O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Villas & Lost World Spa and Conference Centre Review

After trying to get through to the day spa for all week, we eventually booked two deluxe 6-hour packages. On checking in we asked for confirmation of the treatment, but we were told by reception to drive down to the day spa ourselves. We did this only to find out that they couldn't accommodate our booking which was very disappointing considering that we had bought the fact that the phone line at the day spa wasn't working most of the week before our visit. Coupled with this fiasco the quality of the food for breakfast and dinner was underwhelming considering the price you pay and while the barman was knowledgeable he played his mostly unfamiliar semi-heavy metal music playlist over the entertainment system both nights. We won't be back!

This retreat is just magical. Spectacular views. Accommodation was fantastic- every convenience catered to. A real place to unwind and truly relax. We all loved it and would love to come back for a longer stay next time.

Great walks (tree top walk stunning at sunset!!). The restaurant was nice but not quite nice enough for the price. Service was friendly and warm.

Wonderful place for retreat in nature. A large population of different birds makes it a wonderful spot for birders. The Satin Bowerbird, Regent Bowerbird and Lewin's Honey eaters comes very close to the picnic spot. Australian King Parrot, Crimson Rosella, Australian Brushturkey and Red-browed Finch were very common in the feeding ground.

I have photographed over 800 weddings. O'Reillys offers a unique wedding day experience. With terrain that is both picturesque and facilities built to suit them, weddings, weekends away and even day trips are memorable occasions.

How adorable is this owl that we were lent from the O'Reillys Bird of Prey show to use in bridal photos. Just gorgeous!

The location was amazing, even though the weather was a bit rainy. The cafe has a monopoly on the mountain, so suggest you pack a picnic. Some of the hours advertised are a little different in the cafe, so I suggest you confirm if you are heading up early or late in the day. The walk out to the treetop bridges was beautiful & I would like to return on a clear day to get the perspective of difference. A lot of history up there too. Make sure you check out the replica plane & statues to get a feel for the remoteness. One final point is that roadwork is currently underway, so plan for extra time to make the journey. A beautiful place j would love to return to

Great little spot up at the mountain. The staff are wonderful :)

Staff hopeless on all accounts. Views beautiful. All food very expensive, and no alternative.

I can t praise the beauty of this place enough. It is so beautiful. The bird feeding, the rain forest, the views, it s just amazing.

That s my go to place when I need to clear my mind and want to take a break from all the city noise. A long walk in the rain forest is just so rejuvenating.

The mango ice cream at the O Reilly s cafe there is real good. There are a couple of waterfalls if you want to go for some water fun. Oh yes and don t forget to see the lookouts all around.

So beautiful, incredible place for a family getaway and just an hour or so out from the Gold Coast.

O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat's roads are under construction so they are a bit rough so you might get a little carsick. The villas are pretty nice and are equipped with cooking utensils. You will need to stock up on food because the markets are far away. There is a grill in the backyard of the villas. There are some fun activities such as the zipline called the Flying foxnand Wacky chemistry, Homes and Habitats, Amazing Race etc. If someone wants to attend an activity, don't forget to sign up a few days in advance. The Booyong Walk us nice too. Climb the large tree and see the rainforest from it's canopy. The treetop walk was scenic and educational. One show you can watch is called Birds Of Prey. It is about birds who hunt for food. No matter what age, you can always have fun. Everyone will have the chance to experience nature.

Fantastic! Do a guided walk to get the most out of your stay. So many wonderful birds and a truly magnificent natural environment. Segway tour also lots of fun. Food is expensive, but understandably I suppose. Delighted to return after 30 years and share with my family, but sad to see how very dry it is.

not that good .. but can be visited if u like walk through forests but no animals to see

Lovely birdlife and walks. Quite dry at present and not as green as usual

Little run down , traffic problems to get there and expensive food but a wonderful location and terrific long walks and upstairs pub to watch sunsets

Accomodation was good but the surroundings were amazing. The treetops walks and the other surrounding tracks were beautiful. The drive up was long but the destination is worth it.

