Best for
- Couples seeking a luxury rainforest-and-reef escape
- Nature lovers wanting world-class hospitality in a pristine setting
- Honeymooners and milestone celebrations
Silky Oaks Lodge
Forty treehouses suspended above the Mossman River in the world's oldest rainforest
Ancient rainforest immersion with refined Baillie Lodges polish
- 2 MICHELIN Keys and Conde Nast Traveller's #1 Hotel in Australasia (2025)
- All-inclusive: breakfast, four-course dinner with wines, evening drinks, and signature experiences
- Healing Waters Spa with Indigenous-inspired treatments overlooking the Mossman River
Luxury Hotel · Mossman
The luxury case for Silky Oaks Lodge.
An all-inclusive luxury lodge set on 32 hectares of pristine Daintree Rainforest on the banks of the Mossman River. Reimagined by Baillie Lodges, Silky Oaks pairs 40 elevated treehouse-style suites with a Healing Waters Spa, the open-air Treehouse Restaurant, and a lagoon pool fringed by tropical gardens. Rates include breakfast, four-course dinner with matched wines, evening drinks, and a curated collection of rainforest and river experiences.
The mood
Ancient rainforest immersion with refined Baillie Lodges polish
Ideal stay
3 to 4 nights
Why it earns the rate
The all-inclusive model, 2 MICHELIN Keys, and the sheer rarity of luxury accommodation inside one of the planet's oldest rainforests make this unlike any other property in Australia.
Forty treehouse-style suites are elevated among the canopy of the Daintree Rainforest, each designed in a classic Queenslander style with clean lines, expansive verandahs, and materials that defer to the landscape. The range runs from the intimate Rainforest Retreats, tucked into the greenery with deep spa baths and hammock-strung decks, through eleven Riverhouses positioned directly above the Mossman River with floor-to-ceiling glass and outdoor bathtubs overlooking the water below.
The Treehouse Retreats are the signature pick: 50 square metres of open-plan living with an outdoor stone bathtub and open-air shower on a private deck high in the canopy. For families or those wanting more space, two Treehouse Premium suites add king single daybeds to the mix. And at the top, the 323-square-metre Daintree Pavilion is a two-bedroom hideaway with its own infinity pool floating among the trees, an open-air lounging atrium, and a stocked bar.
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The Treehouse Restaurant is the sole dining venue, and it earns the singularity. An open-air room set among the treetops, it serves a four-course dinner nightly for guests, matched with premium Australian wines and built around Tropical North Queensland produce and the lodge's own kitchen garden, where finger limes, rosella, and betel leaves grow steps from the kitchen.
Breakfast is tropical and generous. Lunch is open to outside visitors by reservation, making it one of the few reasons anyone has to leave Port Douglas. The all-inclusive model means guests never see a bill at dinner, which removes the last barrier between you and a second glass of something from the Barossa.
The Healing Waters Spa takes its name and philosophy from Indigenous Kuku Yalanji beliefs about the renewing power of the Mossman River. Six treatment rooms look out to rainforest or river, including a couples' room and Vichy shower. Treatments use Alkeme products, an Australian range blending aromatherapy with Ayurvedic principles, and the signature offerings draw on Indigenous traditions.
But the spa is only part of the wellness story. Complimentary morning yoga sessions, river swimming and snorkelling in the croc-free Mossman, guided rainforest walks, and e-bikes through the property round out a wellness program that treats the entire 32-hectare estate as the facility.
Silky Oaks Lodge holds 2 MICHELIN Keys and was named the number one hotel in Australasia by Conde Nast Traveller readers in 2025, with a near-perfect score of 99.67 out of 100. Those accolades arrived after Baillie Lodges, the group behind Capella Lodge, Longitude 131, and Southern Ocean Lodge, completed a multi-million dollar transformation that elevated every detail while keeping the lodge's soul intact.
The setting is irreplaceable: the Daintree is the oldest continuously surviving rainforest on earth, and the Mossman River running beneath your treehouse is clean enough to swim in. The all-inclusive pricing means dinner, wines, drinks, and a curated collection of experiences are simply part of staying here. For a luxury nature lodge in Australia, this is the benchmark.
Is It For You?
Is Silky Oaks Lodge right for you?
Less ideal if
- Families with children under 10 (minimum age policy)
- Guests wanting a beach or city resort experience
Atmosphere
Hushed and immersive, like staying in a beautifully designed treehouse where the soundtrack is birdsong and rushing water
Ideal stay
Long weekend (3-4 nights)
Why splurge
The all-inclusive model, 2 MICHELIN Keys, and the sheer rarity of luxury accommodation inside one of the planet's oldest rainforests make this unlike any other property in Australia.
Rooms
Rooms & suites
Editorial pickThe Daintree Pavilion for the private infinity pool and two-bedroom space; a Riverhouse for couples wanting the most direct river connection.
Rainforest Retreat
The entry-level room, but still generous. King bed, deep spa bath, and an outdoor deck with hammock overlooking the rainforest. Classic Queenslander design with clean lines and understated luxury.
- Size
- 42 sqm
- View
- Rainforest canopy
- Sleeps
- 2 adults
- Best for
- Couples wanting a cosy rainforest base
- King bed with interior daybed
- Deep spa bath in ensuite
- Outdoor deck with hammock
- Rainforest views
Treehouse Retreat
Elevated high in the canopy with a generous balcony, signature hammock, and a private outdoor deck with stone bathtub and open-air shower. The most popular room category for good reason.
