Silky Oaks Lodge
Lodge · Cairns ·
Treehouse suites with forest views, spa treatments, and riverside dining
Treehouse suites with forest views, spa treatments, and riverside dining
"At Silky Oaks Lodge, I can visit the world's oldest rainforest and dine atop a waterfall." - Jonathan Alder
"A lodge that uniquely allows visitors to experience two UNESCO World Heritage-listed environments side-by-side, combining access to the Daintree Rainforest with visits to the nearby Coral Sea and Reef." - Stuart Rigg
"One of the oldest rainforests on the planet with unique ecosystems, pristine beaches, and rich Indigenous cultural heritage."
"Nestled on 80 acres adjacent to the ancient Daintree Rainforest, this eco-conscious retreat features 40 accommodations that include tree-house suites with outdoor stone tubs and double hammocks, plus an open-air restaurant set to the sounds of a flowing river and cicadas. The property centers Indigenous storytelling and cultural experiences—Aboriginal-owned Walkabout Cultural Adventures leads tours highlighting medicinal plants and wildlife—offering immersive access to the 180-million-year-old rainforest’s flora and fauna while prioritizing sustainable practices." - Jennifer Flowers, Krisanne Fordham, Laura Dannen Redman
"This spot overlooking the Mossman River in the heart of the lush Daintree Rainforest, the world’s oldest tropical rainforest, has been special ever since it opened in the 1980s. But its 2021 makeover by Baillie Lodges—the Australian brand that specializes in show-stopping properties in remote locations—has elevated it to a whole different level, with the help of Sydney design team Pike Withers. Many of the 40 suites resemble decadent treehouses of polished hardwoods, with stone bathtubs on forest-fringed terraces. The hero lodging is the two-bedroom, 3,400-square-foot Daintree Pavilion, a contemporary jungle hide with a tiered horizon pool and extensive decking to capture every possible perspective of the surrounding rainforest, which was recently returned to its original custodians, the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people. Everything here is geared towards total immersion in nature and culture—from tapping into local walking tours, on which Kuku Yalanji guides share ancient survival techniques, to Asian-inflected dinners in the soaring, cantilevered Treehouse Restaurant, high in the tropical canopy. At the Healing Waters Spa, the signature Ulysses face and body treatment features a mud bath and Vichy shower overlooking the rainforest. The spa is based on ancient ideas about the Mossman River as a life-giving force—reinforcing the sense that a deep connection to nature is everything here. From $650. —Kendall Hill" - CNT Editors