Ok so we just got here and im not happy. Not only was the drive up here dangerous by being one lane most of the way, its NOT ADVERTISED in its description that at any moment you might get pushed of the side of the mountain by an oncoming vehicle. Then once we get to our villa i notice that the block out curtains through out are on backwards. Walk though the bedroom and the floor shakes. Im sure there will be more to come.

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING, I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! THE STAFF ARE REALLY NICE AND THE PLACES AND POOL AND VEIWS ARE INCREDABLE. EVERYONE GO THERE. ITS SO GOOD

(From grace o reilly)

Great getaway reasonable distance from Brisbane. Lovely rainforest and very good resort. Staff are awesome and most helpful going beyond their normal jobs

For a rainforest retreat this place was littered and so commercial. Despite claiming to be environmentally friendly, single use plastic was evident everywhere. I was particularly disappointed to see disposable plastic pots for sauce serving, why not just squeeze the sauce directly onto your plate?
No evidence of an eco retreat here, just a tourist attraction.

Beautiful part of the world. Stayed in the mountain villas which are clean and self catered, complete with a spa on the balcony. Kitchen equipment is slightly under stocked and the DVD player didn t work, but this didn t detract from anything.

I went there during the recent bush fires hoping to buy supplies but found it totally deserted . not their fault as the police had evacuated the place before my arrival. I just had to suck eggs till only road to and from opened again

We did the treetop walk and even though we visit a couple of times a year, it still clears the head and gives a sense of space

Awesome place, tree walk & the parrot feeding were too good.

The winter package inclusions were very impressive, the jacuzzi was a lovely touch, the restaurant food quality was great, the surroundings were stunning and peaceful and the hikes were great.

I haven't stayed at the retreat yet but have been to their restaurant/bar several times after bushwalking in the area and the food and service are always great.

Made a day trip visit to do the treetops rainforest walk and feed the birds. The national park side of the road has tables and electric bbq's so you can bring a picnic or head over to the cafe and enjoy the amazing view.

Beautiful setting. The extra touches made for a special and relaxing weekend. Will definitely stay again!

It was ok , rooms are poky and very roughly and poorly finished . Bed was comfy
Food was ok , service was terrible at the restaurant. Breakfast was a good spread but bay Marie wasn t hot enough .
Probably won t return , not good value for money .

My parents stayed here while my boyfriend and I camped and we would join them for meals. The food was good but the service was very, very slow.

We were on the Mt Tambourine day tour and went on the Tree Top Walk and Bird Feeding at O'Reilly's. The place was amazing! Awesome experience.

Beautiful scenery. Great staff. Plenty of activities and walking trails. Can't fault the place at all.

Worth going and the Green Mountain camp as well as the bird feeding experience, the look out is gorgeous and beautiful

Unfriendly staff. Absolutely filthy restrooms. Extremely overpriced. Worth the long drive only for the view.

Great place for a day trip. The road up to the top is terrible.

With so many businesses going under with COVID19 restrictions I take my hat off to this resort. Staff went beyond the call to make our stay as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
I congratulate everyone from reception to restaurant staff. Really loved the location and the accommodation was perfect. During our short stay we fed the birds and took in a few of the glorious local walks including the tree top walk, Botanical gardens, Wishing Tree and Glow worms. Dinner of shared whole Duck was superb and watching the sunset from the bar verandah is a must-do for every visitor.

Very nice area. Rooms are clean, but old. Staff are very friendly and helpful. Tours were fun. Food was pretty average for how much you pay for it. They have a captive audience and they know it. Everything is pretty picey.

This place is amazing and full of soul which always reminds me of beautiful memories that created for me. Great accommodation in the middle of Lamington National Park, with many activities available for different ages. Examples are couple of hiking / walking tracks, treetop walk, lorikeet feeding, segway, etc. The road to here is also breathtaking and full of beauties. In addition to all these, the staff are very friendly and helpful. Absolutely 5 stars!

