Cattle mustering at Mt Mulligan
When you’ve got 28,000-hectares and 1,400 Brahman cross cattle to muster, you’ve certainly got an adventure on your hands. Mt Mulligan Lodge is tucked into a working cattle station and it’s time to learn the lingo and logistics of a cattle muster before your stay.
Cattle mustering at Mt Mulligan
Born and bred.
And not just the cattle! Station/Land Manager Phil Harris was born in the area, and the same goes for his right hand man, Cameron Hocking. Just call them cattle whisperers – Phil and Cameron undertake the cattle muster at a minimum three times a year. Horses, dogs, quad bikes and even a helicopter are their tools as they and five contractors muster cattle in from all corners of the property.
Muster check list.
There’s more to a cattle muster than meets the eye. The crew use this time to draft the cattle to stay and sell; they’ll brand, vaccinate and ear tag youngsters, and also de-sex young bulls (known as mickys) to start sourcing more steers (young castrated bulls). Weaning the calves occurs too so cows (females who have had a calf) can get pregnant again.
Beef up.
Have you heard of a steer muster? This is a muster just for young castrated males, who are moved to larger pastures to put on some pounds. They won’t head to auction in Mareeba until they are two years old or weigh in at 300kg.
The circle of life.
The cattle muster plays a vital role in the life cycle at Mount Mulligan Station. At any given time, there are 1,400 breeding cattle on site. They’ll spend 11 years as full-time residents on the station, but the 10 main fenced paddocks can swell up to a 3,000 capacity. Motherhood is taken seriously by the breeding cattle, who aren’t afraid to put their bubs first and get protective! There are still heifers on site too – females who haven’t had cows – plus a few rogue scrubbers and cleanskins aka wild bulls.
Braham through and through.
Braham cattle are good mums, which is why Mount Mulligan Station’s cattle are 100% Braham. Not only do they look after their little ones, they are curious and gentle, and even better, they have a taste for jazz and brass instruments (true!). Did you know, a weaner is a calf that has been drafted off their mum to grow big and strong.
Happy campers.
With the majestic Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan) in the distance, 24 dams to choose from, plenty of salt licks, a break from the heat during wet season, plus dry season supplement food, these cattle are spoilt rotten.
Now you’ve got the lingo, all that’s left is to get out there and see first-hand how it’s done.
There’s nothing quite like a romantic getaway in Queensland. The incredible nature, serene surroundings and gourmet dining leaves people wondering why on earth they have to leave. At Mt Mulligan Lodge we specialise in providing romance and luxury in a similar capacity, neither being separate from the other. But our rustic Outback Suites with private balcony baths are just the tip of the iceberg.
The Queensland outback and coast are home to numerous romantic activities for couples. So where will your love lead you this year? Perhaps to a night spent stargazing, a scenic helicopter flight over the Great Barrier Reef or a fine dining experience you’ll never forget. Read on to discover your next romantic getaway in Queensland.
There’s something magical about stargazing in the Queensland outback. Without much light pollution, the night sky becomes a dancing tapestry of unseen constellations, breath-taking galaxies and otherworldly planets.
All guests at Mt Mulligan Lodge can experience stargazing with the on-site telescope and knowledgeable guides. If you prefer a more intimate experience, book the couple’s XOXO Package. Among other luxuries, it includes a private stargazing tour for two, along with French champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries on arrival.
Sunsets at Mt Mulligan Lodge are truly magnificent. The rocky face of Mount Mulligan (Ngnarrabullgan) glows in hues of orange, red and yellow as the sun sets over the pristine outback wilderness.
You can witness the best sunset views from our Sunset Bar. Drive your complimentary electric buggy up to the bar, then settle in with a sundowner while watching the all encompassing colours and scenery.
About 2.5 hours’ drive from Mount Mulligan, the Atherton Tablelands is home to some of the most incredible waterfalls in Queensland. This romantic getaway proves that we shouldn’t take that famous TLC song literally.
