Mareeba

A district rich in wildlife, museums, food and wine, with clear blue skies perfect for hot air ballooning, places to enjoy leisurely country drives, and a strong sense of community spirit which sees support for traditional Outback sporting activities like the famous annual Mareeba Rodeo. Discover!

The rich, red soils of Mareeba have supported pioneers and agriculturalists. Mareeba - believed to be an Aboriginal word meaning meeting of the waters - is a modern township at the junction of two watercourses; Granite Creek and the Barron River. The former fields of tobacco and sugar cane have become mango, avocado and coffee plantations. Many migrants settled in the Mareeba area in the 19th century. Their multicultural heritage has given the region its distinctive flavour, which you can discover through locally grown and processed foods in the delicatessens and roadside stalls

The fertile district around Mareeba has a reputation as a food lovers' paradise. Tempt your taste buds with the likes of golden mango wines and chocolate coated coffee beans. Drive yourself on a day long showcase of the region's food and wines.

Over 90% of Australia's coffee crop is grown here and you can taste and buy at a number of local coffee roasters and coffee plantations.

At the Coffee Works at Mareeba, follow the story of coffee from plant to cup. They spill the beans on the heritage of Australian coffee and their regular tasting tours are a must.You can even become a qualified barista here with two day coffee schools on offer for aficionados. Coffee Works also caters well to those who prefer tea with a fine range of locally grown teas.

Off the Kennedy Highway at Leotta Rd, sip specially created house blends at Jaques Australian Coffee, an established plantation owned by the pioneers of Australia's first commercial coffee plantation and the inventors of the world's first mechanical coffee harvester. You can even take a micro light flight over the landscape.

Further along the Kennedy Highway, meet the hosts of Tichum Creek Coffee Farm, Claudia and Mario. They successfully made the switch from tobacco to coffee and are producing wonderful flavoured brews such as chocolate and orange, as well as growing Arabica from seedlings.

Visit the new Australian Coffee Centre at Skybury, Australia's oldest commercial coffee plantation situated on the rolling hills and huge rock formations behind Mareeba. Skybury Coffee is a family owned and operated business which over the last 18 years has been developed and expanded to become Australia's leading Arabica coffee plantation, with coffee produced here served around the world in the finest specialty coffee shops.

At Biboohra, the Golden Pride Winery will introduce you to the delights of mango with their Golden Drop mango wine range which includes sparkling wine and liqueurs. At de Brueys Boutique Winery off the Kennedy Highway, try a range of tropical fruit wines and ports including lychee and joboticaba.
For a complete local meal, regional service clubs such as the Mareeba RSIL are great spots to sample locally grown steaks, potatoes and other fare.

With its dry, sunny climate, Mareeba is perfectly positioned for air themed adventures, The Mareeba Airport is home to Warbird Adventures who operate a fleet of ex-military aircraft. As well as a museum of flying Warbirds where you can walk inside a Dakota and see a Kittyhawk under restoration, you can opt to take a flight and even experience the aerobatics of formation flying. The Warbirds Air show comes to Mareeba every year, and has an international following.

Mareeba is the hot air ballooning capital of Australia. Each year, visitors from 27 countries chose to experience hot air ballooning here with local company, Champagne Balloon Flights. As you drift across the patchwork of the fields on a crisp, still morning you'll agree this is the most uplifting of adventures. For romantics, wedding proposals and even ceremonies in the basket of the balloon can be arranged with all the usual trimmings! After landing, sip a glass of champagne and decide which of the region's nooks and crannies you saw from on high will be on the day's itinerary for a leisurely drive of exploration.

If you'd like more action, there's an international class go-kart racing track called the Mako Trac on the Dimbulah Road west of town, or go bush on a horse ride, stopping off at a billabong (a swimming place in a river) for a refreshing swim.

Another unique tradition has been entertaining generations of locals on the Tablelands. It's the open air movie theatre, or drive-in. You can watch the latest blockbuster movies from the comfort of your own vehicle at the Rodeo Drive-in Picture Theatre in Mareeba, and take advantage of the fine weather and clear night skies.

