Alkoomie Station is a working cattle farm located about an hour west of Cooktown. Located right at the top of the Mount Dickson Escarpment the views from Alkoomie Station are absolutely amazing. You can see the township of Cooktown, the bush covered rolling hills and green valleys to the North and the South of the property as well as the ocean and on clear days even the Great Barrier Reef.
Access is strictly 4WD only and you do need to be an experienced driver to traverse the steep inclines and winding curves that the road up the hill presents in places. This drive is not recommended if you are scared of heights or suffer from anxiety! If there has been rain the road can quickly become impassable too so it’s always best to ring the station just before you set off from Cooktown.
If you love horses you’ve come to the right place, the horses here walk freely around the gardens and children are given a ride each afternoon. Longer trail rides can be organized for you as well which take you down some of the many tracks and roads around the property. You may even get to try your hand at mustering if you come across some of the resident cattle along the way.
Not far from the homestead is the fresh water swimming hole, this is an absolutely beautiful spot, where the bush is green and lush and the water is crystal clear. There are also plenty of walking trails for you to explore if you enjoy bushwalking, with plenty of animals such as wallabies, kangaroos and birds to be found here.
Accommodation here is available in permanent tent sites with proper beds, a toilet and even hot and cold showers, these are located a fair way from the homestead so you really can feel that you are ‘getting away from it all’.
If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious the fully self contained Homestead with 3 bedrooms and two bathrooms has everything you need to have a relaxing weekend away. The Homestead can sleep up to 12 people making it perfect for families or groups travelling together. You can bring your own food or for an extra charge meals can be provided for you.
There are 12 working cattle dogs living at Alkoomie that the kids will love playing with too, as well as turkeys and chooks. The four wheeler rides for kids are great fun and toasting marshmallows by the campfire each night is also an experience they’ll enjoy. There’s so much for kids to learn about life on a working cattle station and my kids certainly enjoyed their time at Alkoomie Station.
To organise your stay at Alkoomie Station visit their website: www. Alkoomie.com.au
This post is part of a collection of travel photos called Photo Friday organised by Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby for more great family-friendly travel photos and stories from around the world visit http://www.deliciousbaby.com/
