O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat

We loved our canopy room with spectacular views of the top of the rainforest forest and down the valley. A perfect place for morning coffee or watching the sun set. The bar is fun. The hiking trails and tree top trail are excellent, the Segway safari is fun and the free morning bird walk is great. We saw a great variety of birds and other critters in our three day stay, so birders and animal lovers will not be disappointed. Our original Mountain View room, which, according to the website, “boast(s) the best views in the retreat, with a balcony where you can relax and soak up the unobstructed views to the McPherson mountain ranges,” actually had an unobstructed view of the building in front of it. Not a nice room and not a view to be boastful of. So for the upgrade, we were most appreciative, but mindful of the false advertising that made it all possible. The retreat itself is rundown and tired. If rustic and camp-like is your thing, you will be very happy here as long as you don’t mind paying hotel prices for it. The restaurant food is okay, but also comes at a price that doesn’t match. Some breakfast options other than the $$ buffet would have been appreciated. The cafe - the only lunch option - ranges from good to absolutely terrible. Burgers made fresh are good, premade panini style sandwiches were inedible and too far from fresh. It’s not that this is a terrible property, it just appeals to a specific kind of traveller.