The ultimate Scenic Rim Gondwana Rainforests solo travel guide

Kick off your travel on weekend-eve and clock off early to beat the traffic on your way to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Start your getaway with some excitement at the Birds of Prey Show at 1pm and witness the aerial acrobatics of kites, eagles, and owls. For the keen twitchers, don the handling glove yourself and snap an awesome photo with your new bird-buddy to share with family and friends back home.

Enjoy the last couple of hours of daylight with a scenic e-bike or segway tour or opt for a sunset walk through ancient rainforest canopies 16 metres above ground on the Treetop Walk. For the best view of the rainforest, climb the ladders up the giant fig tree for mesmerising views of the sunset over the trees 30 metres above ground.

Settle in for the night in a Mountain View Room or Safari Tent to stay amongst the trees with the comforting luxuries of home.

O’Reilly’s Mountain View Rooms are designed for solo nature enthusiasts wanting a place to hang their boots and lay their heads after a day of exploring Lamington National Park. Each room has an ensuite bathroom, small balcony, queen bed and air-conditioning. Rate includes afternoon tea and complimentary bird walk.

Why pack your tent when you can borrow a Safari Tent? Each tent has a queen bed and bunk beds, power, spacious deck and access to the communal bathrooms.

If you want to rough it for more of an “au naturel” experience, pitch a tent in the campground and escape from electronics for the night.

Remember to plan for the next day before hitting the hay and book your spot on the morning shuttle to Binna Burra by 6:00pm at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat reception.

Rise and shine adventure seeker! It’s an early rendezvous at 7:45am to jump on a transfer to the beautiful Binna Burra Lodge.

Fuel up for the day ahead with a delicious breakfast at Binna Burra Tea House. Treat yourself to the pancakes (you’ll thank yourself for the energy when you’re tackling rainforest trails later) and secure a seat on the balcony outside to chew with a view over Lamington National Park.

Lace up your hiking shoes and spend the day on an unforgettable adventure along the Border Track, stretching 21.4km from Binna Burra back to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Make sure to allow for approximately seven hours of walking time to soak in the splendour of the Gondwana Rainforests, one of Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

After setting out on the Border Track, you can choose your own adventure for the first section of the hike. For those with a love of jaw-dropping views, keep to the Border Track to pass Joalah Lookout, where the rolling mountains of the Scenic Rim sprawl out in front of you.

For those with a love of thundering waterfalls, take the right-side turnoff onto the Coomera Circuit to encounter the stunning Coomera and Yarrabilgong Falls cascading up to 150 metres into the gorge below. The Coomera Circuit rejoins the Border Track further along the route, so adventurers who opt for this trail will add an extra 30 minutes of walking to their day. Chasing more waterfalls in Lamington National Park? Check out these stunning waterfalls accessible from O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat and Binna Burra Lodge.

Stop to rest at the lookouts along the way and enjoy your packed trail snacks over jaw-dropping views of the Limpinwood Valley, Mount Warning, and the Tweed Range. Take these opportunities to snap photos of the valley below to remember your trek through this lush land of history and adventure. After tackling the 21.4km Border Track, you’ll arrive back at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Take a victory lap to the Lost World Spa for a well-deserved massage or soak weary muscles in the spa below the observatory deck. Loving the feeling of switching off work mode and switching on rejuvenation? Discover more ways to refresh within the Scenic Rim.

Once fully rejuvenated, pop into The Rainforest Bar for an ice-cold drink and some mouthwatering nibbles or elevate your dining experience in The Dining Room for gourmet meals made from local ingredients and indulgent wines, including O’Reilly’s very own wines vinified at their Canungra Valley Vineyard.

Kickstart Sunday with an early rise to catch the sunrise at Moran’s Falls – a gentle 4km round trip that’s forgiving on sore legs from the day before – and thank yourself for waking up to your alarms when you find views of Gondwana Rainforests slowly illuminating in pale pink light awaiting you.

After checking out of your accommodation, drive down the mountain to Canungra for a dose of furry fun while strolling through vineyards with your own alpaca companion at Mountview Alpaca Farm. Take a photo with your friendly alpaca amongst the green vines before digging into a parmy down the road at the Canungra Hotel. Choose from six different parmigiana toppings from the French Parmigiana loaded with Napolitana sauce, brie cheese avocado, and hollandaise sauce to the Chilli Chorizo Parmigiana topped with chorizo, Spanish onions, jalapenos, and Frank’s hot sauce. To round out your meal, pair your parmy with a local beer to taste the Sunshine State.

Let your spirits rise as you make your way to Cauldron Distillery and whip out your lab coat to concoct some top-quality gin from scratch with a gin making or blending class. Create your own personalised taste with free rein over botanical choices. You’ll even leave with a bottle of your one-of-a-kind sip to share back home. For a little extra fun, hang around to try their award-winning gin in a classy cocktail, then kick back at a table on their green lawn to sip and savour in the sunshine.

If gin isn’t your preferred beverage, take the more adventurous route for your Sunday shenanigans and visit the Ecotourism-certified Glow Worm Caves Tamborine Mountain to see thousands of glow worms come to light in the sustainable and environmentally friendly purpose-built caves.