Baillie Lodges unveils $20 million refurb of its new Daintree property, Silky Oaks Lodge

Baillie Lodges unveils $20 million refurb of its new Daintree property, Silky Oaks Lodge
By Alexandra Coulton


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.

Following an architectural redesign and 20-month build, Silky Oaks Lodge has emerged with a fresh, contemporary style featuring soaring ceilings, slowly turning fans and open-air spaces designed to showcase the sights and sounds of the rainforest.

The stay begins before guests even get the chance to check-in, with a specially designed podcast available to tune into during the 50-minute journey to Silky Oaks Lodge timed to align with the drive from Cairns Airport to the lodge, offering an introduction to the destination and its people, from Baillie Lodges founders James and Hayley and Silky Oaks Lodge manager Sonya Boaden to Walkabout Cultural Adventures’ First Nations guide Juan Walker and commissioned artist Catherine Nelson.

The main lodge and 40 guest suites have been recreated to reflect the Baillie Lodges style, featuring king beds, premium finishes, and generous in- and outdoor lounging spaces with specially designed furniture and commissioned artworks that offer a sense of the destination.

Executive chef Mark Godbeer, who heads up the Silky Oaks Lodge kitchen, has worked with the region’s producers to create a refreshing, daily changing menu suited to the tropical climate.

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 swag of experiences from Indigenous guided hikes and snorkelling the reef to scenic helicopter flights.

Baillie Lodges founder James Baillie said it was personally very special to bring a new generation of guests to Silky Oaks Lodge under the Baillie Lodges banner.

“The property has always held a place in my heart as I was the general manager there in the mid-1990s, so having it under our own brand is a circle completed,” Baillie said.

“It’s now a very different time for Queensland tourism, and we’re thrilled to invest in the destination and its operators and bring a stylish and contemporary vibe to the luxury lodge and to offer so many ways for our guests to experience the tropical north.”

Set adjacent to the World Heritage-listed wilderness of the Daintree National Park and along the banks of the gently flowing Mossman River, Silky Oaks Lodge offers guests a rainforest escape, with experiences spanning river-snorkelling, driving safaris, Indigenous guided walks, the lodge’s own Healing Waters Spa and access to Port Douglas and the Great Barrier Reef.

Featured image: Silky Oaks Lodge Treehouse Restaurant (supplied)

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