This story first appeared in edition 4 of Family Holiday Destinations’ digital magazine.
O’Reilly’s Just Delivered The Best Short Getaway For Families in the Gold Coast Hinterlands
When it comes to a nature-filled family getaway with easy to manage social distancing, O’Reilly’s is the ultimate choice!
It all started with a fluff ball Alpaca named Brandy. We had embarked on a short family getaway in the Gold Coast hinterlands and met Brandy at Mountview Alpaca Farm, conveniently located within the grounds of O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards.
Not only can you feed and walk the alpacas around the vineyard grounds, but you can also level up the experience by ordering a picnic basket from the homestead. The picnic can be enjoyed anywhere on the grounds and spread out on a BYO blanket right next to Canungra Creek is a great spot!
I made an executive decision to spend time with the alpacas before enjoying our picnic. You are given 30 minutes with your alpaca if you book an ‘’Alpaca Experience’’ so I didn’t want to waste any of that time eating. If you know that 30 minutes is not going to be long enough for your family, make sure to book the ‘’Love Alpacas’’ experience for a full 60 minutes!
”Oh my god! You are cute!” ….
When Brandy and her mum, Macca were first led out of the yard to meet us, I drew in my breath sharply, ‘’Oh my god! You are cute!’’ I said. My five-year-old daughter and I had poured over the alpaca photos on the Mountview Alpaca Farm webpage before we left, but neither myself nor the two kids were prepared for this level of fluffy cuteness.
Named after the well-known series of children’s books, Macca the Alpaca is 3 years old and Brandy is her first cria, or baby alpaca. Brandy is six months old and utterly adorable.
Due to the bags of alpaca food in hand, we instantly bonded with Macca and Brandy. Strolling towards Canungra Creek, we sat on a bench seat while Macca and Brandy happily munched on grass and allowed us to sneak in some cuddles.
The kids had a great conversation with the quiet alpacas, who carried on munching grass and melting our hearts with their large brown eyes and friendly nature. Sadly, the 25-minute alarm we had set went off on my son’s watch and it was time to take Macca and Brandy back. We estimated it would take five-minutes to dawdle back.
Picnic time …
Reluctantly, we said goodbye to our new friends and headed over to the homestead to pick up our pre-ordered picnic lunch. I forgot to pack a picnic rug, so we opted to sit at an empty table under a tree by the Creek. It was such a carefree experience.
This place is more than just a tourist attraction. O’Reilly’s creates amazing memories for families at their Canungra Valley Vineyard with the Alpaca Picnic experience.
The Mountview Alpaca Farm is also leading a new program by training some of their alpacas as therapy animals to visit hospitals and aged care facilities. They aim to establish a not for profit organisation so they can reach more people in more locations.
Press Play to Watch our Alpaca Picnic!
Time ticked on and it was time to leave. We followed the Lamington National Park Road up the mountain to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat where we were to spend the next two nights. The retreat is set amongst the beauty of World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park so the good things just come naturally here.
The O’Reilly family have been welcoming visitors since 1917 and it’s a haven for those seeking to escape crowds in a stunning, natural location. Strolling along the well known Tree Top Walk had been on my bucket list for years and I felt very blessed to be able to share this with the kids, who thankfully, were just as excited as I was.
Staying in a mountain view room, we spent time in the evening before dinner relaxing in our comfortable room. Sometimes playing a game on the bed, sometimes watching a movie on the kids’ tablet, but mostly sitting on the balcony and taking in the spectacular views of the mountains as a procession of birds flittered on and off the balcony railings, including the stunning King Parrots.
What else can we do?
There is an amazing array of activities for families at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. The Birds of Prey and Wildlife Encounters shows are great for all ages. Expect to get finger-licked by a squirrel glider, cuddle a snake, and get up close and personal with majestic birds of prey such as Stella the Wedge-Tailed Eagle, Conan the Kestral and Twinkle the Owl.
Families can feed the birds, embark on a Segway Safari Tour (over 12 years of age), soar on a flying fox, head out on a glow worm tour or order a picnic hamper and adventure off to one of 500 world-class waterfalls accessible via 160km of nature trails.
So what are you waiting for? Set off on an amazing, nature-filled, family getaway to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat … and make sure you stop in for an alpaca picnic before you head up the mountain!
Press Play for a Peek Into O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat for Families
Accommodation at O’Reilly’s
O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat has cosy serviced accommodation or convenient self-contained villas. Book >>HERE<<.
The O’Reilly’s Campground has just opened and features a mix of safari tents and campsites.
Getting to O’Reilly’s
The Retreat is 90 minutes from the Gold Coast and two hours from Brisbane. Head to the town of Canungra and onto Kidston Street once in town. Kidston Street turns into Lamington National Park Road and you will follow this road all the way up the mountain to the end.
O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard is also found on Lamington National Park Road, just 10 minutes after leaving Canungra.
Important Links
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Gold Coast family holiday resources
Best time to visit the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is really an all-year-round holiday destination. However, it gets pretty busy during the summer school holidays.
December to February sees tropical weather with more chance of rain. Many tout April and May as a great time to visit due to lower rainfall, but I personally find the ocean a bit too chilly at this time.
Where to stay
If staying in Burleigh Heads, Swell Resort is a fantastic option for families with roomy apartment-style offerings. The resort is set close to restaurants, only 100 metres from the beach. This is my top pick for the Gold Coast.
If staying in the Gold Coast Hinterlands, you can’t go past Binna Burra Lodge or O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat. Both offer a range of accommodations.
If you’re looking for a family resort with everything to occupy the kids, NRMA Treasure Island and Paradise Resort are top choices.
Those seeking luxury will love the Gold Coast Marriott or The Star.
Getting to the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is located one hour south of Brisbane on the East Coast of Australia.
Both domestic and international flights service the Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta. Find a great deal on Trip.com
The Gold Coast is connected by rail to Brisbane’s Roma Street and Central stations. There is also an AirTrain that runs a regular rail service taking around 90 minutes.
Getting around the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast has an extensive bus service with over 60 routes within the city. If venturing to the Gold Coast Hinterlands, hiring a car is an excellent option if you don’t have your own.
Disclaimer – We visited O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyard, the Mountview Alpaca Farm and O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in collaboration with Destination Gold Coast.