For nature-based experiences, cool off in the rock pools after exploring around Emerald Creek Fails where there's public toilets, barbeques and tables, and a walking track leading to an excellent lookout. A popular locals' picnic spot, Davies Creek Falls also has a camping ground, and there's a moderate 850 metre circuit walk which takes you to the head of the fails.

South of Mareeba, Granite Gorge Nature Park is a welcome surprise and a great destination for a day trip. It's an amazing natural assortment of dramatically shaped granite boulders that creates a breathtaking stone wilderness home to many native animals, including the endemic Mareeba Rockwell.

The Mareeba Shire is made up of many diverse habitats and is acknowledged by birding experts as the richest region for bird life in Australia. Nearly half of Australia's 750 bird species can be found here, including a number of rare and elusive birds like the Gouldian Finch, the Yellow-breasted Boatbill, the Red Goshawk, the lesser Sooty Owl and the Buff-breast Button Quail. You can discover wildlife at the region's National Parks, and at specially created reserves such as the Mareeba Tropical Savanna and Wetland Reserve (commonly known as the Mareeba Wetlands).

The Mareeba Wetlands
This unique sanctuary for outback wildlife was established in 1996. Today the Reserve has a regionally significant Brolga and Sarus Crane roost, an established captive breeding and reintroduction program for the jewel-like Gouldian Finch once prolific on the savannahs, and is part of the national Austral Bush Heritage Fund network of Reserves.

Over 204 species of birds have been recorded, plus several species of mammals and other wildlife. The best wildlife watching is during the Reserve Twilight Safari; a guided tour by vehicle and boat which encompasses the lagoons and hides of the Reserve, Visitors may also enjoy guided boat tours; self guided walking trails or canoes. Overnight safari tent style accommodation has recently been introduced, as has the Wetlands Walkabout; an expedition style tour bus trekking with pack donkeys in association with local opera Wilderness Expeditions.

Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine and Julatten
By no exaggeration, this bird watchers paradise is unique in Australia. Over 300 species have been recorded within a kilometre radius of Mt Molloy, exceeding counts in renown places such as Kakadu National Park. Several bowers of the Great Bowerbird can be found around the village. At Julatten the cool mountain highlands provide an ideal habitat and the summer breeding grounds of the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher and home to the Wompoo Pigeon. Explore neighbouring Mt Carbine, where Australian Bustards, Squa Pigeons and birds of prey are often seen.

History
The discovery of gold on the Hodgkinson field in 1876 unleashed a rush of prospectors, many making their way down from the Palmerfield in the north. They trudged along the dusty, dry bush trails with their belongings and the tools of their trade secured in a wheelbarrow. In a tribute to these early pioneers who, with little more than determination carved out a future and opened up the vast un-chartered territory, the region extending west of Mareeba has been dubbed 'The Wheelbarrow Way'.

The town of Dimbulah, on the road to Chillagoe, is typical of many an outpost today. Farming, including mangoes and sugar cane, is the mainstay and the locals in the pub will greet you with a warm welcome and a yarn about the days when Dimbuiah was a popular watering hole (its name is thought to mean Long Watering Hole) when the railway came through.

Gold is still mined by small miners here. The ghost-town of Mt Mulligan is next to Tyrconnell, once the most famous mine on the Hodgkinson goldfield.

Since John Atherton, founder of Mareeba and a gold and tin prospector, erected his Queenslander-style house at Emerald Creek, the fortunes of the region have been recorded in some significant collections. The Mareeba Heritage Museum, which incorporates an excellent tourist information centre, is located on the town's main approach. Among many treasures it houses Queensland's largest rail ambulance.

South of Mareeba is the state's largest privately owned aviation and military collection. It's well worth a visit to place the context of World War II into the region and view the great displays.

The Mareeba Annual Races are a fixture every Queen's Birthday Weekend, and in August the area's cultural diversity is celebrated with the Mareeba Multicultural Festival, a day filled with fun, local foods and wines, and of course, local characters. Stay local with accommodation like the Jackaroo Motel in town. In July each year, competitors arrive from near and far to test their prowess and thrill spectators at the Mareeba Rodeo, and the town welcomes the annual migration of Grey Nomads from southern states.

Each month there are markets at Mt Molloy and Mareeba where you can buy local produce and excellent arts and crafts.

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