Extended family from NSW swaps fast lane for Hidden Valley Cabins
New owners of Hidden Valley Cabins, north of Townsville, will add wellness services, reiki and yoga to the award-winning resort. See the pictures.
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An extended family from NSW are the proud new owners of an award-winning resort near Townsville once voted Australia’s best hosted accommodation.
Steve and Sonia Ellery and daughter and son-in-law Tahlia and Kurt Harlow have acquired Hidden Valley Cabins on the western slopes of the Paluma Range.
Steve previously operated a printing business, while Sonia is a former registered nurse who is a naturopath and reiki master.
Kurt is a boiler maker who is swapping heavy vehicle manufacturing for resort management, while Tahlia is a former veterinary nurse and practice manager.
Tahlia and Steve said they had acquired the property for a lifestyle change.
“We want to be able to live in a beautiful place in the world and have the opportunity to continue this amazing business and add our own twist,” Tahlia said.
“Sonia is a naturopath and hopes to hold wellness weeks and weekends where people can come to relax and have a consult. We are hoping to have yoga and massage.”
They want to open a resort shop offering natural medicines and remedies and add infra-red saunas, salt rooms and create a place of healing and tranquillity.
Steve said they would upgrade the resort’s services and accommodation.
“We want to make it a beautiful, quiet, calm place for people to come and unwind,” he said.
Hidden Valley Cabins was voted best hosted accommodation in the Australian Tourism Awards in 2010 and previously was operated by Ian and Bonnie McLennan for 36 years.
Colliers Townsville associate director Angelo Castorina said the Ellery and Harlow families were keen to acquire the property and escape the restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“They were very keen about the business right from day one. The location of the property in tropical North Queensland on the edge of the Paluma rainforest and the business was a big attraction,” Mr Castorina said.
The property is 3.18ha and consists of 13 cabins, a 40-seat restaurant, covered timber rotunda with camp kitchen and entertainment area, and three-bedroom manager’s residence.
The resort is close to natural attractions including World Heritage Wet Tropics rainforest, Lake Paluma, Crystal Creek, Birthday Creek Falls, Running River Gorge, Wallaman Falls, Mount Fox Volcanic Crater and Tyto Wetlands.
It offers an eco-friendly experience filled with fresh mountain air, crystal clear creeks and breathtaking sunsets.
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Originally published as Extended family from NSW swaps fast lane for Hidden Valley Cabins
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