Old, dirty and a lot of stuff are out of date. No TV, no AC and wifi not properly working. Can't use the infinity pool (broken down) and the other small pool is looking so murky. Mould is everywhere. Reception wasn't that friendly when I arrived. Our car park wasn't ready for us to use. Do you still call it 'mountain view room???' when you can see a bit of mountain cause of blocked other roof? Very disappointed and wouldn't recommend to anyone.

We got even told today (2nd day) that the small pool is now closed...what the hell!!!

Beautiful location and peacful, room was fair and had a nice view. However, it was a huge disappointment that non of the spar facilities where working. Outside jacuzzi is out of order. Out side pool is freezing, infinity pool heater is not working, and jaccuzi next to it was not working too. We chose this destination, and payed the extra price for the luxuries. Not very impressed. Beware, spar is also shut on a Tuesday which is not made very clear.

Beautiful resort, but very dated in places. Fair value for money for where the resort is. Staff friendly rooms and facilities very clean

Has always been one of my favourite places in all the world. Has changed in parts over the years, but some parts remain eternal.
EDIT: Thank you Damian. I was there on a day trip for my 50th birthday and your concierge allowed me to spend some time reminiscing in the lounge area. In searching through the guest books I found my parent's signatures from their honeymoon in 1965. So a huge thank you to your staff and their generosity.

We stayed in the villas and on the second night we went to cook only to pull filthy pots and pans covered in crusted food out of the cupboard. When water was spilled on the floor my partner wiped it up with a paper towel and it was filthy. Not just a bit of dirt it was black. We then pulled the fold out couch to find nuts and a chocolate wrapper inside. We complained and they compensated us with some nice wine and "rewashed" all the things we had already washed to use that night but did a crap job yet again as we pulled out other things we didn't use the first night on the next night that were also filthy. The beds and pillows were uncomfortable, a ploy to make you buy a massage I'm sure (which was lovely I have to admit). When we checked in the the man at the desk asked what view I wanted so I pointed to a picture on their website and said I'd like to see the valley and got villa right around the side that faced the adjacent mountain...you could only see the valley if you stood against the balcony rail and looked right...behind some trees. Why bother asking me what view I wanted...Didn't try the restaurant, the cafe was good, Lots of stuff to do...at a price of course.

I love Lamington National park and the best way to make the most of it is to stay at Oreillys!!

The drive up there was fantastic despite the roadworks. The views are stunning and well worth the effort. O'Reilly's itself was disappointing. The former glory gone. Needs urgent maintenance and a good clean up. The place is littered with rubbish. Not something you'd expect at the edge of a major National park.

Beautiful location and stunning views. We loved the activities but were a little disappointed in the lack of friendliness from the staff. It was also disappointing that our room advertised a small fridge and tea/coffee facilities but it had neither. Improving service and ensuring the rooms are updated and properly equipped would make O'Reilly's an excellent holiday retreat. On the whole though, lovely little getaway location.

Spent the day travelling 100kms+ to enjoy an amazing day out.
Cafe had no food left and it was only 12pm.
Management needs to prepare better for food service and day travellers.
Not one employee was advising the food shortage and having to disappoint each client when they reached the counter.
Don't put 'today's specials' signs out when you can't deliver.
I will be back, but for the view and a packed lunch.

