Luxury Resort Review: Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat

Set in a lush tropical rainforest in the beautiful Tweed Valley, Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat is a luxury boutique hotel with a difference, ideal for couples looking for a romantic getaway. Here’s why.

• Location: An hour south of Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta and 40 minutes north of Byron Bay.
• Accommodations: The resort has five different types of luxury accommodation, with each one unique, private, and all set apart in the lush rainforest. They come with king size bedrooms, a large separate two-person Jacuzzi, separate en suites, floor to ceiling windows to maximise the lush views, state of the art music systems with speakers, a TV and DVD player, and fully equipped kitchens.  
• Dining options: There are no restaurants on site, but a gourmet dining menu is offered and can be delivered to your accommodation for a fee. Breakfast baskets and picnic hampers are also offered, but the private kitchen facilities make it easy to self-cater as well.
• What else is there: The resort has eight kilometres of walking tracks ranging from easy 45 minute walks along flat sections to the strenuous Lookout Hike which is a steep ascent. Most walks lead to Crystal Creek’s beautiful swimming hole. There is a guest games room with a pool table and tennis table, a library of DVD’s and CD’s which can be borrowed and taken back to your bungalow, books, board games and mountain bikes to ride. Massage is available but has to be booked in advance. 
• What’s nearby: Besides the gems of the Tweed and the Northern Rivers in general, there are day trips you can also easily take by car, with Byron Bay within easy reach of the Retreat, along with the southern Gold Coast including Coolangatta, Currumbin and Burleigh Heads. Activities to enjoy including visiting colourful markets and small towns, attending music festivals, water sports including surfing, paddle boarding and kayaking, and bush walking in national parks.
• Why go: This is an ideal place to go if you want to pop the question, to celebrate a honeymoon or anniversary, or if you just want a romantic getaway in a serene atmosphere in absolute comfort and luxury.

The Space

The Tweed Valley is a popular holiday destination and ideal for a romantic getaway thanks to a lineup of beach and hinterland luxury accommodation, including some aimed exclusively at couples. Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat is one such haven, a collection of luxury private bungalows and rainforest lodges with romance and seclusion mind, and five styles to choose from. Each accommodation is totally private; all you see is the rainforest, and all you hear is the sound of nearby Crystal Creek, native birds in the lush canopy and the occasional scrub turkey scratching around. It’s situated conveniently between Coolangatta and Byron Bay, and once you’re settled in and you’ve caught your breath, the real world feels like a world away. This haven for lovers of nature and romance has won one of the Australian Tourism Awards major gong - the Unique Accommodation prize - along with three international environmental tourism awards and more than a dozen regional awards. Stay here even for a few nights only and you’ll see why.

Where We Stayed

Our home for two nights was one of two of the Glass Terrace Bungalows, called Satinash, set deep in the rainforest and surrounded almost entirely in glass. The bungalow had a lovely, airy open-plan design with one area flowing beautifully into another and rainforest views from everywhere. Features included sliding glass doors which opened to a large covered deck, a double-sided fireplace to warm both the bed and lounge areas in cooler months, a galley-style kitchen with granite bench tops and a dishwasher, and a marble bathroom with sunken double spa bath, leading out to the private deck and outdoor shower, which means you can start the day literally in the rainforest if you choose.

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The location, which is far away from the city hubbub yet convenient for two airports.
• The spacious bungalows with everything provided - you don’t have to leave the four walls if you don’t want to.
• The option to self cater or have your meals delivered.

Insider Tips   

• Whatever else you do here, make sure you enjoy your Jacuzzi surrounded by candles and with chilled champagne while overlooking the tropical rainforest.

The Details

Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat is located at 201 Booka Road, Upper Crystal Creek via Murwillumbah, NSW 2484, www.ccrr.com.au, 02 6679 1591.