Voyages Wrotham Park Lodge
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Property Information:
Wrotham Park Lodge is open from 1st April - 31st October each year.
Voyages Wrotham Park Lodge combines the rich heritage of Australia's rural history and classic cattle station life with a unique resort experience. The resort immerses guests in the rugged beauty, vast landscapes and legendary outback activities of a working cattle station.
Wrotham Park Lodge is located in Far North Queensland, 300km west of Cairns, in a spectacular setting on a sprawling 600,000 hectare working cattle station. Catering for no more than 20 guests at any one time, 10 superbly appointed 'Quarters' and an equally stunning communal lounge and dining facility called "The Homestead" are situated along an escarpment, overlooking the Mitchell River.
Guests have free rein to enjoy luxury accommodation, sumptuous country cuisine, fine wines and premium beverages, as well as exclusive touring experiences such as nature walks, fishing, picnics, stargazing, mountain biking, cooking demonstrations, Bocce, interpretive cattle mustering and yard work viewing.
The Homestead:
Emulating timber slab houses with wrap-around verandahs, the Homestead pays tribute to Queensland's outback architecture, its dining and living area, library and bar are styled on pioneer designs and furnishings - all with a modern twist. A feature of the outdoor living area is an oversized raised platform ideal for dusk drinks and wildlife watching. Here comfortable lounge seating surrounds the cosmopolitan version of a camp-fire and the location is perfect for viewing brilliant red sunsets as well as taking in the sparkling velvet of the outback night sky.
Services & Facilities:
- Reception is open from 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Major credit cards accepted
- Foreign Exchange & Travellers Cheques cashed
- Safety deposit facilities
- Postal service
- Daily laundry service (dry cleaning not available)
- Swimming pool
- Plasma screen television
As another unique Voyages Resort, Wrotham Park Lodge offers excellent food and wine. Dining at Wrotham is based on a gourmet interpretation of traditional country fare, a modern style of dining that echoes stockman on the muster trail gathering round-the-camp-fire to share stories and a meal. Station Managers join guests on some of the dinner-party style evenings. Local produce is highlighted throughout Wrotham's menu, including the world-renowned premium grade beef '1824' brand.
Breakfast: Breakfast begins with shared platters of lush tropical fruits, freshly-baked pastries and Lodge made muesli and cereals. A cooked-to-order hot menu follows with a range of items from classic breakfast favourites to a hearty outback breakfast. Fresh juices, plunger or espresso coffee, quality Australian bush teas and herbal infusion teas are also included. Breakfast is served between 7:00 and 9:00am.
Lunch: A three course set menu or classic stockman's lunch served at the long table or a tempting poolside barbeque. Another option is a gourmet country style picnic hamper which can be enjoyed in-room on your private deck or at one of the many spectacular locations on the Station. Lunch is served between 12.30 and 2.30pm.
Dinner: Each evening begins with sunset canapés. Then, seated with your fellow guests at the long table, you will be offered a degustation menu, a four course table d'hote menu or a platter style buffet. Weather permitting, outdoor dining with a gourmet Australian barbeque could also be available. Sunset canapés start at 6.30pm followed by stargazing and dinner. Private dining is generally available on request for those who desire a more intimate evening (limited availability).
Bar & Lounge: The relaxed guest lounge features a bar stocked with a range of refreshing beverages. We offer a quality selection of Australian wines and boutique beers, as well as selected spirits and liqueurs. For those guests seeking complete indulgence or celebrating a special occasion, a premium selection of vintage wines and imported champagnes is also available.
Accommodation Information:
Guest accommodations are stockman's quarters meets comfort with touches inspired by the traditions of the landed gentry - leather arm chairs and bed bolsters, shaded verandahs with day beds and a squatters chair. With the giant waves of colour outside, in the classic big blue sky and red earth that characterise the outback, interior tones are muted, charcoal, earth and harvest.
What to Bring: Light comfortable clothing with sun protection (hat, sunscreen and sunglasses) for daytime; swimwear; durable trousers and closed-in shoes for horse riding and smart casual wear for dinner. A jumper or coat is recommended as the evenings may be cool.
The Quarters: A total of 10 premium guest Quarters are situated along the escarpment with views overlooking the Mitchell River. In harmony with the outback environment, the guest Quarters are visually spectacular and generous in size, boasting a large deck for the ultimate enjoyment of the outback views.
