Tablelands Tourism News

Carbon Credits Program

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat - Rose Gums Retreat News Feed

Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat continues to expand it’s profile in both the international and domestic tourism markets and without question is now the most significant accommodation provider on the Cairns Highlands.

Following on from two years of continuing to evolve it’s product to meet the ever changing expectations of visitors to Tropical North Queensland, Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat is this year pleased to announce the introduction of a carbon credits program to work in conjunction with it’s long standing reforestation program at Rose Gums.

To date this program has replanted over 20,000 trees at Rose Gums and we now invite guests to leave their own positive footprint on the rainforests of Tropical North Queensland.

The environment and rainforests of Tropical North Queensland continues to be a major draw card for visitors to the region and with Rose Gums substantial sustainable environmental practices, the property will continue to be one of the most significant eco retreats in this part of Australia.

A taste of the tropics at Cairns Airport

TRAVSTAR NEWS - Tablelands News Feed

A taste of the tropics at Cairns Airport

Visitors to Cairns Airport Domestic Terminal can get a real taste of the tropics now Skybury Coffee is the exclusive coffee served by HMSHost at its first airport cafe.

The cafe’s fit out draws heavily on the coffee plantation vistas from Skybury’s location on the Great Dividing Range and will serve hundreds of cups of Skybury coffee each day. Skybury Coffee’s Managing Director Ian MacLaughlin, said the airport cafe was an exciting partnership for Skybury and a major aspect in the forward development of the Skybury brand.

Skybury, Australia's oldest coffee plantation is one of Tropical North Queensland's newest tourist attractions on the Atherton Tablelands. The multi-award winning attraction is located 10kms from Mareeba on the Atherton Tableland/Cairns Highlands, approx. 1 hour's drive from Cairns, Cairns International Airport and Port Douglas. Here visitors can taste, tour and take home Australia's purest coffee.

You can choose to self drive or take a day tour which incorporates Kuranda village, the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and Kuranda Scenic railway. Please click here  for further details...

Baby Cassowary Saved!

Canopy Rainforest Tree Houses - The Canopy News Feed

One of our cassowary chicks who arrived in June has had a rough start to life!
 
We came across it one morning in the forest, trying to walk on a broken leg - an injury that would normally prove fatal. But with the help of our local vet, neighbours and the community, its leg and life were saved...

As you know this year Tui came back with 2 chicks however after a few weeks he was only seen with one and we assumed he had lost one as can happen.

About a week later the missing chick was spotted near one of our Treehouses with an severe compound fracture to its leg. Basically the foot was hanging loose and the poor chick was limping around on the bone in extreme pain as you can imagine.

We managed to capture the chick, (somehow keeping his very distressed and agitated dad at bay during the procedure), and it was immediately taken to the local wildlife vet Wendy.

Wendy put in an amazing effort, (a 6 hour operation initially with subsequent back-up operations), including some very advanced orthopaedic surgery to try and save the leg and also donated dozens of hours of her time, her surgery, and all the extremely expensive surgical pins and equipment at no charge.

EPA were informed, and gave their consent for this to take place; (caring and dealing with endangered native species is a very sensitive and highly regulated issue, however no beaurocracy at all for this one just cooperation), and were kept up to speed at all times.

At this stage the chick is doing very well and it is expected to be taken to the cassowary rehab unit at Mission Beach once it is fully recovered in preparation for release back into the wild.

In summary this was a very well organised and successful effort by a number of people and govt agencies to save a very distressed young bird and an outstanding example of cooperation and commitment by all concerned to save one of our endangered animals.

Saddle Up for muster time!

Wrotham Park Station - Wrotham Park Lodge News Feed

Saddle up and strap yourself in for the ride of a lifetime!

The cattle muster has started at Wrotham Park Lodge, Queenslands most luxurious outback cattle station property.

But be quick! Wrotham Park Lodge will be closing its doors for good on October 30th, 2009 with no plans to reopen. This means there is just a limited amount of time to enjoy this quintessential Australian outback property.

Voyages is offering a special Stay 3/Pay 2 package from just $1,500 per person. The price includes accommodation in a luxury stockmans Quarter, all gourmet meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cattle mustering, a half-day cattle station tour and many activities, including horse riding.

Mustering at Wrotham Park

Wrotham Park Station - Wrotham Park Lodge News Feed

Saddle up! Mustering at Wrotham Park

Saddle up and strap yourself in for the ride of a lifetime! The cattle muster has started at Wrotham Park Lodge, Queensland's most luxurious outback cattle station property.

But be quick! Wrotham Park Lodge will be closing its doors at the end of October and will not be reopening, leaving you with a limited amount of time to enjoy this quintessential Australian outback property.

Located in a spectacular setting, 300km west of Cairns, Wrotham Park Lodge encompasses the spirit of the Australian outback combined with a unique resort experience. Departing in the morning, guests will be taken to the centre of the mustering action on the station. Joining the stockmen and women on horseback guests will share the excitement of rounding up the herds of Brahman stock.

Cattle mustering is tailored to each guest and the level of involvement they'd like to have in a real life muster. Alternatively guests can witness all the excitement and action around the stock yards with half-day cattle station tours, horse rides and 4WD adventures.

Voyages is offering a special Stay 3/Pay 2 Package from just $1,500 per person. The price includes accommodation in a luxury stockman's Quarter, all gourmet meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, cattle mustering, a half-day cattle station tour and many activities, including horse riding.

Kids Stay Free!

Undara Lava Tubes - Undara Lava Lodge News Feed

Kids Stay and Play for FREE!

Wondering what to do with the kids these holidays? Undara would like to offer all children 14 years and under the chance to come out to the famous lava tubes and not pay for any touring or accommodation this July. While mum and dad get to save some money the kids will be amazed by the wildlife and scale of the oldest lava tubes in the world. Just don't tell the kids that they might learn something!
 
