Page 48 - Tropic Magazine Issue 34

TROPIC • SPECIAL FEATURE

Country pub route
Gordonvale

Mountain When you’re heading out of the
View Hotel
big smoke, pub crawls become
pub drives – responsibly, of
course. Here’s Tropic’s list of
where you should wet your
whistle along your road trip.
Babinda State Hotel
The first stop has to be the Mountain
View Hotel in Little Mulgrave. Just a
short detour off the Bruce Highway, this
iconic hotel with a view over the river
Garradunga Hotel and mountains has recently been taken
over by our friends at The Hospo Group It’s a bit of a historical pub hotbed.
Innisfail – who also run Three Wolves, Wolf Lane First, stop at the Currajah Hotel in
Distillery, Flamingos Tiki Bar and The Fox Wangan. Then watch the sugar cane
Small Bar in Cairns. trains amble their way to the South
Currajah Hotel Other old pubs with fantastic mountain Johnstone Mill at the Criterion Hotel,
Criterion Hotel
views are Babinda State Hotel while a visit to the Mena Creek Hotel
(perhaps Australia’s wettest watering can be followed by a stroll through the
Mena Creek Hotel hole) and the Garradunga Hotel. grounds of the Spanish castle in the
The latter is located amidst the cane fields rainforest, Paronella Park.
at the foot of Mt Bartle Frere and also has Back on the Bruce Highway, drop into
a resident ghost! the El Arish Tavern, where you can be
As your journey continues to the next big guaranteed a great yarn. It’s just before
town, Innisfail, take a moment to soak in you reach The Pocket. The Feluga Hotel
the banana capital’s art deco architecture is less than 10 minutes further down
El Arish Tavern
at the Queens Hotel. the road.
Opt for the scenic route to the farming Just remember: you’re in the country
Feluga Hotel communities as your journey now, and hotel kitchens have strict
continues south. opening hours.

Wonder

warehouse of “We have an eight-foot-high gorilla
mounted on the workshop wall which
vintage wares gets the children's attention,”
Christine said. “Our store is filled
with conversation starters and jaw
Well-known locally, but perhaps the dropping items.”
best kept secret further afield, Innisfail Among those who flock to the shop are
Antiques and Restorations is the largest film set designers, with Christine and
(and plausibly the finest) antiques store Chris gaining quite the reputation for
in Far North Queensland. It’s owned and their workmanship, eye for quality and
operated by business partners Chris and professionalism. While it can be a case of
Chris, aka Christopher Cunliffe and sensory overload when you walk into the
Christine Wingate. store, Christine says everything has its
Christopher is a master restorer while place. “Most people don't know where to
Christine is a knowledgeable dealer of start exploring,” she said.
second-hand treasures. “My best advice is to do a quick whip
Truly, they have the highest quality and around the shop, look up, look down and
most interesting vintage wares around – then go back again. Plus, we are happy to
everything from furniture to fashion, old provide directions.”
doors and windows to fine China. If you can’t make it into the shop, they GO THERE 1 Bruce Hwy, South Innisfail
There are military wares, farming tools, have a great interactive Facebook page,
comics, vintage toys and artwork. where everything is displayed in albums, MORE: @innisfailantiquesandrestoration
Browsing here is an experience in itself. including before and after photos.

48 • Tropic • Issue 34