• Wine, gin & brewery tours – the mountain is full of cellar doors, distilleries, and farm-to-table food spots.
• Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk – a 54km trail linking Lamington and Springbrook National Parks with rainforest campsites and incredible lookouts.
• Local markets & food trails – sample fresh produce, homemade fudge, and artisan goodies at weekend markets and roadside stalls.

Planning your getaway

Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, the Gold Coast Hinterland never fails to surprise. O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat still delivers the classic rainforest escape, but in 2025, you can now combine it with cliff-top tiny homes, luxe wellness bathhouses, and foodie adventures. It’s the perfect weekend away: just you, the mountains, and the magic of the rainforest.

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