About this hotel
General information
Silky Oaks Lodge sits above the Mossman River on the edge of Daintree National Park, part of the World Heritage-listed Wet Tropics of Queensland. It first opened in 1985 on an 80-hectare block, and today pairs the classic Queenslander style with a contemporary edge: cantilevered ceilings and open walls in the main lodge draw in the canopy and the sound of the river. This is Kuku Yalanji Country, and work by local Aboriginal artists greets guests on arrival.
Forty treehouse-style suites are set into the forest, each with a hammock on its verandah. A kitchen garden on a former tennis court grows more than a hundred varieties for the restaurant. Part of the Beckons collection, the lodge includes breakfast, evening drinks and snacks, a four-course dinner with matched wines, the in-suite bar, morning yoga, e-bikes and a daily shuttle to Port Douglas in its rate.
Location
Near Mossman in Tropical North Queensland: 22 km (20 minutes) from Port Douglas, 78 km (80 minutes) north of Cairns Airport and 68 km from Cape Tribulation. Private road transfers from the airport or helicopter flights to the lodge helipad can be arranged at extra cost.
Spa
Set in rainforest gardens, the Healing Waters Spa draws on the Indigenous belief that the Mossman River’s water renews and gives life. Its six treatment rooms look onto forest or river and include a couples’ room and a Vichy shower, with a relaxation lounge above the river. Treatments use the Australian alkeme range of botanical products, and non-resident guests are welcome.
Sports & leisure
Included: morning yoga in an open-air pavilion by the river, a welcome walk, the Two Worlds Trail pairing science with First Nations knowledge of the world’s oldest living rainforest, marked trails with exclusive access to Fig Tree Rapids, river snorkelling, e-bikes for rides to Mossman and Cooya Beach, and an air-conditioned gym. At extra cost: Daintree safaris to Cape Tribulation, Daintree River cruises, Mossman Gorge with Kuku Yalanji guides, Great Barrier Reef trips from Port Douglas, a private yacht, golf, and helicopter flights to waterfalls, reef pontoons and Cape York rock art.
For children
Children aged 10 and over are welcome. The Treehouse Premium, whose two daybeds convert to beds, suits families best.
Restaurants & bars
Cooking is contemporary Australian, built on tropical regional produce and herbs from the lodge garden.
- Treehouse Restaurant — a tiered open-air dining room in the treetops for breakfast, two- or three-course lunches and dinner; lunch is open to outside diners aged 10 and over by reservation.
- Silky Bar — Australian wines, local beers and small-batch spirits from the region.
- Jungle Perch — an open-air lounge in the canopy above the Mossman River, used for sunset drinks.
Swimming
A rock-edged, lagoon-style pool with daybeds sits in the gardens by the main lodge. The Mossman River has natural swimming holes of clear, fast-flowing fresh water free of estuarine crocodiles, including one at Fig Tree Rapids.
Pets
Pets are not accepted.
Rooms
The 40 elevated suites reinterpret the classic Queenslander with clean lines, local timbers, custom furniture and commissioned art, their sliding doors opening onto broad verandahs facing rainforest or river.
Every suite has floor-to-ceiling glass, a lounge area, an ensuite, a verandah with the signature hammock, an in-suite bar with local treats, daypacks for excursions and Wi-Fi.
Rainforest Retreat
An open-plan room with king or twin beds and a daybed, a bathroom with deep bath and shower, and a deck with hammock facing the forest. For one or two guests, three using the daybed.
Treehouse Retreat
A high-set suite with king or twin beds, a verandah with hammock and a private open-air rear deck with stone bath and shower. For two guests, three using the daybed.
Treehouse Premium
A family suite with a king bed plus two daybeds made up for sleeping at turndown, a wide verandah with hammock and a private deck with stone bath and shower. Up to four guests, two adults and two children.
Riverhouse
Perched above the Mossman River, with king or twin beds, a daybed and a double hammock on the deck; the bathroom has double vanities and a rain shower, with a freestanding outdoor bath. For two guests, three using the daybed.
Billabong Suite
A spacious canopy-level suite with a lounge, a balcony with EcoSmart fireplace and double hammock, an outdoor bath and a stone bathroom with rain shower. Forest and river views; for two guests, three using the daybed.
Daintree Pavilion
Two separate king bedroom wings with bathrooms opening onto outdoor baths, an entertaining lounge with stocked bar and an open-air atrium with infinity-edge pool. For four guests, five using the daybed.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.