- Size
- 50 sqm
- View
- Treetop rainforest canopy
- Sleeps
- 2 adults
- Best for
- The signature Silky Oaks experience
- King bed (twin on request)
- Private outdoor stone bathtub
- Open-air shower on deck
- Balcony with signature hammock
Treehouse Premium
Only two of these on the property. King bed plus two king single daybeds make it the only family-friendly option. Private deck with outdoor stone bathtub and verandah overlooking the rainforest.
- Size
- 72 sqm
- View
- Rainforest canopy
- Sleeps
- 2-4 guests
- Best for
- Families or couples wanting extra space
- King bed plus 2 king single daybeds
- Private verandah balcony
- Outdoor stone bathtub on deck
- Open-plan lounge
Riverhouse
Eleven suites positioned directly above the Mossman River. Floor-to-ceiling glass frames the water cascading below. The private outdoor bathtub overlooking the river is the standout feature. Stone-clad bathroom and contemporary interiors.
- Size
- 50 sqm
- View
- Mossman River
- Sleeps
- 2 adults
- Best for
- Couples wanting the closest river connection
- King bed (twin on request)
- Floor-to-ceiling river views
- Private outdoor bathtub over the river
- Open-plan lounge with hammock
Daintree Pavilion
The flagship suite with two bedroom wings, an open-air lounging atrium, and a private infinity pool floating among the forest canopy. Two ensuite bathrooms each with private outdoor baths. A premium stocked bar and generous entertaining spaces make this a destination within a destination.
- Size
- 323 sqm
- View
- Immersive rainforest canopy
- Sleeps
- 4-5 guests
- Best for
- Special occasions and the ultimate Silky Oaks experience
- Private infinity pool in the canopy
- Two bedroom wings with ensuite bathrooms
- Open-air lounging atrium
- Premium stocked bar
Eat and Drink
Dining
The restaurants, bars, and rituals that shape how the hotel feels after the room itself.
Start here
Treehouse Restaurant
Contemporary Australian cuisine with tropical influences, built around the lodge's own kitchen garden and Tropical North Queensland produce. A four-course dinner with matched wines is included nightly for guests. Lunch is open to outside visitors by reservation.
- Go here for
- The four-course dinner with matched wines included nightly
- Expect
- Open-air dining in the treetops with the soundtrack of the Mossman River
Reset
Wellness
The parts of the property that slow the pace, restore energy, or justify spending more time on-site.
For recovery
Healing Waters Spa
Six treatment rooms with rainforest and river views, including a couples' room and Vichy shower. Treatments draw on Indigenous beliefs about the renewing power of the Mossman River, using Australian-made Alkeme products combining aromatherapy with Ayurvedic principles. Guests must be 16+.
- Best for
- Indigenous-inspired Vichy therapies and the river-view couples' treatment room
For downtime
Lagoon Pool
Meandering, rock-bordered lagoon-style saltwater pool fringed by tropical gardens, with heated sections, gentle waterfalls, and daybed lounging areas.
- Best for
- The heated saltwater lagoon surrounded by rainforest
For reset
Nature Wellness
Complimentary morning yoga sessions, river swimming and snorkelling in the croc-free Mossman River, guided rainforest walks, and e-bikes through the property.
What to Do
Signature Experiences
The on-property or destination moments that justify choosing this hotel over a generic luxury base.
Any time
Mossman River Swimming
Swim and snorkel in the pristine Mossman River directly below the lodge
Any time
Daintree Rainforest Walk
Guided walk through 180-million-year-old wilderness with a naturalist guide
Any time
Great Barrier Reef Expedition
Day trip to the outer reef from nearby Port Douglas, one of the closest mainland access points
Location
Getting to Silky Oaks Lodge
Port Douglas
20 min
car (daily shuttle included)Cairns Airport
80 min
carMossman Gorge
5 min
carGreat Barrier Reef
90 min
boat from Port DouglasMossman Gorge
Sacred Indigenous site with crystal-clear swimming holes and guided Dreamtime walks
5 min driveGreat Barrier Reef
Day trips to the outer reef depart daily from Port Douglas
20 min to Port DouglasKuku Yalanji Cultural Experiences
cultureIndigenous-guided walks, art, and storytelling with the traditional custodians of the Daintree
Cape Tribulation
Where the Daintree Rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef, the only place two World Heritage sites converge
45 min driveWhat to Know
Before you book
Check-in / Check-out
Check-in 2:00 PM, check-out 10:30 AM. Early check-in and late check-out offered where possible but not guaranteed.
Children
Children aged 10 and over are welcome.
Pets
Not permitted.
Parking
Free on-site parking.
Smoking
No smoking in all suites and shared common areas.
Editorial Verdict
The verdict on Silky Oaks Lodge
Why book it
- All-inclusive pricing removes the mental load: dinner, wines, drinks, and experiences are covered
- The combination of Daintree Rainforest and Mossman River is a setting no other luxury lodge can match
- Baillie Lodges' transformation has elevated every detail without losing the soul of the place
Know the trade-offs
- No children under 10 limits family appeal
- 80 minutes from Cairns Airport makes getting here a commitment
- Only one restaurant, so multi-night stays rely on menu rotation
Explore the Area
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