Yungaburra

A romantic getaway, a family holiday, nature-based eco tourism adventures and wildlife watching ... Yungaburra has it all - country charm, lifestyle and abundant natural beauty. With 18 heritage-listed buildings,it is the largest National Trust village in Queensland.

Watched over by the Seven Sisters and the big brother of Mt Quincan, the village of Yungaburra sits prettily on Peterson Creek offering an idyllic spot for holiday makers.

You'll be enthralled with the town's historic, cultural and artistic offerings as well as its natural surroundings.

Up until the late 1800's Yungaburra -then known as Allumbah -was primarily an overnight stop for travellers headed west to the mines. With the advent of the railway line, its long term survival was assured and it is as irresistibly charming today as it would have appeared to those journeymen of long ago.

Yungaburra's high profile landmark, the amazing Curtain Fig Tree, is only minutes from the village. Possibly the most visited tree in the world, the Curtain Fig is accessed by a short boardwalk from the sealed road. StrangIer Figs grow in a host tree, taking over in time and strangling the original host; hence their apt name. This one toppled over and the fig continued to grow, developing a great curtain of roots.

The Lake Eacham Hotel, or Yungaburra Pub as it's commonly known, is a magnificent showpiece of Federation architecture. Still in amazingly original condition, inside and out, it has all the style of the bygone eras it has seen since it was first built in 1910. The time of the timber getters is reflected in cedar and silky oak, visiting dignitaries to the enormous ballroom are preserved forever in photo frames and there is an excellent collection of general memorabilia on show.

More recent landmarks include the pretty Yungaburra Chapel, the Chalet Rainforest Gallery, which presents a wide range of quality locally made products including Rainforest Folk dolls, timber art and woodwork and neighbouring Nick's Swiss-Italian Restaurant and Yodeller's Bar. How an Alpine-style chalet restaurant became an icon in an Australian country town is a testament to owners Nick an Gina, and a story they'll happily share with you over an ale or two.

You can see all Yungaburra's historic landmarks, including the oldest building in the town, the pretty Yungaburra Chapel on theVillage Heritage Walk. Walking tour maps are available from local businesse!

Yungaburra is something of a foodie heaven. As well as Nick's, there's the recommended Eden House Heritage Restaurant & Garden Cottages, listed by Gourmet Traveller magazine as among Australia's finest. The Lake Eacham Hotel (or Yungaburra Pub) has delicious wholesome bar meals, restaurant dining and a beautiful outdoor garden area.

As well as the Chalet, there is also the Gem Gallery & Coffee Shop (with free opal cutting demonstrations), a glass and leadlight gift store, antiques, a water ski and wakeboard specialist, a garden centre and on the fourth Saturday of each month, the renowned Yungaburra Arts & Crafts Markets. The largest and most popular of all the region's country markets are held on the green in the village centre, and nearly all the products sold are locally made or grown.

Bushwalking is the ideal way to encounter the wildlife of the surrounding areas. A network of easy and moderate walking tracks will lead you through wetlands, rainforest, scrub and lake-side paths.

Yungaburra's focal attraction is the Peterson Creek walking circuit where there are nearly always platypus to be spotted and the re-vegetation program has ensured the tree-kangaroos are also making their home there. The platypus viewing platform at Peterson Creek provides an excellent viewing place for these elusive creatures.

The local community-based Tree Kangaroo & Mammal Group mans an alternate monthly stand at theYungaburra Markets (the other month is taken up by the Birds Australia conservation group). If you would like to learn more about tree-kangaroos or the region's famous bird-watching spots, the volunteers are always happy to chat.

There's every kind of accommodation on offer here:

At the top end of the market - atop Mt Quincan in fact - are the luxury, self contained pole cabins of Mt Quincan Crater Retreat where tree-kangaroos requlariv make themselves at home.

Gumtree On Gillies B&B, Allumbah Pocket Cottages, Crater Lakes Rainforest Cottages, Eden House Garden Cottages, Yungaburra Bushland Cottages and Birds 'n' Bloom Cottages are all quality private accommodations, and Williams Lodge is a superb Heritage-listed Queenslander in the heart of the village.

The Yungaburra Park Motel and Curtain Fig Motel are country-cosy and well priced, as is Kookabura Lodge; a quaint boutique motel with its own restaurant. The Blue House Family Accommodation is a relaxed holiday home.

The Peeramon Hotel - the oldest pub on the Tablelands - harks back to 1908 and is a delight. Stop over for a cold drink or a counter meal and have a yarn with the locals about the pioneer memorabilia that decorates the very original bar. Chances are there'll be some gleaming 'iron horses' parked outside as it's a popular meeting place for the motorbike enthusiasts who enjoy weekend rides across the region.

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