Introducing new member Mt Mulligan Lodge, Queensland

Luxury Lodges of Australia (LLoA) is delighted to announce Mt Mulligan Lodge has joined as the newest member of the collection of uniquely Australian luxe lodges and camps.

Mt Mulligan Lodge opened in April 2019 and is the latest addition to the Morris family-owned Northern Escape Collection. The newly built luxury outback lodge is situated on a secluded 28,000-hectare heritage site, a working cattle station, with luxe lodging and guided outback adventures for just 16 guests. Accessible via helicopter flight or four-wheel-drive adventure from Cairns, Mt Mulligan Lodge is sited at the base of a spectacular escarpment, among eucalyptus woodlands, with views of majestic Mount Mulligan reflected across a sparkling weir.

Guests staying at Mt Mulligan Lodge will experience the spirit of North Queensland’s back country and its captivating landscape, with a local indigenous heritage dating back some 37,000 years. The property also bears the marks of the historic gold & coal rush era and offers an insight to the pastoral history of Australia.

A critical element of the DNA of a Luxury Lodge of Australia is that the lodge is much more than just a place to stay. Penny Rafferty, Executive Officer of LLoA said “Each member of LLoA must deliver a genuine, uniquely Australian, experience of place. Mt Mulligan Lodge delivers on the essence of LLoA in spades. The range of lodge-guided experiences at the lodge offers guests a real adventure in the Northern Queensland outback underpinned by all the soft luxuries expected of our members.”

Guest experiences include tours of the Tyrconnell gold mine, Mount Mulligan coal mine and abandoned township, adrenalin-pumping ATV adventures, wildlife spotting, hikes around the southern face of Mount Mulligan, barramundi fishing in the weir, scenic helicopter flights and the chance to experience the day-to-day workings of an Australian cattle station. By evening, guests enjoy sunset drinks overlooking the escarpment, before a clear, coal-black night sky reveals glittering constellations, perfect for stargazing.

Luxury Lodges of Australia Chair James Baillie said the philosophy and guest experience at Mt Mulligan Lodge aligned with LLoA’s aims to deliver a meaningful, memorable guest experience of each destination. “Most importantly, the level and quality of investment in Mt Mulligan Lodge by the Morris family is to be applauded. Demand by high-end guests for this sort of experience is growing rapidly globally. Mt Mulligan Lodge offers a new way for these guests to experience Northern Outback Queensland and its largely undiscovered outback territories,” Mr Baillie said.

“We see the addition to the collection as opening up highly desirable new options for LLoA guest itineraries to take in the trio of key Far North Queensland experiences: reef, rainforest and outback, and complementary high-end experiences across Australia.”

Mt Mulligan Lodge complements the quality and diversity of offering by fellow members of Luxury Lodges of Australia. Chris Morris, Owner of the Northern Escape Collection said “Mt Mulligan Lodge offers modern laid-back luxury in the untamed and rugged outback environment of Queensland. Rich in pioneering heritage, indigenous significance and pastoral operations, our guests will be able to immerse themselves in the great outdoors and gain a new understanding of Mount Mulligan’s diverse history.”

Another key element of the LLoA DNA, sustainability, is at the heart of Mt Mulligan Lodge’s philosophy. A per-guest donation goes towards protecting and preserving the region’s Great Barrier Reef. And every aspect of lodge creation and operation is built around ongoing initiatives to safeguard the natural environment.

About Luxury Lodges of Australia
Luxury Lodges of Australia is a membership association of high-end experience-based lodges and camps located in some of Australia’s most remote and spectacular destinations. The collection comprises 19 members in some of the nation’s most extraordinary destinations. Each are leading luxury tourism properties that are independently owned and operated, united by their delivery of uniquely Australian experiences and a strong sense of place. Each lodge offers signature experiences and activities to showcase the special aspects of its region, diverse landscapes, Australian wildlife, food, wine, people. These experiences that define a new Australian luxury and showcase the country’s extraordinary diversity. The collection has brought together many of Australia’s innovators and leaders in hospitality, tourism, food and wine, and regional development; and their passion for delivering authentically Australian luxury experiences, a commitment to sustainability as well as connections to local communities, culture and food and wine producers is ingrained in their unique lodge offering.

About Mt Mulligan Lodge
With the backdrop of its majestic 18-kilometre long sandstone namesake, Mt Mulligan Lodge offers laid-back luxury in the rugged outback environment of Queensland. Located 160km northwest of Cairns, on a 28,000-hectare working cattle station that bears the marks of the historic gold and coal rush, Mt Mulligan Lodge invites guests to experience the spirit of the outback through a captivating landscape that’s steeped in indigenous significance. The lodge accommodates just 16 guests in spacious guest pavilions that complement the landscape and offer a luxurious and charming take on pastoral living. Each pavilion is a sanctuary overlooking a eucalyptus-fringed weir and views of the ever-changing moods of Mount Mulligan. The lodge is entirely family friendly and welcomes guests of all ages.

A range of experiences have been designed to make the most of this outback location and its fascinating history. These include guided tours of the goldfields, including a demonstration of Australia's oldest operating gold crusher, exploration of the historic Mount Mulligan coal mine and abandoned township, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) adventures, chef-prepared picnic hampers, barramundi fishing, scenic helicopter flights, guided nature walks and the chance to experience the operations of a working cattle station. After a day of adventure, guests can soak in an outdoor bath on their verandah, watch the changing colours of the outback sky from the Sunset Bar, relax with a book in the main pavilion or pool deck, dine on a daily changing menu that puts a flavoursome twist on outback living, or sit by the crackling fire pit as the night sky fills with glittering stars.

Dining at Mt Mulligan Lodge features offers a contemporary, daily-changing menu that showcases outback flavours combined with locally-sourced seasonal produce. The wine cellar complements both cuisine and climate and features premium and boutique wines from Australia's renowned wine regions.

About the Northern Escape Collection
Mt Mulligan Lodge is proud to be part of the Northern Escape Collection, a curated portfolio of boutique experiences in Northern Australia designed to capture the adventurer in everyone. From secluded luxury island getaways on the Great Barrier Reef (Orpheus Island Lodge), soul-enriching eco retreats in the Daintree Rainforest (Daintree Ecolodge), to rugged outback adventures (Mt Mulligan Lodge), the Northern Escape Collection offers discerning travellers the opportunity to explore the diverse natural beauty of Queensland in true comfort and style. A private helicopter charter service provides unrivalled access to the three lodges and an exclusive superyacht (M.Y. Flying Fish), equipped with its own heli-pad, offers privately chartered Great Barrier Reef exploration.

For more information visit Luxury Lodges of Australia www.luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au; images may be downloaded here: http://www.luxurylodgesofaustralia.com.au/news/images