Take a Bite out of the Northern Tablelands Food Bowl in 48 Hours

There’s plenty of places to eat, drink and be (slightly) merry on the Atherton Tablelands so here’s a weekend’s worth:

 

Day 1:

 

There’s no better way to start your day than coffee and a scrumptious breakfast…joined by a water dragon. Kuranda’s iconic Frogs Restaurant is famed for its lush deck setting and friendly lizards so soak up the atmosphere and sip a single origin in this relaxing bush setting. If you can drag yourself away, check out the quirky next-door markets or the bird and butterfly sanctuaries.

Lunch has to be Coffee Works with freshly made food and snacks plus an amazing chocolate shop and an array of coffee choices including a coffee of the month. They really know coffee and will give you the gen at one of their fascinating tasting experiences.

In the afternoon hit up a cellar door at Mt Uncle Distillery (pictured above). A gin specialist, they also make rum, whiskey and vodka. And after a nip (or two) see where the spirit takes you, strolling the  grounds replete with a banana plantation, alpacas, peacocks and donkeys.

Keep it simple with a takeaway dinner in Mareeba, with a variety of choice from your classic fish and chips to Thai and Indian.

 

Day 2:

 

Day two and fuel up with breakfast at Skybury Tropical Plantation (featured image). Brilliant home grown coffee – paired with the “full bodied” Skybury Famers Breakfast or the “get your motor running” Papaya Super Bowl, featuring Skybury’s other crop.

 

Just down the track from Mareeba is Mount Molloy. A leisurely 45 minute “Sunday” drive and you just can’t drive past the 120 year old Mount Molloy National Hotel for a pub lunch. It’s famous giant burgers can’t be beat…nor can its old school hospitality.

On the way back to Mareeba, Golden Drop Winery is an irresistible cellar door experience. Pop in for their mango wine or port, lemon and lime cellos or a drop made from dragon fruit.  And the last gem of this 48 hour foodie forage – Mt Emerald Ice Creamery. There’s a difficult choice of 14 ice creams and seven sorbets…. making a sweet end to a honey of a trip.