Start at the heritage-listed Milla Milla Falls, an 18-metre plunge waterfall that tumbles into a gumtree-enclosed swimming hole. Next, make your way to Zillie Falls to admire the thundering cascade from a viewing platform. Break for a picnic among the flying foxes or finish your circuit at Ellinjaa Falls. Cascading over lava columns, it spills into a small waterhole home to freshwater turtles and platypuses.
When planning a holiday in beautiful Queensland, it’s natural to think about finding a destination on the coastline. After all, the state has some of the best beaches and scenic coastline in the country. But have you considered a holiday exploring the vast landscapes found in Queensland’s outback?
The Sunshine State offers an endless number of adventures and experiences for everyone to enjoy, so we’ve put together some outback holiday ideas to help you start planning your next getaway.
Mount Mulligan is situated west of Cairns in Far North Queensland and is an awesome location to experience an outback holiday. The experience doesn’t get any more dramatic and exciting than taking in the spectacular views of the sprawling back-country from the air.
You can book in for a helicopter ride that flies over the Mount Mulligan region, so occupants can take in the splendid grandeur of the area. Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan) itself is ancient and has held a cultural significance for the Indigenous Land Owners for tens of thousands of years. The sandstone escarpment is an 18 kilometre long conglomerate that is considerably larger than Uluru. Indigenous tribes believe Ngarrabullgan is the birthplace of the creator of the world, Eekoo the Rainbow Serpent, who guards the top of the mountain.
Helicopter flights are not something people do every day, so when you embark on this unique Queensland outback holiday idea, it’s something you’ll always remember.
There is a lot to see and do in Queensland’s outback and if you base yourself at the Mount Mulligan Lodge, you can book in for an exciting ATV Outback Trail Adventure.
It can get a little dusty out there, so you’ll need to wear the face mask and goggles that the tour guide supplies you with so you have some protection. The all- terrain vehicle (ATV) will then take you speeding away along a dry and rutted track as your adventure begins.
As that famous red dust starts to fly, the ATV will careen along the extensive dirt trails of the property, following fence lines and veering around the free-roaming wild brumby horses and Brahman cattle that frequent the area.
Cannon through dry creek beds as you zip through river gum and ironbark forests, up and over ravines, then down the other side. Eventually, you’ll arrive at a lovely shady location beside the Hodgkinson River, where everyone will enjoy a much-needed drink.
Something that’s unique to the outback and incredibly spectacular is the vividness of the night sky. With virtually no ambient light around to interfere, the heavens will be ablaze with stars you never even knew existed. This remote landscape looks even more impressive once the sun goes down and the temperature drops. If there’s no moon, the sky is black, making a myriad of stars glisten like the finest diamonds.
The Celestial Dreams experience is about taking guests on a tour of appreciation of this intense night sky. Maybe for the first time, you’ll see true glimpses of the Milky Way. Using a telescope, participants can explore the galaxy above whilst sipping on an aperitif.
For more Queensland outback holiday ideas, check out everything that you can see and do on the Mount Mulligan Lodge website. The area offers so many adventures that you’ll wonder why you didn’t come here sooner.
It’s easy to understand the appeal of birdwatching, especially in North Queensland. Immersed in nature, you fall quickly into a meditative state, as you learn about the ecosystems nearly half of all Australian bird species call home.
Mt. Mulligan Lodge is calling all twitchers to experience the diversity of habitats as you take the scenic route from Cairns to Mount Mulligan on a guided birdwatching tour with FNQ Nature Tours.
Fusing nature, history, adventure and fine dining, a romantic getaway at Mt. Mulligan Lodge is a ticket to turning up the heat or rekindling the relationship flame.
Over three hours, as you travel through the Atherton Tablelands, you’ll have the opportunity to spot and identify some of the more than 450 avian species recorded in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, including 13 found nowhere else in the world.
Traversing high altitude vine forests, scattered farmlands – where keen eyes will spy raptors – and beautiful savannah escarpments, this birdwatching road trip is a heady appetiser to the three days that await at Mt. Mulligan Lodge.