The location is great but room are abit old and need repair

Cabin good, other than rear sliding door lock about to fall off. Bed comfy. Our cabin backed onto a construction site with illegal extention lead hanging across the carpark?!?
All staff friendly. Food was great. Wildlife wonderful!
The place is in desperate need of a maintenance man. One heavy table in the front of the shop was on a lean and got removed only when mentioned it to a staff member (who knows how long it had been like that). Walls in cafe ladies toilets disgusting. Male toilet door has a large hole in it?? Cross on chapel falling off any day now, beware! Mop bucket and various bits just laying around the place
The pool area has many lifted rotting wooden panels and as for the wobbly bridge going over it, surprised that has'nt fallen down although my kids enjoyed rocking it much to my discomfort. Spa luke warm and pool both not inviting sadly.
Went to the day spa to get my $50 spa voucher only to be told I have to spend over $100 to get it. Was not told this over the phone when booked that morning so wasted an hour of my holiday doing that. Checked out the infinity pool with no shade as it was 4pm and the umbrellas shaded the garden bed, well done! Toilet there had overflowing rubbish bin and the grass around the tables were not mowed.
Got charged for our kids eating there when our booking said kids under 11years eat free. they refunded our money but buyer beware, kids only eat free when you pay for a 'main' meal which can range from $28 to $40 - soon adds up.
Last but not least we didnt want to pay $22 each to eat breakfast so went to the 'store' to get some cereal only to find no cereal on the shelves..... but plenty of pasta, chips and biscuits.
Went hungry that morning...
Thats all, had to get it off my chest. Wont be recommending the place sadly.
Paula.

My 3 day stay was perfect. The walks are beautiful and peaceful, the room was terrific & food at the cafe was yummy. Well done and thank you

Nice drive up. Food was well below average at an above average price.

Attended for a day trip and a walk. Beautiful location.

Absolutely lovely place. We loved the hospitality and food. We will go again for our family holidays

A great getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life

We've stayed here before buy more recently we just go up for a bite to eat or to buy cold drinks before going on hikes. Nice place but could probably make more out of its unique location in such a beautiful place.

Location is absolutely stunning, friendly staff and incredible hikes!

Such a spectacular piece of rainforest with amazing bird life all around

Worst holiday experience. Cleaning staff entered our room when we were out to prepare it for the next guest when we were to check out the following day. Terrible service, completely unacceptable and unprofessional. I would never recommend O Reilly s. My stay was a 21st birthday gift and we had a broken fridge and ended up losing all of our cold items and it took a day to get fixed. We were promised a food hamper to replace our perished items and we waited 3 hours before we had to call reception and ask for it because we had planned to go on a picnic to one of the nearby waterfalls and our day was wasted. The worst part of all was when we returned from our picnic, we found a van in our car space and we were told that they were preparing our villa for the next guest when we didn t check out until the next day. They also provided incorrect pricing on their food and drinks list inside our villa and everything ended up being significantly more expensive. We felt that because of our age we were treated poorly. Absolutely appalling.

AMAZING nature and tree canopy walking trails. It is highly recommended.

Had a wonderful time here. Rooms were clean and very well looked after. Dimming lights in the bed room. A hot tub and a sauna. The walking tracks were fantastic, very peaceful and we got a packed lunch which was awesome. Only downside is the dinner menu was too small - no chicken schnitzels :0 and the staff we spoke to weren't very knowledgeable on the tracks we wanted to walk so had to figure it out ourselves. Thank you for a wonderful time !! :)

An iconic birding spot 14 Regent bower birds at the entrance every day. All birds mega tame. Food and wine excellent as are hard working young staff. Views amazing. Slight critique is there should have been a restaurant manager on hand. The young staff did well but an experienced head was needed.

I have stayed here a number of times. It is a great place to relax and escape. Some of the lodges look out over the mountains where you can experience a sunset from the in house spa bath. The fireplace keeps you warm in winter. Many great walks and tracks to explore. I can't wait to return.

Amazing part of the Gold Coast Hinterland. Worth the windy drive up the mountain.

Take away area-They ran out of food, told us it would be 10 minutes then tried to charge is twice. Staff unsure what to do when they get busy, no organisation. Staff also very rude

Very good location, perfect for a picnic. Only disadvantage is hard to get to.

Awesome food, great walking and nature activities. Some excellent accommodation depends on what you choose.

Great location and amazing views, however it is feeling quite tired in the accomodation areas.

Stunning views, the road up to O'reillys isn't for the faint hearted but worth it once on top of the mountain.