Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Truly a nature reserve. Amazing bungalows, hiking trails that led to the most amazing views of the bay and rainforest. Beautiful grounds. Amazing views from the restaurant and bar. Extremely comfortable room. Quiet and secluded. Top shelf accommodation! Shout out to Sophie - great job. Amazingly friendly staff.

Wow what a beautiful place. We stayed here for our last 3 nights of a 5 week holiday in Australia and what a lovely surprise it was. The resort is built on a hill overlooking the sea and they have really made the most of the spectacular views from the restaurant. At breakfast you can sit and watch the birds in the trees from your table whilst enjoying excellent food. There are pools to swim and relax in and a private beach with hammocks and loungers to relax in. We had a jungle bungalow which was perfect and all of these are detached and raised from the forest floor. The staff were all really friendly and they collect you with your luggage from the car park to take you to your chosen holiday home. 3 days was not enough and we wished we could have stayed longer but we shall have to return. One thing to be aware of for the less able bodied is that there are a lot of steps to climb up to the main reception and eating/bar area as the location is a hill. But you can request a golf buggy to collect and return you to your room. All in all a perfect and idyllic spot.

Stayed here 2 nights and it was hands down one of the best moments of our 2 week trip in Australia. The grounds are beautiful and teeming with interesting wildlife, there is even a pond where agile wallabies show up every morning. The timber bungalows are beautiful with great 'jungle-like' views of native eucalyptus woodlands and tropical rainforest. Have to mention how helpful and considerate the staff were, always eager to either drive you to your bungalow in the dark or make sure you had your activities booked and ready for the next day. Nothing was too much trouble and I've never been in a place where it's so obvious the staff really want you to have a good time and to share with you the natural beauty of the place. Sophie who was managing reception was amazingly kind and considerate. The on-site restaurant is also very good, with great local produce. There's an ecotour of the reserve given by a very knowledgeable guide focusing on birds but you get a chance to learn about a whole lot more. The hotel also has a small room dedicated to local natural history. Outside of Thala, we did a private tour with Tony's Tropical Tours which was a great way to explore the Daintree rainforest and see some forest dragons! A really beautiful and authentic part of Queensland, that respects its environment, we highly recommend!

Imagine staying in a treehouse. Boom, you're at Thala Beach. Coming from the city and a previous stay at a destination resort, this was precisely the calm we needed at the end of our trip. The rooms were spacious, clean, comfortable, and serene. After long days of touring Port Douglas and adventuring out in the ocean, it was wonderful to return to the resort to decompress to the sounds of nature. Dinner every night in a treehouse with a view of the ocean? This is a don't miss.

What a great place to stay! We were gutted we’d only booked 1 night. Lots of walks around the hotel, and the beach is superb, and, when we visited, deserted. Lodges have a rustic feel but very nice, clean and comfortable with all the facilities you’d expect. Staff were great, they have buggies to chauffeur you around if you don’t feel like walking. Well recommended.

Stunning location and grounds, excellent food, the best views from the rooms and restaurants and the best staff out there second to none! We had a fantastic time there, only too brief, maybe longer next time. Sadly I had a medical incident during our stay, cutting my time there short. The staff immediately stepped up to help me and my wife. They assessed what was potential wrong and an ambulance was called. During my time in hospital they made sure my wife was also looked after her during remaining stay. Thanks to the quick action of the staff, especially Molly and Nigel, and of course the Queensland Health Service, I made a quick and full recovery.