Mushy with Mossman – Departure from Port Douglas

A small but charming town in the foothills of the mountains right next to the World Heritage-listed Daintree National Park, Mossman has its own charms. Located just 75 km from Cairns and 20 km from Port Douglas, it has a history of its own. It was named by explorer George Dalrymple after mineral explorer Hugh Mosman. When the latter’s 11-year-old Aboriginal servant Jupiter struck gold at Charters Towers in 1872, this place rose to fame. What followed was the short-lived gold rush that was instrumental in the development of Queensland. To avoid confusion with the Sydney suburb, it was named Mossman and a village was established in 1876. In 1896, the year of the first modern Olympic Games, the first sugar plantation was established in the area. There is no gold in the area today, but sugar supports one of the area’s largest industries, with the famous Mossman Central Mill as historical testimony.

The mill vibrates with a flavor of its own during the crushing season (June – October), and if you visit Mossman during this time, you can feel the locals swarming around the mill like bees buzzing during a frenzied bloom. You may find quaint cane trains rolling down country lanes, harvesting the season’s harvest from the yellowed cane fields. If you’re lucky, you might see golden cane fires in the fields. You can also get a guided tour of the mill where you can see everything up close.

The Karnak Playhouse located in the Whyanbeel Valley in Mossman is a famous tourist spot. An incredible open-air theater inspired by and named after the Temple of Light in ancient Thebes (next to the Nile, the temple of the Sun god Ra), it seats 500 people in a tropical setting under a starry sky. A laser system is in constant use to provide consistent and efficient service, and the Kubirri Bar and Restaurant will feed you delicious gourmet food made from local produce. The popular Lasers in the Jungle show has live performances creating an unforgettable visual spectacle. It enacts a journey to the beginning of time that allows us to meet the past, the eternal flora and fauna and mountains, and the shapes and sounds that change and dissolve. Nearby Mossman Gorge, located within Daintree National Park, is where the Mossman River falls and cascades over granite boulders, creating beautiful displays and swimming holes. Home to the Kuku Yalanji indigenous people, one can see the absolute symbiosis that these people have built with the threatening nature that surrounds them.

Mossman is home to many other attractions, each of which deserves close attention. A little to the north is the local golf course where you can try your hand at golf, or you can go a little further afield and see pristine Newell Beach. There is also Wonga Beach which is the southern reaches of Daintree and is a fabulous place to walk, swim or bird watch.

Mossman is located just a few minutes’ drive from Port Douglas. Mandalay Shalimar (www.mandalay.com.au) offers a variety of accommodation facilities, whether you want to stay in the resort town of Port Douglas or within walking distance of Mossman.