A trip to Tropical North Queensland is an immersion into nature’s most spectacular playground, where lush rainforests, vibrant coral reefs, and laid-back coastal towns meet. This is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, where kaleidoscopic marine life and world-class diving await. Venture into the ancient Daintree Rainforest, where you wander beneath towering canopies and cruise along the mangrove-lined Daintree River. Take a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge, where Ngadiku represents stories and legends of the past in the local Kuku Yalanji language. This region promises unforgettable experiences around every corner.
This program is a source of inspiration — each trip is unique and tailored to you.
Silky Oaks Lodge welcomes you nestled on the edge of Daintree National Park and serves as a perfect base for exploring the Great Barrier Reef, the Atherton Tablelands, Cape Tribulation and the Daintree River. With its “open-air” concept, Silky Oaks is a tropical oasis for those looking to unwind and truly feel at one with Mother Nature.
Here, it is fully possible to experience the Great Barrier Reef on half-day or full-day tours, as well as take a guided walk with First Nations Kuku Yalanji guides through the Daintree or Mossman Gorge, and then drift down the river on a magical tour with Back Country Bliss.
Hayley Baillie, one of the co-owners, recommends an experience that is both addictive and free: take the trail to the Mossman River in front of the main lodge at Silky and dive in, head underwater! It is refreshing, pure water known as “healing waters” by the region’s Indigenous people and offers a wonderful welcome to Queensland!
Your stay at the lodge includes accommodation, tropical breakfast, evening drinks and snacks, a 4-course dinner menu with paired wines, a curated in-room bar, exclusive access to the Figtree Rapids trails, morning yoga, and one scheduled return shuttle to Port Douglas per day. In addition, your package includes:
• A 90-minute guided Ngadiku Dreamtime walk at Mossman Gorge with return
transfers
• A full-day cruise to the Great Barrier Reef with Sailaway, including lunch, snorkeling, and
return transfers
Spend an unforgettable day sailing the Coral Sea aboard a catamaran, exploring either Mackay Coral Cay on the outer reef or the idyllic Low Isles. Mackay Cay’s snow-white sands and crystal-clear waters offer a picture-perfect backdrop of the Great Barrier Reef. The small cay sits on its northern edge, approximately 50 kilometers from Port Douglas, rising just a few meters above high tide.
Here, you will visit two sheltered reef sites ideal for snorkeling, offering up-close views of vibrant and diverse coral gardens, giant clams, sea turtles, and a kaleidoscope of tropical fish. In between, you can step ashore on the small sand spit to relax in paradise. Join a guided snorkeling tour in the water at each of the day’s dive sites led by passionate marine biologists, interspersed with lunch and an interpretive reef presentation, along with insights into the crew’s conservation efforts, including coral planting and a recognized reef monitoring program. If you would prefer a private tour, we would be delighted to help you arrange this.
At Silky Oaks Lodge, you can choose to stay in “Treehouses” or “Rainforest Retreats” set on platforms integrated with the surrounding rainforest. Listen to the sounds of tropical birdsong while enjoying a relaxing soak under the open sky.
The Daintree Pavilion is designed as an intimate hideaway featuring two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, an open-air lounge, and an infinity pool set against the backdrop of the rainforest. Your private rainforest retreat.
At Silky Oaks Lodge, you can expect delightful breakfasts infused with the flavors of rainforest fruits. Lunch and dinner menus feature dishes such as Barramundi (Asian sea bass) with bok choy and ginger dressing, roasted cauliflower, or Wagyu tenderloin, alongside desserts like spiced rum crème brûlée with mango sorbet. The fantastic kitchen garden supplies the Treehouse Restaurant with freshly harvested ingredients while inviting guests to wander through its lush greenery. More than 100 plant varieties grow here, from finger limes and passion fruit to pandan and betel leaves – many harvested just minutes before appearing on your plate.
Eco-rating: 4.0
Season: Year-round
Airport: Brisbane (BNE)
Children: Children over 10 years old are welcome to stay at Silky Oaks Lodge
Included in the price: A stay at the lodge is generously all-inclusive with breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring inspired menus as well as matched wines, snacks, and activities according to your tailored itinerary.
Not included in the price: Gratuities, insurance, vaccinations, international flights (we can assist with booking these)
Good to know about Australia:
Travel etiquette: None specific
Visa: Swedish citizens need a valid visa to travel to Australia. Individuals with permanent residency in Australia must hold a valid “resident return visa.” An Australian visa is free of charge, but you must apply. Link to apply here
Time zone: GMT + 10
Vaccinations: Read more about required vaccinations here
Packing: Sunglasses, sun hat, sunscreen, swimwear, etc. You will receive a packing list prior to departure.
Local currency: Australian Dollar (AUD).
Weather: Australia Weather
Mobile network and email: Email and internet access available.
Safety: Australia is considered a safe destination for tourists.
More information about: Travel advice
This product meets our requirements for Ecorating, a product that is good for humans and the environment.
Silky Oaks Lodge, which is part of Beckons, has a strong commitment to sustainability and conservation. With Silky Oaks’ unique location by the UNESCO-listed Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, which is the world’s oldest living rainforest,
it is extremely important to leave a light footprint. The lodge’s initiatives include:
Environment: Crucial to Beckon Lodges’ vision are initiatives aimed at preserving the Daintree region’s pristine waters and rainforest environment at large, maximizing recycling and eliminating single-use plastics, and saving energy through smart technology, including LED lighting and water-saving bathroom fixtures. There is a large kitchen garden that produces much of the food served. The lodge has introduced some of the native ingredients used by the local First Nations Kuku Yalanji people to create a genuine taste of the tropical north on the menus at Silky Oaks Lodge. Purchases are local and organic. Partners and guides are selected from a sustainability perspective.
Local Community: Silky Oaks Lodge actively engages with the broader Daintree community and works regularly with small-scale producers and businesses, artists and makers, as well as local tour operators, providing a genuine boost to the regional economy. Products from Tropical North Queensland include freshly caught fish and seafood, products from the Mungalli biodynamic dairy farm in the Atherton Tablelands, and organic fruit from a nearby orchard, supplying everything from passion fruit and limes to mandarins and jackfruit. A dedicated policy of working exclusively with local builders and craftspeople, and prioritizing the recruitment of lodge staff from the region, is another way to ensure the local community is engaged and its economy sustainable.
In 2024, Beckon Lodges launched an ongoing community fundraising program called Spirit of Mateship. The bi-annual initiative raises funds via auction or raffle, with proceeds donated to lodge beneficiaries across the collection. Silky Oaks Lodge supports Mossman Support Services, a non-profit regional community organization providing a wide range of services and programs for people with disabilities, youth, families, and community groups in Port Douglas and surrounding areas.
Local Culture: An essential philosophy underpinning the guest experience at Silky Oaks Lodge is the connection to the landscape, its culture, heritage, and wildlife. As a guest, you connect with the region’s Indigenous heritage through innovative menus well-suited to the tropical climate and featuring native ingredients. The ancient culture of the Kuku Yalanji people is centered around a deep respect for nature and an intimate knowledge of its cycles. A guided tour through Mossman Gorge is a must to discover the invaluable wisdom passed down through generations.
