Learning the three E's - eco, entertainment, education
Three generations of the O'Reilly family and their staff have been dedicated not only to providing guests with an eco experience and great service, but to learning about the rainforest plateau of the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park which surrounds their much-lauded guesthouse.
Since O'Reilly's opened its doors at Easter1926, the family has believed a combination of entertainment and education is the key ingredient to successful ecotourism - and they seem to have got that recipe right.
Guided activities (now called the Discovery Programme) have been a highlight for guests. Tours and destinations change daily but as sure as the sun rises each morning, there's a full schedule of interpretive rainforest walks, guided 4WD bus excursions, adventure activities and evening tours every day of the year.
Take the early morning bird walk for example: more than 100 species of birds live in the rainforest near the guesthouse so we are soon spotting them in the trees - with some help from the guide.
Black-and-gold regent bower bird, crimson rosellas, green catbird, jet-black currawong and a flock of brush turkeys wake up to the day with fine song and feathers flying. For each species, the guide has a tale to tell. It could be listening for the distinctive call of the catbird, describing why the satin bower bird decorates his bower in blue, or explaining that 'rosella' is not an Aboriginal word but an English derivative of 'Rose Hill-er' after the suburb near Sydney.
As the bushwalk progresses, we start peering into the rainforest, trying to match each bird call to its elusive owner. Spot one and it's a personal achievement. Along with my fellow twitchers, I head back for breakfast excited about the walk, more aware of the birdlife, and in closer touch with the forest. It makes for great conversation over bacon and eggs.
O'Reilly's band of experienced nature guides are the backbone of the operation. They are in the dining room at every meal, reminding guests of the day's activities and encouraging them to join in. The daily schedule always includes at least one 4WD bus tour to a local nature spot and full-day and half-day walks on more than 20 rainforest tracks (two are wheelchair-friendly). For the more adventurous there is the Giant Swing and the Leap of Faith, activities which take in the beauty of the rainforest from 10m off the ground.
The rainforest boardwalk is used by more than 300,000 people a year and takes guests from the guesthouse to the famous Tree Top Walkway. Built by the Green Mountains Natural History Association with support from O'Reilly's and others, the walkway follows a 160m circuit through the rainforest canopy, giving visitors a bird's eye perspective of the forest - with minimal impact on the ecology.
After the evening meal, it's time for a glowworm walk, spotlighting for possums and greater gliders, a bush dance or an audio-visual evening. Daytime options include a visit to O'Reilly's charming Canungra Valley Vineyards.
O'Reilly's eco-experience appeals to people of all ages from small children on school holidays to older folk who come back year after year.
