Southeast QLD getaway ‘pummelled’ with bookings after COVID-19 shutdown

An iconic southeast Queensland getaway has been “absolutely pummelled” with new bookings as it announces its reopening — with some changes to tours and dining.

Managing Director of O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Shane O'Reilly, said they were ready to welcome back guests with “open arms” but no hugs or handshakes. Picture: Scott Fletcher

PENT-UP guests desperate to escape the confines of suburban lockdown have “pummelled” an iconic rainforest resort with bookings as it announced its reopening date.

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat managing director Shane O’Reilly said guests would be welcomed back on June 12 with a glass of bubbly and open arms but no hugs or handshakes.

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He said the retreat had been “absolutely pummeled with phone calls and bookings” with 128 room nights in June and July booked out in just two days.

“I think there’s quite a pent up demand,” he said.

O'Reilly's Tree Top Walk. Picture: Tourism and Events Queensland

“Winter is quite an in demand time for us anyway, but there’s even more demand than usual.

“I think people want to get out and experience the rainforest.”

The retreat is awaiting an industry checklist on how to handle social distancing in dining and common areas, bars and on tours.

“As an example, our tours, where on our glow worm tour we might take 26 people, I think now we’d only be taking 13,” he said.

“We’ll probably knocking the numbers down by half on any tours.”

The six week COVID-19 closure was “absolutely the first time” the retreat had closed since his family opened the retreat in Easter, in 1926.

“Even when Cyclone Debbie came through three years ago closed our road for six weeks, we still were open and had a convoy of guests in and out every day,” Mr O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat has 48 self-contained mountain villas with spas on the deck and epic views over the valley and rainforest.

“Financially it’s devastating, so it’s closed up and there’s no revenue coming in.”

“We had just reconfirmed all our bookings for Easter, so we had to ring up and cancel them all.

“It was obviously quite devastating for ourselves, but also for our staff. We have 70 staff who live on site here, and this is their home.”

He said although Job Keeper had helped with its Australian staff, 32 members were on international working visas with nowhere to go and no support.

“We’ve had to give them complimentary accommodation and feed them three meals a day to help them survive,” he said.

The coronavirus shut down came after the bushfires forced an evacuation of the retreat last year, and burnt down the nearby historic Binna Burra Lodge.

Mr O’Reilly said in September that despite not suffering any damage themselves the fires had scared away tourists and bookings had taken a huge hit but had slowly started to return.

“I think most people will get a glass of sparkling wine from our vineyard to start their weekend, because it’s a fairly historic time to be reopening,” he said.

He said the staff had been working hard on painting, gardening and big and small maintenance jobs, which he said “had been quite a good thing”.

“The place is looking very good so when we open in June it will be sparkling clean,” he said.

The keen interest in the retreat ahead of restrictions easing on June 12 did not suprise him, with 160km of walking tracks in Lamington National Park.

“People can go out for the day and be lucky to come across another one or two people all day,” he said.

He said the resort would welcome them with “open arms, not that we’ll be able to hug them or even shake their hands”.