Atherton Tablelands Food & Wine Day Tour

A mere 1-hour drive from Cairns via the scenic Gillies Highway brings you to the cool atmosphere of the Atherton Tablelands, where you will come across a beautiful, enchanting natural lake hidden in the World Heritage Rainforest. Lake Barrine is something special as it is a water-filled crater left by a volcanic eruption approximately 10,000 years ago. Here we sample warm local banana crepes with tropical fruits, Mungali yoghurt, honey, and lime and enjoy a special ‘Lake Barrine’ coffee or local tea at the charming 80-year-old lakeside teahouse amongst beautiful terraced gardens.

Nerada Tea Plantation is situated on the scenic outskirts of Malanda and is Australia’s largest tea plantation.  Here you will be tasting several of the Plantation grown, single-origin teas, such as Plantation Fresh Black and Royal Devonshire, black tea with a hint of natural vanilla. The teas will be paired with a selection of local cheeses. Whilst enjoying your Tastings, you will be overlooking the lush fields of Australia’s largest Tea Plantation. Keep your eyes peeled as you might just spot one of the resident Tree Kangaroos too!

The Australian Platypus Park is home to a thriving platypus population. We take a wander down to see these wonderful creatures found in a spring-fed pond surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Lunch today is all produced in-house using only the freshest quality ingredients and includes Crocodile sausage rolls, Red Claw (Yabby) and Kangaroo with fresh local salads topped off with a Tarzali Lakes boutique beer, Dragon Fruit cider, Lemon Myrtle tea, and tastings of the Murdering Point Winery range. This menu is EXCLUSIVE to this tour and there is time to purchase some of the smoked products and sauces.

We travel to the historic village of Atherton, a patchwork of farmland and rolling green hills appear before us. Gallo is a full operational dairy farm and gourmet cheese factory spread across 1000 acres of rich red volcanic soil. They also make delicious handcrafted chocolates which we get to taste. Here we can buy the delicious cheeses that we have just tasted and sample irresistible Swiss style filled chocolates that are a work of art whilst gazing out over the picturesque landscape.

The Humpy is the best place to go for freshly harvested Atherton Tablelands produce straight from the growers. Vegetables, tropical fruits, and hundreds of different varieties of nuts, dried fruits, locally produced honey, jams, and sauces. Here we taste some of the seasonal fruits and hot locally grown peanuts and macadamia nuts. There will be plenty of time to browse this quirky grocery store.

Close by is the 2017 Australian Distiller of the year, Mount Uncle Distillery, North Queensland’s first distillers and one of the premier attractions on the Atherton Tablelands. Set in beautifully landscaped gardens within a Banana plantation, Mt Uncle Distillery is a stunning place to visit and an opportunity to try some of their award-winning liqueurs and spirits.

Relax and take in the remarkable location whilst learning the insight into the finer details of coffee from tree to cup. Learn the history of Jaques Coffee Plantation as coffee pioneers, growers, millers, roasters, and innovators. Enjoy a delicious cup made ’just as you like it’ and homemade scones with local jam and cream.