By Road
Most vehicles will handle the drive to Gilberton Outback Retreat without any problems, that said in wet season a 4WD would be recommended. Please refer to our map for accurate distances and travel times.
From Cairns: approx 6.5 hours
From Townsville: approx 6 hours
By Air
Charter flights are available from Cairns, Townsville and the Atherton Tablelands.
Helicopter transfers from Townsville and Atherton tablelands.
Contact us for pricing and availability or contact the following local operators directly:
- Elite Aviation
- Hinchinbrook Adventures
- Hinterland Aviation
Private aircraft
The airstrip is located 5kms from the homestead and Retreat. We will arrange transfers for you. Please notify us prior to arrival.
Distance from Cairns: 183nm bearing 213
Airstrip GPS Coordinates: Lat S19 12.57 – Long E 143 39.8
Bn – FIA 119.8 in circuit 3000
Runway Details
Length: 1200 mt long
Width: 20 mt wide
Elevation: 1900′ and strip direction is 02/20
Surface: Dirt strip with good sandstone hard surface.
Windsock: No
All weather: Yes
Slope: slight downhill slope to North
300′ tower on Eastern side of strip
**The RFDS use our strip to land their King Air.
Undara Lava Tubes
West of Atherton, in Far North Queensland, lies a wonderland of geological delights – the legacies of ancient coral reefs, startling alluvial deposits and Earth’s longest volcanic lava flow.
Paronella Park
Experience one of Queensland’s most Awarded Attractions. Paronella Park today is a celebration of the Paronella family’s achievements, particularly those of its founder, José Paronella. Paronella Park has something for everyone.
Cobbold Gorge
Deep in the heart of the Gulf Savannah region of Far North Queensland is a hidden outback oasis – Cobbold Gorge.
Immerse yourself in the natural wonder of a truly unique North Queensland outback holiday destination. Cruise the gorge to explore its ancient geological landforms and the savannah wonderland.
A selection of…
4WD or 4WD Buggy Safari
Our farm tour consists of touring around the cattle station helping put supplementary feed out for the cattle, or, if we are in mustering season, being involved in training the young cattle ready for the big wide world of living without Mum. On the tours, our guests are given a detailed talk about why we do what we do, and how it helps the animals and their environmental health.
Morning tea and/or lunch is taken with us depending on the length of the tour. Options are for a whole day or a half day.
Highlights: diverse landscapes, wildlife, cattle, flora and fauna
*Tour is by 4-wheel drive with a limited amount of walking.
Gold Mining and Fossicking
The history of the Gilberton Goldfield will leave you intrigued. Why would people walk, pushing a wheelbarrow, for 6 weeks just to reach a new town to find the yellow cake (gold)?
Gold was discovered at Gilberton in 1868 and within 12 months the population grew to over 3,000. Relics of the original goldfield town can be seen and explored. The goldfield had another life in 1875 and was then mined intermittently right through until the early 1940’s. Gold fossicking is still productive so you might even get to take home your own piece of Gilberton gold!
Let us take you on a tour of the original goldfields, more recent gold mining or have a go yourself at fossicking. On the tour, your family guide will share with you the history of Gilberton including the family’s connection with Chinese, European and Aboriginal peoples.
Gilberton Nature Refuge
With a landscape of rugged hills and plateaus that support a range of eucalyptus woodlands, Gilberton is home to an amazing diversity of animals, plants and ecosystems. In 2018, Gilberton Station was endorsed as a Nature Refuge, recognised by the Queensland Government as being an area of high conservation significance.
Botanical treasure hunt
Walk through untouched bush beauty to find hidden botanical gems. Discover species and rare albino wallabies while you climb through rock fortresses. Indulge in edible bush tucker, and gain a little knowledge through touch, taste and smell with your guide. Bird watchers and animal conservationists will have plenty of photo opportunities in the Nature Refuge on Gilberton.
Environmental sustainability
Our family’s focus has always been on environmental sustainability with looking after the land an absolute priority. We have been proactive in creating a drought-proof property and in so doing, creating additional wildlife sanctuaries. We live and breathe this country and love to share our knowledge with our guests.
Live the land, listen to the people who run the land, and learn the way of the outback.
Cultural Tours
Connection to country relates to all aspects of the human relationship to land and our existence – this includes culture, spirituality, language, law, family and identity. The French family ancestors are white settlers who made their way to Gilberton, very early on in 1869. We are proud to uphold their connection to this country, and also acknowledge that this family has an important connection to the local Aboriginal Indigenous people of the region. The Jana language group, (was also spelt as Yanga) lived on the southern side of the Gilbert River.
This deep relationship between both white and black people on Gilberton is celebrated by us as ‘Connection to Country’ by looking after country.
The Ancestors of the Jana tribe, taught our family the ways of living on country. Their relationship with the land remains fundamental to the identity and way of life of many Indigenous people, whom we welcome onto the place at every opportunity. Our shared connection runs deep in our blood, we have listened to the Old People and live with their insights, understanding that land is much more than soil, water, rocks or minerals as well there totem being the turtle that is still respected today on Gilberton. It’s a living environment that sustains, and is sustained by, the people and a culture of protection and preservation.
Grandma Lydia Martell could speak Jana language and learnt from the Jana people who had story for these places. They shared their history, and culture with our forefathers. Some stayed on and became part of the family, skin colour didn’t enter into the discussion and acceptance into our Gilberton tribe came through trust and respect. Grandma Dora (Jana Elder) gave our family a stone to jointly connect both families and is a prized procession of the French Martell families today.
How long are the tours?
Approximately 3-4 hours. Generally these are morning tours so that guests have the afternoons to themselves.
Can we do all 3 tours in 1 day?
No. Two tours are the maximum, which allows you time to relax and enjoy the tranquility.
