Baillie Lodges has revealed a new-look Silky Oaks Lodge, the newest luxury lodge in its growing portfolio, which has opened amongst the leafy canopy of the Daintree Rainforest following a $20 million refurbishment. Long regarded as the region’s luxury bolthole, the stylish rainforest retreat is set to offer a revitalised experience of Queensland’s magnificent tropical north.
Following an architectural redesign and 20-month build, Silky Oaks Lodge has emerged from its chrysalis with a fresh, contemporary style featuring soaring ceilings, slowly turning fans and generous open-air spaces designed to welcome in the sights and sounds of the rainforest.
The main lodge and 40 guest suites have been recreated to reflect the Baillie Lodges style in cool, contemporary luxury with king beds, premium finishes and now-famous attention to detail. Generous in- and outdoor lounging spaces feature specially designed furniture and commissioned artworks offer a real sense of the destination. An in-suite bar is stocked with local gourmet treats. Private decks feature hammocks ready to sway in the afternoon breeze and outdoor baths invite gazing to the treetops.
Executive Chef Mark Godbeer heads up the Silky Oaks Lodge kitchen and has worked with the region’s producers to create a refreshing, daily changing menu ideally suited to the tropical climate. Breakfast, sunset drinks and canapés and dinner are included in the tariff; while a la carte lunch is available. A walk through the new Kitchen Garden reveals a very short ‘plant to plate’ journey.
An itinerary of included signature experiences includes morning yoga, rainforest walks and drifting in the Mossman River. Silky Oaks Lodge is centrally located to many of the broader region’s natural attractions, making it a hub for adventures in the Daintree Rainforest and Mossman Gorge, Port Douglas, the Great Barrier Reef, the Atherton Tablelands and the wilderness of Cape Tribulation. The lodge has established partnerships with the region’s premium local operators to offer guests a raft of experiences from Indigenous guided hikes and snorkelling the reef to scenic helicopter flights.