Room Amenities & Facilities:
- King Size Bed (twin rooms also available)
- Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning
- Deck with Daybed and Squatters Chairs
- CD Player (with signature CD selection)
- Direct Dial STD/ISD Telephone
- Ensuite bathroom with shower
- Tea & Coffee Facilities
- Complimentary Mini Bar
- Deep Leather Armchair
- Deluxe Toiletries
- Ironing Equipment
- Hair Dryers
- Ceiling Fan
- Binoculars
Location Information:
The working station "Wrotham Park" is a breeding station running approximately 35,000 predominantly Brahman cattle on 596,430 hectares. The station has three major river systems - the Lynd, Mitchell and Walsh Rivers on Cape York Peninsula - which run through the entire property. Production of the property is breeding steers for the growing-out areas. Station operations consist of two rounds of mustering using horses, motorbikes and helicopters.
Wrotham Park Lodge is largely pristine and untouched, offering you an opportunity to see a variety of animals in their natural habitat. Although a proportion of these animals are considered by many to be threatening, they recognise that they share the outback home and are to be treated with respect at all times.
Activities:
- Half Day Cattle Station tours
- Horse riding
- Canoeing
- Guided & self-guided nature walks
- Fishing & Fishing drop offs
- Picnic hampers & drop offs
- Mountain bikes
- Station stargazing
- Pre-dinner sunset canapés
- 'Country Chef' cooking demonstrations
- Bocce
- CD, Book & Board Game library
- Interpretive cattle mustering & yard work viewings (seasonal)
Half day station tours, horse riding, canoeing, and private half and full day 4WD and fishing tours are also available.
Half Day Station Tour
The majestic Wrotham Park Lodge takes in 600,000 hectares of land with around 35,000 head of cattle; the Half Day Station Tour is a round up some of the property's best features.
First stop on the 4WD tour that includes a commentary on wildlife, geology and native flora is the Mouth Organ Yards. Depending on the season, mustering, tagging and other yard works vital to the cattle industry could be taking place and a Station Guide will walk you around the Yard and provide an insight into the workings of the Station.
You'll travel via Whip Handle Ridge - a dramatic location where in the vast distance the boundaries of Wrotham Park Lodge can be seen - and the tour continues to the working station at Wrotham Park where a traditional morning tea, more cattle station workings and a history of the property are some of the highlights. The Old Telegraph Station, Gamboola Station and The Lagoon are some of the other destinations to be enjoyed before the tour returns to The Homestead for lunch.
The cattle that you will see around the Station and sometimes wandering near the Homestead are Brahman Cattle, which are highly resilient animals that can survive in the harshest of environmental conditions.
Eastern Grey Kangaroos are most likely to be found lazing under the shade of a tree during the heat of the day, licking their forearms to cool themselves. They venture out from dusk until dawn to graze on grasses and herbs.
Crocodiles are one of the most feared creatures in Australia as they are incredibly strong, resilient and carnivorous. Consequently, they can pose a serious threat to people.
Dingoes are Australia's only native dog and also Australia's largest carnivore. They are believed to have descended from a family of wild Asian Dogs and introduced to Australia about 4000 - 6000 years ago, possibly when the Aboriginal tribes traded with Indonesians who were fishing in local waters.
Goannas are harmless, large lizards with poor eyesight and clawed toes to climb trees or dig holes for protection against predators. If a goanna is being chased by a predator, it will climb the nearest tree.
Wrotham Park Lodge is blessed with an abundance of bird species, in fact, approximately 60 different species have been identified, Bird identification and Reference books are available for your use from the Homestead Library.
When you visit the working cattle station you are most likely to come across domesticated cats and dogs. Please inform your guide if you have any known allergies to these animals. The dogs are highly trained working dogs and are an important part of the mustering and cattle yard process.
Feral pigs and boars were originally introduced to Australia as farm animals on the First Fleet, Xand have since been released (or escaped) and learnt to survive in the wild. Incredibly strong and intelligent creatures, they are very unpredictable animals who easily feel threatened. More often than not, they will retreat from a human being however, they have been known to attack, especially when mothers are protecting their young.
Outback Queensland is home to a variety of snake types including the Brown Snake, Taipan, Rock Python, Children's Python and Green Tree Snakes, some which are potentially dangerous.