The roll-call of potential bird species to tick off your list reads like a David Attenborough documentary – Magpie Geese, Black Swans, Blue Winged Kookaburra, Bee-eaters, Tree Creepers and Pardalotes. Sharp-eyed birdwatchers may spy Bridled and Macleay’s Honeyeaters, the Australian King Parrot, Tooth-billed Bowerbird, Victoria’s Riflebird, Double-eyed Fig-Parrot and many more.
Once you’ve checked in at Mt. Mulligan Lodge, set on a private 28,000 hectare cattle station, your birdwatching moments may come as easily as observing rainbow lorikeets and kingfishers as you sit by the weir, cold drink in hand. The luxury lodge is a refuge for birdlife and on a private three-hour birdwatching tour, you’ll join fellow twitchers in the search for kookaburras and noisy friarbirds, among others.
With binoculars in hand, many of the other included tours and self-guided walks from the lodge provide opportunities for birdwatching at your own pace. But the best part is you don’t have to venture far from the luxury environment to get lucky with your birding list.
Adventure planning starts at breakfast, where you’ll swap the daily news for your trusty self-guided walking trail map. There’s seven walks to choose from, all documented in a handy fold out map you can keep with you on the trail. We’ll take a look at three favourites here:
This 3.6km, 1.5 hour round trip trail gives you a glimpse into the station’s mining past and you won’t even need to step off a road to do so. Exit the rear of the Main Lodge and head left along the road leading up to the Sunset Bar. The station’s namesake, Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan) towers overhead so take your time to soak up the view – even better, return to the bar for sundowners another time – before carrying on towards the Manager’s House. The Township Trail starts and ends here. Follow the road up to the Mt Mulligan Memorial, and from there black markers lead the way through what was once Mount Mulligan Township. A figure eight takes you back to the Manager’s House, so you can’t get lost, but do let your mind wander, imagining what it was like living in this once thriving mining town.
DURATION: 1.5hr
DIFFICULTY: EASY
DISTANCE 3.6km return
LANDSCAPE: Gentle Paths (Township & Coal Precinct Only)
More history awaits on this 3.2km, 1 hour return walk. Again, you’ll set out from the rear of the Main Lodge and follow the road towards the Sunset Bar and the Manager’s House. Not too far past the house, take a left turn at the gate and follow the red markers back along the Mount Mulligan railway line. Spot the railway sleepers under the dust, and use your imagination to fill in the gaps of what travelling along the 48km coal railway line back in 1915 was like. The line linked the township to Dimbulah in the south east, unlocking coal and goods transportation between Mount Mulligan and Mareeba. Once you’ve completed the loop, you’ll ascend a hill and pop out just north of the Sunset Bar. A right turn and the road downhill takes you back to the Main Lodge.
DURATION: 1hr
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
DISTANCE: 3.2km return
LANDSCAPE: Some steep sections which can be slippery when wet
Green arrows are your guide for this 11.6km return, 3.5 hour walk. It will get your blood pumping and you’ll certainly work up an appetite on the climb, but the views are once in a lifetime. Following the same route as the Township Trail, head out of the lodge, past the Manager’s House and make a right at Mt Mulligan Memorial. From there, turn left onto McLeod Street, and then left again at the Geraldine Loop sign. You’ll crest rolling hills and wind past Geraldine Lake, a popular spot for birdwatching, before reaching a hill with a picnic table. A right turn here along the fence line, until you reach the Mt Mulligan Station boundary gate, another right to follow the gazette road passing by the cemetery, and a last right just before the sports oval turns you towards the township. Turn left onto Harris Street, wander past the old hospital, now staff accommodation, then take a right at the bottom of the road and you’ve had a thorough peek into the past of this mining region. Continue 150 meters up, and turn right just before the cattle grid. Up the hill, the Sunset Bar awaits. If you’ve timed it, a sundowner stop will be well earned, otherwise, carry on left and down the hill for a drink in the shade of the Main Lodge.
DURATION: 3.5hr
DIFFICULTY: Moderate to Difficult
DISTANCE: 11.6km return
LANDSCAPE: Steep and slippery in sections
Whether you’re up for an easy stroll and quick glimpses into the past, or a more adventurous deep dive into history, Mt Mulligan Lodge’s self-guided walks will get you there.
