As a Melburnian, I’ve been having increasingly vivid dreams of going full Shawshank Redemption and clambering through an extremely long tunnel to end up in sunny ol’ Queensland.
No, really, the dreams feel 30 years long as I slowly chip away at the makeshift hole, hidden behind a poster in my room to throw off the guards – the tunnel-digging itself is more of a nightmare than a dream.
Alas, I wake up every morning realising the tunnel doesn’t exist, I’m still in Melbourne and Queenslanders are going about their lives all sunkissed and jolly. But not for long as soon, I too will be a tanned (red) carefree Australian on a cheeky vacay up in Tropical Northern Queensland.
So, just to really rub it in to the rest of Australia (and to give everyone a light at the end of the tunnel), I’ve rounded up a few rainforest retreats that look like an absolute dream right now.
Canopy Treehouses
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Live out everyone’s childhood fantasy and sleep in a literal treehouse (for adults though, none of this shabby child-built business) at the Canopy Treehouses.
The retreat is nestled among treetops on the outskirts of the town of Tarzali, which is far enough away from the main cities that you won’t hear the annoying sounds of a pedestrian and a driver shouting at each other over who has right of way.
When you arrive, you’ll be surrounded by all sorts of wildlife that resemble what most of us have only seen in children’s books, and just nearby there’s a market crammed full of A-grade food and wine.
From one of five treehouses (exclusivity is key here), you’ll overlook the Ithica River, and if the sound of flowing water doesn’t relax you to your very core, there’s something very wrong with you. That’s not an attack, more of an uninformed statement.
Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat
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The family-owned and operated Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat is also made up of treehouses, with the additional option of staying at a villa-treehouse if you’re feeling particularly monocle-and-opera-gloves fancy.
Hidden on the Atherton Tablelands (Malanda, to be more specific), you won’t be short of sights to see when you book in for a stay – there are 9kms worth of walking trails on the property alone, which gives you ample time to stroll around and spot teeny, tiny Musky-Rat Kangaroos (the smallest and most primitive species of kangaroo) after stocking up on a complimentary brekky hamper.
What stands out the most, which couples will be stoked about, is the fact that each treehouse and tree-house villa have their own designated area, which means a whole lotta privacy to do whatever it is you loved-up kids do these days.
Daintree Ecolodge
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The Daintree Ecolodge pops up on a fair few of these lists, but that’s because it’s just so good.
The Daintree Rainforest is truly a sight to behold, and tucked away inside said sight are 15 treehouses (sensing a theme here), each more divine than the last – except they’re all equally divine so, let’s just chalk that down to the misuse of a common figure of speech.
On top of everything else it offers (which is a lot), the eco-lodge also comes equipped with a spa, which I for one believe everyone deserves to treat themselves to given the year it’s been, and if not, pop it down on your list of things to do in the next decade.
You owe yourself that at the very least.
Mist at Cape Tribulation
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Let’s take a bit of a detour from the treehouse trend we’ve found ourselves in and venture over to Mist at Cape Tribulation, which offers three luxury pavilions, all of which are fitted with everything you need to live there until your final days – king-size beds, three-seater sofas, kitchenettes, fancy bathrooms – all with a view of the World Heritage Rainforests.
I’m not saying you can permanently move in (it’s more of a vacay situation) but believe when I say that if I could, I would.
While you’re there, you can go on a slew of different journeys including the 4WD adventures, insane hikes, night walks and a Great Barrier Reef ocean safari.
Even if you’re a picky traveller, it’ll be hard to find something you wouldn’t sell your soul to experience.
Heritage Lodge Daintree
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My god, I know the colour blue has been around since the dawn of time, but I’m almost convinced the shade is modelled after Cooper Creek – have you ever seen anything bluer in your entire life? My word.
If you want to take a dip in the bluest of blue creeks that ever blued, head straight to the Heritage Lodge Daintree. Hell, if you’re in the Daintree, may as well make a month of it and flit between all of the resorts you can find.
It’s settled. Everyone meet me in the Daintree Rainforest in May 2021 and we’ll all hug and cry and laugh and cry some more.
It’ll be glorious.
