O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat

Gold Coast


This famous 1926 guesthouse has lost much of its original grandeur but retains a rustic charm – and sensational views! Rooms are super comfortable and light-filled, while the luxury villas are slick with stunning views; two-night minimum stay. There are plenty of organised wildlife activities and guided walks, plus a day spa, a cafe, a bar and a restaurant (mains $26 to $40).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Gold Coast attractions

1. Lamington National Park

0.09 MILES

The 200-sq-km Lamington National Park is a Unesco World Heritage Site with more than 160km of walking trails. This is a wonderful place for bushwalking,…

2. Natural Bridge

5.88 MILES

The scenic Natural Bridge, off the Nerang–Murwillumbah road, has a 1km paved walking circuit leading to a huge rock arch spanning a water-formed cave –…

3. Best of All Lookout

7.71 MILES

True to its name, the Best of All Lookout offers phenomenal views from the southern edge of the Springbrook Plateau to the lowlands below. The 300m trail…

4. Canyon Lookout

8.2 MILES

Canyon Lookout affords jagged views through the valley all the way to Surfers Paradise.

5. Purling Brook Falls

8.59 MILES

Just off Springbrook Rd, the feathery Purling Brook Falls drops a rather astonishing 106m into the rainforest: worth braving the vertigo-inducing lookout.

6. Goomoolahra Falls

8.92 MILES

At the end of Springbrook Rd, there’s a superb lookout beside the 60m Goomoolahra Falls, giving views across the plateau and all the way back to the coast…

7. Springbrook National Park

9.71 MILES

A 27-sq-km national park, Springbrook is an ancient volcanic landscape with a 900m-high plateau cut through with gorges and a few even loftier outcrops…

8. Border Ranges National Park

11.87 MILES

The vast Border Ranges National Park covers 317 sq km on the NSW side of the McPherson Range, which runs along the NSW–Queensland border. It's part of the…