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan) on a 28,000 hectare outback property 160 kilometres north-west of Cairns, the family-friendly Mt Mulligan Lodge is designed for those who know the best memories are made when you’re on an adventure. As General Manager, Adam Barnett says, “This is the first hotel I have worked at where parents love seeing their kids getting dirty and dusty!”
With gold rush and mining history to be discovered, ATVs to ride, the chance to take part in cattle mustering (in season), and a centrepiece weir calling you to fish, kayak, and stand-up paddleboard, by the time you gather around the fire pit as dusk descends, the kids’ eyelids will be heavier than a first-generation iPad.
Here are just some of the ways you can create the ultimate family-friendly adventure holidays at Mt Mulligan Lodge.
You’re in the outback so it’s time to untether from technology and dose up on family-friendly adventures, lest they suffer any serious withdrawals. With no mobile phone coverage and extremely limited WiFi, this is the chance to introduce the kids to the bush telly (aka fire) and enjoy the expansiveness of each day in (truly) present company.
Spend a VIP afternoon on the Hodgkinson River floating on tubes and taking in the serenity of the outback, just for your family (max. 4 guests). While the kids try their luck panning for gold or catching a red claw, you can enjoy a sundowner on the river bank.
Adventure holidays are always that little bit richer when there’s wildlife involved. Meet the Brahman that call this cattle station home, go stand-up paddleboarding on the weir to spy elusive platypus, or hop into a kayak and try ‘yak angling’ for barramundi. Riding ATVs also adds to the adventure.
Children of all ages are welcome at Mt Mulligan Lodge and whether you’ve got toddlers or teens, sign them up to become a junior ranger during your stay. They’ll learn about animal tracks and bush medicine, feed the barramundi in the weir and get schooled on the flora and fauna of this ruggedly beautiful place. Back at base camp, there’s puzzles, colouring, drawing and more to keep them engaged, with content tweaked to suit.
Show them stars you won’t find on TikTok
Stargazing in the Australian outback is unsurpassed and a great family-friendly activity to enjoy together on your holiday. Look through the telescope and use the Mount Mulligan Night Sky Map during the guided Celestial Dreams experience to get acquainted with the infiniteness of the southern sky.
Embrace the family camping holiday spirit without roughing it when you book the solar powered Outback Family Tent at Mt Mulligan Lodge. Or if you prefer solid walls to canvas, the Outback Pavilion and Outback Suite both provide ample space for families. The Outback Pavilion has two separate bedrooms, two bathrooms, two outdoor bathtubs and a sitting area which can accommodate a fifth guest.
Skip the rose petals on the bed and surprise your significant other with a long weekend at a Luxury Lodge of Australia in the outback instead. Just a few hours from Cairns, you can revel in understated luxury pared back with overwhelming landscapes, expansive vistas, and blissfully, no phone service.
Fusing nature, history, adventure and fine dining, a romantic getaway at Mt. Mulligan Lodge is a ticket to turning up the heat or rekindling the relationship flame.
Check-in, cool drink in hand, and wind down – there’s 28,000-hectares to take in on this private heritage site and you’ve got days ahead of you to do it in.
Take a kayak on the weir, see if you can snag a barra (chef will even cook it for you for dinner), then head to the Sunset Bar for a tipple served with the shifting patinas of Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan) at golden hour.
Dinner here is a romantic getaway in and of itself. Sourcing the best produce from the pastures of the Atherton Tablelands to the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, if your love of fine food and wine comes a close second to the person you’re locking eyes with, you’re in the right place.
Breakfast in bed is nice, but breakfast with views over this majestic landscape will shake you out of any Groundhog Day routines you’ve fallen into back home.
This morning is all about diving into the history of the Mount Mulligan old township, coal mine and cemetery. Not the first thing you’d call to mind on a romantic getaway, perhaps? But through understanding the tragedy that underpins this special place, you’ll likely feel more connected and grateful (and that’s a great predecessor to romance).
