Green peace: the little things mean a lot in this Luxury Lodges of Australia rainforest retreat.

High in the trees, through which the sunlight pours, is where you will find Silky Oaks Lodge. Here, it is as much an experience as somewhere to stay in the Daintree Rainforest. The property, part of the Baillie Lodges portfolio of luxury lodges, recently underwent a $20 million makeover to become one of the shiny new emerald jewels in Tropical North Queensland’s crown. There are few strikingly beautiful places in the world that offer such a connection to the landscape.

Silky Oaks Lodge is Australia’s original rainforest retreat, first opening its silky oak doors in 1985. The reinvention of the lodge and main open-air lobby is all about the elements and drawing the eye to the rainforest surrounds. Forget the weather forecast. The best place on Earth to be when it rains is in the rainforest. Alternatively, head to Tropical North Queensland for a winter escape when the average temperature ranges from 18ºC  to 26ºC.

Location

Silky Oaks Lodge sits high in the treetops surrounded by a latticed canopy of green leaves. It’s just one hour’s drive from Cairns and 20 minutes from Port Douglas. Guests staying at Silky Oaks Lodge appreciate its proximity to both the Great Barrier Reef and World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest estimated to be about 180 million years old.

The lodge is located on Kubirri-Warra country, on the Traditional Lands of the eastern Indigenous Kuku Yalanji people, who lead tours from the nearby Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre. Visitors will also find extensive hiking trails that fork out from the lodge into the Daintree National Park. It’s like stepping into a full-sized Jeannie Baker collage. Or a scene from James Cameron’s Avatar.

Style and character

Silky Oaks Lodge is designed to encourage visitors to rest, relax, sit, talk and just be. The Kubirri Lounge is where guests gather to chill, read or play board games. As always, that perfume of moss and peat in the open-air lodge connects visitors to the forest and provides a sense of place.

You can get your fix of admiring the natural theatre of the rainforest from any number of nooks that are oriented toward the treetops. The lodge features the works of Australian and local First Nations artists. Expect warm timber tones, contemporary furnishings, and lots of leather and stone.

Facilities

Silky Oaks Lodge has a crystal-clear lagoon-style swimming pool swathed in green. There’s also a fully equipped air-conditioned gymnasium overlooking the lush, tropical garden. And complimentary classes led by a qualified local teacher in the open-air Marrdja Pavilion each day.

You can soak in your surrounds in the Healing Waters Spa. Throw on a bathrobe and tip toe to the spa, which offers multiple treatment rooms. Then cue the reverberating hum of a crystal singing bowl and let the pummelling begin.

There’s also a media room where guests can enjoy the latest sporting match or blockbuster. Guests at Silky Oaks Lodge also have an in-suite bar that is replenished with local treats and beverages each day.

Rooms

Curl up on the River Treehouse balcony in your hammock to watch the Mossman River rushing in its hurry over boulders as smooth as polished marble. Like all of the Baillie Lodges properties, the suites are designed to bring the surrounding landscape to life.

All up, there are 40 guest treehouse-style suites surrounded by the dense greenery of the Daintree Rainforest.  The rooms all have ensuites and private balconies and are fitted out in colours that complement the rich tapestry of the rainforest.

There are 14 Rainforest Retreats, 10 Treehouse Retreats, 2 Treehouse Premium suites (for four guests), 11 Riverhouse suites, two Billabong Suites and the two-bedroom Daintree Pavilion (the ultimate luxury retreat). Many of the suites have freestanding showers and open-air bathtubs.

What are the food and drink options?

A stay at Silky Oaks Lodge ensures a sensory experience. And that extends to the food and drink offerings.

Sit around on a timber table in the tiered Treehouse Restaurant to enjoy dinner prepared by executive chef Edo Pitzalis who draws inspiration for the menu from his Sardinian background. Expect Indigenous flavours such as wattleseed and pepperberry as well as seasonal ingredients plucked from the onsite kitchen garden that range from passionfruit to pandan.

Join your new-found friends at the Jungle Perch Bar to enjoy a drink and chat about the day’s adventures. And quench your thirst with the complimentary cocktail and snacks served daily at sunset.

Dinner in the restaurant is reserved for in-house guests only and wines are matched with dinner every evening. It would be remiss not to raise a glass to this sophisticated setting with a Queensland quencher either inside the restaurant or at the adjoining bar.

What experiences can we have at Silky Oaks Lodge?

One of the best things to do when you are staying at the newly reinvented Silky Oaks Lodge is to sit on your balcony, close your eyes and listen. What you’re about to hear is your welcome forest fanfare. From the rippling chirp of the bridled honeyeater to the unmistakable crack of the whipbird, a stay at Silky Oaks Lodge is akin to listening to a Sound Cloud of the ancient rainforest.

Grab an e-bike and cycle into Mossman or Cooya Beach on quiet country roads fringed with fields of sugar cane. There are also snorkels for use for those who would like to drift down the river and find freshwater turtles and fish. Don’t worry, there are no crocodiles in the Mossman River as the water is too cool (save the croc sightings for the river cruise.). Self-guided walks to Fig Tree Rapids are also an option. One of the new immersive experiences on offer at Silky Oaks is the Rock Art Heli Tour led by a Kuku Yalanji guide to an exclusive location on the Cape York Peninsula.

Is there access for guests with disabilities?

The eco accommodation at Silky Oaks Lodge includes a dedicated wheelchair and mobility-accessible Rainforest Retreat. The suite is located near to the main reception area and features level ramp access to reach the main central areas of the lodge.

Wheelchair access can also be arranged during daily guided walks around the lodge but the terrain may be wet and steeply inclined in places. There are no handrails along the bush path. The lower level of the swimming pool is accessible via a couple of steps with a handrail. Those with mobility issues can be escorted to the area in a motorised golf buggy.

Is Silky Oaks Lodge family-friendly?

Children under the age of 10 are not allowed to stay at Silky Oaks Lodge due to the potential dangers associated with staying amid such a wild jungle environment. Yep it’s a jungle out there. Those who do bring their children aged over 10 tend to be more thoughtful travellers who encourage their kids to put down their devices and notice the silvery threadwork of a spiderweb. Or try and spot some of the unique wildlife of the Daintree such as the Lumholtz tree kangaroo, sugar glider or southern cassowary. Silky Oaks Lodge is also popular for multigenerational getaways and special occasions.

Details

A stay at the Luxury Lodges of Australia property starts from $1300 per night in a rainforest retreat which includes breakfast and a la carte dinners. There is also a range of packages available at Silky Oaks Lodge including the three-night Silky Escape, priced from $1170 per night.  The Rainforest to Reef package, priced from $4500 for a minimum stay of three nights, also includes two bonus adventures in the region.

Getting to Silky Oaks Lodge

Silky Oaks Lodge is easily accessible from Cairns Airport with direct daily flights to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Uluru. The scenic drive from Cairns is also one of the most popular road trips in Australia.

For more nearby accommodation options, read our guide to Cape Tribulation accommodation.