COCKATOO HILL RETREAT
Blissful boutique retreat on the rainforest canopy
YOU'LL FIND COCKATOO HILL RETREAT where the rainforest of the Daintree sweeps down to meet the Great Barrier Reef. This stylish and
wonderfully secluded hilltop retreat is an escapist’s Eden. Set on a ridge over-looking the emerald rainforest canopy, and set in vivid tropical gardens with wrap-around views stretching from the Coral Sea to the heights of Thornton Peak, the setting is hard to beat. We loved it.
Four thatched tree lodges have been beautifully styled with kingsize
hand-crafted beds veiled in a swirl of muslin, soft under-bed lighting and polished timber floors. You can watch the ever-changing moods of sun, forest and sea from your pillow or open the full-height windows leading to your private balcony to soak up miles of treetop vistas. A to-die-for romantic getaway? You can say that again.
Dinner at Cockatoo Hill is served at the curving rosewood Python table, where you can chat over a drink to friendly hosts Carmen and Gilles, whose passion for this irresistible pocket of North Queensland is palpable. Enjoy
lazy afternoons around the wet-edge pool with its cabana bar or relax in a cane armchair after breakfast and enjoy the scents and sounds of this very special little enclave.
Hit the Spot
On a forested ridge not far from Mossman.
Bedtime
Your net-canopied bed is just made for rainforest romancing.
Be Savvy
Huge wide windows mean you may wake with the dawn.
Be Smitten
Honeymooners' heaven in the tropics.
Lush green gardens
Carmen and Gilles enjoy cooking for their guests, and dinner is something to look forward to: we chose our own bottle from the Cockatoo Hill wine cellar to accompany the best of local seasonal produce.
This is a place to simply
sit on your balcony with a glass of chilled bubbly at any time of day. We watched frogs hopping through the lush garden, against the orchestra of endless birdsong. Go wildlife-spotting at Cooper Creek, take a 4WD safari to Cooktown, picnic on a deserted beach or snorkel and dive on a Reef cruise.
Cockatoo Hill Retreat was reviewed for Room for Romance by
Mairiona Cotter
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Dining in
Breakfast and table d'hôte dinners are served in the Lodge, whose wicker chairs and Balinese thatched roof invite you to unwind in tropical style. Order a cocktail at the snaking, aptly named Python bar, then select your own wine from the cellar. You'll get to meet your fellow guests at dinner, cooked by hosts Carmen and Gilles and featuring
delicious produce native to the area, enlivened with bush spices.
Dining out
You'll find plenty of dining options at Cape Tribulation. Good bets include the Cassowary Cafe or the Cape Trib Beach House, whose specialities include marinaded kangaroo. Don't miss Cape Tribulation's exotic fruit farm, where you can join a tasting session, or take a picnic basket (arranged by Carmen and Gilles ) and enjoy it down at the beach.
Where?
The Lodge at Cockatoo Hill Retreat
What’s cooking?
Delicious dinners, desserts and tropical fruit. Vegetarians are well catered for, too.
What else?
The curling rosewood Python bar, with its views of the pool and surrounding rainforest, adds an extra dimension.
See & Do
Relax and recharge around Cockatoo Hill's freshwater, wet-edge pool, with its unfurling vistas of rainforest canopy and the Coral sea beyond. Plot your rainforest adventures: chuck on your hiking boots, buy a snorkel or take one of the many guided nature walks and forest treks (day or night) on offer. Cruise down the Daintree river and spot the passing crocs, go on a 4WD safari, try jungle surfing (zip line flying), kayaking or horse riding. If that's all a bit too high-octane, you can simply swim (depending on the time of year) off your own deserted beach.
Shop
The area is famous for its massage and beauty treatments, so stock up with some all-Australian beauty products using natural ingredients. Souvenirs you might (just might) want to take home include the cutest of rainforest gnomes.
Spa
Submit to a Rainforest Pamper with a clay wrap or a signature Vichy shower treatment at Daintree Natural Therapies and Spa, five minutes away. A bamboo and ginseng body polish will do the trick if you’ve tramped a bit too far.
After dark
Have a post-dinner drink at the Python bar, then linger on your private balcony to take in the sounds and scents of the rainforest all around. Magic.
Dates
May
The Daintree region comes alive for the Reef and Rainforest Carnivale – a celebration of life in the tropics.
GETTING THERE
Location
Mossman, QLD 4873
Parking
There is free guest parking. 4WD vehicles are recommended for exploration.
Trains
No.
Light Aircraft
Splash out and fly to the retreat with a light aircraft or helicopter flight for the spectacular views.
Airport
Cairns – two hours by road, or Port Douglas – one hour.
Rooms and suites
Four thatched tree houses plus a secluded riverside retreat.
Special features
Your quarters have high ceiling Balinese thatched roofs, canopy netted beds, under bed lighting and private balconies with amazing rainforest views.
Also…
There's a fresh water swimming pool, free use of the tennis courts and a helipad.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
From AUD 395
Open/closed
Closed late January – late February
Check-in
2pm
Check-out
10.30am
Minimum night stay?
Three nights
Breakfast
Free continental breakfast for tree house guests, and a welcome breakfast basket for those at the riverside retreat.
Room service
No
Children
Welcome above the age of 12
Pets
Due to the Daintree’s World Heritage status, dogs are not allowed.
Air conditioning
No – but your thatched bungalow is designed to capture the natural breezes.
Languages
English, French, Italian and Spanish
Wedding license?
Yes – with accommodation for up to eight guests and a guest list of up to 26.
Eco conscience
Recycling and tree planting are practised. The retreat has its own water collection, and managed waste treatment.
Your contact
Carmen Fabro and Gilles Germain – owners