Popular Gold Coast Hinterland campground set for Queensland-first eco-tourism upgrade

FLOATING tents among the trees, ready-made family campsites and a communal fire pit will transform one of the State’s most popular campsites into a Gold Coast eco-tourism magnet.

FLOATING tents among the trees, ready-made family campsites, a communal fire pit and new cooking facilities will transform one of the state’s most popular campsites into a Gold Coast eco-tourism magnet.

Under a proposal for Lamington National Park, the Green Mountains campground next to O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat would be redeveloped by the retreat’s owner who has conditional approval to lease it from the State Government.

The proposal is with the Federal Environment Department for referral and would include 24 powered sites for campervans, 25 permanent tents with camp beds, up to 10 suspended tents, carparking and amenities.

Shane O'Reilly. Pic: Adam Head

Shane O’Reilly’s quest to rejuvenate the square of former cattle grazing land, nestled in the midst of World Heritage Gondwanaland rainforest, began three state governments ago when current Tourism Minister Kate Jones was Environment Minister.

The O’Reilly family once owned the land but sold it to the Anglican Church, who then sold it to the state.

The partnership is similar to those used by the Tasmanian Government and private operators in that state which has cemented itself as a world leader in eco-tourism.

It would be the first agreement of its kind for a Queensland national park and would see the Government relieved of maintaining the site and take 7 per cent of all revenue.

The proposed redevelopment of the Green Mountains campground in Lamington National Park near O'Reilly's Rainforest Resort. Photo: Supplied

“The Queensland Government to this day still haven’t leased out any part of any national park for any excuse, even if it’s just a camping ground.

“Tasmania does it every day of the week and it’s a whole new ballgame for them.”

The campground is among the state’s most popular and Mr O’Reilly said the current unpowered campsites would remain as they were, at a comparable price, to ensure no-one was priced out of the park.

“It’s about $5.50 per person and we’d look at changing that to a per-site system, but that’s about it,” he said.

O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat plans on using Tentsile hanging tents in its expansion of the popular Green Mountains Campground. Photo: Tentsile Instagram

“We felt it wasn’t right for a glamping product. It’s always been a basic camping ground for mums, dads and kids and we thought that’s probably how it should stay.”

The permanent tents would be built in “pods” of five tents with each pod sharing bathroom facilities.

The powered tents will have hard floors and feature a double stretcher bed and two singles and be priced between $50 and $100 per night.

The suspended Tentsile tents, popular in Europe, would be available from about $25 a night and sleep three adults, Mr O’Reilly said.

The Green Mountains campground in Lamington National Park. Photo: Kathleen Skene

“The hanging tents will not touch the ground. It’s quite a nice feeling, like sleeping on a trampoline.”

The new campsites will be created on the regrowing fringe of the campground.

Minister Jones said she had “been championing this project with Shane O’Reilly for a number of years”.

“This is exactly the kind of eco-tourism project we want to see get off the ground in Queensland,” she said.