Click here for rates and reservations
 
Of course you have to prove your age and conditions apply.

Remember its only a 41/2 hour trip from Townsville or 31/2 from Cairns along a fully sealed scenic road: your children's memories will last a lifetime....

Baby Cassowaries

Canopy Rainforest Tree Houses - The Canopy News Feed

Baby cassowaries at The Canopy Tui returns with two new chicks! 
 
Tui the cassowary has returned to The Canopy with two baby chicks. Tui calls our rainforest home, and his annual return is always a very special occasion for us. The two new chicks help make up a population of less than 1,500 cassowaries believed to exist in the wild.
 
The cassowary is a very special bird essential to the biodiversity of the Wet Tropics rainforest, so we are very proud of Tui's efforts to maintain their population.

Tui has been a regular visitor at The Canopy since February 1991. He wandered in as a sub-adult, (probably about 18 months old and brown in colour) and has made this rainforest his primary home ever since. Although he goes walk-about for a few months during the mating season from May to December, he always returns here to bring up his chicks.

Male Cassowaries raise the young with the female leaving as soon as the eggs are laid. The males will sit on the eggs for 50 days and will then care for the chicks for around 10 months.

It is believed Tui heads to the Wooroonoonan National Park region to find his mate and nest, and will walk the newly hatched chicks back to our rainforest as soon as they are strong enough.

Cassowaries have a reputation of being very dangerous and aggressive. Their principle weapon is their large clawed feet that they use in a sideways kicking motion, (it is widely rumoured that Steven Spielberg modelled the Raptor’s claws in Jurassic Park on Cassowary feet), however Cassowaries very rarely attack unprovoked. Tui has never attacked anyone here.

Cassowaries eat fruit, reptiles and small mammals - in fact anything they can find, except red coloured fruit which is often poisonous. They are flightless ground dwellers with males averaging 50 kilos and females 60 kilos. (One female in a wildlife park weighed 80 kilos!). Cassowaries are a keystone species of forests because they eat fallen fruit whole and distribute seeds across the jungle floor via their droppings with a number of rainforest trees dependant on Cassowaries for propagation.

Wrotham Park Lodge re-opens

Wrotham Park Station - Wrotham Park Lodge News Feed

Voyages Wrotham Park Lodge, one of Australia's most authentic and luxurious cattle station properties, is preparing to re-open for guests next month, after the annual five-month tropical wet season.

At Wrotham Park Lodge, 10 luxury stockmen's 'Quarters' perch along the rim of the Mitchell River allowing guests to relax in comfort following a day's horse-riding, mustering, quad-biking or fishing - to name just a few of the activities. At the main Lodge, guests can cool off in the pool, enjoy reading about local history in the comforts of the library and sip on a Pinot Noir whilst dining on world-renowned '1824' premium grade beef.

To celebrate the re-opening, Voyages is offering a NEW! Stay/Pay Deal for a limited time to 30th June '09 only.

3-night package from $3,000* per room, based on two people sharing a room. Included in the package: all meals, a selected range of premium alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and many Lodge activities including cattle mustering (seasonal), a half day cattle station tour and fishing.

Cairns No.1 Wet Weather Adventure!

Blazing Saddles - Blazing Saddles ATV News Feed

We love the rain at Blazing Saddles!!!!!

Cairns No.1 Wet Weather Adventure

We know its a bit wet, but we love the rain & mud at Blazing Saddles. We have availability for the next couple of days. BOOK NOW - all tours operational.

8am & 1pm departures from Cairns & Northern Beaches

Includes:

• Courtesy coach transfers from all hotels
• Aussie meals - BBQ (am), Finger Food (pm)
• Safety lessons and all safety equipment
• Professionally guided ATV experience
• Morning/Afternoon tea

Green Season Savers!

Undara Lava Tubes - Undara Lava Lodge News Feed

New Management - New Menu - New Rates

The Green Season is upon us! New Managers, Andrew and Alicia, have already been welcomed to the team, and now they want to welcome you with these amazing Green Season Saver Rates!

Accommodation:

Ensuite Railway Carriages
Was $170 (2a) GREEN SEASON SAVER $95 per room per night

Family Railway Carriages
Was $226 (2a2c) GREEN SEASON SAVER $150 per night

Twin & Single Railway Carriages
Was $75.00 per person GREEN SEASON SAVER $80 per night

Wilderness Lodge
Was $105 per night (3 pax max) GREEN SEASON SAVER $80 per night

Two Person Swag Tent
Was $50 per night GREEN SEASON SAVER $45 per night

Four Person Swag Tent
Was $90 per night GREEN SEASON SAVER $85 per night

Un-powered Camp Site
Was $10 per person GREEN SEASON SAVER $20.00 per site (max of 5 person)

Mother Nature saves her best for this time of the year. Plants begin their yearly newal, the macropods abound with new grasses shooting thru the hard packed earth and one of the most spectacular shows around is in full swing.

The Wildlife at Sunset tour takes it all in. Unbelievable sunsets with a glass of bubbles then it’s off to Barkers Cave to see the nightly migration of microbats emerge to feed. But they are not the olny ones with food on their minds. Waiting in the trees are the Night Tigers or Brown Tree Snakes, harmless to us, these preditors strike out for dinner in a show that’s all natural and just out of a documentary. NOT TO BE MISSED!!!

Green Season Special Package:

• 2 unique and exciting tours - Wildlife at Sunset and Archway Explorer
• Overnight accommodation in turn of the century Rail Carriage,
• AND a 3-course Dinner in Fettlers Iron Pot Bistro,

ONLY $150.00pp, and kids half price - this package represents a saving of over 30% off normal rate!

Valid only until end of Feb 2009

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