If you’re looking for a rainforest retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland with your own private spa and rainforest views, you’ve come to the right place. Located in Springbrook, Mouses House Rainforest Retreat boasts 14 wooden chalets that are situated in the rainforest, a few of them by a running stream. There are also plenty of things to do in and around the resort, and it’s a great place to hunker down if it rains!
Nikki and I rarely get away these days without our son and/or dog, so I planned a night away at Mouses House Rainforest Retreat for her birthday. It was just what we needed, and when the in-laws said they could mind our two rascals for the night, we were set. I think the last time just the two of us had a night away was about 8 years ago!
An Adventurous Start to Our Rainforest Retreat in the Gold Coast
We arrived just after our check-in time of 2pm, parked in the car space for ‘Sneezy’ – the name of our chalet – loaded up our bags into a trolley and made our way towards our Gold Coast hinterland accommodation. We had quite the adventure getting there! First of all, access to the chalets is via a boardwalk that meanders through the forest, alongside a running stream. Additionally, I encountered a super cheeky turkey along the way.
This turkey evidently was used to stealing the odd bit of food as he brazenly came up and stole a packet of lentil chips from our trolley. A chase ensued (he was fast!), but in the battle of who was the most determined, I won. I ended up recovering our chips after a chase back to the car, across reception, down another boardwalk and into the forest. Just as I was about to give up I flapped my lanky arms about in a menacing way and recovered the stolen goods.
Following this, we made our way back towards Sneezy – me puffing pretty hard – to our enchanting rainforest retreat in the Gold Coast. Here we dropped our bags off before returning to reception to check in.
A Brief History of the Mouses House Rainforest Retreat
Owner Wayne and his wife Christine purchased the Mouses House Rainforest Retreat in 2004, after selling their retirement village in South Brisbane. Wayne was formerly a chef, having worked all around Europe and now he calls this sublime rainforest retreat in the Gold Coast, his ‘life and passion’. After nearly 20 years of running the business, it’s clear Wayne knows what he’s doing, as he made us feel welcome from the get-go.
Each of the 14 Chalets at Mouses House Rainforest Retreat have been named after a character in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Several of these, which you pay extra for, lie right by a rainforest mountain stream.
Our Gold Coast Hinterland Accommodation – Sneezy
Stepping into our rainforest retreat in the Gold Coast, ‘Sneezy’, was pretty exciting for us. If you like rustic, cute wooden cabins in the forest with an A frame, European-style roof, you will love this place. Better still, we had a fireplace with chopped wood, a spa with views over our own private stretch of rainforest, gas cooking, complimentary port and a private verandah with a BBQ and more rainforest views.
Sneezy comfortably sleeps three, as the loft upstairs has its own single bed. The wooden interior also feels super cosy and while the outside of these chalets can look a tad dirty, the inside is uber-comfortable and accommodating for four-star accommodation. For us it was luxury! Another thing about Sneezy (which we didn’t mind), it doesn’t sit right on the rainforest stream but near it.
Perhaps next time we’ll pay a little extra for the chalets right on the water, but really we were lucky to get anything as I’d booked only a month out and for one night. Typically, The Mouses House Rainforest Retreat does a minimum stay of two nights only.
The Sauna and Plunge Pool
As it was already afternoon by the time we checked in, Nikki wanted to try the communal sauna and plunge pool before our comforts at Sneezy were embraced. I thought this a good idea, although we ended up making several trips to the sauna in between lounging about Sneezy, as other guests had the same idea and got there first. Nonetheless, we had a good conversation with a couple from Victoria, and eventually had our turn.
When you’re inside the sauna at this rainforest retreat in the Gold Coast, you’re warned not to put too much water on the coals (as it’s wasteful). However, we found it wasn’t the hottest sauna and we added a few more splashes. It was still enjoyable though and plunging into the outdoor barrel full of cold water afterwards felt fantastic.
Our Spa
Now it was our opportunity to finally enjoy Sneezy. We filled our spa (which takes quite a while), then opened the doors to our rainforest view and soaked up our luxuriant surrounds with some red wine. As you can see, it was pretty epic! Check-out time is between 10 and 11 the next day, so we enjoyed a morning spa (minus the wine) again in the forest. It was then we discovered a blue tongue lizard’s home was right in front of our spa, as one occasionally came out to see what was going on.
Our Fire and Food Options
During the night we enjoyed ourselves in front of the fire, having more red wine while listening to the rainforest sounds, as well as some tunes. There was plenty of wood prepared for us and it was easy to get a fire going with the kindling, bigger pieces of wood, matches and paper provided. Springbrook can get chilly, even in later November when we visited, so the fire was a welcome (and novel) addition.
For dinner, we just brought takeaway from our favourite local in Brisbane and reheated it in the microwave. It was still delicious (Thai food) and we didn’t want the hassle of cooking. If you prefer, Mouses House Rainforest Retreat in the Gold Coast does provide food baskets, which include cheese, wine and fish to cook on your BBQ. They also provide a full English breakfast, picnic hampers, BBQ dinner platters and more.
