Forest haven

A BOUTIQUE Balinese-style resort on the edge of the Daintree offers a tree change with ocean views.

Property of the week

FRENCH-BORN Australian couple Carmen Fabro and Gilles Germain had abandoned a plan to settle in Bali and were looking for something tropical in Queensland when they found this cleared block of land atop a hill on the edge of the Daintree.

Surrounded by rainforest and with views to the Coral Sea, it became the site of their boutique resort, its style reflecting their original designs on Bali, albeit complying with local codes and cyclone conditions.

This month, on the 10th anniversary of the resort’s first customer, it has been put on the market. Fabro says it could be adapted to a family home or continue to be run as a self-managed resort.

“The cabins would be separate from the main lodge,” she says. “That could be an issue for a family, but it depends on their lifestyle. It is still a possibility.”

Fabro says the main characteristic is the peacefulness of the position, followed by the abundance of birdlife and butterflies. She has had only occasional visits from snakes.

“The forest is all around, and it’s just a matter of exploring,” she says. Cooper Creek, the main attraction of the rainforest, is a short drive away. The nearest town, Mossman, is less than an hour by car.

The property consists of 10.6ha of mostly uncleared land, a two-storey main lodge, four separate cabins, a bar, commercial kitchen, five bathrooms, wine cellar, pool with waterfall and onsite water storage and treatment.

The property is expected to sell for about $2 million. For inquiries, call Michael Vettoretto of Platinum Residences on 0438 705 745.