Looking for a turnkey tree change in the tropics – without the humidity or mosquitos?
An award-winning boutique eco-resort embedded deep in rainforest teeming with wildlife, including roaming cassowaries, has hit the market in Far North Queensland, with The Canopy Treehouses listed for sale at $2.5 million.
Located on the Atherton Tablelands, around 90 minutes south-west of Cairns, the freehold going concern spans 33 hectares along the Ithaca River at Tarzali. It comprises just seven boutique guest accommodations, making it a rare offering in one of Australia’s most tightly protected natural environments.
Set more than 800 metres above sea level, the resort is surrounded by protected tropical landscapes and within easy reach of crystal-clear crater lakes, including Lake Eacham and Lake Barrine, key drawcards for visitors to the region. Despite its secluded setting, a local supermarket is just 10 minutes away.
ResortBrokers agent Leah Bursztynowicz says The Canopy Treehouses benefits from a cooler, more temperate climate than coastal Far North Queensland, thanks to its elevated position alongside the Wet Tropics of Queensland UNESCO World Heritage Area.
“The climate up there on the Atherton Tablelands is somewhat more mild than Cairns,” Bursztynowicz says.
That climate delivers practical advantages for both guests and owners.
“We are free from mosquitoes and blowflies all year round,” the resort’s website reads, adding: “It rarely gets hot enough to need the air-conditioner thanks to our high altitude and location deep in the rainforest. Even in the peak summer months.”
Strong digital marketing, an active social media presence and consistently high online guest ratings have helped lift the resort’s profile nationally and internationally, driving repeat visitation and premium nightly rates.
The Canopy Treehouses has also been widely recognised for its ecotourism credentials, including induction into Ecotourism Australia’s Hall of Fame in 2018 for 20 years of Advanced Ecotourism certification, as well as awards from Queensland Tourism and Travel & Hospitality.
Listed by ResortBrokers, the property – located at 247 Hogan Road – offers a tightly held self-catering accommodation business with scope for weddings and events.
The opportunity includes five two-bedroom treehouses with private bathtubs and rainforest views, one three-bedroom cabin, one tiny home, a three-bedroom owner’s residence, and a separate two-bedroom apartment for the owner’s guests or staff, or to lease out.
“Each of the tree houses are very private. From each of the tree houses, you can’t see any of the others,” Bursztynowicz says.
She says the guest experience is a key driver of the property’s strong performance.
“It’s a really submersive, peaceful experience,” she adds.
Guests regularly encounter wildlife throughout the property, including tree kangaroos, platypus, wallabies and colourful birdlife, reinforcing the resort’s appeal to nature-based travellers, particularly European birdwatchers.
While the resort has been managed for the past four years, Bursztynowicz says its scale makes it well-suited to hands-on buyers, as it also offers scope to build additional guest accommodation, subject to council approval.
“The property’s small and very manageable number of guest accommodations would suit an owner-operator looking for the ultimate tree change,” she says.
The Canopy Treehouses has a long trading history, established in the 1990s and formerly operating under the name Fur and Feathers. The current owners have held the property for 15 years and rebranded it in 2016, broadening its appeal to premium domestic and international travellers.
In the 2025 financial year, the business recorded approximately 80 per cent occupancy, generating turnover of $731,334 and net profit of $338,810, equating to a net margin of just under 50 per cent. Performance is underpinned by strong repeat visitation, premium average daily rates and a seasonal peak during North Queensland’s dry season from May to October.
Bursztynowicz says the site’s environmental credentials and scarcity are central to its appeal.
“The environment surrounding the property is very undisturbed,” she says, noting that guest accommodation in the Wet Tropics is scarce due to environmental protections.
The vendors are ready to hand the reins to a new owner after 15 years, having regularly reinvested in the property, including infrastructure upgrades such as a backup generator capable of powering the entire resort, along with water and filtration improvements.
“This is a genuine turnkey opportunity,” Bursztynowicz says. “There’s really nothing to do but move in and start generating revenue.”