As I’ve mentioned, Wayne, our host, was once a chef who cooked all around Europe, so I’m sure he’ll have some good tips for you. Enquire through the website to find out more about the food options.
Wildlife
Apart from our resident blue-tongued lizard, we also had a magpie hanging out on our verandah with us, evidently looking for a bit of food. I’ve also heard reports of possums lingering around chalets, and guests feeding them (and being encouraged to), but I didn’t see any on our night here. We did see lots of birds, bush turkeys and a wallaby next to our chalet in the morning. Here you really are in the forest!
Oh, one other thing you may not like (but we’re not bothered by), there are leeches at The Mouses House Rainforest Retreat. Nikki’s feet were bleeding a bit and we stained a few floor towels, something Wayne and Christine are probably used to. However, don’t worry if you have an aversion to them, as we were wandering to and from the sauna barefoot and didn’t check our feet on the way in. A few sensible precautions and you shouldn’t have any problems.
Add-ons and Facilities
We didn’t really add anything to our package, we just took advantage of what was available at this rainforest retreat in the Gold Coast. However, I will mention a few add-ons here in case you’re interested:
Besides the food, which I’ve already mentioned, you can add a romantic package that contains flowers, wine, chocolate, slippers and candles. Massages are also available, which include a 60-minute massage for $100. What a way to unwind!
There’s also a half-sized tennis court and a Swedish oak hot tub on the grounds, both which are free to guests. Additionally, bicycles are available for guests to explore Springbrook and surrounds free of charge. If you’ve just skipped to this part, check out a few of my sections above as there are more facilities we personally experienced. We almost tried the hot tub but thought we’d spend our time enjoying our spa instead. Next time!
Things to do Nearby
One of the best aspects of this rainforest retreat in the Gold Coast is the location and the sheer amount of things to do nearby. Springbrook is a gorgeous place and not short of activities, particularly for nature lovers! We didn’t have a lot of time on this trip, as we had to return before nightfall the next day to relieve the grandparents. However, we did manage to visit the following places:
The Natural Bridge
Approximately 35 kilometres from The Mouses House Rainforest Retreat is Springbrook Natural Bridge, which is a stunning waterfall set in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area. Over eons of time, the force of the waterfall has created a hole through rock and the appearance is a bit like a natural bridge.
You can explore both on top and beneath the natural bridge, where bats and glowworm larvae reside. One thing is, don’t swim in the inviting water below, as you’ll likely cop a hefty fine as it harms the larvae. I’ll be doing a much more detailed piece on this shortly, so stay tuned.
Pure Vibrations Crystal Shop
Close by the Mouses House Rainforest Retreat is the crystal shop Pure Vibrations. I thought we’d be here just a few minutes, but this place has some serious crystals and rocks! I have a palaeontology degree, so I was looking at a few fossils and Nikki is an art therapist/energy healer, so we were both absorbed in what was on display.
I forget the owner’s name, but she was friendly and knowledgeable, as Pure Vibrations is a result of over 20 years of collecting. She also provided us with some sound meditation by immersing us in and around singing bowls, which vibrate when hit. Additionally, Pure Vibrations is home to rosellas and pademelons, both which reside out front. This place is worth a visit.
Other sights
There are plenty more things to do in Springbrook, such as visit the iconic Purlingbrook Falls. We haven’t done this yet so ask at Mouses House to find out more. Dancing Waters Café (which we had lunch at on the way down), is also a cute eatery with lovely staff, good, simple food and a great location. Don’t expect your order to come in a hurry though.
My Thoughts Overall
We loved our experience at the Mouses House Rainforest Retreat in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Wayne, our host, was friendly and accommodating and the location and style of the retreat was right up our alley. If you’re looking for Gold Coast Hinterland accommodation with a spa, as I was, definitely check this place out! We also thought all the trimmings, such as the rainforest views, fire, wooden chalet, plunge pool and sauna was an experience we won’t soon forget and likely return for.
Next time I’d like to stay by the stream!
Check out my video below to get a better idea of this enchanting rainforest retreat on the Gold Coast.
A Few Fast Facts
- Mouses House Rainforest Retreat is about two hours’ drive from Brisbane and an hour’s drive from the Gold Coast. Check traffic and weather conditions before you leave, as there are often road closures.
- There is free WiFi at Mouses House but it’s fairly slow.
- The Mouses House Rainforest Retreat is not just for romantic couples, as it has larger cabins for families and groups.
- There’s also a coffee pod machine in each chalet and coffee pods are available for purchase at reception.
- Upon request, you can ask at reception to borrow a Sony PS3 if you’re bringing the kids, or you’re a big kid (like me) yourself!
- Watch out for the food-thieving bush turkeys. They’re determined!
