---
type: "Article"
title: "Silky Oaks Lodge – Mossman Rainforest, Cairns"
description: "The Silky Oaks Lodge in Mossman near Cairns offers a luxurious and secluded stay in Queensland's wet rainforest."
resource: "https://travelmemo.com/australia/queensland/silky-oaks-lodge-mossman-rainforest-cairns"
author: "Walter Schaerer"
publisher: "Travelmemo"
photo_count: 5
tags: ["Lodge", "Rainforest", "Rental Car", "Queensland"]
entities:
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/queensland"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/places/australia"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/lodge"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/vehicle-rental"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/itinerary"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/air-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/experience-travel"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/ontology/topics/landscape"
  - "https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
generated: { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer", at: 2026-07-04T14:12:58+00:00 }
verified:
  - { by: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/katja-birrer", at: 2010-11-28T00:06:55+00:00 }
sources:
  - id: photos
    resource: silky-oaks-lodge-mossman-rainforest-cairns.md#photos
    title: "Original photography by Walter Schaerer"
    author: "human:https://travelmemo.com/author/walter-schaerer"
timestamp: 2026-07-04T14:12:58+00:00
---

# Silky Oaks Lodge – Mossman Rainforest, Cairns

> Silky Oaks Lodge is a luxurious, secluded eco-lodge in the Mossman rainforest near Cairns, Queensland, offering riverside and hillside bungalows on the edge of the Daintree wilderness.

## Destination
Mossman, near Cairns, Queensland, Australia — situated along the Mossman River in the wet tropical rainforest.

## Getting there
A drive of just over one hour from Cairns airport; a 4x4 is not required unless roads are flooded, which occurs periodically.

## What to see
- **Mossman River** — The lodge dining room overlooks the river; a croc-free billabong nearby is suitable for swimming.
- **Daintree River** — Croc Cruise on the river yields numerous saltwater crocodile sightings as part of the lodge's one-day tour.
- **Cape Tribulation** — Northern rainforest destination reached via the Daintree River crossing on the guided day tour.
- **Great Dividing Range** — A self-guided drive over the range reveals a rapid landscape shift from dense rainforest to dry outback around Mareeba and Kuandra.

## What to do
- **Lodge one-day guided tour** — Takes guests across the Daintree River north to Cape Tribulation; led by experienced bush guide Norm Evans.
- **Croc Cruise on the Daintree River** — Included in the one-day tour; offers multiple sightings of large, aggressive saltwater crocodiles.
- **Rainforest trails** — Several self-guided walking trails are accessible directly around the lodge.
- **Swimming in the Mossman River billabong** — A croc-free swimming spot recommended by the lodge.
- **Self-guided drive to the Outback** — Day trip over the Great Dividing Range to Mareeba and Kuandra, showcasing Australia's rapidly changing east-coast landscapes.

## Good to know
Saltwater crocodiles in the Daintree River are described as large and aggressive. Roads to the lodge can flood periodically, making access difficult without a 4x4 in wet conditions.

## Photos

```yaml
photos:
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Tour-Guide-Norm-Evans-Silky-Oaks-Lodge.jpg"
    caption: "Tour guide Norm Evans & 4x4 Mercedes"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Rattan-growing-in-Wet-Rainforest.jpg"
    caption: "Rattan growing in wet rainforest"
  - url: "https://travelmemo.com/mimo/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Flooded-Street-Cape-Tribulation.jpg"
    caption: "Flooded street and a local's car..."
```