Possum Valley, Australia (Center on Interactive Map)

An awesome private reserve in the Atherton Tablelands.

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Trips

Eastern Australia

11/14/2012: The word on the street is that the Atherton Tablelands is this wild scenic location. So, I was disappointed to find that it is mostly a whole lot of farmland. After striking out on the hotels in Yungaburra, we found out about a B & B in a nearby location called Possum Valley.

If you have read my reports from the past, you should know by now that I rarely mention any hotels or guesthouses. Generally they are over-hyped, sterile, or not as advertised.

Possum Valley B & B is one of my absolute favorite places that I have ever stayed. Now, I am not going to say that it is for everyone. It is a bit remote with a few kilometers of gravel road to navigate to get there. And, it was rainy in the valley. There is a very real possibility that some strange animal will end up in your cabin.

The great thing about Possum Valley is that just about every other "eco" lodge in the world takes a beautiful spot and then degrades it by mowing down acres of forest in order to have some giant sterile lawn and/or swimming pool. They clear any lake or pond of any cover. Then, they charge double the value because of all the free electricity that they are generating on site. No bug or critter is allowed within 100 yards of your accommodation even though you might be there to see these very animals.

Possum Valley had none of this. The forest is extensive with several trails to explore. There were odd-looking hopping animals it seemed everywhere that I looked. Possums were actually living in the rafters of the house. One bird, in particular, could not stay out of the kitchen. If you stood in the mud for a few minutes, you acquired a leech or two. The very beautiful lake on site was choked with branches and flowering lilly-pads. The owner of the land has been there for 35 years or something like that, he rarely leaves, and why would he? All the plentiful power is generated on site. And if you are interested in the specs, there is a booklet explaining everything.





Previous Visit (Mareeba Wetlands: 11/14/2012)
Next Visit (Ravenshoe: 11/15/2012)

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