Daintree dreaming: Rare family tree change on offer
Imagine a life spent sleeping in the middle of the Daintree Rainforest, strolling beneath canopies, birdwatching, and exploring nearby beaches so close you can smell the salt in the air. And you can put your adult children to work.
That is the life that awaits in remote Cape Tribulation, three hours north of Cairns Airport in Far North Queensland, where family-run Ferntree Rainforest Lodge awaits new custodians.
The business and freehold, located at 36 Camelot Close, between the world heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef, is for sale for $3.3 million through Resort Broker’s Antonio Curulli.
“It’s a pristine part of the world,” says Carulli. “If you want to connect with the environment, this is the place to do it.”
The solar-powered off-grid resort claims to boast an eco-friendly focus, and offers a range of self-contained loft-style accommodation, from rooms to cabins and eco-friendly lodges, with room for 15 staff to sleep too.
Guests feel like they’re sleeping in a treehouse under the stars across the 20-hectare site, and can spend lazy days chilling by the pool surrounded by lush rainforest, or visiting the beach – just a short stroll through mangroves, or popping into several waterfalls and freshwater swimming holes a short walk away.
The resort offers a unique experience with access to various activities, including horse riding, and indigenous cultural experiences, including walking tours with the Kuku Yalanji traditional owners. A fast boat service located next door will take you to the Great Barrier Reef in just 22 minutes, the closest point for any reef launch on the coast.
The property also features an 80-seat eatery, Cassowary Restaurant and Bar, which operates across seven days, in two al fresco huts among the rainforest surroundings, drawing praise for its “incredible south Indian curries” on Google reviews.
But, how do we get the adult kids to work? The resort boasts two owner’s residences – perfect for a large family, two families, or even two couples seeking a tree change – to help make running the business a breeze, says Curulli.
“It would suit a large family with adult kids that can help, with plenty of salary built into the property to share,” he adds.
It would particularly suit new owners – such as a group of friends looking to escape the hustle and bustle and run the business together – with engineering and hospitality backgrounds.
“You can buy a house for $2 million these days, or for $3 million you can buy a whole resort for two families,” Carulli adds.
Ferntree Rainforest Lodge has generated significant interest since its listing, generating $1.6 million across a three-year average.
“There’s been a fair amount of people who’ve inspected … they’re all attracted to the financials, they’re all attracted to the number of beds on-site, they’re attracted to the presentation of the property and that sort of stuff,” Curilli says.
“But they just couldn’t see how to operate it themselves.”
The Daintree Rainforest is considered one of the oldest rainforests in the world, dating back more than 180 million years.
Getting there is half the fun, meandering up the Captain Cook Highway from Cairns Airport, through the beaches to Mosman Gorge before crossing the Daintree River via the car ferry, and arriving in Cape Tribulation, says Curulli.
“Then when you get to the property, it’s all canopy. It’s all rainforest. You’ll enjoy the restaurant on-site, and just the quietness of the place and the birds chirping.”