After an à la carte lunch, spend your afternoon paddling on the weir, fishing from its banks, or soaking in your romantic outdoor bathtub.
Cocktails are served in the Lodge’s Main Pavilion tonight as stars frost the night sky – a fitting warm-up act to a romantic dinner for two.
After a leisurely breakfast, spice things up by taking the wheel of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to explore boulder-strewn creeks and outback tracks, and learn about the culture of Traditional Owners, the Djungan people, dating back some 37,000 years. Your final destination is the picturesque south end of Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan), known as The Branch – apt for a #couplegoals selfie.
Return to the lodge for lunch and an afternoon of reverie before drinks by the firepit and another intimate dinner.
Tomorrow morning the romantic getaway may be over, but reconnection is the best kind of souvenir to be taking home with you.
Start off with one of the most recognisable constellations. Orion the Hunter, which contains the three stars forming Orion’s Belt, is a quick find during summer in north QLD. The Yolngu people of Northern Australia believe the three stars represent three brothers punished for eating forbidden fish. Keep an eye out for the Betelgeuse star, the constellation’s very own red giant.
Between May to November, keep your eyes on Scorpius, the constellation that represents a scorpion. Also described as a coat hanger hook with an anchor, legend has it the constellation rose up as a scorpion to chase Orion across the sky. Though from the naked eye it looks like a small cluster of stars, these clusters are really hundreds and hundreds of stars.
Look to the Southern Cross, then above to spot Centaurus whose feet make up the Pointers. This mythical creature is half man, half horse and contains eight named stars. When you’re in north Queensland, Spring and Summer are the best times of year to see this beast in all its glory.
More commonly known by its Latin translation, The Great Dog, Canis Major sits tucked in next to Orion as his ‘Greater Dog’. The Canis Minor, little dog, is nearby. The constellation clusters around Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, and also contains a Dwarf galaxy, a Messier 41, and Thor’s Helmet, which is an emission nebula. Spot it during winter when you’re in north Queensland.
Pavo, aka The Peacock, has one blue-white subgiant star, also named The Peacock and is best seen in Summer from north Queensland. It’s believed the constellation is named for the peacocks who drew Hera’s chariot in Greek mythology, though some also believe it is named after Java green peacocks Dutch navigators spotted in the East Indies.
Whether it’s with the Mt Mulligan Lodge telescope and a wine in hand, or when sitting by the crackling outback fireplace, you’ll have plenty to spot when you go stargazing.
Forget staging and set up; when outback Queensland is your backdrop, you don’t need anything else to set the scene. With the mighty Ngarrabullgan (Mount Mulligan) escarpment as your backdrop, Mt Mulligan Lodge sits on a 28,000 ha cattle station. You’ve got 28,000 ha of photo opportunities but even better, there’s no bad angles when you’re surrounded by raw beauty at every turn.
Throw out the run sheets and military precision timings, life at Mt Mulligan Lodge slows down to your pace. Elope in the early morning, with sunrise and bird song to walk you down the aisle, before a picnic lunch and a float at the Ah Bowers waterhole. Say I do at the Sunset bar, before celebrating under the stars with a private dinner by the weir. There’s ATV tours, walking trails, scenic helicopter flights – and plenty more ways to celebrate in your own special style. With the staff happy to be witnesses, the rest is up to you.
The secret is out. When you elope, you go straight to the good part. Your honeymoon starts now. Fine dining, a fabulous room, pampering, pool time; maybe it’s even just free time – luxury comes in all shapes and sizes. At Mt Mulligan Lodge, you’ve got plenty of types of luxury to choose from. Fill the iron corrugated bathtub on the verandah of your Outback Room or Outback Suite for a soak for two, or sip French champagne on the deck of your glamping tent. Dress up, or down, for dinner, where Head Chef Rene Moebius and his team will work wonders with the local Atherton Tablelands produce. Pair dishes with Australian wines, included in your stay, and settle in for a game of chess and a nightcap before bed.
When you elope at Mt Mulligan Lodge, each day, night, and moment can be all about you.
