DESCRIPTION
We meet you at your accommodation in your privately appointed vehicle at 0800.
Your day begins with a short drive to a local coffee shop where we purchase for you, your choose of Tea, Coffee or Fresh Juice.
We then begin our escape out of Cairns up the Kuranda Range to the Jaques Coffee Plantation. The Jaques Family were one of the first family’s to try and establish coffee in Australia. What they have achieved to date has been far from easy, suffering multiple major set backs. But in true Aussie spirit they have never lost sight of there goals. To Grow, Roast and Produce award winning coffee on site. They take there scones almost as serious as there coffee, so be sure to take the opportunity to enjoy one in the gardens.
We continue up the hill a little to Mt Uncle Distillery. Another family run business kicking goals all over the world. Their Limited Release Whiskey received a gold medal in the Single Cask, Single Malt, Whiskey category at the World Whiskeys Awards in London. The good news here is, You get to taste as many sprites as you like, as we sit and watch all the fun.
Don’t worry, if the half hour drive to Gallo’s Dairyland doesn’t sober you up, there is a great lunch menu on offer as well as hand made Cheese & Chocolate. Don’t forget to head out and say hi to the Animal Nursery. If your lucky you might just catch the Rotary Dairy in actions.
Hopefully you’ve paced yourself and not over eaten as our next stop is the Nerada Tea Estate. Tea in Tropical North Queensland dates back to 1882 when the four Cutten brothers discover Bingil Bay, establishing Australia’s first commercial tea plantation. Over the years the business was hit by Cyclones, sold and moved to its current location. Here we can view the factory floor and witness the process from fresh green tea leaf to Australia’s fineness black tea. Just outside the factory is a popular locations to spot the elusive Lumholtz’s Tree-Kangaroo.
After another cuppa and some more home made scones, we make our way to our final stop. One of our favourites. The Gillies Range Look Out. This look out is found down a dirt road, through some rainforest, over some hills. Look out for a wild pig on your way there. Here we lay out the blanket and open up the fridge to enjoy the fresh foods you’ve purchased through the day while enjoying the view over the 800 metres in elevation from the Cairns Hinterland down to the coast. On a clear down, we can see the sun shining on the ocean. The only thing left to do now is to watch the sun set and reflect on all the spoils of the day.
Now that your well into your food coma, relaxed and sleepy. We welcome you to nap (pillows and blankets provided) in the car for the hour drive back to cairns.
