All the staff were very friendly and helpful, particularly Denis, one of the managers.

I had booked an Echidna Lodge for 3 nights, but decided that the considerably larger Cedar Lodges were more suitable for 3 people, as our daughter then did not have to share our bedroom.. I was also very impressed with the resort's excellent website. We had stocked up with food in a large supermarket and bakery on our way to the resort.. I was very glad that we had because the restaurant was rather expensive for us. However every evening one can sit on the restaurant veranda and watch possums feeding on food put out for them by the staff in the restaurant..

We had some rain whilst we were there which was good for viewing platypuses but not so good for avoiding leeches. We spent hours spotting the little platypuses not only from the viewing platform but also from the bridge next to the resort. Fortunately, as we had arrived on a Wednesday, we were able to book in for two free tours, the “Nocturnal Spotlight Tour” on the Thursday evening and the “Rainforest Walking Tour” on the Friday morning with Miles, our very informative guide.

Our room was clean and comfortable, we got to see lots of Platypus but wish we had been warned about the leeches at check-in. We went for a walk before dinner and both my husband and I ended up donating blood. We enjoyed watching the nightly possum feeding. The restaurant was wonderful, managed by a lovely couple, the meals were delicious.

We booked a one bedroom chalet which gave us better cooking facilities. Whilst it could do with modernising, it was comfortable, clean and serviceable. The staff were friendly and helpful. There are various free events - bird watching, night wildlife spotting, and they will give you a lift to the start of rainforest walks. It was amazing to watch the platypus in the nearby creek. There is a restaurant on site, but if you cook for yourself stock up in Mackay first. 

After driving through 329 kilometers of wide open country on a long lonely ribbon of road laced with natural bush, rivers and creeks, signs threatening death due to fatigue, big trucks, brahmin cows, sugar cane, podunk little towns, signs indicating koala bears and a detour, it was lovely to drive up the steep curvy road to the lodge in a beautiful setting. They were very flexible in giving us the room we wanted, served a delicious dinner and offered a night walk with a guide. We hiked around the rainforest and went on a successful platypus quest. The squawking cockatoos were stunning. We drove to Mackay to fly to Melbourne. Plan to stay here longer than we did!! It was sad to leave after only two days.